Although many people think that diet soda is healthier than regular soda, neither one has any nutritional value. However, diet sodas have been found to be especially detrimental to one’s health.

“I love diet soda,” said senior Kian Alagoz. 

“I like the zero calories because I can have two of them in a day but if I had two of a regular soda, [I would] not feel so good…I don’t think it’s healthy [but] I think it’s healthier than regular soda.”

The only benefits of diet sodas are that they contain less calories. What many don’t know, however, is that they are made with health-damaging ingredients. 

While diet soda doesn’t contain real sugar or calories it does contain a lot of additives and artificial ingredients including sweeteners like aspartame. 

These ingredients are full of unnatural chemicals that can cause cravings for high-calorie and sugar-laden foods. 

Numerous studies have been done on the popular artificial sweetener, Aspartame, which has been linked to serious health issues including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia and seizures just to name a few.

According to the American Journal of Public Health, the human brain reacts to artificial sweeteners much like it does to sugary sweets. Consuming them frequently can increase desire for high-calorie foods, meaning a greater risk of weight gain.  

Studies conducted by the American Diabetes Association have shown increased insulin and blood glucose levels, fueling an increased risk of type two diabetes.

Although many soft drink companies have pitched the idea to the public that diet soda is a healthy alternative to their classic, non-diet sugary drinks, it is not medically accurate. 

It is important for people to think about how much healthier a seemingly “healthy” soda option actually is. 

However, there are many healthy soda alternatives that provide consumers with the familiar bubbly, sweet sensation without the harmful side effects.