Almost every sugar sweetened beverage, in America has a ‘light’ or ‘diet’ version on it. Most consumers prefer the ‘light’ or ‘diet’ branded beverages on the notion that they contain low levels of calories than normal beverages. Americans believe that diet sodas help in weight reduction, and regulate sugar intake in the body preventing cases of type2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (Hassink, 2005).
On average, every American takes at least two cans of diet soda focusing on weight loss but without consideration on the effects that such drinks have on the body. The dilemma on most consumers lies on the effects of non diet soda as compared to effects of diet soda (Jacoby, 2005). A close analysis of the health effects of both diet and non diet soda indicates that the latter is healthier than the former. Diet soda has more side effects on human health than non diet soda.
Recent research from the American Journal of Clinic Nutrition revealed that, consumption of diet soda is on an increasing trend with kids consuming it twice more than in the last decade. Adult consumption has increased by almost 25%. This implies that most people take the beverage without the awareness of its side effects on health. If this trend continues, it would imply that by 2020, most people will be affected by at least one or two side effects of diet soda, and this implies an unhealthy economy that will be economically unproductive.
It is unfortunate that people tend to ignore the vagueness that comes with diet soda. Diet sodas are carbonated drinks, which do not have sugar rather the components of sugar are substituted by sweeteners such as aspartame, cyclamate, acesulfame-k, saccharin, or sucralose (Hassink, 2005). These sweeteners are more harmful to the human body that natural sugar. Some of these effects are highlighted below:
A study conducted by the University of Minnesota in 2008 with 10000 respondents revealed that most of the respondents had high levels of cholesterol and belly fat. These fat types linked to their messed up metabolic rates with 34% of the respondents being at a risk of metabolic syndrome. Low metabolic rates may relate to eating habits, and often occurs together with risks such as stroke, heart failure and diabetes.
In an 11 year long study by Harvard Medical School with more than 3000 women respondents, it was found that diet soda increases the risk of kidney failure with a two-fold increase. Even though, kidney failure may also result from non-diet sodas due to their high levels of sweeteners, the substitutes used in diet soda were found to associate with the kidney failures (Hassink, 2005).
The perception that diet soda leads to weight loss might be a marketing strategy if consumers are to consider the following; the University of Texas Health Science Centre found out that increased consumption of diet soda does not reduce weight as people think rather it increases weight on consumption.
Consuming at least two cans of diet soda a day increases the waistline by over 500%. This accrues from the disruption of the body’s ability to regulate calorie intake by the sweeteners used in diet sodas. This implies that people who consume the beverage are more likely to overeat as their systems are tricked into thinking that it is consuming sugar, therefore, one craves more that while taking non-diet soda (Jacoby, 2005).
In addition, diet soda leads to cell damage such as the DNA in the Mitochondria to a point of deactivation. They contain mold inhibitors such as Potassium benzoate and Sodium benzoate used as preservatives, which are not present in non diet soda. These chemicals deactivate cells or totally damage them (Hassink, 2005). Some companies have ruled out Sodium Benzoate after Peter Piper, a professor of molecular Biology from the University of Sheffield revealed its effects on the DNA. Most of these companies have adopted Potassium benzoate, which is no better as it causes mucous membranes, and skin and eye irritations.
Diet soda is also among the highest ranked when it comes to acidic levels. The beverage has a P.H of 3.2, which dissolves human enamel leading to rotten teeth or other dental issues (Jacoby, 2005). Acidic compounds such as phosphoric acid used in its manufacturing and preservation lead to bone loss as it leads to faster excretion of calcium.
Conclusively, there is more to diet soda than people think. Most consumers go for the drink for weight loss, and even go ahead to introduce it to their children as an early weight watch. However, diet soda has many health implications, which are more serious than with non diet soda. The natural sugar used as a sweetener in non diet soda has less health effects if it were to be compared with the effects of diet soda. It is crucial to note that the diet soda business is growing and becoming a boom while many Americans continue to expand their waistlines. It would be wise if these consumers find out the effects of this beverage, and substitute it with healthier beverages (Hassink, 2005).
Reference.
Hassink, S. G. (2005). Fed up! Winning the War against childhood Obesity. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 114(5). Print.
Jacoby, A., B. (2005) Encyclopedia of Family Health-Vol. 5. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish.
