Will Diet Coke Make You Fat
There is no evidence to support the idea that diet Coke causes weight gain, according to experimental investigations. It has even been discovered in these trials that switching from sugar-sweetened beverages to diet soda might result in weight reduction . Participants in one research were instructed to consume 24 ounces of diet Coke or water every day for a period of one year.
Is Aspartame Harmful To The Body
Except in the case of those suffering from phenylketonuria, aspartame has not been definitively connected to any specific health risks . A uncommon genetic ailment in which the body is unable to digest phenylalanine, an amino acid contained in many foods, this condition is known as phenylketonuria .
Diet Soda: Good Or Bad
Diet sodas are popular beverages all over the world, especially among people who want to reduce their sugar or calorie intake.
Instead of sugar, artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, cyclamates, saccharin, acesulfame-k, or sucralose, are used to sweeten them.
Almost every popular sugar-sweetened beverage on the market has a light or a diet version Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Pepsi Max, Sprite Zero, etc.
Diet sodas were first introduced in the 1950s for people with diabetes, though they were later marketed to people trying to control their weight or reduce their sugar intake.
Despite being free of sugar and calories, the health effects of diet drinks and artificial sweeteners are controversial.
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You’ll Crave More Sugar When You Drink Diet Coke Every Day
Artificial sweeteners definitely get a bad rap, but a lot of people still turn to them to help them stop consuming so much sugar. While artificial sweeteners, like the ones found in Diet Coke, may not have any calories, they can make you crave moresugar.
According to the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, “artificial sweeteners, precisely because they are sweet, encourage sugar craving and sugar dependence.” So if you are trying to cut back on sugar, Diet Coke probably isn’t the way to go about it. Additionally, Frank Lipman, physician and expert in functional and integrative medicine, wrote for Well+Good that “the taste of sweet be it artificial or actual sugar appears to play a significant role in increasing appetite” in general.
Artificial sweeteners increase your cravings, especially for sweets. As such, drinking even just one Diet Coke every day could cause you to want even more sweets and for anyone trying to get healthy, that’s pretty much the last thing they’d want to be craving.
Health Benefits Of Diet Soda
Drinking diet soda does not provide any direct health benefits. However, it may offer some people a way to reduce their consumption of sugary beverages.
People who wean themselves off sweetened sodas by drinking diet sodas can significantly reduce their sugar intake. They can then begin to transition to more healthful drinks, such as sparkling water.
Some analysts, especially those with ties to the soda industry, insist that there is no compelling evidence directly linking soda to poor health. Others insist that diet soda remains a healthful alternative to traditional soda, despite the evidence to the contrary.
The authors of a 2016 analysis noted that 26 studies found no link between soda consumption and worse health outcomes. However, those studies had received funding from companies in the soda industry.
This fact, the authors of the study argue, suggests that the soda industry is manipulating contemporary scientific processes to create controversy and advance their business interests at the expense of the publics health.
To cut down on diet soda, a person needs to understand why they drink soda and then find a viable alternative.
For some people, soda offers a quick caffeine jolt. Switching to coffee or tea may be a good alternative as both of these drinks provide several health benefits. The best choice is unsweetened coffee or tea. Milk can offer some sweetness without the extra sugar.
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You’ll Be At An Increased Risk Of Diabetes If You Drink Diet Coke Every Day
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 30 million Americans have diabetes and there are even more citizens who are considered prediabetic. Although common, diabetes can be a debilitating illness. And, if you drink Diet Coke every day, you’re sadly at an increased risk of developing the disease during your lifetime.
According to Healthline, “Although diet soda has no calories, sugar or fat, it has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes.” Specifically, one study from the Center for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France found that the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages “were associated with increased risk.” Diet coke may be advertised as a healthy alternative to regular soda, but given its link to the metabolic disease in those who drink it regularly, it really shouldn’t be portrayed as healthy at all.
Is Diet Soda Bad For You
Pssssssssssssch!
As far as simple pleasures go, popping a tab on a can of soda and hearing that sound ranks pretty high. And then, the first sip which, in my humble opinion, is always the best sip.
Thankfully, diet soda helps to keep this sweet indulgence from being decadent. But, does diet soda give you a free pass to enjoy soda guilt-free? Is diet soda actually bad for you? And what about the claims that the artificial sweeteners in diet soda are harmful if consumed long-term?
Before you head to your local grocery store to stock up on your favorite diet pop, here are a few important things to consider:
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Does Diet Soda Lead To Weight Gain
There is no causation between drinking diet soda and immediately gaining weight.
However, similar to eating sugar, drinking diet soda can lead to insulin resistance, which does lead to weight gain, prediabetes, and potentially the development of type 2 diabetes.
