There are millions of people out there who are trying to do something good for their body by opting for diet soda rather than regular soda. Although this type of fizzy drink is quite popular, there are also some reasons why you may want to avoid drinking it in the first place.
According to information from the Purdue research, not only should we be avoiding diet fizzy drinks, public health officials should be out there warning people to stay away from them as well. These warnings, which do sometimes appear with regular fizzy drinks, should be expanded to include those that use artificial sweeteners. This would include 0 cal sweeteners that are very bad for you.
When you consider the possibility that diet fizzy drinks may be bad for you, you really need to take a look at the numbers. Did you realise that up to 30% of adults and 15% of children are currently using products with artificial sweeteners? Those artificial sweeteners not only include aspartame, they also include saccharin and sucralose.
“There is a lot of pressure from the public health sector to find solutions to counter the rise of obesity and chronic disease, and there is a lot of money and business at stake for the food industry as it develops and promotes these products.
Beverages are becoming political issues as government leaders and politicians seek regulation and taxing to limit their availability and consumption, but most of these measures exclude diet soft drinks because they are perceived as healthy.
When it comes to making policy decisions, it’s more important than ever that the science is considered and that the public understands what the science says in order to help them make the best health decisions.” – Susan Swithers a professor of psychological sciences and a behavioral neuroscientist at Purdue.
Most people drink diet fizzy drinks because they feel that they are reducing their overall calorie intake. Artificial sweeteners, however, may cause an individual to overeat in other areas when they are drinking diet fizzy drinks. There is also a much higher possibility that they would develop metabolic syndrome.
The following are some of the health issues that could be associated with diet fizzy drinks:
1. Depression – drinking diet fizzy drinks has been shown to increase the rate of depression. Drinking coffee, on the other hand, may lower your risk of depression.
2. Kidneys – drinking diet fizzy drinks long-term may reduce your kidney function.
3. Type II diabetes – You are at a much higher risk for metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes if you drink diet fizzy drinks. The artificial sweetener may have an effect on the connection between your gut and your brain, leading to metabolic problems.
4. Cardiovascular disease – Those who regularly drank diet fizzy drinks were more likely to suffer a heart attack or a stroke and had a higher rate of death from cardiovascular disease. That was true, even when other factors were adjusted, such as smoking, high cholesterol, sodium intake and obesity.
5. Lung health – Drinking diet fizzy drinks could lead to serious lung health problems, such as COPD and asthma. The more you drink, the more likely it will be for you to have this problem.
6. Brain protection
Aspartame, which is a common low-calorie sweetner, may affect your brain negatively. Long-term consumption of aspartame could lead to imbalances in the brain, causing a variety of problems.
Aspartame is also linked to the following issues:
Migraines & headaches
Depression
Anxiety
Short term memory loss
Multiple sclerosis
Fibromyalgia
Hearing loss
Weight gain
Fatigue
Brain tumours
Epilepsy
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Birth defects
Alzheimer’s disease
Lymphoma
Diabetes
Arthritis (including rheumatoid)
Chemical sensitivities
ADHD
Parkinson’s
The Bottom Line on Diet Fizzy Drinks
Drinking diet fizzy drinks is not a better alternative. Not only does it not promote weight loss, it is linked to many metabolic issues and could affect your health in many negative ways. If you are thirsty for a fizzy drink, consider carefully before you reach for one.