Table of contents:
- Diet soda helps with weight loss, really?
- Other studies have proven otherwise
- Effects of frequent drinking soda, in addition to weight gain
Soda drink has indeed become one of the drinks that is widely consumed by many people. In various fast food restaurants, soda is a drink that is suitable to be enjoyed with your french fries or hamburger. However, consuming too often soft drinks can apparently cause weight gain and increase the risk of certain diseases. Therefore, to overcome this problem, soda drink manufacturers issue a low-calorie soda drink product called diet soda. In fact, he said this diet soda can help you lose weight. Is it true?
Diet soda helps with weight loss, really?
Diet soda is a carbonated drink that is lower in calories. This makes diet soda possibly superior to regular sodas. Its lower calorie content has led many people to assume that this drink does not cause weight gain, like regular sodas.
In fact, a study funded by the American Beverage Association has shown that people who eat diet soda lose more weight (by 6 kg) than people who don't (just 4 kg) within 12 weeks. Researchers explain that people who drink soda are better able to cope with behavioral changes when dieting in an effort to lose weight.
However, this study is widely refuted by other studies that say that diet soda can actually increase body weight and increase the risk of certain diseases.
Other studies have proven otherwise
Even though diet soda contains lower calories, it still contains artificial sweeteners. Well, this artificial sweetener can cause you to gain weight.
Many studies have linked artificial sweeteners to increased appetite. One of them is research conducted by Purdue University. This study proves that artificial sweeteners can interfere with the body's natural ability to assess and regulate calories from food.
The artificial sweeteners in diet soda can be confusing for the body. The body becomes less able to recognize the energy present in the sweet liquid that enters your body. So, when the body feels that it is not receiving enough calories (even though it has received enough sugar), the body will increase your appetite. This in turn can cause you to gain weight.
Another study that was followed by more than 5000 adults for 7-8 years also proved that soda can cause weight gain. The more diet soda consumed, the more weight gain was achieved by the participants in the study.
Effects of frequent drinking soda, in addition to weight gain
Not only has it been linked to weight gain, soda has also been linked to various diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Research conducted by the University of Minnesota has shown that drinking one can of diet soda per day can be linked to an increased risk of metabolic syndrome by 36%.
Metabolic syndrome describes a group of conditions, namely high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and a large waist circumference. This in turn can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
In addition, soda is also associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, dental problems (such as cavities), triggers headaches, and is even linked to the risk of depression.
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