Drinking diet soda may be causing weight gain instead of preventing it. Professor Susan E. Swithers from Purdue University analyzed multiple studies on the health effects of high-intensity sweeteners that have zero or low calories.
Swithers concluded that a diet teeming with such sweeteners, found in diet sodas, may be contributing to a higher likelihood of stroke, heart disease, diabetes and weight gain. Her findings were published in July in an opinion article in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism.
The sweeteners she referred to included aspartame, sucralose and saccharin, which are found in products such as Equal, Splenda and Sweet’N Low, respectively.
Swithers’ review of scientific studies revealed that adults and adolescents who consumed artificially sweetened beverages gained more weight compared to those who consumed regularly sweetened beverages.
Her own research demonstrated a frequent consumption of such sweeteners may confuse the body’s natural ability to manage calories based on tasting something sweet. Insufficient research has been done involving humans, but animal studies have shown metabolic causes.
“Some of the connection could be related to how people behave by saying to themselves, ‘I’m having a diet soda, so this cheeseburger is OK,’” according to Swithers. “But the animal work indicates that health problems can occur even without this kind of thinking.”
Tips for healthy living: Dental hygiene
Consider these tips for proper dental care.
•Brush teeth with fluoride toothpaste and floss every day. Consider a fluoride mouth rinse which can reduce plaque and bacteria.
•Replace toothbrush every three months, after a contagious illness or when bristles are worn.
•Signs of gum disease include swollen or bleeding gums, frequent bad breath, receding gums from teeth and loosening or separating of permanent teeth.
•Make sure to visit a dentist regularly.
Source: National Institutes of Health