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Is Diet Soda Bad for You?

Rahul Thadani
Many Americans are increasingly switching to diet soda as an alternative to regular soda, that they have been consuming for 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 calorie content is certainly much lower.
Most people assume this and that they can keep drinking as much as they want. Consuming too much of it on a daily or weekly basis ultimately adds a lot of calories in the system. Also, there are numerous other additives and chemicals present, that end up harming the body.
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?

Drinking artificially sweetened drinks like diet soda makes one accustomed to consuming sweet things. As a result, a person craves more sugar 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.
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 only once a week have fewer bone problems than those who consumed it on a daily basis. Their bone density was be significantly lower. 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 excess diet soda dehydrates the body. Our body needs water for survival; without sufficient water, the skin experiences many problems. It doesn't quench thirst, but satisfies an urge to drink something cold, an fills the stomach. Thus, people who drink a lot of soda, end up drinking less water. This ultimately has an adverse impact on their skin.
Consuming one or two cans in a week is okay, but not more often. It is quite common to see people consuming 2-5 cans on a daily basis. Some people even substitute it for water. Thus, this practice should be avoided and the healthier alternative should be chosen.
Disclaimer: This is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.