What Are the Negative Effects of Diet Pop?
When you're craving a fizzy, thirst-quenching beverage, you may be tempted to reach for a can of diet pop---the sugar-free cousin of regular soda. Typically sweetened with aspartame, diet soft drinks are a popular choice for health-conscious consumers and dieters trying to reduce extra sugar intake. Yet the calories you save by choosing diet pop may come at a hidden cost: several ingredients in these beverages contribute to health conditions and---paradoxically---can encourage weight gain. Before taking another swig of your diet drink, make sure the risks aren't too much to swallow. Does this Spark an idea?
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Bone Health
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One of the most alarming negative effects of diet pop is its effect on the bones. According to the Framingham Osteoporosis Study, published in the October 2006 edition of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, consumption of carbonated colas---both diet and regular---strongly correlates with reduced bone density, which can lead to more frequent fractures and osteoporosis. Although researchers still are investigating the link between pop and bone health, a major factor may be the high level of phosphoric acid in these beverages, which the body neutralizes by pulling calcium from bone tissue.
Weight Gain
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Although diet pop may seem like a boon for weight loss diets, its main sweetener---aspartame---actually may cause an increase in appetite, contributing to unwanted weight gain. Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center discovered that individuals drinking diet pop have an even higher risk of obesity than regular soda drinkers. Because artificial sweeteners like aspartame deliver "sweet signals" to the brain without providing actual energy, drinking artificially sweetened pop may hinder the body's ability to judge satiation. The result is an off-kilter appetite and a tendency to overconsume calories throughout the day.
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Caffeine
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Many varieties of diet pop---particularly colas---contain the stimulant caffeine. Caffeine is famous as a quick energy booster, but its positive effects rapidly wane; regular consumption of caffeine can leave you with fatigue, insomnia, hormonal imbalance and anxiety. Because it's a diuretic, caffeine also dehydrates your body---so rather than satisfying your thirst, diet pop may exacerbate it. Moreover, the caffeine in diet pop may lead to a chemical dependency over time, producing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and irritability.
Dental Health
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Diet sodas may save your teeth from cavity-causing sugar attacks, but these beverages could cause more dental damage than regular pop. Diet soda has a lower pH than most beverages, and every sip bathes your mouth in enamel-eroding acid, which puts your teeth at greater risk for decay. As a consequence, regular consumption of diet soda may lead to tooth pain, sensitivity and root canals. The more frequently you consume diet pop, the more likely you'll have damage your teeth.
Diabetes
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In a study published in the April 2009 edition of Diabetes Care, researchers isolated diet pop consumption as a significant risk factor in developing diabetes. Compared to the rest of the population, individuals who consumed diet pop on a daily basis were 67 percent more likely to develop diabetes, regardless of other contributing factors such as weight. Although researchers are still studying the reasons behind this link, the association between diet pop and diabetes is an important point to consider, especially if diabetes runs in your family.
Warning
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Along with the scientifically proven effects of diet pop, the beverage carries other potential dangers that have not been rigorously studied. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has declared aspartame to be safe for human consumption, the sweetener is enmeshed in a swirl of controversies about its role as a potential carcinogen and as a cause of myriad health problems. Some people report dizziness, headaches and stomach discomfort as a result of consuming aspartame, and others suspect a link between aspartame consumption and Alzheimer's disease, birth defects, ADD and multiple sclerosis.
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