Diet carbonated drinks may be associated with an increased risk of heart-related disease and diabetes, even if the association appears to be an indirect one. Diet sodas, which have few calorie or no calories, contain mostly water, sugar substitutes and flavorings. The ingredients themselves appear to be generally safe.
How It Works
Adults who consume at least one diet or regular soda a day have about a 50 percent greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, according to a study published in the July 2007 issue of "Circulation." Drinkers of both types of sodas generally have diets with more sugar and fat than nonsoda drinkers while eating less fiber. They may also have more sedentary habits.
Features
You may think that by drinking diet sodas, you save enough calories to eat foods with higher calories although they may not be very nutritious. This is a common rationalization that can lead to problems, according to Cindy Moore, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic. If you frequently consume diet sodas rather than eating enough foods and drinks with essential vitamins and minerals, you will actually be depriving yourself of important nutrients.
Symptoms
Whether they have calories or not, sweet drinks may cause you to become accustomed to higher levels of sweetness and increase your craving for even more sweets, according to the July 2007 "Circulation" study. The research, which was a four-year study that included about 6,000 healthy adults, showed that those who drank at least one regular or diet soda a day had a 25 percent greater risk of high blood glucose and a 32 percent greater risk of lower levels of good cholesterol than those who did not. Researchers also noted increased waist size and blood fat levels. These developments are associated with a greater incidence of diabetes and heart disease.
Additional Information
The health problems associated with diet sodas may have more to do with the behavior and habits of those who drink them than with the sodas themselves, according to Cleveland Clinic. This is still a matter of debate, however. There may also be an association between the caramel additives in diet colas and insulin-based blood sugar problems. However, this link has yet to be proven, and not all diet sodas contain the additives.
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