Glass Half Empty: Potentially Deadly Drinking Habits

I use to hang out with a young woman back in college who upon ordering a bacon double cheeseburger would then order a diet coke. Ah, the irony. And, even though some suggest that diet beverages actually contribute to “dieting” and weight conscious individuals actually gaining weight, the damage note some experts extends well beyond your waistline.

Diet coke while recently revealed as the leading diet beverage of choice, contains according to scientists, a consortium of chemicals that are neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic. Among these the sugar-substitute, high intensity sweeteners such as aspartame and acesulfame K), in addition to tooth and bone decaying acids (phosphoric acid) and DNA damaging colourings (sulphite ammonia caramel), as well as pshychoaddictive caffeine and other unlisted flavourings.

Plus, it also consists of sodium benzoate that can be broken down into the carcinogen benzene in the presence of strong acids, such as the citric acid found in these products. And, scientists add that soda manufacturers have known about this synergistic association since the 90s. However, due to lack of pressure from regulatory agencies to alter their formula to prevent the formation of benzene, they’ve kept things constant including mixing benzoates and acids.

But, ironically, the “bad-for-you” high fructose syrups that constitute a large part of these soft drinks seem to slow the process down and the formation of benzene seems to be the most serious and problematic in diet drinks.