DIET SODAS, ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS AND HEIGHTENED RISK OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE AMONGST OLDER ADULTS
We have written previously about the fact that the artificial sweetener, aspartame (NutraSweet and other brands) is an excite-toxin and can literally kill brain cells.
We have reported on another study that showed that people consuming diet sodas did not lose weight.
And now, yet another study reports an increased risk of heart attack and strokes amongst older, daily diet soda users.
The results published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine reported that daily consumption of diet soda by adults 69 + years old led to a 44% increase in heart attacks and strokes in this group.
These results did not necessarily prove that the diet sodas, alone, were responsible for this increased risk. It is possible that people who drink diet sodas may have other unhealthy habits that also contribute to their increased risk. (I don’t know if this is true because many people drink diet sodas in an attempt to keep their weight down, which at least implies they are somewhat conscious of trying to be healthy).
It was reported that those who drank diet soda daily, tended to be heavier, and were more likely to have hypertension and diabetes.
Between this new information and studies we reported on in the past it’s hard to make any kind of case for consuming diet sodas. There are excellent naturally sweetened beverages out there which have no or very few calories and seemingly non- of the risks of diet sodas or the artificial sweeteners they use.
If you read our other articles, you know that I highly recommend the natural sweeteners erythritol and stevia. Though there are several brands using these natural sweeteners, one I found that has really great flavor and taste is “Sobe” Life Water. I tried their Mango-Melon and Green Apple-Pear flavors and they were terrific and had “zero” calories.
Curt Hendrix, M.S., C.C.N., C.N.S.
