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Rust remover, anyone? Or maybe a dash of cement with your meal?
Swapping your “full-fat” Coke for a diet alternative might seem like the sensible, healthy thing to do. But think again.
Last week, experts at Imperial College, London claimed sugar-free drinks won’t help you lose weight or avoid Type-2 diabetes.
In fact, they could stimulate your appetite and make you gain weight.
And worse, some sugar-free soda has ingredients you wouldn’t usually dream of consuming — chemicals found in rust remover, steel cleaner, and cement, albeit in tiny quantities.
They also have ingredients that in high doses have been linked to DNA damage, hyperactivity, and bone fractures.
Dr. Marilyn Glenville, author of “The Natural Alternative To Sugar,” says: “We don’t know the chemical cocktail effect of these ingredients.
“Some negatively affect health. Women and girls who regularly drink these drinks increase their risk of osteoporosis in later life.”
“There is also a lot of research showing artificially sweetened drinks promote weight gain and affect gut bacteria levels.”
Research also found regular drinkers of diet soda are more likely to have excess belly fat, raising their risk of heart problems, diabetes and stroke.
And a study by the American College of Cardiology connected drinking two or more diet sodas a day with an increased risk of heart attacks.
Diet drinks are also linked to early kidney disease, according to a study published in science journal PLOS ONE.
The more sugar-free soda you drink, the more likely you are to be depressed too, according to the American Academy of Neurology.
But it does not stop there.
The fizz in your soda can affect your nerves, according to researchers at the University of Southern California.
They found the carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks sets off the same pain sensors in the nose as mustard and horseradish, potentially invoking a stress response in the body.
Sun nutritionist Amanda Ursell says: “If you cut down on fizzy drinks, your body is likely to thank you in the long term.”
“If you find drinking water too dull, herbal teas, English breakfast tea, coffee and milk will all help hydrate you.
“Fruit juice mixed with water could be an occasional substitute but always be aware of the calories you drink.”
“It is best if you have a fizzy drink as an occasional treat.”
Susan Jebb, professor of diet and population health at Oxford, says: “For people seeking to manage their weight, tap water is without question the best drink.”
Truth about ‘diet’ drinks
The can proclaims your diet drink to be Lite, Slimline or Sugar Free, which all sounds enticing – but did you know it could also contain chemicals found in rust remover?
Many fizzy drinks contain phosphoric acid, which is used to restore rusty metals. It is also used to remove hard water stains and mineral deposits.
In large quantities, phosphoric acid can weaken bones by pushing the calcium out and it has also been linked to chronic kidney disease.
Look closely at the ingredients label on your can of diet soda and you will also likely find sodium gluconate.
This is used to reduce the bitter taste of sweeteners – it is also found in steel cleaner and in some cement.
Artificially sweetened drinks also contain a variety of potentially harmful sweeteners.
Acesulfame K could cause problems with insulin production if you consume a lot, potentially adding inches to your waist.
Aspartame has caused controversy for decades – a mid-1990s study linked it with brain tumors, cancer, lymphomas and leukemias.
And sodium benzonate, which is commonly used as a preservative, has been shown to switch off parts of the DNA, linking it to liver problems and Parkinson’s disease.
Soda may also contains other nasty chemicals.
Chemicals like sodium citrate, which neutralize acid in urine and is used to treat kidney stones, may be added to some, as well as phenylalanine, which is known to cause nerve damage.
This is also a known allergen, which causes some people to experience itching of the skin, swelling of the eyes, mouth and tongue and problems breathing, in severe cases.
Here is what’s in your favorite diet-brand drinks:
Diet Coke
0.4 cals, 0g carbs, 0g sugars, 0g salt
Contains: Carbonated water, color (caramel E150d), sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K), natural flavorings including caffeine, phosphoric acid, citric acid, phenylalanine.
Dr. Pepper Zero
.4 cals, 0g carbs, 0g sugars. 0.02g salt
Contains: Carbonated water, color (caramel E150d), caffeine, phosphoric acid, sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K), preservative (sodium benzoate), phenylalanine.
Pepsi Max
0 cals, 0.1g carbs, trace sugars, 0g salt
Contains: Carbonated water, color (caramel E150d), sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K), phosphoric acid, flavorings (inc caffeine), preservative (potassium sorbate), citric acid, phenylalanine.
7UP Sugar Free
3 calories, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0.04g salt
Contains: Carbonated water, acids (citric acid, malic acid), natural lemon and lime flavoring, acidity regulator (sodium citrate), sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame K), preservative (sodium benzoate).
Red Bull Sugar Free
3 calories, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0.1g salt
Contains: Water, acidifier citric acid, carbon dioxide, taurine (0.4%), acidity regulator (sodium carbonates, magnesium carbonate), sweeteners (acesulfame K, aspartame), caffeine (0.03%), vitamins (niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, B12), flavorings, thickener (xanthan gum), colors (caramel, riboflavin)
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