Is It Safe For My Health To Drink Diet Soda?
The consumption of diet soda is controversial. What negative effects are attributed to it and what the science says about artificial sweeteners. The healthiest thing is always to replace diet sodas with natural juices and water.
Diet or light soda is one that does not use conventional sugar, but artificial sweeteners. It is often touted as ideal for weight loss and as a healthy alternative. However, there are those who consider that drinking diet soda is harmful. That’s right? What does science say about it?
Diet sodas use sweeteners instead of table sugar (sucrose). Artificial sweeteners are just one type of substitute for sugar.
Also read 8 natural alternatives to substitute sugar
What are artificial sweeteners
Some manufacturers call their sweeteners “natural” even though they are processed or refined. In fact, stevia is one example.
In contrast, some artificial sweeteners are derived from natural substances such as herbs or sugar itself. Sucralose is an example of an artificial sweetener that comes from sugar. Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar. That’s why a small amount is needed to maintain the same level of sweetness without adding calories.
What does science say about using artificial sweeteners?
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for each artificial sweetener. This determines the maximum amount that is considered safe to consume each day throughout your life.
According to the National Cancer Institute of the United States, there is no solid scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners cause cancer or other serious health problems. Numerous studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited amounts, even for pregnant women.
Artificial sweeteners are regulated by the FDA as food additives which reviews and approves them before they are released for sale. For example, a task force of the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that aspartame is safe for the mother and the developing baby.
Also read Infusions to control blood sugar
Arguments against consuming diet soda
Arguments about the potential harmful effects of diet sodas include:
- When drinking this type of soda, the brain perceives the presence of candy and releases insulin. This lowers blood sugar levels and creates a need for more sweet. adding calories.
- Due to the high levels of phosphoric acid, kidney stones .
- Aspartame increases blood sugar and spikes in insulin levels , which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
- Increased likelihood of heart and cerebrovascular conditions for the high levels of sodium and fructose that raise blood pressure.
- Aspartame would cause an imbalance in mood states, migraines and anxiety.
- Wear of tooth enamel by citric acid present in diet soda, cavities and yellowing of the teeth.
Replace diet soda with water or natural juice
Like all food, in the recommended doses, diet soda is safe for human consumption. Do not consume it in excess as it adds calories, excess sugar, and that can lead to other conditions.
Beyond its possible effects, it is always healthier to drink water, fresh fruit juice, or smoothies rather than diet sodas. On this, there is no controversy.
