Soda isn't known for being the healthiest drink. It's loaded with caffeine, sugar and preservatives and contains no nutrients. It might provide a burst of energy for some people, but it's usually short-lived. Diet cola is free of sugar but contains aspartame, which can have other side effects in the body and health.
Calcium Loss
Diet cola contains a high amount of phosphorus. According to naturopathic doctor Michael Murray, higher levels of phosphorus can lower the calcium in your body. Phosphorus does this by increasing the speed at which calcium is excreted from the body. This prevents the body from absorbing the amount needed for the bones to remain strong. Dr. Murray points out that this leads to poor bone-mineralization in children and a higher risk of osteoporosis in adults.
Caffeine
Diet cola is higher in caffeine than all other diet sodas except for Mountain Dew, according to MayoClinic.com. For example, a 12-oz. can of diet Coke contains 47 g of caffeine, while regular Coca Cola contains 35. Diet Dr Pepper contains 44 g of caffeine. High amounts of caffeine, especially when taken regularly, can cause excessive urination and as a result dehydration, restlessness, anxiety, fast heart rate and difficulty sleeping.
Long-Term Health Problems
There's much debate as to the dangers of aspartame, the sweetener used to replace sugar in diet soda. According to Betty Martini, a lecturer at the 2008 World Environmental Conference, heavy drinkers of Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi are more likely to have a weaker immune system, which can lead to problems such as systemic lupus, multiple sclerosis and other diseases. Too much aspartame -- just three or four 12-oz. cans a day -- can also cause joint pain, memory loss and even depression, Martini warns.
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