Why is diet cola bad for you

It's not clear why artificial sweeteners might affect heart health , but some researchers think they may impact the microbiome and the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, causing adverse effects, Kris-Etherton said.

That, in turn, could affect blood pressure and glucose status, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Another review found no evidence these sweeteners made people hungrier or eat more. Start slow and make small changes rather than going cold turkey, experts advised. Water is the preferred beverage listed in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Kris-Etherton echoed that recommendation.

The CDC recommended adding a wedge of lime or lemon to improve the taste, or sticking with plain coffee or tea, or flavored waters. Sparkling water or iced tea without sugar are also good options. Kris-Etherton advised. Previously, she was a writer, producer and editor at CNN. If you drink a reasonable amount of diet soda — or as the Mayo Clinic puts it, "a can or two a day" — it's unlikely you'll experience major negative health effects.

But over time, the paradox of thinking that diet soda is healthier than regular soda can take a toll on your health in several ways. Over the years, numerous studies have reported links between diet soda with weight gain and serious, life-threatening diseases. Scientific opinion is mixed and, at times, conflicting.

While studies focus on the dangers of artificial sweeteners, what's important to understand is they aim to find correlations, not necessarily cause-and-effect:. For most people, cutting diet soda out completely may not be the answer. But of course, moderation is key. She says this goes for diet soda or regular soda. She also says that drinking soda, diet or regular, will not hydrate you as well as drinking good old-fashioned water — add a spritz of lemon or lime juice for flavor.

Water is the best way to hydrate your body, quench your thirst, and promote health," says Oh. If you're missing something fizzy, Oh recommends unsweetened sparkling water or unsweetened tea over other beverage options.

While more research is needed, it is clear that drinking diet soda should be met with a mindful examination of your eating and diet habits. Some research suggests that those who drink diet soda have higher activity in the area of the brain associated with the desire to consume foods high in fat and sugar.

This means that diet soda could potentially change how the brain reacts to cravings for high-calorie foods. Not so fast. If you crave caffeine in moderation , you are likely better off with plain coffee or tea. Quitting a habit is never easy, but experts recommend that kicking soda all the way out of your diet can have profound effects on both your weight and your health.

But if that cloud is made of diet soda — a replacement for the real thing — you may have just created new problems. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter.