Even though it's calorie and sugar-free, diet soda is very acidic, which means it lowers your pH levels and causes a dull, lifeless complexion. So if you're a regular diet soda drinker, you can kiss radiant skin goodbye. Drinking soda regularly doesn't just give you less energy; it also slows down your swimmers.
What soda is really doing to your body?
Tooth Troubles
- With 92% of adults estimated to have some form of tooth decay, dental health is a widespread issue in America. ...
- The acid within soda literally dissolves tooth enamel. ...
- The sugar content of cola further encourages dental decay. ...
Does diet soda really help you lose weight?
- It makes the drinking part of your diet less restrictive, and lets you enjoy something sweet, without getting in extra calories. ...
- Drinking diet soda is a great way to decrease hunger in the short term (for about 30 minutes). ...
- You probably won’t overeat on your following meal to compensate for the lack of calories in the diet soda.
Why does drinking diet soda make you gain weight?
Not so Fast
- Diet Soda, Weight Gain Evidence Scant. ...
- The Research Part 1: The Rat Studies. ...
- The Research Part 2: The Observational Studies. ...
- 'Big Mac and Diet Coke' Mentality. ...
- Diet Soda Drinkers Who Diet Lose Weight. ...
- The Sweet Tooth Hypothesis. ...
Why you should stop drinking diet soda?
- Weight gain. A study at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio found those who drank diet sodas were more likely to become overweight than those who ...
- Diabetes. ...
- Rotting teeth. ...
- Weak bones. ...
- Cardiovascular disease. ...
What happens if you drink diet soda everyday?
Drinking a reasonable amount of diet soda a day, such as a can or two, isn't likely to hurt you. The artificial sweeteners and other chemicals currently used in diet soda are safe for most people, and there's no credible evidence that these ingredients cause cancer.
How much diet soda is too much?
The Mayo Clinic recommends around 400 milligrams of caffeine a day at most, roughly equivalent to 10 cans of soda. According to Eltagouri, consuming 12 Diet Cokes' worth of caffeine could lead to insomnia, migraines, muscle tremors, and restlessness.
Is diet soda worse for you?
Artificially sweetened diet soda is widely used as a low or zero-calorie alternative to regular sugar-sweetened beverages. While it may seem like a healthier choice, a growing body of evidence shows that artificially sweetened diet sodas aren't any better than their regular sugar alternatives.
How does diet soda make you fat?
For example, the artificial sweeteners concentrated in diet beverages may lead to increased hunger and enhance cravings for higher calorie foods. Artificially sweetened drinks may also interfere with weight regulation mechanisms, disturb gut bacteria balance, and alter blood sugar regulation ( 3 , 6 ).
Do diet sodas cause belly fat?
(Reuters Health) - People over age 65 who drink diet soda daily tend to expand their waistlines by much more than peers who prefer other beverages, possibly contributing to chronic illnesses that go along with excess belly fat, according to a new study.
What is the healthiest diet soda to drink?
11 Best Sugar-Free Sodas on Grocery Store ShelvesZevia Zero Calorie Soda, Cola.Virgil's Zero Sugar Root Beer.Reed's Zero Sugar Real Ginger Ale.Bubly Sparkling Water, Cherry.Spindrift Lemon Sparkling Water.Poland Spring Sparkling Water, Lemon Lime.LaCroix.Perrier.More items...•
Which is better for you Coke or Diet Coke?
Nutritionally, there are no significant differences. Their ingredient and caffeine contents are similar as well, so neither is healthier than the other. Remember that diet soda is not considered a healthy drink.
Which is worse Diet Coke or Coke?
Diet Soda is Just as Bad as Regular Soda Regular soda contains a lot of sugar whereas diet coke contains artificial sweeteners like aspartame. Despite being low or zero calories, diet coke offers no nutritional value whatsoever.
How do I stop drinking diet soda?
6 Tips for Quitting Diet SodaDon't keep soda at home. If you've already eliminated it in your house, congrats! ... Identify what you love about soda, and replace it with something healthier. ... Order water at restaurants. ... Avoid headaches. ... Wean yourself off slowly. ... One day at a time.
What's the best thing to drink to lose weight?
The 8 Best Weight Loss DrinksGreen Tea. Share on Pinterest. ... Coffee. Coffee is used by people around the world to boost energy levels and lift mood. ... Black Tea. Like green tea, black tea contains compounds that may stimulate weight loss. ... Water. ... Apple Cider Vinegar Drinks. ... Ginger Tea. ... High-Protein Drinks. ... Vegetable Juice.
Can you lose weight by switching to diet soda?
