Is That Diet Coke Killing You? Potential Health Risks of Diet Soda

I used to be a Coke addict, and years ago when I dated a diabetic became quite the consumer of Diet Coke…Jack & Coke being my beverage of choice on a night out, and icy cold Diet Coke there to quench my summer thirst when mowing the lawn.  My attitude and love for Diet Coke, and for sodas of all types started changing long before I started following my Isagenix Dieting plan…simply stated, I avoided it, used it as a special treat.  There was nothing specific, just sensed that drinking 2, 3, 4 even 5 bottles or cans of Soda Pop a day could not be good for me, so  adopted the advice found in the adage, “All things in moderation.”  As time went on, as various reports suggested some very serious potential risks in Diet Soda, have all but cut out any consumption of Soda Pop of any kind, so not necessarily beating up on just Coke…it just happened to be my pop of choice.  One should be asking themselves, “Is my consumption of Diet Soda killing me?”

A bold question, but let’s explore some of the potential risks found in consuming diet soda.

I view diet soda  as something you need to eliminate from your diet. It's a  peeve of mine. Many people enjoy diet soda, feel it is a “freebie” because it contains zero calories (not exactly true). What many people fail to realize: diet soda can be very detrimental to their health.

Why is diet soda unhealthy? Let me count the ways!

Neurotoxin

A neurotoxin is a substance which inhibits the functions of neurons. Neurons are found throughout the brain and nervous system, and the function of these unique cells is critical for a variety of tasks, ranging from autonomic nervous system jobs like swallowing to higher-level brain function. Neurotoxins can work in a variety of ways, with the danger of exposure varying, depending on the neurotoxin involved and the dosage.

In some cases, neurotoxins simply severely damage neurons so that they cannot function. Others attack the signaling capability of neurons, by blocking releases of various chemicals or interfering with the methods of reception for such transmissions, and sometimes telling neurons to send false signals. A neurotoxin may also destroy neurons altogether.

So why discuss neurotoxins in the same article with diet soda…in a word, which acts as a neurotoxin.  Imagine destroying or severely damaging your brain and nervous systems neutrons every time you drink a can of diet pop!  Don’t know about you, but that sure gives me cause for pause when I find myself craving a can or fountain Coke.  If you explore the breakdown of aspartame in your body, the news gets worse.

Aspartame

Made from L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanyl-methyl-ester, aspartame is 200 times as sweet as sugar and contains negligible calories. Once in the human body, aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol. Methanol is a wood alcohol poison that, when heated above 86 degrees Fahrenheit (the human body temperature is 98.6 degrees), converts to formaldehyde. Aspartame is also an excitotoxin that builds up in the brain, and can excite brain neurons to the point of cell death.

Let us explore further the dangers associated with Diet Soda of which there seem to be far too many…especially as our nation faces a serious national obesity crisis.  Diet Soda Causes Headaches and Other Symptoms…enter yet another newer artificial sweetener that comes with a host of potential negative health effects including headaches/migraines.

Sucralose (Splenda)

Sucralose may be a trigger for migraines, according to a study published in the August, 2006 issue of “Headache: Journal of Head and Face Pain.''

Some concern has been raised regarding the effect of sucralose on the thymus, reports TripAtlas.com. The thymus is a small organ in the upper chest that helps a person's body make white blood cells during childhood.

Sucralose may also intensify sugar cravings, increase appetite, and trigger insulin release.

Sucralose is relatively new on the market place in the big picture of artificial sweeteners, its first use in Diet Soda its use in RC for your trivia buffs.  Most of the studies being done are being paid for by the sweetener industry itself, so they have a vested interest in singing Sucralose praises, rather than fully exploring the risks associated with it.  Another tidbit for you trivia fans out there…many artificial sweeteners are not calorie free!...seems the fillers contain calories, but the FDA allows companies to claim zero calories if the packet contains less than 5 calories.  So much for truth in advertising when it comes to artificial sweeteners put into diet soda.

All Soda is Acidifying…Acid Reflux Anyone?

NEWSFLASH everyone…soda is made up with a number of ACIDIC CHEMICALS…yes, I said CHEMICALS, acidic ones.  In fact, soda is one of the most acidic substances ingested by human beings, and WE DO IT WILLINGLY.  Acids in the diet soda we drink carry some very serious health risks such as demineralizing the bones and teeth, and can lead to both fractures and osteoporosis.  Furthermore, acid in our bodies can cause other health conditions such as corrosion and inflammation of body tissues…overly acidic bodies will not appear as youthful and beautiful…in short, it will contribute to you LOOKING OLDER.  Most important of all in my opinion…CANCER THRIVES IN AN ACIDIC ENVIRONMENT!

Diet Soda is Caffeinated

I know, so is coffee…as I stated before, “All things in Moderation” and caffeine can be harmful if we are consuming to much of it.  Fact is, many diet sodas contain the addictive artificial stimulant that is CAFFEIN!  Caffeine can tax our liver and hamper its ability to CLEANSE and FILTER toxins!  Did you also know too much caffeine can trigger stress hormones which can result in WEIGHT GAIN as well as CHRONIC STRESS!  Lastly, caffeine is a diuretic which dehydrates our bodies…maybe reaching for water is a better health choice?

Diet Soda INCREASES RISK of Obesity…OMG!

Let’s cut to the chase…A University of Texas Health Center study made some startling findings testing the link between diet soda and obesity.

Obesity risk increased as followed:

26.5 percent for people drinking up to ½ can of diet soda per day, and 24 percent for regular soda drinkers consuming up to one can per day

54.5 percent for one to two cans of diet soda per day as opposed to 32.8 percent for those drinking the same amount of regular soda

57.1 percent for people drinking more than two cans of diet soda per day as opposed to 47.2 percent for people drinking the same amount of regular soda.

My reading…drinking soda of any kind contributes to obesity, but drinking diet soda increases your risk of obesity more than drinking regular caloric soda containing sugar or high-fructose corn syrup does!

These are just some of the potential risks of drinking diet soda, but there are others such as increasing your toxic load (diet soda contains carbonated water, artificial coloring, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, citric acid) which places toxic load on your liver, and some studies even suggest consumption of diet soda could increase your risk of heart disease.   With all these associated health risks, maybe it is time for you to ask yourself…is that icy cold diet drink worth the risks?  Next time you want a diet soda, consider reaching for an icy cold glass of water instead…your body will thank you for it.

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