Is diet soda worse for you than regular
Andrew White
Published Mar 08, 2026
Another study found that overweight individuals who switched to diet soda were more likely to consume more calories in food than overweight individuals who drank regular soda. Those who drank diet soda even had a higher BMI than their counterparts.
Is diet soda worse for you than regular soda?
Others insist that diet soda remains a healthful alternative to traditional soda, despite the evidence to the contrary. The authors of a 2016 analysis noted that 26 studies found no link between soda consumption and worse health outcomes.
What is the healthiest soda to drink?
- Sierra Mist. Sierra Mist tops our list of healthy sodas because it contains slightly fewer calories at 140 calories per cup and just 37 grams of carbohydrates. …
- Sprite. Sprite is a lime-lemon soda from the Coca-Cola Company, which also produces Coke. …
- 7 Up. …
- Seagram’s Ginger Ale. …
- Coke Classic. …
- Pepsi.
Is diet soda just as bad for you?
Nutrition and healthy eating Drinking a reasonable amount of diet soda a day, such as a can or two, isn’t likely to hurt you. The artificial sweeteners and other chemicals currently used in diet soda are safe for most people, and there’s no credible evidence that these ingredients cause cancer.Should I drink diet or regular soda?
Healthy Eats Winner: Although both beverages have a long list of cons, diet soda wins this fight by the smallest of margins. Drinking large amounts of regular soda has been shown to lead to weight gain and a variety of long health conditions and switching to diet can help cut calories and shed pounds.
Do diet sodas cause belly fat?
A potential culprit for that protruding belly can be diet soda or beverages with artificial sweeteners. One recent study shows a link between the high consumption of diet drinks and the increase of belly fat in older adults.
How many diet Cokes a day is safe?
However, you would need to drink more than six 12-ounce (355-ml) cans of Coke or four 12-ounce (355-ml) cans of Diet Coke per day to reach this amount. 400 mg of caffeine daily is considered safe for most adults, but cutting your intake to 200 mg daily can help reduce your risk of adverse side effects.
Why does diet soda cause weight gain?
Diet soda may increase hunger and weight gain : Shots – Health News New research adds to growing concern over zero-calorie drinks. Consuming artificial sweeteners may confuse our body, leading to increased hunger and weight gain.Can you lose weight if you stop drinking diet soda?
But you might lose more weight giving it up. A recent study found that older adults who drank diet soda continued to pack on belly fat. Research also found that each daily diet soda increases your chance of becoming obese in the next decade by 65%.
Why are zero calorie drinks bad for you?Although diet soda has no calories, sugar, or fat, it has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in several studies. Research has found that just one serving of an artificially sweetened drink per day is associated with an 8–13% higher risk of type 2 diabetes ( 22 , 23 ).
Article first time published onWhat's the most unhealthy soda?
- Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash.
- Wild Cherry Pepsi.
- Fanta Orange.
- Mountain Dew.
- Mellow Yellow.
What is the least harmful soda?
Sierra Mist is the healthiest soda. A single can of Sierra Mist Lemon-lime soda contains 140 calories, 37 g of carbs, and 35 mg of sodium, which allows it to place slightly better than its closest competitor.
Is zero sugar soda better than diet soda?
Coke Zero has been said to taste more like regular Coke, but some people feel differently and even prefer Diet Coke over regular Coke. The best choice will depend on your taste preferences. There are no significant differences nutritionally between Coke Zero and Diet Coke.
Is aspartame worse than sugar?
Effects on body weight Aspartame contains 4 calories per gram (g), which is a similar amount to sugar, but aspartame is around 200 times sweeter than sugar. This means that only a tiny amount of aspartame is necessary to sweeten foods and drinks. For this reason, people often use it in weight loss diets.
Why is aspartame bad for you?
Authors of a 2017 review concluded that aspartame may affect the immune system and, as a result, it may lead to oxidative stress and inflammation. Their findings suggested that aspartame could affect the cells of various body organs, including the brain, the heart, the liver, and the kidneys.
