Diet Soda Linked to Heart Disease 43% greater Risk

[Ichingcarpenter]

Diet soda may seem to be a healthier alternative to calorie-laden regular soda, but a new study shows that people who regularly drink diet soft drinks may be putting their hearts at risk.


Those who drank diet soda on a daily basis were at an increased risk of experiencing stroke, heart attack and death due to these conditions, according to the study.
"Our results suggest a potential association between daily diet soft drink consumption and vascular outcomes," study researcher Hannah Gardener, an epidemiologist at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine, said in a statement.



After taking into account pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, the researchers found that people who drank diet soft drinks daily were 43 percent more likely to have had a stroke or heart attack, or died of heart disease, than those who did not drink diet soda.
The study also showed that those who drank less diet soda (who drank it between once a month and six times a week), as well as people who drank regular soft drinks, were not more likely to suffer vascular events.

http://news.yahoo.com/diet-soda-linked-heart-disease-risk-221804346.html



This was a ten year long study.


meanwhile

?w=490&h=735

[Javaman]

1. Not that I drank a whole lot of soda to begin with...

I gave it up all together this year.

just water for me, thanks.

[MattBaggins]

2. You are also more likely to have a heart attack

if you wear boxers rather than briefs.

[Taverner]

6. +100

Do not confuse causation with correlation

[hlthe2b]

3. Perhaps... but both "sugared" and artificially sweetened soft drinks pose enough other health risks

so that the validity of these studies won't change the overall health message.

That said, it is a correlational study that is not accompanied by even a relevant theory on the biologically plausible mechanism.. There could be one, certainly, but even indirect suggestion of causation requires a biological;y plausible mechanism. The finding may well be explained instead by additional uncontrolled confounding variables. Drinking diet sodas, COULD be a mere proxy for another risk behavior.

Regardless, I have largely given up diet soda in favor of iced green tea, coffee, and water. Once you make the break, you really don't miss it, but like other sweet things, I've found that even a little bit, makes you crave more.

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. thanks for posting this. We went from soda to all water 6 years ago....

made a big difference to how we felt...now even more glad we did!

[Schema Thing]

5. huge amounts of caffeine

[nolabels]

8. Yea, 40+ year junkie here, maybe i try to change a little.

If you want to be a little scared about it then check this out

The hidden dangers of caffeine: How coffee causes exhaustion, fatigue and addiction

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/012352.html

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. I love carbonated drinks, but I long ago switched from diet drinks to

plain seltzer with a splash of just enough fruit juice or wine (about a tablespoon's worth) to give it a flavor.

[warrior1]

9. I might have a soda

once or twice a year. Water for me and herbal coffee. Ok, some liqueur.

[laundry_queen]

10. Strange

It says they took into account pre existing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure but it says nothing about overweight people. People who have a hard time losing weight are more likely to drink diet soda, that right there could skew the results. I'm also guessing the mechanism that might cause this (I read this in another study) is that even no-calorie artificial sweetners can cause a release of insulin in certain people. High levels of insulin are linked to heart disease.

I also wonder if there's a difference between those who drink diet or diet/caffeine free. Or if there's a difference between, say, Diet Coke or Diet ginger-ale. That would be interesting.

And I will admit - I'm addicted. I love diet coke/coke zero and drink it daily. I realize it's not healthy. I've tried drinking sparkling water instead and it's ok, but there's just something about coke. They must've found a good substitute for the original cocaine because I'm not the only one I know who's hooked.

[Fix The Stupid]

11. Anecdotal opinion...

But... I used to drink a shit-ton of soft drinks, diet and the like...

I quit them cold-turkey - it's been about a year now...

All I can say is that I...

- Sleep better. A lot better, more sound and easier to fall asleep at night
- more energy
- lost weight

plus I just feel better all around....

Once you realize the high amount of sugar in these things...wow...

Wish I would have quit years ago.

Poison that stuff is.