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Research on just under a quarter of a million people showed that over a period of ten years, those who drank soda were 30% more likely to be diagnosed with depression. This link was stronger for those who drank diet soda over regular soda.
5) It has been linked to diabetes.
In one study, participants who drank just one diet soda a day had a 36% increased risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Metabolic syndrome describes a range of conditions including high blood pressure, elevated glucose and large waist circumference.
6) You’ll lose your sense of taste.
Aspartame ranks 200 times sweeter than normal table sugar. Sucralose (AKA Splenda) is a massive 600 times sweeter. Moral of the story? Your tastebuds are overwhelmed with sweetness and other foods lose their flavor. Studies from Columbia University have also shown that diet soda alters the receptors in your brain so that instead of satisfying sugar cravings, it prolongs them.
7) It can cause kidney problems.
A 2009 study of over 3,000 women showed a link between diet soda and kidney problems. The women who drank two or more sodas every day had up to a 30% decline in kidney function.
8) Aspartame has been linked to headaches.
Early studies have linked aspartame to migraines and headaches. This may only act as a trigger for some people, but if you suffer from regular headaches it could be worth putting down that diet soda and seeing if it makes a difference. Laboratory studies have shown aspartame can alter brain chemicals, nerve signals and the brain’s reward system, leading to headaches.
9) It increases the risk of pre-term delivery.
In another study featuring nearly 60,000 pregnant women in Denmark, one diet soda per day was associated with a 38% increased risk of pre-term delivery. Four diet sodas per day increased the risk by 78%.
10) It’ll ruin your smile.
In another study, the teeth of a cocaine user, a methamphetamine user, and a diet soda drinker were examined over time. Guess what? They all had the same level of tooth erosion. The citric acid in diet soda destroys the enamel on your teeth over time.
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