The document discusses whether diet sodas are healthy alternatives to sugary sodas. While diet sodas contain artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, some studies have linked frequent diet soda consumption to health risks like metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and decreased bone mineral density. The largest study to date involving over 450,000 people found that drinking two or more sodas per day, regardless of sugar or artificial sweeteners, was associated with increased risk of early death. However, other studies have found artificial sweeteners may cause less weight gain than sugar. The document concludes that while people have the right to choose what they consume, diet sodas appear to negatively affect health in similar ways to sugary drinks based on recent evidence

1. ARE DIET SODAS EVEN
GOOD FORYOUR DIET?
Created by Victor Maung

2. The Issue?
◦ Diet sodas are an alternative option from general
caloric and sugary sodas for the genral public.
◦ Use artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and
saccharin to substitute for sugar.
◦ The substitutes of sugar in diet drinks might just be
as unhealthy as the regular sodas.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

3. Why Diet Sodas
◦ Sugary sodas were believed to lead to more chronic
issues such as obesity,Type 2 diabetes, and heart
disease.
◦ Diet sodas were an alternative to dodge sugary drinks
so people with diabetes could still enjoy a sweet
beverage
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

4. Diet Sodas are Just as Bad!
Studies have shown that consuming more
than 1 serving of diet sodas a day can
increase an individual's risk of metabolic
syndrome by 36%
Those who consume diet sodas a day are
also 67% more at risk for Type 2 Diabetes
compared to people who did not drink
diet soda daily.
The Framingham Osteoporosis study
concluded that diet sodas were associated
with decreased bone mineral density in
women

5. The Facts: Largest and
Latest Study
◦ 451,743 men and women were studied within a time frame of 16
years.
◦ Average age of participants was 51 years of age and reported
no signs of diabetes,heart disease,stroke,or cancer initially.
◦ Study reported that people who drank two or more soft drinks a
day, (the way it was sweeteneddid not matter) had an increased
risk of early death by 17% compared to those who only consumed
less than one soft drink a month.
◦ Researchers also found that those who consumed artificially
sweetened soft drinks twice a day had an 26% risk of early death
compared to 8% by those who consumed sugary drinks.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

6. More Facts!
ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS HAVE BEEN
SHOWN TO AFFECT DOPAMINE.IT MAY
MAKE PEOPLE CRAVE MORE SWEETS!
THEACIDIC PH LEVELS IN DIET DRINKS
MAY LEADTO DENTAL EROSION
CONSUMINGTOO MUCH OF THESE
BEVERAGES CAN DAMAGE BLOODVESSELS
ANDTRIGGER CHRONIC INFLAMMATION.

7. CounterArguments
A 2013 meta-analysis in the
American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition found that drinks
with sugar caused weight gain
and overall more body fat
A different meta-analysis
published to the same jornal
concluded artificial sweeteners
resulted in overall less weight
gain and body fat
Most studies involving diet
sodas and negative health
problems are observational
studies that do not prove
causation.
People publish just to keep
their jobs
Scare people by using chemical
terms and high statistical
numbers

8. Suggestions?
Many things can be done to regulate diet soda
consumption
• Warning labels that describe the negative effects of diet
sodas similar to that of alcohol bottles and pregnant
women
• Health classes in elementary and middle schools can
spread awareness of the dangers of diet sodas to influence
kids at a young age
• Huge news outlets and health/lifestyle bloggers and
YouTubers offering alternative healthier solutions to sugary
or artificially sweetened drinks.
Suggestions that may work but are unlikely:
• The government imposing a tax and age limit on diet
sodas, so people tend to shy away from them more
• Having fliers posted in hospitals,school cafeterias, and
fitness centers.
• Documentaries similar to those that show the meat
industry,but what goes on at Pepsi and Coca-Cola

9. Conclusion
In the end,people have the right to consume
whatever they want. It's their body!
Although observational studies don't prove
causation,what is observed is observed!
There are many ways individuals can cut out
their soda consumption,whether they choose
to is their choice!
Based on many recent studies,diet sodas affect
us negatively in similar ways to sugary drinks.

10. Works Cited
◦ "Diet soda may be more dangerousthan sugar-laden soft drinks." Globe & Mail [Toronto,
Canada], 16 Sept. 2019,p.A12. Gale In Context: Biography, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A599659368/BIC?u=mcp_main&sid=BIC&xid=ce6d2f02.
Accessed 16 Oct. 2019.
◦ Carroll, Aaron E.“Five Reasons the Diet Soda MythWon't Die.” The NewYorkTimes,The New
York Times, 14 Oct. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/10/14/upshot/diet-soda-health-myths.html.
◦ Carroll,Aaron E."The Evidence SupportsArtificial SweetenersOver Sugar." The NewYorkTimes,The New
YorkTimes,14 Oct. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2015/07/28/upshot/the-evidence-supports-artificial-sweeteners-over-sugar.html?module=inline
◦ Malicdem,Darwin.“Diet Soda MayTrigger Serious Health Conditions.” Medical Daily,6 Aug.
2019,www.medicaldaily.com/diet-soda-shocker-serious-health-conditions-caused-drinking-diet-soda-440341.
◦ Reiley, Laura.“It Doesn't Matter If It's Sugaryor Diet: New Study LinksAll Soda to an Early
Death.” TheWashington Post,WP Company, 4 Sept. 2019,www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/09/04/it-doesnt-matter-if-its-sugary-or-diet-
new-study-links-all-soda-an-early-death/.
◦ Yantis,MaryAnn,and Kate Hunter.“Is Diet Soda a Healthy Choice?” Nursing,vol. 40,no.11,
Nov. 2010,p. 67.,DOI:10.1097/01.nurse.0000389036.71877.61.