By now, most of us are aware of the dangers of consuming too much sugar. Excess sugar intake has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, tooth decay, obesity, and a long list of other serious health issues.
Because of this, many people have ditched sugary drinks and turned to “diet” or “light” beverages instead. These drinks taste sweet—sometimes even sweeter than the original versions—but they contain few or no calories thanks to artificial sweeteners.
But here’s the bad news: these calorie-free sweeteners may be even more harmful than sugar.
The Worst Contender: Diet Soda
Soda remains one of the most popular drinks on the planet. A 2010 report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest revealed that sugar-sweetened beverages were the single largest source of calories in the American diet and accounted for 47% of all added sugars consumed.
The U.S. alone drinks an average of 154 liters (40 gallons) of soda per person every year—nearly a third of it being diet soda.
As awareness grows about sugar’s link to obesity and chronic disease, many people believe switching to diet soda is a healthier choice. Unfortunately, evidence shows the opposite is true.
