Is diet soda better for us than regular soda?
As the weather begins to turn warm, we begin to crave an ice cold beverage. Gone are the days of hot herbal tea. Instead, we find ourselves indulging in soda, sweet tea and an ice cold beer.
We all know beer will undoubtedly add pounds around our midsection, and a refreshing glass of sweet tea is loaded with sugar. However, many of us are misled in believing diet soda has little to no effect compared to regular soda.
Wrong.
In a study at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, it was discovered that people drinking ONLY diet soda were at a GREATER risk to become obese than those consuming regular soda.
In fact, for each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person's risk of obesity went up 41%
As the weather begins to turn warm, we begin to crave an ice cold beverage. Gone are the days of hot herbal tea. Instead, we find ourselves indulging in soda, sweet tea and an ice cold beer.We all know beer will undoubtedly add pounds around our midsection, and a refreshing glass of sweet tea is loaded with sugar. However, many of us are misled in believing diet soda has little to no effect compared to regular soda.
Wrong.
In a study at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, it was discovered that people drinking ONLY diet soda were at a GREATER risk to become obese than those consuming regular soda.
In fact, for each can of diet soft drink consumed each day, a person's risk of obesity went up 41%
For regular soft drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
- 26% for up to 1/2 can each day
- 30.4% for up to 1 can each day
- 32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day
- 47.2% for more than 2 cans each day
For diet soft drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
- 36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day
- 37.5% for 1/2 to 1 can each day
- 54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day
- 57.1% for more than 2 cans each day
This is not to say diet soda causes obesity. Rather, it shows that something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity. Many believe giving your body something that tastes sweet, but lacks actual calories, leads our bodies to search for the calories promised but not delivered.
Some soft drink studies do suggest that diet drinks stimulate appetite. Others link artificial sweeteners to multiple illnesses.
I am not saying that you can never have another diet soda. I know that is probably an impossible request. However, if you are gaining weight despite eating healthy, or are feeling a bit "unlike" your usual self, try cutting out soda all together.
You will see a difference in both your overall health, as well as your weight loss effort!
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