Dear Doctors: There is some folklore that diet pop is bad for you. I gave up sugar and most carbohydrates to help with weight and A1C control, but I continued to drink diet cola. What do the actual studies – ones that are not from biased sources and are peer-reviewed – say about diet cola?
Dear Reader: You are correct that a number of observational studies have linked the regular consumption of artificially sweetened beverages, including diet soda, to adverse health effects. These include weight gain, disruptions to gut health, cardiovascular problems and an increased craving for sweets.
More recently, studies have linked the diet soda habit to an increased risk of stroke. News stories have tended to focus on the health problems that were identified in the research. We think it's important to note that these ill effects are linked to the regular and long-term consumption of at least one, and often more than one, serving of diet soda per day.