How much diet soda is too much in a day?
But, like many foods containing artificial additives, there is a safe daily limit. An average adult should consume no more than 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram of body weight per day. To exceed the limit, most people would need to drink at least 14 cans of diet drinks a day.
Is diet Coke bad for kidneys?
Drinking one diet soda daily did not decrease kidney function more than normal. Drinking two or more diet sodas, though, appeared to cause problems. The diet-soda drinkers experienced a drop in their glomerular filtration rate (an important measure of the kidney’s function).
How do I get rid of fat on my stomach?
- Eat plenty of soluble fiber. …
- Avoid foods that contain trans fats. …
- Don’t drink too much alcohol. …
- Eat a high protein diet. …
- Reduce your stress levels. …
- Don’t eat a lot of sugary foods. …
- Do aerobic exercise (cardio) …
- Cut back on carbs — especially refined carbs.
Does aspartame make you fat?
Some research indicates that even acceptable daily intakes of aspartame, as regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), might make you hungrier and lead to weight gain.
What diet soda does to your stomach?
Drinking excessive amounts of diet soda can sometimes affect the lining of the stomach. “Over time, it can get irritated from the carbonation,” Valdez says. Heavy soda drinkers frequently develop indigestion, bloating and heartburn. Plus, carbonated drinks are a known trigger of acid reflux.
What happens when you quit drinking diet soda cold turkey?
Several negative side effects are associated with soda dependency, and they can manifest themselves when you aren’t able to access any soda or have chosen to quit — especially if you quit cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms include irritability, fatigue, headaches, and even feelings of depression ( 21 , 22 ).
What happens when you only drink water?
What are the risks of a water diet? When your main (or only) intake is water, your body loses crucial nutrients it needs. The short-term result is that you will lose a lot of weight, most of which will be water not fat, says Upton.
How does Diet Coke have no calories?
We sweeten Coke Zero Sugar in our bottles and cans with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium (or Ace-K). Together, they create a great taste with zero sugar and zero calories. Yes. Diet Coke in our bottles and cans is sweetened with aspartame.
What is the number 1 soda in the world?
1. Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has been the most popular soda brand in the U.S. and around the world for decades, and it continued its dominance last year.
Why is Mountain Dew banned?
Mountain Dew: Banned in over 100 countries You might want to wean yourself off because these drinks contain Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO), an emulsifier that can cause reproductive and behavioral problems.
Which is worse Coke Zero or Diet Coke?
Coke Zero Sugar has slightly less sodium (25 mg in a 12-ounce serving compared to 40 mg per can of Diet Coke). The former also has slightly less caffeine at 34 mg in each can, compared to 46 mg in a can of Diet Coke.
Why is Coke Zero so much better than Diet Coke?
Coke Zero is meant to taste like normal Coca-Cola while Diet Coke has its own specific taste, and according to The Mirror, the only difference in recipe is one single ingredient. … Coke Zero uses sodium citrate instead in a bid to mimic the taste of full-fat coke without containing all the sugar.
How safe is aspartame?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that “the use of aspartame as a general purpose sweetener… is safe.” The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has stated, “Studies do not suggest an increased risk associated with aspartame consumption for…
What is the healthiest sugar substitute?
- Stevia. Stevia is a very popular low calorie sweetener. …
- Erythritol. Erythritol is another low calorie sweetener. …
- Xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol with a sweetness similar to that of sugar. …
- Yacon syrup. …
- Monk fruit sweetener.
Is stevia better than aspartame?
“Stevia leaf extract is safer than many other sugar substitutes, especially aspartame and sucralose,” Lefferts says. Research has linked sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin with cancers.
Is Splenda better than aspartame?
Aspartame is made from two amino acids, while sucralose is a modified form of sugar with added chlorine. One 2013 study, however, found that sucralose may alter glucose and insulin levels and may not be a “biologically inert compound.” “Sucralose is almost certainly safer than aspartame,” says Michael F.