The Big Difference Between Regular Soda And Diet Soda
Both regular and diet soda are offered as drink options in practically every restaurant, grocery store, and gas station in the country. So what is the real difference between these drinks and which one should you choose over the other? According to Food Network, the main difference between regular and diet soda is the sugar content in each one. Regular soda contains large amounts of sugar, usually in the form of high-fructose corn syrup. However, all forms of added sugar come with negative side effects.
A diet high in added sugar has been linked to weight gain, diabetes, cavities, and heart disease (via Medical News Today). The human body is not equipped to absorb high amounts of sugar at one time, and taking in too much can cause digestive issues, breakouts, and wrinkles. Sugar can also negatively affect your mood and cause disruptions in your sleep. Even more side effects of sugar include joint pain, bloating, and high blood pressure. If you drink one or more cans of regular soda every day, you may find yourself dealing with these health issues.
Pros and cons of diet soda
Since regular soda comes with so many potential side effects, it may seem like diet soda is an easy substitution. However, experts note that there are pros and cons to diet soda. This drink is often sweetened with artificial sweeteners, which contain few or no calories (via Healthline). There have not been many long-term studies conducted on these sugar substitutes, which means that you should be cautious about consuming them regularly.
The American Heart Association (AHA) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) have both warned against diets that are high in artificial sweeteners, which includes diet soda (via Harvard Health Publishing). Although fives types of artificial sweeteners have been approved by the FDA (saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame, and sucralose) they aren't necessarily healthy. Consuming these regularly may cause you to overeat other foods and may change how your tongue perceives the taste of real sugar over time. So what's the bottom line? It's okay to enjoy both regular and diet soda in moderation, but don't go overboard with either.