How to Recognize Risks Associated with Drinking Diet Soda

Americans consume huge amounts of soda. While diet soda may not have as much sugar or as many calories as regular soda, it contains other chemicals that can put your health and your children's health at risk.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Recent studies indicate that people who drank more than one diet soda a day developed the same risks factors for heart disease and metabolic syndrome as those who drank regular soda. Metabolic syndrome symptoms include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar levels and obesity.
2. Many diet sodas contain caffeine. In addition to being a stimulant, caffeine can be addictive. Also, caffeine acts as a diuretic, which can cause dehydration, which in turn can lead to leg cramps, headaches and poor concentration.
3. Diet sodas can lower the intake of both Vitamin A and magnesium.
4. Yellow #5, a color additive in some diet sodas, can cause allergic reactions, poor concentration and asthma in some people.
5. All carbonated sodas, diet and regular, contain calcium leaching phosphoric acid. Too much acid in your system can alter your body's pH balance.
6. The acid in soda has the potential to contribute to the breakdown of the enamel on your teeth.

Tips & Warnings

• Water is the healthiest drink.
• Never substitute a diet soda for a meal. You are likely to eat more later in the day and your body will not get the nutrients it needs.