If you were to ask 1,000 people why they drink diet soda and other drinks with artificial sweeteners, I expect the vast majority (if not all) would tell you it is because they are “watching their weight” and these products have no calories.
While it is true that diet sodas have no calories, it has never been proven that they help with weight loss. In fact, as I have reported in this space before, many studies have clearly shown that diet soda may do the exact opposite: make people gain weight. Read the article about Excitotoxins and avoid consuming all diet products containing aspartame. Natural Stevia is a better alternative. Ask us about zero cal sugar the best natural alternative. info@DrGrantWellness.com
Recently, epidemiologist Sharon Fowler, from the University of Texas, presented research data to the American Diabetes Association on soda consumption. In her words, “What we saw was that the more diet sodas a person drinks, the more weight they were likely to gain.” In a CBS news article, nutritionist Melainie Rogers describes the same findings in her work with obese patients.
There are several theories as to why this is the case. Some think it is psychological – that diet soda drinkers eat more because they feel they can “spare” the extra calories. Others point to the fact that artificially sweetened drinks tend to increase the appetite unnaturally. And many believe it could be because aspartame and sucralose disrupt insulin function.
One thing we know for sure is that these products can be harmful to your health. So whether or not you’re trying to lose weight, my advice is to avoid artificial sweeteners and “diet drinks” entirely.
For a healthier alternative, mix an ounce or two of fruit juice (or, even better, low-sugar fruit-juice concentrate, which you can find at just about any health food store) with sparkling water. To make it a bit sweeter, add a few drops of all-natural stevia.
Consequences of drinking soda
There are several studies that point to the negative effects of soda consumption. Here are some of those health consequences that can arise as a result.
Increase diabetes risk
Dehydration
The caramel coloring is linked to cancer
The caramel coloring is linked to vascular diseases
High in calories
Blocks the absorption of magnesium
Increases risk of obesity, especially among children
Wears away dental enamel
Contains artificial sweeteners which are linked to illnesses and disease
Depletes your body’s mineral levels
Changes your metabolism
Increases your risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome
Increases the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Soda drinking has been linked to asthma
The Positive Effect of Vinegar on Blood Sugar
Numerous studies have shown that vinegar can help lower your blood sugar, even after a high-carb meal.
In one recent example, researchers assembled a small group of subjects. One-third of them had been diagnosed with diabetes, one-third were pre-diabetic, and one-third had normal blood sugar. The subjects all drank either two tablespoons of vinegar or a placebo prior to eating a high-carb breakfast. A week later, the same subjects had the same breakfast, but with the opposite drink. The researchers measured their blood sugar and compared the results.
What they found was that all the subjects had lower levels of blood sugar when they drank the vinegar. The blood glucose levels of those who were pre-diabetic were reduced by almost 50 percent in the first hour after the meal (as compared to when they drank the placebo). Those with diabetes saw their blood sugar levels drop by 25 percent – results as good as or better than what can be expected from Metformin, a popular diabetes drug that can induce unpleasant side effects.)
Not too interested in slurping down a couple of tablespoons of sour vinegar? Not a problem. Even dressing a side salad with vinegar and olive oil will do the trick. Researchers have found that just about any food with vinegar can produce a similar effect. In a Swedish study, for instance, pickles slowed the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, while cucumbers did not.
Numerous studies have shown the negative health effects of drinking soda on your waistline and your teeth. Drinking soda however, has far more serious health risks than many of us may realize.
According to Euromonitor, the average person in the United States consumes more than 126 grams of sugar per day. Thats equal to 25.2 teaspoons, or the equivalent of drinking a little over three 12 ounce colas.
Numerous studies have shown the negative health effects of drinking soda on your waistline and your teeth. Drinking soda however, has far more health risks than many of us may realize. Regular consumption of sugary drinks is linked to numerous health problems including diabetes, heart disease, asthma, COPD and obesity.
So what are the risks and how much soda is too much? Lets take a look:
1. Soda can cause a decline in kidney function. In an 11-year-long Harvard Medical School study, including 3,318 women, researchers found that diet cola is linked with a two-fold increased risk for kidney decline.
2. Soda increases diabetes risk. High levels of sugar in soda places a lot of stress on your pancreas, potentially leaving it unable to keep up with the bodys need for insulin. Drinking one or two sugary drinks per day increases your risk for type 2 diabetes by 25%.
3. Soda cans are lined with BPA. Soda cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems.
4. Soda dehydrates you. Caffeine is a diuretic. Diuretics promote the production of urine, causing you to urinate more frequently. When the bodys cells are dehydrated they have difficulty absorbing nutrients, and it also makes it more difficult for the body to eliminate waste.
5. Caramel coloring in soda is linked to cancer. The artificial brown coloring in colas is a chemical process, it is not made from caramelized sugar. It is made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures. These chemical reactions result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole (2-MI) and 4 methylimidazole (4-MI), which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice and rats.
6. Caramel coloring in soda is linked to vascular issues. Dr. Nehal N. Mehta, director of Inflammatory Risk Cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania states that there is a link between vascular problems and caramel-containing products.
7. Soda is high in calories. A 20 ounce can of Coca Cola contains 17 teaspoons of sugar and 240 caloriesempty calories devoid of any nutritional value. It would take the average adult over one hour of walking to burn off the 240 calories in a 20-ounce soda.
8. Caffeine in soda blocks the absorption of magnesium. According to Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D. Magnesium is essential for more than 325 enzyme reactions in the body. Magnesium also plays a role in your body’s detoxification processes and therefore is important for minimizing damage from environmental chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins.
9. Soda increases obesity risk in children. Each additional soda or other sugary drink consumed per day increases the likelihood of a child becoming obese by about 60%. Sugary drinks are connected to other health problems as well.
10. Soda increases heart disease in men. Each soda consumed per day increases the risk of heart disease by 20% in men.
11. Acid in soda wears away dental enamel. Lab testing on soda acidity shows that the amount of acid in soda is enough to wear away dental enamel. pH levels in soda can be as low as 2.5, as a frame of reference battery acid has a pH of 1, water has a pH of 7.0.
12. Soda contains high amounts of sugar. The average 20-ounce can of Coca Cola has the equivalent of 17 teaspoons of sugar, it’s not hard to see that soda can be bad for your teeth and your overall health.
13. Soda contains artificial sweeteners. While many people opt for artificial sugar to lower caloric intake the tradeoff for your health isnt so sweet. Artificial sugars are linked to numerous illness and diseases including cancer.
https://www.ecronicon.com/ecnu/pdf/ECNU-04-0000145.pdf
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