I’m a doctor — you shouldn’t drink diet soda for these 4 alarming reasons
By Reda Wigle,
8 hours ago
A Harvard-educated gastroenterologist has taken to TikTok to share the four shocking reasons you should never drink diet soda.
Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a California-based GI doctor and popular healthcare influencer, was asked whether diet soda is a “healthier alternative” to regular soda.
It’s a hard no, folks, and here are the four reasons why, according to Sethi.
1. Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
In the clip, Sethi, who has more than 400,000 followers, explained that women who drink “two or more diet sodas daily face a significantly higher risk of heart attack and strokes.”
His claim is based on earlier research that found two or more artificially sweetened drinks increased the risk of stroke by a quarter and heart disease by a third.
The same study found that in comparison to people who never touch them, the risk of early death is 16% higher for diet drink devotees.
2. Increased risk of kidney disease
Sethi added that “the high phosphorus content in diet sodas can contribute to chronic kidney disease.”
In addition to compromising kidneys, when consumed in large quantities, phosphoric acid, which is commonly used to restore rusty metals, remove hard water stains, and remove mineral deposits, weakens bones by stripping them of calcium.
Sethi imparts, “Diet sodas can negatively impact insulin sensitivity and disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting your gut health.”
This argument draws on university research that found the six artificial sweeteners commonly used in diet drinks — aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, neotame, advantage and acesulfame potassium-k — are all toxic to gut bacteria.
Gut bacteria is critical to overall health and wellness, with a compromised gut biome linked to a slew of troubles, including obesity, bowel diseases and Alzheimer’s .
Sethi explains, “They can increase cravings for high-calorie foods, disrupting appetite control.”
While diet sodas contain fewer calories than their sugary counterparts , research shows they can still trigger the receptors in the brain that cause food cravings. The fact that most people believe the drinks are healthier also tends to lead to over-consumption.
Another sour note about the sweet fizz? Artificial sweeteners and artificially sweetened beverages, in particular, are associated with an increased risk of depression, with researchers suggesting that these chemicals spur certain transmissions in the brain that can lead to depression.
The good doctor puts the nail in the diet soda coffin by concluding, “Ultimately, diet sodas offer no nutritional benefits.”
He quickly notes that regular soda is not a better choice and that consumers should limit or eliminate their intake of both.
For the latest in lifestyle, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/lifestyle/
Comments / 50
Add a Comment
J.K.M
3h ago
My friend told me not to believe anything from this app. That I need to delete it
LEAH E
4h ago
My Dad drank diet Pepsi a lot towards the end of his life! He ended up with cancer, so it could be a coincidence, I'll never know!
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.