Sweet drinks are known to be very unhealthy due to the sugar they contain. They damage the kidneys, lead to obesity and can contribute to the development of type II diabetes. But fortunately there is an alternative. All well-known manufacturers have a diet version of their products - without sugar! But are these drinks really healthier? And do they help you lose weight?
In short, no! In fact, there are scientists who argue that the public should be informed about the harmful effects of sugar-free sodas in the same way that sweet drinks are.
Artificial sweeteners interfere with the body's natural ability to control calories based on sweet taste. The likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome doubles if you consume artificial sweeteners.
Are artificial sweeteners unhealthy?
There is a wide range of research linking diet drinks to a variety of health problems. They don't seem any "healthier" than normal sweet drinks. We have listed the negative effects on health for you:
Kidney damage
Scientists at Harvard University have found that people who drink sugar-free sweet drinks over a long period of time experience a 30% greater decline in kidney function. The study observed people who regularly consumed diet drinks over a period of 20 years.
depressions
Anyone who consumes more than four cans of sweet drinks per day has a 30% higher risk of developing depression. The risk appears to be even higher with diet drinks than with regular sweet drinks. Coffee, on the other hand, appears to reduce the risk of depression by 10%.
Cardiovascular diseases
Studies from the University of Miami and Columbia University observed 2,000 subjects over a period of 10 years. They concluded that regular consumption of sugar-free sweet drinks increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Other factors that can affect cardiovascular health, such as smoking or exercise, were also taken into account when assessing risk.
Type 2 diabetes & metabolic syndrome
A 2009 study found that daily consumption of sugar-free sweet drinks increased the risk of metabolic syndrome by 36% and the risk of type II diabetes by 67%. The artificial sweeteners seem to disrupt the communication between the brain and the intestines. Diet drinks change the microbiome - the bacterial composition of our intestines.
Brain
The sweetener aspartame, which is used in many sugar-free drinks, appears to negatively affect the brain's natural defense system. Animal studies have shown that prolonged consumption leads to an imbalance of antioxidants and pro-oxidants in the brain.
Sugar-free sweet drinks are by no means a healthy alternative to sweet drinks. They do not help you lose weight and regular consumption can have a very negative impact on your health and performance. If you're looking for a fizzy drink, you should try kombucha.
Sources
Swithers SE: Artificial sweeteners produce the counterintuitive effect of inducing metabolic derangements.
https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2013/Q3/prof-diet-drinks-are-not-the-sweet-solution-to-fight-obesity,-health-problems.html
http://www.newswise.com/ee/blog/entry/diet-soda-linked-to-depression-coffee-tied-to-lower-risk/
https://www.kidney.org/news/kidneyCare/spring10/DietSoda
Jennifer A. Nettleton et al.: Diet Soda Intake and Risk of Incident Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)
http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/09/17/349270927/diet-soda-may-alter-our-gut-microbes-and-the-risk-of-diabetes
Gardener H et al.: Diet soft drink consumption is associated with an increased risk of vascular events in the Northern Manhattan Study.
www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-there-a-link-between-diet-soda-and-heart-disease-201202214296
Abhilash M et al.: Long-term consumption of aspartame and brain antioxidant defense status.