You might think you’re making the healthy choice by drinking diet soft drinks. If there are no calories, it can’t be bad, right? Well, it’s better than drinking regular soft drink, but it’s still not the best choice when you’re trying to lose weight- or for your overall health. So the occasional diet soft drink is okay, but if it’s one of your main beverages, it would be smart to think about some healthier choices. Here’s why you should be cautious of those bubbly drinks…

No nutritional value. Diet soft drinks usually have no calories and no sugar, so they’re clearly a much better choice than regular soft drinks. But they also have no nutritional value at all. If you choose healthier drinks, you can keep your body hydrated, and even gain vitamins and minerals that the body can use. Next time you grab a can of Diet Coke, take a look at the nutritional label- there’s nothing in it that gives the body any value. So while drinking it occasionally won’t do much harm, try to choose healthier alternatives for your regular, everyday beverages.

Damage to your teeth. Even sugarless soft drinks contain carbolic acid, which attacks the teeth, weakening the tooth enamel and causing cavities, tooth decay, and staining. Drinking a lot of soft drink over time can cause a lot of damage to your teeth, so keep your consumption to a minimum and preserve those pearly whites!

Weakened bones. Studies have shown that drinking lots of soft drinks can weaken your bones over time, due to the amounts of phosphorous and caffeine, which are believed to be linked to osteoporosis. This is compounded by the fact that if you’re drinking soft drink in place of milk or other healthier drinks you are depriving your bones of enough calcium.

Harm to organs. There is some evidence to suggest that drinking large amounts of soft drink can cause harm to major organs. Research has shown a link between excessive soft drink consumption and chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome, and liver problems.

Obesity and diabetes. Sugary soft drinks have been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, because of their effect on the body’s hormones, as well as the high content of high-fructose corn syrup, which can also contribute to the development of obesity. And diet soft drinks might not be much better. Studies examining the effects of artificial sweeteners have suggested that they may cause increased appetite, as well as making it more difficult to lose weight and to keep it off. 

Smarter drink choices

So what should you drink instead? The good news is, there are plenty of healthy choices to add into your diet plan in place of soft drink. Some good options include:

Water. You can’t get any healthier than that! Drinking enough water and staying hydrated is essential when you’re trying to lose weight and for maintaining good overall health.

Milk. One glass of non-fat milk has around 80 calories, and gives you the essential calcium you need to maintain strong and healthy bones.

Tea. This is a good way to get enough water if you find it boring. There are so many different flavours of tea available and you can drink it hot or iced, so you’ll get plenty of variety, and a refreshing burst of antioxidants.