Diet Soda: A Guilt-Free Drink With Harmful Effects On The Body Think of the countless times in a restaurant you've been put on the spot to choose a drink once seated next to the waiter. Considering what you may have heard about sugar-free soda, would the potentially harmful effects it could have on your body outweigh the number of calories you could save by allowing yourself to consume a high-calorie meal? For some, artificially sweetened carbonated drinks, like diet soda, have the same delicious taste as regular soda, but only with the satisfaction of knowing that the drink is saving calories to offset a high-calorie meal. Some people like nothing more than a nice cold glass of sugar-free, calorie-free diet soda to wash down a greasy, cheesy, high-calorie pizza when eating out. The guilt-free, sugar-free, calorie-free soft drink complements a high-calorie meal and possible guilt awareness, so many people assume it is good for your health. However, regular consumption of large amounts of diet soda should be limited because it contributes to cancer, memory loss, weight gain, and diabetes. Consuming large amounts of diet soda may increase your risk of cancer. In a study conducted by Soffritti, Belpoggi, Tibaldi, Esposti, and Lauriola, (2007), seven groups of Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes were treated with various dose levels of aspartame (APM) from the age of eight weeks until to death from natural causes. cause. Consequently, when rats were administered levels of APM relatively close to the acceptable human daily intake (ADI), the carcinogenic effects confirm that aspartame contributes to cancer (Soffritti et al., 2007). In fact, Soffritti et al. (2007) indicate that cancer is a greater risk in p...... middle of paper ......and soda is no better for you. References de la Hunty, A. A., Gibson, S. S., & Ashwell, M. M. ( 2006). A review of the effectiveness of aspartame in aiding weight control. Nutrition Bulletin, 31(2), 115-128.doi:10.1111/j.1467-3010.2006.00564.xGold, MD (1995, April/June). The bitter truth about artificial sweeteners. BlazingTattles, 4, n. 4, 5, 6. Humphries, P. P., Prestorius, E. E., & Naude, H. H. (2008). Direct and indirect cellular effects of aspartame on the brain. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 62(4),451-462. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602866Soffritti, M., Belpoggi, F., Tibaldi, E., Esposti, D., & Lauriola, M. (2007). Lifelong exposure to low doses of aspartame starting prenatally increases cancer effects in rats. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(9), 1293-1297. Retrieved from EBSCOhost