A diet cokeit is an option known for having few calories, however, experts say that its health risks are very high. According to dentists, consumption of zero sugar soda can lead to erosion of tooth enamel and even activate the body's "fat storage mode".
The Doctor. Raj Juneja of the Face Teeth Smile Dental Clinic in England explains that Diet Coke, like other carbonated drinks, has high levels of acidity. The carbonation process adds carbonic acid to the drink to give it that characteristic fizz, which can contribute to tooth enamel erosion over time.
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Despite the weight-friendly publicity, experts warn of the health risks of Diet Coke. Just an hour after consumption, complications can already arise.
Ingestion that may be dangerous
The Doctor. Khaled Kasem – renowned Impress orthodontist with locations around the world – advises drinking through a straw and drinking water right after. It is important to emphasize that, approximately 20 minutes after drinking, the body starts its fat storage process through the production of insulin.
Specialists in dentistry clarify that this process may vary depending on the type of artificial sweetener and the presence or absence of diabetes in the body.
“Insulin is released by our body in response to food, especially when there are carbohydrates present, thus helping with the absorption of these nutrients," explains Dr. Matthew Snelson, a researcher at the Monash School of Biological Sciences and Victorian Heart Hospital told The Sun newspaper.
There is no evidence that the sweeteners in Diet Coke, such as aspartame and acesulfame K, affect insulin production.
Sweeteners that are not recommended
If your intention is to lose weight, know that even low-sugar sweeteners are not recommended by the World Health Organization. Among the types of artificial sweeteners are sucralose, saccharin and aspartame, the latter present in Diet Coke.
It is worth remembering that just 40 minutes after the first sip of the drink, you already feel the “addiction effect”, as a 350 ml can contains 46 milligrams of caffeine that trigger this sensation.
After an hour of ingestion, caffeine can induce a feeling of thirst.
Even though Diet Coke has less caffeine than the regular version, it still contains a significant level of caffeine,” said Juneja. “Caffeine acts as a diuretic, thus potentially increasing dehydration.”
However, a Coca-Cola representative assured The Sun that the brand's products are “completely safe and can be consumed within a balanced lifestyle.