A 2012 study showed that the artificial sweeteners in diet soda may change the levels of dopamine in the brain, thus changing the way ones brain responds to sweet flavors.
Artificial sweeteners found in diet sodas are hundreds of times sweeter than real sugar, and if youre used to drinking the sweet flavor of diet soda your brain will naturally adapt to the level of sweetness, and youll start craving sweeter foods as a result.
Equal is 160-200 times sweeter than sugar, and SweetnLow is 300-500 times sweeter than natural sugar. When not drinking that diet soda, this can cause you to eat more foods made with sugar, and gain weight as a result.
When youre hooked on diet soda, you may find naturally sweet foods like fruit less appealing, and foods like broccoli and kale may start to feel almost inedible. This, in turn, makes many people reach for more processed foods to simply meet their newer tastes.
Additionally, when you drink diet soda, you may signal to your brain that youre doing something healthy, and eat unhealthy food along with it to reward yourself.
How Does A Diet Cokagne Taste
According to Hanks, the combo is delicious. Even Colbert seemed surprised to report that it wasnt awful. After mouthing Wow, to Hanks, the actor responded, How about that? Everyone at the table tried it and said, Ooh, you know what Dad? Thats pretty good.’
Colbert agreed. Its strangely, strikingly, shamefully good, because its so refreshing, he said.
If that wasnt enough, TODAY With Hoda and Jennaco-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager took on the drink, too. The two less than enthusiastically poured their own glasses to see how it would taste.
Its kind of good, Kotb said, looking surprised. Hager agreed, adding, Wait a minute. Its like a Coke float. The two said though they wouldnt make the drink again, it tastes not as sweet as classic Coke. Finally, Hager joked, Tom Hanks can do anything.
After all that hype, Wine Enthusiast Digital Managing Editor Rachel Tepper Paley decided to put the combo to the test. I struggle with a somewhat shameful Diet Coke habit, and I had a split of cava knocking around, so I figured why not? She reports that the drink was especially fizzy at first pour, but seemed to lose effervescence rather quickly. It did look rather nice in a long Tom Collins glass, though.
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Does Drinking Diet Soda Have And Side Effects
Even though diet soda doesn’t have sugar or calories, it does still contain phosphorus, which if consumed in excess, may lead to deterioration of bone density with age and heighten risk of osteoporosis. Of course this doesnt mean much if you have one or two, but if diet soda is your jam and youre drinking them like water, they surely add up.
Just one 12 oz. can of Diet Coke contains 27 mg of phosphorus, so chugging a few cans a day is not recommended, she says. Plus, drinking Diet Coke can cause bloating since gas is added to this beverage to create bubbles and carbonation, she adds.
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Due to its carbonation and artificial sweetener content, drinking diet soda can cause gas, bloating, upset stomach, and water retention. These factors can reduce the number of healthy bacteria in the gut and alter the microbiome, she says.
Whats more, there are no nutrients, so youre not doing your body any favors that might aid in weight loss efforts Although holds virtually no calories and the research on its health effects are conflicting, this popular drink holds no nutritional value to your overall diet, she says.
Diet Coke Can Harm Your Health In Several Ways
Besides upping your risk of chronic disease, drinking Diet Coke can also damage your kidneys and negatively impact your gut microbiome. A 2017 study published in CJASN found an association between diet soda consumption and an elevated risk of kidney disease. In addition, the artificial sweeteners in diet soda were found to negatively affect gut health and increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, according to a 2019 study published in Advances in Nutrition.
“Diet Coke, like any other food or drink, is processed by the kidneys. Large amounts of diet soda have been connected to kidney damage and disease. This is due to the high phosphorus and synthetic ingredients passing through the kidneys,” explains Best. “Also, diet soda changes the gut’s microbiome and exacerbates the inflammatory response in the body. The artificial nature of the ingredients in Diet Coke makes it moderately inflammatory. The changes to the gut made by artificial sweeteners also exacerbate inflammation in the body.”
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Is Diet Coke Better Than Regular Coke For Weight Loss
Firstly, to lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit, meaning you need to consume less energy than what you expend. For long-term success, you need to do this consistently.
Immediately, the thought of swapping a 500ml bottle of Coke for a 500ml bottle of calories in Diet Coke is much more appealing to help reduce calories, and prevent consuming 50g of refined sugar. But what about the huge amounts of aspartame?!
Rogers et al 2016 conducted a meta-analysis that showed the consumption of LCS improved weight loss in adults and children when compared to sugar-based alternatives, as part of an ad libitum diet.
Another meta-analysis in 2014 found no association between LCS and body weight or fat mass and may have a positive association with BMI.
