Diet soda has been around for a while now and, for the most part, people have accepted it as a legitimate alternative to regular soda. But is there any real evidence that diet soda is worse for your health than regular soda? Let’s take a look.
The Evidence.
One of the main reasons people choose to drink diet soda is because they think it’s better for their teeth. The truth is that there is no evidence to support this claim. In fact, studies have shown that compared to regular soda, diet soda is actually good for your teeth. In an article published in Dentistry Today, Dr. Donald Roberts states:
“Dentists know that sugar is harmful to teeth. But what about the additives in diet soda? That is a question that has been asked for a long time, and the results of several studies are intriguing. It seems that diet soda can protect against tooth decay, in some cases. This needs to be corroborated by clinicians, but it is an encouraging finding. If you are concerned about your teeth, then you definitely should not be drinking diet soda.”
The Dangers Of Artificial Sweeteners.
One of the downsides to choosing a diet soda is that, most often, they contain artificial sweeteners which scientists have not fully studied yet. Although many people prefer the taste of artificial sweeteners over the taste of sugar, there is actually no conclusive scientific evidence that proves this to be true. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved these artificial sweeteners for consumption and the agency has not classified them as safe for human consumption, either. This is why we should still be careful about how much product we put in our bodies, especially when we are still unproven and the effects of these sweeteners are not yet known. In the article “Why Should We Care About Artificial Sweeteners?”, Dr. Roberts states:
“Most people think that diet soda is perfectly safe, as there are no artificial sweeteners in it. But this is not true… The jury is still out on whether or not artificial sweeteners are safe for human consumption. Some animal studies suggest that they could cause cancer… This is a cause for concern, especially since we do not know how much of these products people are consuming on a daily basis.”
The Calorie Difference.
The other major difference between diet soda and regular soda is in the calories. Diet soda typically has fewer calories than regular soda. According to Dental News, diet soda has about 20 calories per 8-ounce serving, while regular soda has about 36 calories per 8-ounce serving. Since diet soda has fewer calories, it follows that it can be consumed in larger quantities. However, this is only an anecdotal observation and there is actually no scientific evidence to prove this claim.
To add more, diet soda is often cheaper than regular soda. So, if you are looking to save money, then you might want to choose diet soda instead of regular soda. But if the taste of soda is something you crave and you are concerned about your health, then you should consume no more than 6 ounces a day, if at all. This is to abide by the recommended daily limit for liquid sugar, which is set forth by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Also, if you are going to consume any soda, then you should choose a diet variety, which often contains no artificial sweeteners. These are usually the healthier options. You should also look out for signs of tooth decay, as this will likely be your dentist’s first indication that you are consuming too much sugar.
In summary, there are many health benefits to be gained from drinking diet soda. The major downside is that, in some instances, artificial sweeteners in diet soda have not been proven safe for human consumption. In any case, if you are worried about your health, then you should not be drinking any kind of soda, full stop. Hopefully, this article has provided you with enough information to make an informed decision about whether or not diet soda is right for your needs. If you found this article valuable, then you might also enjoy reading Is Coffee Healthy?, our other article on the topic of healthy vs unhealthy beverages. Thanks for visiting!