“Diet” Soft Drinks Are Harmful and Keep Us Fat

Recently,  I read an article on the Debunking 10 Myths That Keep Us Fat by Dr. Nancy Snyderman and part of the article talked about diet soft drinks.  In her research and study she found that drinkers of calorie free diet soft drinks actually were more apt to gain weight than if they drank regular sodas, and they were very harmful to your health.

Well, I am living proof that her theory is right.  Back in 2000 I was diagnosed with Diabetes 2 and put on medication and a very strict diet.  I immediately had to cut out all sugars and of course soda.  All my life I had been a coca cola addict and drank my soda morning to bedtime, I was never without a glass or can.  As I got through the DT’s from the loss of sugar and caffeine and drank water I immediately lost weight, brought my sugars down enough to be taken off my diabetes “meds” and was feeling fantastic.  While this should have been the end to a horrible medical nightmare it wasn’t.

In my follow-up visits to my doctor and my diabetes dietician I was given the worst news a soda addict could hear ~ “since you have your diabetes under control and if you stick to your diet you can now add diet coke as a free drink!”  Oh my you would have thought they opened the flood gates to heaven ~ I could drink diet coke hallelujah!  Well as you can guess I added diet coke back to my daily habits and I started gaining weight; the symptoms of my diabetes returned this time even more severe, as well as edema of my limbs, and high cholesterol, etc!  I was a walking time bomb for severe health and heart issues ~ and you guessed it, back on more “meds” and an even stricter diet.

I was shocked, depressed, and so discouraged.  I was back at square one and this time in worse condition.  Being an avid reader I researched and researched about diabetes, diet drinks, healthy eating, weight loss, nutrition, and even exercising.   It has taken me almost two years, and many ups and downs medically, but I am finally back on the right road to what I call my “re-recovery”.  The saddest part is this all could have been avoided had I been informed on the side effects of diet soda.  I am once again weaning myself off the diet sodas, and finally enjoying water and the sugar-free flavored waters as well.  I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, work out three times a week at the gym, and do aerobic exercise on the off days.  I am seeing results, and at age 61, adding precious years on to my life!

Thank you Dr. Snyderman for including the truths about diet sodas in your article and please I beg everyone reading this blog to learn from my mistakes; your life is depending on it!

~ Kathy