The authors concluded that data from RCTs, which provide the highest quality of evidence for examining the potentially causal effects of LCS intake, indicate that substituting LCS options for their regular-calorie versions results in a modest weight loss and maybe a useful dietary tool to improve compliance with weight loss or weight maintenance plans.
Why Is Diet Coke Worse Than Coke
In fact, studies show that individuals who drink diet soda regularly are more likely to have chronically high insulin levels, compromised gut microbiomes, and nearly double the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2
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Diet Coke Nutrition Facts
About one-fifth of Americans drink diet soda on any given day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diet coke, for instance, has been around for decades and enjoys popularity worldwide. It’s the go-to choice for millions of gym-goers and healthy eaters.
Surprisingly, health organizations warn about the dangers of diet soda. For example, a May 2018 cohort study published in Current Development in Nutrition states that artificially-sweetened beverages cannot be ruled out as an independent risk factor for diabetes. Furthermore, it doesn’t protect against type 2 diabetes, as it was once thought.
So, what’s in Diet Coke that’s bad for you? One can has zero calories, zero sugar, zero fats and negligible amounts of sodium. Diet Coke calories are not a reason for concern. Its ingredients, on the other hand, may pose health risks. These include:
- Natural flavors
Aspartame, the sugar substitute in Diet Coke, contains phenylalanine, an amino acid that may cause seizures and brain damage in people with phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder. The Mayo Clinic warns that aspartame should also be used with caution by individuals with anxiety disorders, sleep problems or tardive dyskinesia. When consumed in excess, this additive may worsen anxiety and cause jitters.
Which Is A Better Choice
There are very few differences between Diet Coke and Coke Zero. As such, there is no concrete, measurable reason to suggest that one is superior to the other.
Nutritionally, there are no significant differences. Their ingredient and caffeine contents are similar as well, so neither is healthier than the other.
Remember that diet soda is not considered a healthy drink. Its a fun treat that can be consumed in moderation and switching from original sodas to diet ones is a great starting place if youre trying to cut back on added sugars.
Whichever you choose will depend largely on which tastes better to you. Coke Zero has been said to taste more like regular Coke, but some people feel differently and even prefer Diet Coke over regular Coke.
Summary
The best choice will depend on your taste preferences. There are no significant differences nutritionally between Coke Zero and Diet Coke.
With the conflicting evidence surrounding artificial sweeteners, you may be wondering how you can get your fizzy fix while limiting your artificial sweetener intake.
Here are some ideas you can try:
Summary
There are many alternatives to diet or zero sugar sodas. Kombucha, sparkling water, and sodas sweetened with plant-based alternative sweeteners are all similar in flavor without containing artificial sugars.
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Will Diet Coke Raise Blood Sugar Levels Up In Diabetics
People with diabetes often switch to sugar-free products if they want to indulge a craving. For example, they might try sugar-free cookies or diet products that are made especially for diabetics or contain no added sugars. Based on that concept, switching to drinking Diet Coke might seem like the best choice. However, diabetics need to consider certain things before trying diet sodas.
Is Aspartame Worse Than Sugar
When measured in grams , aspartame contains 4 calories per gram , which is comparable to the amount found in sugar, however aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. To put it another way, just a very small quantity of aspartame is required to sweeten meals and beverages. As a result, it is frequently used in weight-loss regimens by individuals.
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How Much Sugar Is There In Coke Zero And Diet Coke
There are a variety of lower calorie/lower sugar alternatives to regular, full-fat Coke.
Coke Zero and Diet Coke are perhaps the most popular of these variations.
Coke Zero features several common artificial sweeteners, including aspartame and acesulfame potassium . It contains zero calories and sugar but still retains a familiar Coke flavour. Diet Coke, on the other hand, uses low calorie sweeteners to give the drink a sugary taste without the sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrate.
Despite the fact that sugar-free alternatives seem to be better for our health than sugary drinks, recent research has found these substitutes are more complex than we may realise.
When diet drinks first launched in the 1950s, they were initially aimed at those who were looking to lose weight. But research has actually found a correlation between obesity and artificial sweetener.
In fact, one study found that people who drank more than 21 artificially sweetened beverages per week almost doubled their risk of overweight and obesity, compared with people who didnt consume these kinds of drinks. Another study found that drinking diet soda was associated with greater waist circumference over 910 years. However, no clear link has been identified as of yet.
This means sugar substitutes may not be a clear-cut solution for those trying to lose weight.
How Bad Is Diet Coke For You
Increasing evidence shows that diet soda use is associated with an increased risk of a variety of medical issues, including cardiac disorders such as heart attack and high blood pressure, to name a few of examples. Diabetes and obesity are among the metabolic disorders that might occur. Dementia and stroke are two examples of brain diseases.
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