Why Is Diet Soda Bad For You?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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It's simple: while

doesn't contain real sugar or calories it does contain a lot of additives and artificial ingredients including sweeteners

. These ingredients are full of unnatural chemicals that can cause your body to crave more high-calorie and sugar-laden foods.

Is diet soda worse than regular soda?

Flickr / niallkennedy Diet sodas may be calorie-free, but they could be worse for your health and your waistline than ones with sugar, a new report suggests.

Is diet soda unhealthy?

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. Some types of diet soda are even fortified with vitamins and minerals. But diet soda isn't a health drink or a silver bullet for weight loss.

What is the bad ingredient in diet soda?

The artificial sweetener aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet), which is added to many medications, diet foods and diet sodas, contains

phenylalanine

.

What is the healthiest diet soda?

  • Calories: 0.
  • Fat: 0 grams.
  • Protein: 0 grams.
  • Sugar: 0 grams.
  • Sodium: 2% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Potassium: 2% of the DV.

What can I drink instead of diet soda?

  • Sparkling Water. The closest alternative for sodas is sparkling water. …
  • Flavored Sparkling Water. …
  • Sparkling Water Infusions. …
  • Freshly Squeezed Lemonade. …
  • Kombucha. …
  • Coconut Water.

Can I drink diet soda and still lose weight?

In fact, these studies have found that

replacing sugar-sweetened drinks with diet soda can result in weight loss

( 18 , 19 ). One study had overweight participants drink 24 ounces (710 mL) of diet soda or water per day for 1 year.

Do diet sodas cause belly fat?

A potential culprit for that protruding belly can be diet soda or beverages with

artificial sweeteners

. One recent study shows a link between the high consumption of diet drinks and the increase of belly fat in older adults.

Can diet soda make you fat?

Experimental studies do not support the claim that diet soda

causes weight gain

. In fact, these studies have found that replacing sugar-sweetened drinks with diet soda can result in weight loss ( 18 , 19 ). One study had overweight participants drink 24 ounces (710 mL) of diet soda or water per day for 1 year.

What does aspartame do to the body?

Dozens of studies have linked aspartame — the world's most widely used artificial sweetener — to serious health problems, including cancer,

cardiovascular disease

, Alzheimer's disease, seizures, stroke and dementia, as well as negative effects such as intestinal dysbiosis, mood disorders, headaches and migraines.

How many diet sodas a day is safe?

But, like many foods containing artificial additives, there is a safe daily limit. An average adult should consume no more than 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram of body weight per day. To exceed the limit, most people would need to drink

at least 14 cans of diet drinks a day

.

What diet soda does to your stomach?

Drinking excessive amounts of diet soda can sometimes affect the lining of the stomach. “Over time,

it can get irritated from the carbonation

,” Valdez says. Heavy soda drinkers frequently develop indigestion, bloating and heartburn. Plus, carbonated drinks are a known trigger of acid reflux.

What are the side effects of diet soda?

  • Could disrupt gut health. …
  • Erodes tooth enamel. …
  • May cause headaches. …
  • Could decrease bone density. …
  • May affect heart health. …
  • Might be associated with sugar cravings. …
  • Might be related to weight gain. …
  • May be linked to type 2 diabetes.

What is the unhealthiest soda?

  • Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash.
  • Wild Cherry Pepsi.
  • Fanta Orange.
  • Mountain Dew.
  • Mellow Yellow.

What is the healthiest diet in the world?

  • The flexitarian (mostly plant-based) and DASH diets tying for second place.
  • WW (formerly Weight Watchers) in fourth place. It assigns point values to foods, with more nutritious choices having fewer points.

What is a healthy alternative to soda?

  • Arnold Palmer Lite. …
  • Tea – iced or hot. …
  • Freshly-squeezed lemonade. …
  • Sparkling water. …
  • Kombucha. …
  • Sparkling water with a splash of juice. …
  • Maple water. …
  • Fruit and herb infusions.
Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.