Can Diet Sodas Actually Prevent Weight Loss?

Most of us already had an inkling that diet sodas aren’t really that great for our health. People who are calorie conscious or looking to lose weight typically tend to turn to diet sodas over regular sodas. However, recent research has now shown that diet sodas may actually prevent weight loss.

The Dangers Of Aspartame

Instead of sugar, diet sodas are sweetened with aspartame which is why people believe that they contain less calories. However, the Massachusetts General Hospital has now stated that aspartame disrupts metabolism.

The researchers testing the effects of aspartame gave mice the element on drinking water. They found that the mice given the aspartame gained more weight than a control group of mice who weren’t given any.

They suggest that this is because aspartame blocks a gut enzyme called intestinal alkaline phosphate which can prevent obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Because aspartame blocks the enzyme, the body becomes more vulnerable to obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

“Sugar substitutes like aspartame are designed to promote weight loss and decrease the incidence of metabolic syndrome, but a number of clinical and epidemiologic studies have suggested that these products don’t work very well and may actually make things worse,” said Dr Richard Hodin, lead author of the study, which was published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism.

Aside from the harm that aspartame may cause, diet soda has been found to have several other harmful effects including kidney problems, diabetes and mood swings. Perhaps you’d be better off substituting your daily diet soda with a juice instead?