Maintaining brain health is essential for cognitive function, memory, and overall mental well-being. While a balanced diet plays a significant role in supporting brain function, the beverages we consume can also have a profound impact. Some drinks, particularly those high in sugar or caffeine, can negatively affect brain health by disrupting sleep, increasing inflammation, and impairing focus and memory.
Over time, regularly consuming these beverages can take a toll on cognitive abilities and may even contribute to long-term issues like mental fatigue and reduced brain function.
Neuroscientist Robert Love recently took to his TikTok channel to explain why this specific type of drink can be especially harmful: diet sodas. He highlighted insights from Dr. Heather Sandison, a naturopathic doctor who has reversed Alzheimer’s disease in clinical trials, pointing out that despite being labeled as “diet,” the sugar content in many diet sodas are a major concern. Read on to learn more.
@robertwblove WHY Diet Soda Is So Bad For Your Brain. #dietsoda #aspartame #nutrasweet #brain #diabetes #brainhealth #soda @drheathersandison #robertwblove original sound – Robert Love
Diet soda’s damage to brain health
Sanderson first says that any type of soda should not be consumed, whether it’s the diet sugar with fake sweeteners or the regular sodas with a high amount of sugar.
When that much sugar is consumed, your liver doesn’t know what to do with it, she says. “This confuses our metabolism. This leads to insulin resistance, a lack of sensitivity, so that our body can’t efficiently process sugar. This leads to an accumulation in the blood cells of sugar, and that causes almost like a caramelization over time,” she states.
When you drink diet soda or any type of soda, it’s similar to what happens when you cook an onion or caramelize sugar—your cells start to undergo a similar process, Sanderson highlights.
When your liver can’t process the high dose of sugar from soda quickly enough, it becomes a toxic burden, hindering its ability to function properly.
Diet soda specifically can be a sneaky drink. “Diet soda tricks our brain into thinking that they’ve gotten some sugar, but without getting us the satisfaction of that sugar,” this leads to increased sugar cravings, which is the opposite of what we want. Over time, this can contribute to weight gain, gastrointestinal distress, and negative changes in the microbiome.
Despite being sugar-free, diet sodas often contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which have been linked to potential cognitive issues.
Healthier Alternatives
For better brain health and hydration, consider swapping diet soda with these alternatives:
Water with lemon or cucumber: staying hydrated is essential for optimal brain function, and adding a slice of lemon or cucumber can make it more refreshing.
Green tea: rich in antioxidants like EGCG, green tea can enhance brain function, improve mood, and protect against cognitive decline.
Herbal teas: options like chamomile or peppermint tea can calm the mind and support relaxation without the adverse effects of artificial sweeteners.
