By now we know that soda isn't the healthiest beverage out there, but sometimes you just can't resist enjoying a glass of Diet Coke. If you're a Diet Coke fan and can't fathom the thought of giving up the fizzy drink, health experts want you to know that you're putting your body at risk for developing some pretty scary diseases and health issues, all thanks to those ingredients that make your Diet Coke so delicious. Here's 11 reasons why you should kick your soda habit once and for all:
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1. It's filled with artificial sweeteners
Love the sweet taste of Diet Coke? Well, you can thank the artificial sweeteners aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose for that!
2. These sweeteners can mess up your body
Artificial sweeteners have more intense flavor than real sugar, so overconsuming Diet Coke will dull your taste buds to naturally sweet foods and make you crave more artificial drinks, according to Brooke Alpert, RD, author of The Sugar Detox.
3. Too much Diet Coke could lead to weight gain
"Artificial sweeteners trigger insulin, which sends your body into fat storage mode and leads to weight gain," Alpert tells Health.com.
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4. Diet soda is linked to Type 2 Diabetes
A study conducted by the University Of Minnesota found that drinking one diet soda a day is associated with a 36% increased risk of metabolic syndrome (high blood pressure, elevated glucose levels, raised cholesterol, and large waist circumference) and diabetes.
5. Diet Coke offers no nutritional value
Sure Diet Coke has zero calories, but that doesn't mean that it's good for you. In fact, the best no-calorie drink out there is water. "Water is essential for many of our bodily processes, so replacing it with diet soda is a negative thing," dietitian Cassie Bjork tells Health.com.
6. Your Diet Coke addiction could be giving you headaches
Studies have shown that aspartame may trigger headaches in some people. "I have several clients who used to suffer from migraines and pinpointed their cause to diet soda," Bjork says.
7. Diet Coke also leads to tooth decay
Say goodbye to your pearly whites, because your soda addiction is going to make them rot! Studies show that excessive soda drinking can lead to tooth erosion, all thanks to the citric acid that's used to give Diet Coke its tartness.
8. Don't use it as a mixer either!
Everyone loves a Rum + Coke from time to time, but adding soda to alcohol can cause dangerous effects. Research from Northern Kentucky University revealed that participants who drank cocktails mixed with diet drinks had a higher breath alcohol concentration than those who didn't.
9. Diet Coke can affect your mood, too!
Those who excessively consume diet soda are more likely to develop depression, according to a study done by American Academy of Neurology.
10. It can weaken your bones
Tufts University researchers found that drinking soda can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis. Their research showed that their female participants had nearly 4% lower bone mineral density in their hips compared to the women who didn't drink soda.
11. Diet Coke isn't heart healthy
Researchers from the University of Miami and Columbia University say that having one diet soda a day can boost your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Yikes!