Published on 07:40 PM, November 17, 2022

Reaching for a diet soda? Think again!

Photo: Collected

Many individuals drink diet soda to get a delicious and bubbly drink without consuming hundreds of calories or a lot of sugar. Numerous studies, however, have revealed a link between excessive diet soda use and severe health issues such as diabetes, fatty liver, dementia, heart disease, and stroke. This article examines the possible links between diet sodas and your health and discusses whether it is a healthier option than regular soda.

Is diet soda bad for you?

Although diet soda producers frequently claim that it is healthier than regular soda and is an excellent choice for people attempting to lose weight, remember that it contains artificial sweeteners such as saccharin or aspartame to get the same sweet taste as sugar. An increasing amount of data suggests that drinking diet soda increases your risk of a variety of medical issues, including —

Heart problems, such as a heart attack or high blood pressure

Metabolic problems such as diabetes and obesity.

Illnesses of the brain such as dementia and stroke.

Conditions of the liver like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Health benefits of diet soda?

Some analysts, particularly those with ties to the soda industry, maintain there is no strong evidence linking soda to bad health. Despite evidence to the contrary, others claim that diet soda is a healthier alternative to regular soda. Diet soda provides some people with a strategy to minimise their use of sugary beverages. People who switch to diet drinks from sweetened sodas can significantly reduce their sugar intake. They can then switch to healthier drinks, such as sparkling water.

How to cut down

To cut back on diet soda, a person must first understand why they drink it and then discover a feasible substitute. For some people, soda gives a quick caffeine rush. Switching to coffee or tea may be an excellent option, as both have numerous health benefits. Unsweetened coffee or tea is the finest option. Milk can provide some sweetness without adding extra sugar. 

If the sweetness of soda appeals to you, try indulging in natural foods instead. Sweet whole fruits like peaches, mangoes, apples, and berries provide an immediate hit of natural sugar without many of the health hazards associated with soda. People who are unable or unwilling to stop consuming diet soda can lower their risk of health problems by drinking less of it.

Diet soda has no health benefits other than serving as a tool to help people wean themselves off regular soda. While the precise association between diet soda and medical disorders is unknown and requires additional investigation, it is evident that it should not be viewed as a healthy alternative to sugary drinks.