Diet Drinks Compared To Regular Drinks

The main differences between diet and regular drinks are the sugar content, or lack thereof, and caloric value. Diet drinks are often sweetened with non-nutritive sweeteners that are calorie-free. There are benefits, as well as health risks, involved with consuming diet and regularly sweetened beverages.

Basic Nutrition Values

Diet drinks, such as diet soda, are usually calorie-free. One can, or 12 fluid oz., of regular cola provides about 136 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g protein, 35 g carbohydrates, 33 g sugars and 15 mg sodium, on average. The same amount of diet cola, sweetened with aspartame, provides 0 to 1 calorie, 0 g fat, 0 g protein, 0 g carbohydrates or sugars and approximately the same amount of sodium.

Ingredients

Regular drinks are sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Diet drinks, on the other hand, are sweetened with one or more non-nutritive sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose and/or acesulfame potassium. Other ingredients, such as colorings and flavorings, are usually similar.

Diet Drink Benefits

Although there are few benefits involved with consuming sugar-sweetened drinks such as soda, drinking diet beverages might contribute to weight management because they are calorie-free. According to an article published in Eating Behaviors in December 2009, some existing evidence, although limited, suggests that substituting energy- or calorie-free beverages such as diet soft drinks, coffee, tea and water for regular energy-containing beverages such as soda might facilitate weight management.

Sweetener Risks

Acesulfame potassium is a non-nutritive sweetener found in many sugar-free and low-sugar food and beverage products, such as diet drinks. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) recommends avoiding foods and beverages that contain the chemical sweetener acesulfame potassium because the center claims it might be unsafe if consumed regularly because it has been poorly tested. It isn't just acesulfame potassium that might put your health at risk; the CSPI recommends avoiding saccharin and aspartame (Nutrasweet) for the same reasons.

Potential Sugar Dangers

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, you should choose sugar- and starch-containing foods and beverages infrequently because of the effect sugars have on developing dental cavities as well as the excess calories they provide. "Empty" calories, in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages, might contribute to excess weight.