the pounds? Probably not.
Case in point: When researchers from the School of
Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science
Center San Antonio compared the waistlines of diet
soda drinkers against a group of non-diet drinkers,
the diet soda drinkers had 70 percent greater
increases in belly bulge over the course of the 9.5-year
study.
Even though that zero-calorie cola sounds like the
wiser pick, have you ever actually read the ingredient
label? Probably not. So we pulled the ingredients of a
Diet Coke right off of its bottle: carbonated water,
caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid,
potassium citrate, natural flavors, citric acid, and
caffeine. You already know about carbonated water
and caffeine, so we broke down the other four
mystery ingredients and inspected what's really in
your Diet Coke.
Caramel Color
"Caramel color is made by a process involving the
heating of corn or cane sugar and other
carbohydrates to achieve the desired color." — Coca-
Cola Co.
Science weighs in: "Caramel color sounds
innocent, but it's not," says Alexandra Caspero, R.D.,
owner of weight management and sports nutrition
service Delicious-Knowledge.com. Research published
by the federal government's National Toxicology
Program showed that long-term exposure to 4-
methylimidazole—a contaminant in the caramel
coloring—lead to an increase in lung cancer in male
and female mice. And these findings resulted in the
addition of 4-MEI to California's Proposition 65 list
of carcinogens.
What's more, in 2011, the International Agency for
Research on Cancer also concluded that caramel
coloring is possibly carcinogenic to humans. And
while caramel coloring is in a host of products (like
baked goods and soy sauces), the frequency of how
much we consume soda makes it more of a concern,
says Caspero.
Aspartame
"Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener made
primarily of two amino acids: aspartic acid and
phenylalanine. Aspartame has been shown to be safe
for everyone, including children and pregnant
women. When used in foods and beverages a warning
on the labels is provided to people who can't
metabolize aspartame." — Coca-Cola Co.
Science weighs in: "There are many conflicting
studies on the safety of aspartame, says Caspero.
Animal studies show more of an increase in cancer
risk than human studies have. But there is definitely
enough of a connection to avoid or limit your
exposure to the additive, she explains.
Plus, the low-calorie sweetener may actually be
tricking your body into weight gain. "Some studies
suggest that when our taste buds sense sweetness, the
body expects a calorie load to accompany it. When
that doesn't happen, it may cause us to overeat
because we crave the energy rush our body was
expecting," says Cheryl Forberg R.D., author of Flavor
First.
What's more, artificial sweeteners might also dull
your taste buds, meaning you eat more high-flavor,
high-calorie foods to satisfy your cravings, explains
Forberg.
Phosphoric Acid
"Phosphoric acid is used in
certain soft drinks, including
Coca-Cola, to add tartness to
the beverage. Phosphoric acid
contains phosphorus, one of
the basic elements of nature
and an essential nutrient.
Phosphorus is a major
component of bones." — Coca-
Cola Co.
Science weighs in: The acid
in this ingredient is what
erodes tooth enamel, Caspero says.
Additional research has also linked excessive
exposure to additional adverse health issues. For
example, according to a study in the journal
Epidemiology, drinking two or more colas a day—diet
or regular—was associated with a twofold risk of
developing kidney disease. The culprit? The
researchers indicated that although an exact cause is
unknown, the phosphoric acid in colas has been
associated with urinary changes that promote kidney
stones. (When left untreated, they can lead to chronic
kidney disease).
Natural Flavors
"Natural flavors are derived from the essential oils or
extracts of spices, fruits, vegetables and herbs." —
Coca-Cola Co.
Science weighs in: "Hundreds of chemicals can be
used to mimic the taste of natural flavors—so natural
flavors can be anything," says Caspero. "The term
natural just means they are derived from foods found
in nature, but doesn't make them a health food."
Bottom line: We're not claiming Diet Coke is the devil
of all beverages. But just because something is
zero-calories, doesn't mean it's the wisest drink
option in the vending machine. If you're really
craving a soda, Caspero suggests treating it the way
you would a brownie or ice cream: every now and
then is fine, but it shouldn't be an everyday
indulgence.
Article reproduced from: news.menshealth.com/diet-soda-ingredients/2012/11/10/
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