Is Diet Soda Worse Than Regular Soda? This Study Says So

If you are replacing your regular sweetened drink with diet coke, and taking pride in this decision, then think twice. Yes, it is no doubt sugar free, but does that mean it is healthier in every way than a regular soda? A new study thinks otherwise. It has found that diet soda may have the potential to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, more than regular soda. Let’s take a look at what the study says.

What Is Diet Soda?

Diet soda is a type of soft drink. It is made up of carbonated water, flavorings, and artificial or natural sugar substitutes. It is marketed as a low-calorie or zero-sugar alternative to regular soda, which contains caloric sweeteners. Common sugar substitutes include aspartame, sucralose, and stevia.

Some common ingredients in diet soda consists of:

• Carbonated water.
• Sweeteners.
• Acids.
• Colors.
• Flavors.
• Preservatives.
• Vitamins and minerals.
• Caffeine.

Is Diet Soda Healthy?

The most common question that is often asked is: are diet sodas actually healthy like they claim to be? The answer might shock you.

Yes, diet soda has no calories, sugar, or fat. But that does not mean it has no cons. Diet soda has been linked to type 2 diabetes and heart diseases in several studies. It has also been said to have association with risks of high blood pressure and liver diseases. One study linked diet soda to a small increase in the risk of stroke.

The majority of these studies were observational. Thus, the association of diet soda and these diseases might have been caused by other reasons too. It’s possible that the consumers of diet soda were already at risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. More direct experimental research is required to understand whether there’s any true causal relationship between diet soda and these diseases.

Let’s take a look at some of the other side effects of diet soda:

• Changes to the gut microbiome.
• Increased risk of osteoporosis.
• Tooth decay.
• Linked to depression.

What The New Study Is All About

An Australian study has recently discovered that drinking even one can of artificially sweetened soft drink a day may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 38 percent. And you will be surprised to know that risk for artificially sweetened soft drinks are higher than for those of sugar-sweetened beverages. The risk with regular soft drinks was found to be 23 percent higher.

The research was conducted by a team from Monash University. They collaborated with RMIT University and the Cancer Council Victoria for the study. The research followed more than 36,000 Australian adults for over nearly 14 years. The link between sugary drinks and diabetes could largely be described by obesity. The link between artificially sweetened drinks and type 2 diabetes stayed strong even after adjusting for body weight, indicating a potentially direct effect on metabolism.

Also Read: https://www.onlymyhealth.com/diet-soda-causes-liver-disease-study-1700876689

The Final Take

Diet soda has no calories, sugar, or fat. But it has no nutritional value either. Time and again, multiple studies have pointed towards how diet soda may be linked to conditions like diabetes and heart stroke. Though these researches are concerning, more experimental studies are required before drawing any solid conclusion on the side effects of diet soda.