Diet drink
dilemma
dilemma
While there’s nothing wrong with a few sips of soda here and there, consuming it by the caseload is never a good idea. And this applies to the diet sodas, too. In fact, some experts say that diet drinks containing saccharin may cause you to gain even more weight than the regular variety. So if you’re counting calories, check out why it may be time to ditch (or at least cut back on) the diet drinks.
The truth about “diet” soda
Are diet drinks making you fat? Well, maybe. According to a recent Purdue University study, soda may make you pack on more pounds than if you sipped sugary drinks. As reported in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience, rats on diets containing the artificial sweetener saccharin gained more weight than rats given sugary food. But that’s not to say there’s no point in drinking low-cal sodas. Some experts suggest that it’s psychology – not biology – that causes the weight gain. Diet-soda drinkers may eat more thinking they are getting away with fewer calories by downing diet soda and that’s where the weight gain comes from.Diet soda dangers
While the jury’s still out about diet drinks and weight gain, one thing’s for sure: Too much soda of any sort is hard on your body. In particular, cola drinks can lead to kidney stones and other renal problems, thanks to high levels of phosphoric acid. So says a study published in the journal Epidemiology, where a team of researches discovered that drinking two or more colas a day was linked to a twofold risk of chronic kidney disease. And soda may lead to brittle bones, too. In fact, one study says that women who had more than three cans of cola a week had significantly lower bone density in their hips than those who drank it less than once a month.Substitutes for soda
So how much soda can you down before all of the bad stuff sets in? One can a day shouldn’t cause any harm. And when your mouth waters for more, go for flavored seltzer water (or just plain water), juice or tea. You can also add juice to seltzer for a fruity fizzy drink.More ways to ditch the diet drink
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Superdrinks: High in health and antioxidants
Four healthy alternatives to diet soda
