Is diet soda really healthy?

Very recently I made the decision to denounce diet drinks altogether. I love diet Coke because the idea that a drink could be tasty yet have 0 calories and sugar seemed like a healthy alternative to sugar laden soft drinks. Aside from apple juice I don’t care for many fruit juices, and when water gets a bit boring I turn to diet pop.

Like many people I too have heard the controversy about the aspartame in diet soda being harmful to your body, but I never really paid attention to it. One day while drinking a diet soda it dawned on me; why is the ingredient aspartame on my soda can always made to stand out in larger letters, like a warning? It said “aspartame contains phenylalanine.” When I researched what this substance was I read that it could be linked to many health issues, but it was still unclear whether or not it posed a serious threat because of its approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The information available on the health risks of consuming diet soda is surrounded by much debate. Some say that the research to support the risks is inconclusive while others disagree.

Some of the health risks associated with consuming diet soda include:

*Weight gain

*Increased risk of belly fat and heart disease

*Artificial sweeteners may alter the body’s ability to regulate calories and trick the body into thinking the substance is sugar

*Contains a substance knows to irritate the skin, eyes and mucous membranes

*Erosion of tooth enamel

*Reproductive issues

*Headaches & migraines

*Increased risk of cancer

Because the debate and research on the risks seem to be unclear I have decided to make my own judgments. What I do believe is that right now there are ingredients and components going into our food that we are unaware of and that may be engineered and unhealthy. Mass production of food means that corners may be cut and that scientists have to find new ways to keep up with consumer demand. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener, meaning that it is not a natural sugar but rather created as a sugar substitute with zero calories, and it may be beneficial to avoid artificial additives whenever possible. I also took into consideration that with the increase risks of metabolic diseases and the rise of obesity, diet and low calorie foods are a big business, so regulations regarding these substances may be slack.

If aspartame is recognized by my body as a foreign substance which is hard to break down, or my body thinks it is getting sugar and causes weight gain then it is pointless having it in my diet. At least with sugar my body recognizes it and knows how to use and process it unlike aspartame which is artificial. 

Considering that there is so much controversy over its health risks I decided to be safe and try to cut down by not drinking diet soda. There may be aspartame in other substances I am not aware of but I have to start somewhere. It will be interesting to see if cutting out diet soda has any beneficial side effects on my overall health.

Am I sad to see it go? Yes, because as I said I like diet Coke, so now I am going to have to come up with healthier more natural alternatives. Wish me luck because the more of that stuff I drank the more I craved.

What do you think about diet pop? Do you drink it?

Disclaimer: I am not reporting that cola, diet coke or aspartame is bad for your health. I am sharing inconclusive findings that are available online. I am expressing my own thoughts and feelings on artificial sweeteners. I do not dislike Coke, its manufacturer or its products, I actually find them quite enjoyable. My reasons for removing coke and artificial sweeteners from my diet is based on my own health initiatives and personal concerns. I am not promoting or encouraging anyone to do the same. It is your responsibility to follow whatever dietary plan works for you.

Sources: 

Prevention.com

Live Science