Pop Quiz: Are Diet Sodas Rotting Your Teeth?
The Effects of Diet Soda on Health
Negative effects on teeth are only one downside to drinking diet soda. Your waistline may be affected, too – adversely. For instance, Dr. Mark Wiley, MSM, OMD, PhD, reported on a study in which “there was a 70 percent greater increase in waist circumference among those who drank diet soft drinks as compared to those who didn't.”
And according to Prevention, there are six other reasons you might want to steer clear of drinking diet soda:
- DNA Damage – Diet sodas may damage your DNA. If it sounds scary, that's because it is. Diet sodas contain a chemical that regular sodas don't: mold inhibitors. These chemicals, or preservatives, can severely damage cells and lead to allergies, hives, asthma and skin/eye irritation.
- Kidney Problems – Researchers found that diet soda consumption can double the risk of kidney function decline, which they speculate is due to the artificial sweeteners diet soda contains.
- Obesity Culprit – Diet soda may be touted as a good substitute while dieting, but the artificial sweeteners in the drink can affect a person's sensitivity to sweetness and lead to overeating.