Health Risks of Diet Soda

Trying to cut calories by drinking diet soda? Think again. According to a new study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, drinking diet soda daily may be linked to significant increases in the risk of developing a stroke, heart attack and other serious vascular issues. The study was conducted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Centre. Researchers observed the soda drinking habits of over 2500 individuals over a 10 year period. Results concluded that those who drank diet soda on a daily basis were 43% more likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack than those who did not drink any diet soda, even if pre-existing vascular conditions existed. See huffingtonpost.com for more details.

But is this newfound evidence really surprising? Aspartame has long been questioned in regards to its adverse affects on the body. Aspartame is made up of 3 chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol.

Aspartic acid is an amino acid (building blocks of protein). Sounds okay right? Well, excessive ingestion of this amino acid can cause serious chronic neurological disorders as well as numerous other acute symptoms. In its free form (unbound to protein), aspartic acid significantly raises the blood plasma level of aspartate and glutamate (these act as neurotransmitters in the brain by facilitating the transmission of information from neuron to neuron). Too much of either of these substances in the brain kills certain neurons and as a result, triggers excessive amounts of free radicals (which kill cells).

Several chronic diseases that have been shown to be contributed by long-term exposure to excessive amounts of aspartate and glutamate include: multiple sclerosis, brain lesions, hormonal problems, Parkinson's disease, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and a list of others.

Ingesting aspartame, especially along with carbohydrates, can also lead to high levels of phenylalanine (another amino acid found in the brain). This can cause serotonin levels to decrease which can lead to emotional disorders like depression.

Methanol is a deadly poison that is gradually released into the small intestine. When absorbed into the body, it is broken down into formic acid and formaldehyde, both of which are toxic. It is recommended to limit methanol consumption to only 7.8mg/day, yet 1L of aspartame-sweetened beverage contains about 56mg! I know several people who drank this amount in one evening (like a movie night out with friends).

Furthermore, diketopiperazine (DKP) is a byproduct of aspartame metabolism that has been shown to cause brain tumors. Aspartame consumption is even linked to weight-gain! These are only a few bits and pieces of evidence that prove how bad aspartame is.

I know this post has more of a scientific feel to it than usual, but I thought it was necessary to explain why aspartame should not be a part of anyone’s diet. If you’re going to drink soda once in a while, just choose regular soda. To be clear, I am in no way endorsing any type of soda. High fructose corn syrup is another culprit to watch out for (which I will discuss in a future post), but in my opinion it is the lesser of two evils. 

Image Source: knowabouthealth