That diet soda can give you diabetes and science blames artificial sweeteners for it

If you often find yourself bingeing on sugary sodas and candies, you may want to give a halt to this habit. As per a recent review of studies, published in the journal Current Atherosclerosis Reports, consumption of artificial sweeteners may increase the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Aerated drinks like zero-calorie sodas are said to contain artificial sweeteners in huge amounts. Low-calorie sweeteners are often used as a substitute to sucrose, glucose, and fructose. These sweeteners have an intense sweet flavour without the calories. However, recent studies have shed light on their potential adverse health effects.

The study was conducted on 5,158 adults over a seven-year period.

The findings of the study show that “people who use low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) are more likely to gain weight, the exact opposite of what consumers expect.” This is despite controlled clinical trials showing that artificial sweeteners do lead to weight loss, according to researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA).

“Consumers of artificial sweeteners do not reduce their overall intake of sugar,” said Professor Peter Clifton from UniSA.

“They use both sugar and low-calorie sweeteners and may psychologically feel they can indulge in their favourite foods. Artificial sweeteners also change the gut bacteria, which may lead to weight gain and risk of type-2 diabetes,” he said in a statement.

The researchers of the study also noted that in the past 20 years, there has been a 54% increase in LCS usage among adults and a 200% increase among children.

One study found that substituting artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) for sugar-sweetened beverages or fruit juices was linked to a five to seven per cent lower risk of type-2 diabetes.

Also read: Can’t keep type 2 diabetes under check? Here are 5 ways to sort you out

“A better option than low-calorie sweeteners is to stick to a healthy diet, which includes plenty of whole grains, dairy, seafood, legumes, vegetables and fruits and plain water,” Clifton said.

Now that you know, we hope that you’ll cut down on your sugar intake and also say adieu to artificial sweeteners and diet sodas.

With inputs from PTI