We all know that sodas are harmful to our health. Similarly, diet sodas are still bad for you.

Don’t be fooled by “diet” sodas and zero-calorie drinks that are marketed as “healthier” alternative to regular soda. They are made out of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, cyclamates, acesulfame potassium, and saccharin. Artificial sweeteners are at least 300 times as sweet as sugar.

A lot of people now are deceived by the thought that those products labeled as zero calories retain their sweetness without causing diabetes or weight gain.

Here Are More Reasons Why You Should Not Drink Diet Soda:

Diet Soda Makes You Crave For More Sugar

Artificial sweeteners found in diet sodas may cause sugar cravings. This happens by activating the sweet taste receptors and the hormones in the gastrointestinal tract that regulate hunger and satiety signals.

Diet Soda May Increase The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

According to research, artificial sweeteners may increase your blood sugar levels by interrupting the balance of probiotics in your gut. Good gut bacteria help maintain blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Diet Soda Is Linked To Weight Gain And Obesity

Diet soda actually promotes weight gain and obesity. According to studies, consumers of diet sodas had higher body mass indexes (BMIs) as compared to those who did not drink artificially sweetened beverages.

Diet Soda May Increase The Risk Of Cardiovascular Diseases

Even when the metabolic syndrome is not present, diet soda can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Individuals who drank diet soda every day for 10 years or more were more likely to develop hypertension and cardiac disease, according to a study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Diet Soda Contributes To Metabolic Syndrome

Various studies show that diet soda increases the risk of metabolic disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases like dyslipidemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. In a study about the effects of diet soda consumption, results show that a person will have 36% increased the risk of developing metabolic syndrome if he drank diet soda every day for two years. Plus, he can also have a 67% increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Diet Soda Can Alter Your Eating Habits

Diet soda may cause changes in eating behaviors because of the changed reward processing of the sweet taste as perceived by the brain. The neurotransmitters involved in the reward response are stimulated once your drink diet sodas. The activation of these neurotransmitters – dopamine and endogenous opioids – cause a person to crave for more sweet food.

Healthy Soda Alternatives

Green Juice

Make green juices out of fresh vegetables. In a juicer, add your favorite vegetables and a few slices of fruit to sweeten your drink.

Flavored Water 

Make your own flavored water by just adding natural flavoring to your water. In a pitcher of cold water, you can add slices of your favorite fruits and veggies, like oranges, cucumber, lemons, limes, or mint.

Green Tea

Green tea, hot or iced, is full of antioxidants. This is a healthy alternative and may lower the risk of various disease.