Artificial sweeteners reduce the calories in beverages, but they introduce a new set of risks. These chemicals may disrupt the brain, metabolism, gut health, and blood vessels in ways sugar does not.
A major study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke followed 2,888 adults aged 45+ for 10 years. The goal was to determine how sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks affect the risk of stroke and dementia.
After adjusting for lifestyle and demographic factors, researchers at Boston University discovered something alarming:
⭐ People who drank diet soda daily had nearly 3× the risk of ischemic stroke and Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who didn't.
And sugar-sweetened drinks did NOT show this same effect.
This finding is one of the strongest warnings to date against artificial sweeteners.
Other Bad News About Artificial Sweeteners
The dangers don’t stop at stroke and dementia. Over the past decade, many studies have linked artificial sweeteners and diet sodas to a wide range of health problems:
1. Higher Risk of Type 2 Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome
A 2009 study found that people who drink diet soda daily have a significantly higher chance of developing these metabolic disorders—even without consuming sugar.
2. Double the Risk of Kidney Disease
Drinking two or more diet sodas per day has been shown to double the likelihood of developing kidney problems.
3. Phosphoric Acid in Cola Harms Kidneys
Both regular and diet cola contain phosphoric acid, which has been directly linked to chronic kidney disease.
4. Weight Gain and Obesity
A large meta-analysis of 88 studies found strong connections between soft drinks and:
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obesity
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low blood calcium (affecting bone health)
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dental cavities
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kidney stones
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high blood pressure
Diet soda does not help with weight loss—research consistently shows it may cause weight gain.
