Is Diet Soda Really Better For You? We Asked Health Experts
We probably don’t have to tell you twice that you should avoid excessive amounts of sugary soda if you want to lead a healthy life. It’s no secret that sugar can be detrimental to your body when you have too much of it. For this reason, many people opt for diet sodas to replace their sugary counterparts–but is this really a healthy option? As it turns out, it might not be. In fact, some research suggests that diet soda can be an equally unhealthy beverage choice.
To learn more about the potential health risks of diet soda, we spoke to nutritionist Lisa Richards, creator of The Candida Diet. She told us that the artificial sweeteners in these seemingly better-for-you drinks may lead to complications over time. Find all of her insight below!
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Diet soda isn’t necessarily healthier
Unfortunately, Richards confirms that diet soda can be just as bad as regular, sugary soda in different ways. That’s because, in place of sugar, the diet variety is loaded with artificial sweeteners, which come with their own share of health risks. That means what you save in calories, you lose in other areas of your health.
“While diet soda may be lower in calories and sugar than regular soda, it is not necessarily a healthy choice,” Richards warns. “Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame and sucralose, which are commonly used in diet soda, have been the subject of ongoing debate and controversy regarding their potential health effects.”
She goes on to say that some of the risks associated with artificial sweeteners include weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of certain types of cancer. Additionally, these sweeteners can take a serious toll on your gut health by disrupting the balance of bacteria in your gut microbiome, which, in turn, can impact practically every aspect of your wellness. What’s more, the sweet flavor of these artificial ingredients can still lead to increased cravings for actual sugar even more, resulting in overeating and, ultimately, weight gain.
“It's important to note that diet soda is not a healthy drink, and it should not be consumed in place of water or other hydrating beverages,” Richards says. “It is also important to pay attention to the total amount of soda, including both regular and diet varieties.”
All in all, drinking any type of soda in a regular basis is likely not worth the risk–you’re better off going with a healthier beverage like flavored water or kombucha. And if caffeine is what you’re after, you can never go wrong with a cup of tea.
