Health Risks of Diet Soda

by Jenny Sugar 1

The waitress swings by your table and you casually order a Diet Coke. This zero-calorie beverage seems like a great way to have your soda and lose weight too, but aside from sabotaging your weight loss goals, innocently sipping a diet soda can put you at risk for a whole slew of health issues. Keep reading to find out why you may want to skip the diet soda, or at least cut down on your habit.

• Studies show that drinking diet soda may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke by 44 percent.
• The artificial sweeteners, though calorie-free, make our body crave sugary calories, so drinking diet soda can actually lead to weight gain.
• Although diet plays a major role, a diet soda habit may also be linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Caffeine consumption can make you jittery, worsen IBS symptoms, increase blood pressure, cause sleep issues, and lead to osteoporosis.
• Artificial sweeteners are just that — artificial. Although the FDA deems them safe in moderate consumption, artificial sweeteners like aspartame can cause headaches and migraines, and long-term use of acesulfame K can cause nausea and possibly cancer.
• Aside from diet soda offering no nutritional value whatsoever, the caffeine can also lead to dehydration. You're better off choosing zero-calorie tea, seltzer, or water to stay hydrated.

Source: Flickr user Like_the_Grand_Canyon