Whats the Verdict on Diet Soda? Is it Really Bad for You?

by Terence Jarboe Web Designer

If you love diet soda like I do then hearing the news that it was linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke could have caused you to have a mini heart attack.

According to an article in MAX Sports and Fitness, a study was conducted on 2500 people and it revealed that 61% of those that drink diet soda had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

That number is pretty staggering on the surface but is it true?

This isnt the first time diet sodas have come under fire. It has been said that diet soda steals calcium from the bones which leads to osteoporosis and artificial sweeteners have been accused of causing cancer just to name a few.

If youve surfed the web looking for answers youve likely found a multitude of answers and it makes it very hard to determine fact from fiction.

So Whats the Truth?

Many health professionals believe more studies are needed before anyone can know for sure. “Quite honestly, there needs to be a lot more research before we can draw a conclusion,” says Danine Fruge, MD, Associate Medical Director at Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, Florida.

Before determining whether or not diet soda causes heart attacks and strokes, a number of variables have to be tested. The above study doesnt take into consideration other important variables and/or whether or not those factors themselves can also be linked to the same health problems. It should also be noted that 75% of those tested were African-American and Hispanic which means that they were already at higher risk.

The studies arent conclusive but that doesnt mean we shouldnt proceed with caution.

Today, I drink more water than I do diet soda but it hasnt always been that way. I remember drinking a 12 pack of caffeinated diet soda in one night at work 5+ years ago. Before I knew it I had grabbed the last one and until then it never occurred to me that I was drinking to many of them. Looking back I can see how crazy that is but at the time it was almost business as usual.

My rationale probably went something like this: Its diet so its okay to have as many as I want.

No wonder I suffered from obesity. The habit alone was a sign I was not in control and my behaviors in other areas of my life reflected how wide spread my problem was. Prior to 2008 our financial health matched our physical health. We were financially obese and we didnt have much control of our spending habits either. So we became debt free and now we want to achieve optimal health.

What a journey it is turning out to be too!

The truth is drinking diet soda in moderation probably wont kill you especially if you are otherwise making healthier food choices and drinking plenty of water. But that remains true for almost anything you consume. I can certainly acknowledge that even though I love soda, its obviously not the healthiest choice I can make. Since my goal is to achieve optimal health Im going to need to work on giving this tasty bubbly beverage a break from possibly wreaking havoc on my already weakened kidneys. I was recently diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease or PKD and no that doesnt prove diet soda is to blame.

With all of the possible variables at play, its hard to know for sure, but its also better to be safe than sorry.

See What the Doctors Are Saying

There may be a risk of cancer. There may be some issues associated directly with the consumption of diet sodas, including the caramel coloring (in colas) and artificial sweeteners and risk of cancer. says Wayne Anderson, MD, co-founder of Take Shape for Life Wellness Program, a system that helps people make lifestyle changes to achieve optimal health.
Phosphoric acid found in both diet and regular colas may cause bone decalcification, leading to osteoporosis. “Chicken and cheese as well as other foods have a high amount of phosphoric acid, too,” says Danine Fruge, MD, Associate Medical Director at Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, Florida. “And we don’t tell people not to eat these things.” Nevertheless, Fruge would advise a patient at high risk of osteoporosis to nix the soda.
Acids in soda can also cause dental erosion. This is particularly true for adolescents, whose dental enamel hasn’t fully matured. The biggest culprits? Citrus-flavored sodas, such as Mountain Dew and 7-Up.
Diet soda may cause you to crave more sweets, especially if you already have a sweet tooth. “People who crave sugary substances get less brain satisfaction from artificial sweeteners than they do from real sugar,” says Anderson. This can, in turn, cause a sugar craving as the brain attempts to satisfy its desire for real sugar.
Diet sodas may cause accelerated kidney decline, says Nehal Mehta, MD, Director of the Inflammatory Risk Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania. Data from a long-running project called the Nurses’ Health Study revealed in 2009 that those who consume two or more diet sodas per day were at two-fold risk for kidney decline over time, compared to those who drank one or no diet sodas daily.
Diet soda may be addictive. Some health experts say that diet sodas and the artificial sweeteners they contain may be psychologically – even physically – addictive. “I guess you could call it an addiction if you drink two liters of diet soda each day,” says Fruge.

Its scary to think that products that have been deemed safe for consumption could possibly harm us. Still we shouldnt let that fear consume us, especially when the evidence is inconclusive. We should instead live our lives focused on creating the life we want to live by making the choices that will get us wherever that is.

If we want to be as healthy as we can, then giving up soda isnt the worst idea in the world, but if you have a soda here and there youll probably be fine. Remember that anything can be unhealthy for us if we consume it irresponsibly.

Its important that we stop reacting to what we dont want and start creating what we do want. Living with that mindset is so empowering and can literally change your life.

And what a life you will have!

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