Diet Soda

By Coach Maria - Salus Nutritionist & Food Expert

Diet soft drinks made their debut in the mid 60's to appease the dietary shifts of that generation.

Out of the 64% of adults who drink soda, 24% of them drink diet soda.

It's the guilty-free version of soda drinking, right?  No calories! No sugar! - well, we know that all diet soda contains artificial sugar which causes a bit of debate as to whether or not it's better than regular soda.

There are plenty of studies connecting diet soda consumption with higher risks of health issues including stroke in men and women, and metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes.

The word "diet" on the can is somewhat deceiving, as the drink can have negative effects on your health.

• Kidneys - An 11 year-long Harvard Medical School study of over 3,000 women found a 2-fold increased risk of kidney function decline when they consumed diet soda.
• Obesity - Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate caloric intake; meaning when you consume artificial sweeteners, your body/brain is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar and then craves more.
• Teeth - Diet sodas have a high pH level, leaving your teeth at risk of dissolved enamel, increased decay and fillings.

When taken at face-value, diet soda seems like a benign choice for a drink, but considering the risks associated with it, that choice may not be worth making.