Study: Diet Soda Linked to Heart Risks

[devilgrrl]

Study: Diet Soda Linked to Heart Risks
By JAY LINDSAY (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
July 23, 2007 4:03 PM EDT

BOSTON - People who drank more than one diet soda each day developed the same risks for heart disease as those who downed sugary regular soda, suggests a large but inconclusive study.

The results surprised the researchers who expected to see a difference between regular and diet soda drinkers. It could be, they suggest, that even no-calorie sweet drinks increase the craving for more sweets, and that people who indulge in sodas probably have less healthy diets overall.

The study's senior author, Dr. Vasan Ramachandran, emphasized the findings don't show diet sodas are a cause of increased heart disease risks. But he said they show a surprising link that must be studied.

"It's intriguing and it begs an explanation by people who are qualified to do studies to understand this better," said Vasan, of Boston University School of Medicine.

However, a nutrition expert dismissed the study's findings on diet soda drinkers.

"There's too much contradictory evidence that shows that diet beverages are healthier for you in terms of losing weight that I would not put any credence to the result on the diet (drinks)," said Barry Popkin, of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, who has called for cigarette-style surgeon general warnings about the negative health effects of soda.



More: http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20070723/46a427c0_3ca6_15526200707231799672711

[Zodiak]

1. Had a heart attack when drinking regular soda

I drink a lot of soda, mind you.

The cardiologist put me on diet soda and my triglycerides went waaaaaaay down.

My anecdotal story may not be scientific, but then again, it is my anecdotal story. I'll stick with my own results because, well...they're mine.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. High fructose corn syrup is associated with...

high triglycerides. Personally, it's almost a wash with me whether HFRC or artificial sweeteners would kill me first. HFRC has the edge, though.

If weight or blood sugar isn't a problem, a sugar sweetened soda (cut down on that, too, a bit) could actually be the reasonable compromise.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. I hate all diet sodas 'cause they all taste like chemicals.

Every single one of 'em.

Nasty.

[devilgrrl]

3. Aren't they awful?

Water tastes better.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. So in other words, diet soda doesn't cure heart disease.

They found diet soda drinkers have the same risk as regular soda drinkers.

:shrug:

[kimmerspixelated]

6. I imagine all the major soda companies

have an invested interest with the FDA to silence certain findings. I rarely if ever, have a soda, but when I do, it is the real thing. Can't stand the taste of the "diets". Plus all that Splenda horse-pooky traveling around in mainstream info! Splenda has some of the same components as Clorox! Maybe that's why the Coca-Cola company uses their own products to clean their delivery trucks!

[pepperbear]

7. admittedly, the headline is misleading...

sounds like you're more at risk with diet soda, when actually you're just not LESS likely to have heart attack w/ diet soda.

[devilgrrl]

12. I posted the headline as it was written.

With all the talk of aspartame, I thought it was an interesting article.

:shrug:

[pepperbear]

18. hey man it's all good. I was pointing out the sensationalism of the headline...

it's just the way the media works. hyperbole.

mikee

[devilgrrl]

19. The story's all over the place today...

the local tv news has picked it up and started running with it.

[lastknowngood]

5. This is Bullshit medicine They say that soda is bad for you heart

then the state that the people who drink soda have poor diets eat a lot of fat and don't exercise. Listen dummies I can use their data to state that poor diets and eating a lot of fat and not exercising is bad for the heart without every mentioning the soda. These dumb asses found a group of unhealthy people and decided that soda was the problem

[Crankie Avalon]

8. I don't have this problem, being that I'm a beer drinker.

Call me a health nut.

[Mind_your_head]

10. LOL

:rofl:

[JDPriestly]

11. I recommend drinking iced mint tea.

It satisfies the desire for a little bite in the taste almost as much soda water does. Then, of course there is also just plain soda water with a little lemon -- also very refreshing.

I have a friend who drinks iced water with a bit of what I think is called fennel in English. It has sort of a licorice taste and really hits the spot. The fennel also quiets your a hungry stomach and so supports weight loss I have heard.

[devilgrrl]

13. I drink water with 1/2 a lemon squeezed into it...

very refreshing

[JDPriestly]

15. That is great too.

Of course, the problem is that when you aren't home but are thirsty, we reach for a soft drink -- diet or sugared, it probably isn't good for us.

[VP505]

14. Oh crap,

is there ANYTHING that doesn't give you cancer, heart disease and hemorrhoids??? If you pay attention to those studies you cant eat or drink much of anything without getting sick, how the hell does anyone ever live past 50?

[TreasonousBastard]

16. Pure bullshit--- where's the control group...

that drank no soda at all, and where's the data on what other shit these people ate. And the control group on that.

This sort of nonsense gives junk science a bad name-- these results are only published so the researchers can have something to hang a new grant on. At least real junk science has paid hacks lying for a living.

[Systematic Chaos]

17. Diet soda is no alternative to water or unsweetened tea...

...but when you just gotta have fizzy and you can't handle the corn syrup due to diabetes then it's better than a kick in the skull. I used to drink Diet Coke by the freaking gallon. I'm down to about a 2-liter a week now and the rest is plain tea or water.

[Radio_Lady]

20. It's not nice to kill your customers! But the tobacco companies do it all the time!

[Babsbrain]

21. I'm confused

Half of the news stories say ALL soda and half say just diet soda. I bet Coca Cola and Pepsi aren't too happy about this.