There are things that are obvious we shouldn’t drink – such as rubbing alcohol, swamp water, and motor oil.
Some drinks, like fruit juices and ones containing artificial ingredients are known to be consumed in moderation.
But what about the beverages that are advertised to benefit you? Turns out these may be some of the most deadly drink options out there.
Grabbing a soda with lunch or sipping on a large cup of the carbonated delight is a common practice in America, even though if you asked the average person whether soda is good for you or not they would shake their head no.
Countless studies have found sodas to contribute to obesity, increase chances of getting type-2 diabetes, and cause acne, reports Eat This, Not That.
So in an effort to reduce calories, sugar, and the harmful effects of consuming soda, the industry created “diet” soda.
This calorie free alternative may seem like the perfect substitution to get on track with your health and fitness, but there are things the product creators aren’t advertising- and you will want to know what they are!
If you’re pregnant staying away from diet soda is even more pertinent, as Mommy Underground has previously reported, because you could harm your little one as well as yourself.
However, when you are not pregnant and trying to fit into a bridesmaid dress by the spring you may turn to the bubbly beverage to help slim that waistline.
Turns out, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, consuming diet sodas and other artificial alternatives is just as bad as drinking the real thing!
The massive study of 100,000 participants over the course of a decade looked at how “artificially-sweetened drinks” and “non-nutritive” sweeteners contribute to heart disease.
“Our study suggests artificially sweetened beverages may not be a healthy substitute for sugar drinks,” wrote Eloi Chazelas, a PhD student and lead author of the study and a member of the Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team at Sorbonne Paris Nord University.
Heart health isn’t as glamorous as health advice related to weight loss, so let’s look at how diet sodas affect the scale.
In a 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society it was discovered that those who drank diet soda gained nearly three times the belly fat as those who didn’t drink diet soda!
One theory for these results is that artificial sweeteners cause sugar cravings that lead to increased calorie consumption.
If that is not a deterrent enough to drop your zero calorie addiction then consider a study published in the American Academy of Neurology that found drinking diet soda is linked to depression.
So if you want to avoid being sad and overweight put the can down!
Try replacing the soda with sparkling water or fruit-infused water to give you a burst of flavor and hydration.
Change can be tough, but this transition can give you lifelong benefits you will see and feel.