Is Diet Soda Bad for You?
Many Americans are increasingly switching to diet soda as an alternative to regular soda that they have been so used to consuming for many many years. It is true that it contains lesser calories than the regular soda that we consume, but this does not necessarily mean that it is actually a better beverage for you.
As an alternative for regular soda, diet soda definitely is a better option. The amount of calories contained in it is certainly much lower. Most people assume this and that they can keep drinking as much as they want, and not worry about anything at all. Consuming too much of it on a daily or weekly basis ultimately adds a lot of calories in the system. Along with the calories, there are numerous other additives and chemicals present that end up harming the body. So, let's see if it is bad for you.
The root of the problem lies in over consumption. People consume it as much as they want without worrying about the consequences. This is a totally wrong attitude to have, and in the long run it is a potentially crippling one. American culture has evolved with the birth of soda, and it has become an integral part of people's lives. To completely give it up seems like sacrilege to most Americans. Hence they go looking for 'healthy' soda. Once they find it, they are disillusioned about its properties and believe that it is a completely harmless product. So they keep drinking more and more of it. Some people even believe that it is actually good for them.
Why is Diet Soda Bad for Health?
The underlying problem with diet soda is the chemicals the manufacturers add in them. Combine this with their intelligent marketing strategies aimed towards gullible target markets, and you are left with millions of people drinking large amounts of it. Pretty soon though, a whole bunch of medical problems start showing up in these people. At first it leaves them with a feeling of shock and disbelief, due to their regular consumption of 'healthy' soda. Only when some serious problem arises in their bodies do they realize that it is not good for health.
Drinking artificially sweetened drinks like diet soda makes one accustomed to consuming sweet things. As a result of this, a person starts craving more sugar and sweetness in other items of food and drink as well. Surely you don't need to be told that this is a bad thing. Over consumption also leads one to consume lesser and lesser of other healthy drinks like water, tea, etc. This makes a lot of sense when you picture yourself trying to drink a glass of water after consuming 3 cans of it. Make a smart choice and discard that habit immediately. Consume energy drinks instead.
The chemical that gives diet soda that sweetened flavor is called aspartame. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that aspartame is completely safe, but a lot of reported cases of headaches, diarrhea, memory loss, dizziness, and nausea have been found to originate from excessive consumption.
Diet Soda and Your Bones
A recent study showed that people who consumed diet soda once a week have far fewer bone problems than people who consumed it on a daily basis. Their bone density is significantly lower, and this cannot be a good thing. The reason for this is supposed to be the presence of phosphoric acid in sodas. The acidic effect of this compound requires calcium in the body to neutralize it.
Effect on Skin
Drinking too much diet soda dehydrates human body. The body needs water for survival, and without sufficient water the skin experiences many problems. It doesn't quench thirst, but satisfies the urge to drink something cold, and also fills the stomach. Therefore people who drink a lot of it drink less water. This ultimately has an adverse impact on their skin.
So, the conclusion that this brings us to, is that diet soda is not good for you. If you consume one or two cans in a week you will not face any problems. But this is not the case for most people. It is quite common to see people consuming 2-5 cans on a daily basis. Some people even foolishly use it as a substitute for water. This is completely wrong, and you should be looking for healthier alternatives.
