How much diet soda do you
drink? Did you know that it can actually lead to increased belly fat in men and
women. It is the sodas' acidity from the phosphoric acid used in both
regular and diet soda that lend a tangy flavor and act as a preservative. Constantly
ingesting this might create an even more acidic environment in your gut than
normal, which may affect biodiversity and allow some harmful strains of
bacteria to thrive.
Artificial sweeteners also may play a big role in the increase
in belly fat. Artificial sweeteners may
cause changes to gut bacteria, leading to the overgrowth of strains that are
more efficient at getting every last calorie out of the food you eat. Second, artificial
sweeteners may mess with our ability to metabolize glucose, which can lead to
insulin resistance, which in turn increases hunger. And third, there's some
speculation that they mess with us neurologically, interfering with our body's
signals to quit eating. Given these reasons I suggest that you ditch the habit
altogether. If you still crave that refreshing fizz, try transitioning to
something like seltzer and flavor it yourself with fruit (lemon, lime,
berries).
What do you think now? Are you going to ditch the diet soda for
better health?
