This Is What Happens to Your Body on Diet Soda

Diet soda may actually derail your diet, but that’s only the beginning of the health issues it [...]

Diet soda may actually derail your diet, but that's only the beginning of the health issues it causes.

As 'diet' is in the name, it isn't surprising that roughly 59 percent of Americans say they drink this type of soda regularly, often citing weight loss goals and improved health for the choice, the University Health Services at the University of Texas at Austin reports.

But a 2015 study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that people who drank diet soda gained almost triple the abdominal fat as those who didn't drink diet soda over a period of nine years. Not only is this weight gain concerning, but storing fat in the belly presents another host of health problems. When fat is stored as visceral fat, which packs underneath the abs, there is increased risk of cardiovascular disease, inflammation and Type 2 diabetes.

Some experts believe that diet soda is a trigger for weight gain because it is flavored with artificial sweeteners. These ingredients send messages to your brain that your body is receiving sugar and the body prepares itself to ingest the calories. Since diet drinks are calorie-free, your body will crave what it has prepped for, leading you to binge on other unhealthy foods to fill up.

But diet-destroying qualities aside, these calorie-free, sugar-free soft drinks can have a profound effect on your body, inside and out.

If you drink just one diet soda per day, studies have found that you increase your risk of heart attack by 43 percent and your risk of developing type 2 diabetes rises by 67 percent.

If you crack open two diet sodas each day, your habit is linked to a doubled risk of kidney disease.

And if you guzzle three diet drinks during your day, not only will the acidity level and the caramel coloring can stain your teeth, but you significantly increase your risk of tooth decay—damage that cannot be reversed.

For those who've developed a habit of drinking 4 or more cans of diet soda per day, a study found that you're 30 percent more likely to develop depression.

As if the scary statistics caused by this naughty beverage aren't enough, the cans or bottles holding your soda may be harmful to your health as well. These vessels often contain BPA, a chemical that may alter your hormone levels and may be linked to decreased fertility.

Since diet soda is clearly a no-go for good health and traditional soft drinks are loaded with harmful sugars—not to mention BPA—your best best for staying healthy and hydrated is to stick with water. If your sweet tooth draws you to sodas, experiment with fruit-infused waters for added flavor.

Photo credit: Shutterstock
0comments