The benefits and drawbacks of artificial sweeteners have been discussed for decades, and this study will not settle the argument. It may, however, assist people in learning how to better care for themselves, especially the elderly. Surprisingly, the issue does not appear to be the sweetener itself. Instead, it's about how the body reacts to the sweetener and how it affects most people's appetites.
RISK OF DEMENTIA
A 2017 study of almost 3,000 people over 60 found that diet sodas sweetened with artificial ingredients — unlike sugar-sweetened beverages — lead to a higher risk of dementia. People who drank at least one diet beverage a day were almost three times more likely to develop dementia. The results were the same after accounting for gender, general diet, smoking, and level of physical activity.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure puts you at risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other chronic illnesses. Diet sodas have been related to high blood pressure, presumably due to the fact that those who consume artificially sweetened beverages are more likely to be overweight or obese. Another factor to consider is salt content: one can of soda has 40 milligrams of sodium. Even while most individuals should eat 1,500 mg of sodium per day, drinking more than one can per day can add up, especially because salt is present in practically all meals.
WEAKENED BONES
Because phosphoric acid is included in both normal and diet soft drinks, they harm your bones. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, patients with the disease should consume no more than five soft drinks each week. According to some studies, having too much phosphorus in your body might reduce calcium absorption, weakening your bones. Even when calcium and Vitamin D levels were regulated, women who drank three or more cola-based beverages per day had about 4% poorer bone mineral density in their hips, according to research.
DIABETES
Consumption of diet Coke was connected to a 67 percent increased chance of acquiring Type 2 diabetes, which affects roughly 10% of Americans. In the United States, diabetes was the seventh biggest cause of mortality in 2015. Artificial sweeteners in diet drinks may cause insulin spikes, causing insulin sensitivity to deteriorate over time. They can also stimulate hunger and stimulate a sweet tooth.
Diabetics who consumed more than four cans of diet Coke per week were twice as likely to develop eye impairments, including blindness, according to research published last year in the Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology journal.
Despite the fact that many seniors regard soda to be their favorite beverage, it may be time to eliminate it from their diets.
There are, however, several soda alternatives that can help you and your loved ones stay hydrated and healthy so make sure to opt for those.
