The Skinny on Diet Soda

The Skinny on Diet Soda

If you are trying to win the “battle of the bulge” it’s likely that you have turned to diet soda as your beverage of choice. Bubbly and bursting with flavor, and no calories—who could ask for more than that?!

Well, I am sorry to be the one to burst all those tiny bubbles, my friend, but I have some not-so-good news for you. Recent studies have found  that not only is the “diet” part of diet soda harmful, but they have confirmed that all the other health-stealing character traits of regular soda remain—even though the calories have been stripped away. Here are some of the health problems your bubbling beverage is serving up:

KIDNEY DAMAGE—A 2009 Nurse’s Health Study, whose test sample included over 3000 women, found that those who drank two or more cans of diet soda each day had a 30% decrease in kidney function when compared with people who drank calorie-filled sodas!

WEIGHT GAIN— In 2005, a study out of the University of Texas discovered that the more diet soda a person drank, the worse it was for their waistline. In fact for each diet soft drink a person drank per day, they were 65% more likely to become overweight during the next seven to eight years, and 41% more likely to become obese.

TOOTH ENAMEL DAMAGE—The tangy flavor of soda you enjoy comes from the addition of phosphoric acid. And being an acid by nature, it does what all acids do—it eats away at things, specifically at your tooth enamel (the protective “shell” your teeth are encased in). I guess that’s why phosphoric acid is also used as a powerful rust remover!

BONE LOSS—Calcium is a crucial for strong bones. Yet, again thanks to the phosphoric acid in soda, the dietary calcium in your body becomes an endangered species. Not only is it blocked from being absorbed into your blood stream, but the calcium that does make it through is excreted at a quicker rate by your kidneys. This places you at greater risk for osteoporosis because bones must donate some of their calcium to keep your body’s blood calcium level in the “safe zone”.

So please, do your body a huge favor and replace your diet soda with a glass of sparkling water, flavored with citrus fruit or a splash of juice. Your body will be glad you did.