If you're drinking two 12-ounce cans of regular Coke each day, you could eliminate 280 “empty” (non-nutritive) calories by switching to a zero-calorie alternative. Over a month, that's 8,400 fewer calories, enough to lose almost two and a half pounds.
Will quitting Diet Coke help me lose weight?
By quitting you may see your weight go down. A nine-year study found that older adults who drank diet soda kept packing on belly fat. A piggyback study found that having a daily diet soda increases your chance of obesity by 65% during the next 10 years.
Why do people overeat artificial sweeteners?
That means people who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more.
Is diet soda bad for kidneys?
Here's something you didn't know about your diet soda: It might be bad for your kidneys. In an 11-year-long Harvard Medical School study of more than 3,000 women, researchers found that diet cola is associated with a two-fold increased risk for kidney decline.
Does diet soda make you drunk?
Cocktails made with diet soda get you drunker, faster, according to a study out of the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia. That's because sugar-free mixers allow liquor to enter your bloodstream much quicker than those with sugar, leaving you with a bigger buzz.
Does diet soda cause high cholesterol?
Messed-Up Metabolism. According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease.
Is diet soda in vogue?
Unfortunately, diet soda is more in vogue than ever. Kids consume the stuff at more than double the rate of last decade, according to research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Among adults, consumption has grown almost 25 percent.
Does soda make your teeth acidic?
Water is 7.) The acid is what readily dissolves enamel, and just because a soda is diet doesn't make it acid-light. Adults who drink three or more sodas a day have worse dental health, says a University of Michigan analysis of dental checkup data.
Does diet soda help you lose weight?
You read that right: Diet soda doesn't help you lose weight after all . A University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%.
Is it safe to drink diet soda?
To Drink or Not to Drink Diet Sodas. The American Beverage Association said in a statement that the FDA and other health organizations consider artificial sweeteners safe, and no research has shown otherwise .
Does diet soda cause diabetes?
A 2015 BMJ review of studies also found that a single daily serving of diet soda boosted the chance of diabetes by 8%.
Can you switch from sugary soda to diet soda?
Overall, says Ludwig, clinical trials have shown that if you switch from sugary sodas to diet ones, your weight will benefit.
Is diet soda better than sugar?
“I tell my patients to continue making the transition to unsweetened beverages,” he says. “We know that diet sodas are better than sugary beverages in terms of body weight, but we don’t know if better is actually good.”.
How much weight did the diet soda group lose?
At the end of the study, the diet soda group had experienced an average weight loss of 13.7 pounds (6.21 kg), compared with 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) in the water group ( 20. ). However, to add to the confusion, there’s evidence of bias in the scientific literature.
How much caffeine is in a can of diet soda?
A can of Diet Coke contains 46 mg of caffeine, while Diet Pepsi contains 35 mg ( 1, 6 ). Summary. Diet soda is a mixture of carbonated water, artificial or natural sweeteners, colors, flavors, and extra components like vitamins or caffeine. Most varieties contain zero or very few calories and no significant nutrition.
How many calories are in a diet coke?
It usually has very few to no calories and no significant nutrition. For example, one 12-ounce (354-mL) can of Diet Coke contains no calories, sugar, fat, or protein and 40 mg of sodium ( 1 ). However, not all sodas that use artificial sweeteners are low in calories or sugar-free. Some use sugar and sweetener together.
What are some artificial sweeteners in diet soda?
Instead of sugar, artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, cyclamates, saccharin, acesulfame-k, or sucralose, are used to sweeten them.
What are some sweeteners that are used in soda?
These include common artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, or an herbal sweetener like stevia, which are 200–13,000 times sweeter than regular sugar ( 4, 5. ). Acids. Certain acids, such as citric, malic, and phosphoric acid, are used to add tartness to soda drinks.
When were diet sodas invented?
Diet sodas were first introduced in the 1950s for people with diabetes, though they were later marketed to people trying to control their weight or reduce their sugar intake. Despite being free of sugar and calories, the health effects of diet drinks and artificial sweeteners are controversial.
Does diet soda cause diabetes?
Although diet soda has no calories, sugar, or fat, it has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in several studies. Research has found that just one serving of an artificially sweetened drink per day is associated with an 8–13% higher risk of type 2 diabetes ( 22. Trusted Source.
Why do people drink diet soda?
For instance, an individual might be consuming diet soda in order to lose weight if they have a high body mass index. ". Also, she says, people who drink diet soda may be more likely to eat foods that may pose health risks, like these Popular Foods Proven to Cause Lasting Damage to Your Body, Says Science.
Does sucralose affect insulin?
