All our favorite foods and drinks are either loaded with sugar or salt. We think if we drink diet drinks we're being healthier - but are we, really? Perhaps we're satisfying our sweet tooth without excess calories, but there's still chemicals and artificial sweeteners involved. Here's the truth behind diet soda and what you need to know.
Can Diet Soda Help You Lose Weight?
Diet soda is known to have less sugar than regular soda, which results in a lower calorie intake. So theoretically, switching to diet soda could lead to weight loss. Nonetheless, it's not the best drink if you're truly trying to lose weight and drink healthier. Drinking plain water will result in higher weight loss and greater improvements in blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. If you're trying to quit regular soda, then diet soda is a stepping stone toward healthier habits. It won't dramatically affect your health if you're sticking to 1 to 2 servings a day, but you should still make water your long-term drink of choice.
Are Artificial Sweeteners Safe To Drink?
Aspartame is one of the most common artificial sweeteners in drinks, yet it has been blamed for many scary health issues. Nonetheless, it is constantly tested and studied across the world, since it is a popular additive in foods. Majority agree it’s safe for human consumption, and the FDA says it’s acceptable to drink 50 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. Basically, an adult weighing 165 pounds would have to drink about 19 cans of diet soda a day to go over the acceptable level.If you're still concerned, then try consuming drinks with natural sweetener, such as Stevia or Splenda. However, safe doesn't necessarily correlate to being healthy. Artificial sweeteners aren't the greatest for your gut since it can affect the good bacteria, and may even lead to glucose intolerance in some people.
What Are The Effects Of Carbonation?
Even though it's diet soda, there's still equal carbonation, which can lead to a number of proven health issues. The acids in carbonated drinks can erode tooth enamel and brittle teeth, as diet drinks may be worse for your smile than sugary drinks. Diet colas generally contain a specific acid called phosphoric acid, which has also been linked to lower bone density, kidney disease, higher chance of kidney stones, and questionable appetite. Do you still want to drink diet soda after this?
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-Gina
