diet-coke-doesnt-help-weight-LOSS.jpg
 
Some researchers think that artificial sweeteners, most frequently consumed in diet drinks, may confuse the body.
Purdue professor reviewed studies on whether diet soft drinks increases likelihood of overeating
Diet soda, it turns out, may not be the panacea for weight loss that we all thought -- and many of us hoped -- it was.
In fact, a Purdue University study has found that diet sodas may be linked to a number of health problems from obesity to diabetes to heart disease, just like their more sugary counterparts.
Susie Swithers, a professor of psychological sciences and a behavioral neuroscientist, reviewed a number of recent studies looking at whether drinking diet soft drinks over the long-term increases the likelihood that a person will overeat, gain weight and then develop other health problems.
One large study found that people who drank artificially sweetened soda were more likely to experience weight gain than those who drank non-diet soda. Others found those who drank diet soda had twice the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, often a precursor to cardiovascular disease, than those who abstained.
Surprisingly, some of the studies suggested diet soda may be just as bad for our health as non-diet.
"Are diet sodas worse for you than regular sodas? I think that's the wrong question," said Swithers, who is also a member of Purdue's Ingestive Behavior Research Center. "It's, 'What good are sodas for you in the first place?' "
The studies included drinks containing aspartame, sucralose and saccharin. About 30 percent of American adults regularly consume these sweeteners.
While research indicating that diet soda might not be a health food has been around a few decades, in the past 25 years, Americans' consumption of these drinks have skyrocketed, among a proliferation of options and concerns over obesity.
Such thinking has driven many schools and hospitals to stop offering sugary sodas in their cafeterias and vending machines in an effort to improve the health of their patrons.
But research, such as that done by Swithers, suggests that tactic could backfire and that there could be serious long-term health consequences to regular consumption of diet sodas.
In scientific terms, Swithers' piece is a review study, one that looks at many different studies to reach a conclusion.
The American Beverage Association, the trade association for the non-alcoholic drinks industry, described it a different way.
"This is an opinion piece not a scientific study," the organization said in an emailed statement. "Low-calorie sweeteners are some of the most studied and reviewed ingredients in the food supply today. They are a safe and an effective tool in weight loss and weight management, according to decades of scientific research and regulatory agencies around the globe."
Click here to read more.
 
SOURCE: USA Today
Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star
ab-actions.pngab-evernote.pngab-instapaper.pngab-pocket.pngDelicious
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Prince Malachi is the founder of The Oracle Network and the Streetwear brand Y.A.H. Apparel

You need to be a member of The Oracle Mag to add comments!

Join The Oracle Mag