Some studies have shown that certain artificial sweeteners such as sucralose still negatively affect the response of insulin, the hormone used to help the sugar molecules enter the cells in the body. Insulin insensitivity or insulin resistance has been associated with obesity, diabetes, and other medical conditions.
Does soda cause bloating?
You might get very bloated. The carbonation in sodas has been long known to contribute to bloating. We're sure you've felt the effects of a can of soda on your belly. "But diet sodas contain another component that leads to bloating, artificial sweeteners," says nutritionist Lisa Richards, author of The Candida Diet.
Can diet sodas cause weight loss?
"Many people turn to diet sodas for weight loss, but they can have the opposite effect," says board-certified obesity expert Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie, MD, the lead physician at Embrace You Weight & Wellness.
Is diet soda bad for you?
An increasing body of evidence indicates that diet soda intake is associated with an elevated risk of developing a variety of medical problems, including heart failure, high blood pressure, metabolic conditions like diabetes, dementia, stroke, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disorder.
Does diet soda increase waist circumference?
For example, a Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study showed that people who drank diet soda every day experienced a waist circumference gain three times greater than people who didn't drink diet soda over the course of the nearly 10-year-long investigation.
Does soda help with enamel?
The acids in diet sodas can drop saliva pH to below 5.5, the threshold at which more rapid demineralization of enamel occurs, say researchers. Sipping soda through a straw and rinsing your mouth with water will help protect teeth.
How does the body react to sweeteners?
Your body reacts to the sweetener the same as it does when you drink a sugary soft drink . It triggers insulin, and your body gets switched into a fat-storing mode.
Does diet soda help with caffeine withdrawal?
If you drink diet soda for energy, coffee or tea can give you a lift with the caffeine, and it will also help you avoid the side effects of caffeine withdrawal.
Why does sugar drive the body to release insulin?
It drives your body to release insulin as sugar’s chaperone to the cells to create fuel. In the past, people assumed this process could not occur when we consumed artificial sweeteners because calories don’t follow the sweet flavor. But, one study found the process could very well happen.
Can you put fruit in soda water?
You can even use fruit in soda water to recreate soda’s bubbly appeal . Quitting a habit is never easy, but experts recommend that kicking soda all the way out of your diet can have profound effects on both your weight and your health. Advertising Policy.
Does switching from regular to diet soda cut calories?
Policy. “Switching from regular to diet soda may offer a short term cut in calories, but your body won’t be fooled for long ,” says registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD.
Does diet soda cause stroke?
Some research has even associated artificially sweetened sodas with increased risk of stroke. 3. Diet soda may change your brain’s reaction to sweetness. Some research suggests that those who drink diet soda have higher activity in the area of the brain associated with the desire to consume foods high in fat and sugar.
Does diet soda cause insulin confusion?
Those who drank diet soda even had a higher BMI than their counterparts. Advertising Policy. 2. Diet soda may cause insulin confusion.
How many Americans drink diet soda?
Almost half of Americans drink diet soda every day, according to a Gallup poll (via Fox News ). These days, Americans are also more health-conscious. With the rise of wellness drinks like celery juice and kombucha plus a multitude of boutique fitness studios and far too many health blogs to even try to keep track of, ...
What is in diet coke?
Traditionally, Diet Coke contains aspartame, though some versions contain Splenda (sucralose), according to Coca-Cola. After all, these artificial sweeteners are what make the diet drinks taste sweet without adding any calories.
Can you drink diet coke every day?
That said, if you drink Diet Coke every day, you aren't doing your gut health any favors. As Frank Lipman, physician and expert in functional and integrative medicine, explained in an article for Well+Good, artificial sweeteners actually "alter the microbiome and can kill off good bacteria in our gut.".
Does diet coke make you crave more sugar?
While artificial sweeteners, like the ones found in Diet Coke, may not have any calories, they can make you crave more sugar.
Can you gain weight by drinking diet coke?
You may actually gain weight if you drink Diet Coke every day. Many people give up their regular sodas and turn to Diet Coke as part of their efforts to lose weight. While it may make a difference if you switch from consuming numerous regular sodas a day to only diet ones, that isn't the only piece of the puzzle.
Can you drink diet soda while pregnant?
Shutterstock. There are seemingly a million restrictions when it comes to what pregnant women should eat and drink — as well as what they shouldn't eat and drink. While a soda or coffee here or there is not likely to be harmful, drinking diet soda while you're pregnant could actually cause you to go into early labor.
Does diet coke have calories?
Despite it's zero calories, though, it can still harm your body in a multitude of different ways. Thanks to the artificial sweeteners and other ingredients contained within each can, this is what happens to your body when you drink Diet Coke every day.
