Diet sodas are often perceived as innocuous alternatives to sugar-laden regular sodas. Indeed, diet sodas on an occasional basis are perfectly reasonable choices. A can or two a day, MayoClinic.com nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky states, is a safe level given the artificial sweeteners and chemicals. However, she further states that while diet sodas are lower in sugar and calories than regular soda, there is some troubling evidence that diet sodas aren't as innocuous as they first appear.
Diabetes
While there isn't yet a direct link between diet sodas and diabetes, a 2005 study conducted by the University of Texas found that daily consumption of diet soda was linked to a 67 percent increase in the potential to develop type 2 diabetes. This study concluded that study participants could not directly attribute their consumption of diet soda to the potential to develop diabetes. However, the study authors note that the potential for diabetes was independent of other potential contributing factors, such as waist circumference or glucose fasting levels.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that some doctors refer to as "pre-diabetes." It is linked to heart disease and stroke. If you have one of the dominant risk factors--abdominal obesity or insulin resistance--you may have metabolic syndrome. A 2008 National Institutes of Health-funded study reviewed the diets of 10,000 average adults in the United States. While fried foods, refined grains and processed meats are well known dietary issues, the study's surprise was in the link of metabolic syndrome to diet soda. Adults who drink diet soda were at a higher risk for developing metabolic syndrome. The study is not conclusive, as the diet soda drinkers may be more likely to have other behaviors that cause metabolic syndrome, but the researchers found the link significant.
Gastrointestinal Issues
People who regularly drink diet soda, particularly those who are in their teenage years, are more prone to elevated acid levels. Regularly drinking diet sodas may upset the alkaline-acid balance of the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead it to be overly acidic, causing stomachaches and erosion of the lining of the stomach, especially if consumed regularly on an empty stomach.
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