Obesity seems to be something that the U.S.  is known for. Our store shelves are lined with sugary drinks, Twinkies, chips and an array of other foods that, combined with a sedentary lifestyle, make us… fat.

To try to combat this, many companies have turned to diet and sugar-free options, replacing the natural sugar with artificial sweeteners. This seems like it would be a win-win, because the drinks still taste similar to their sugary counterparts, but they don’t contain the obesity-causing ingredients. However, recent studies show that these artificial sweeteners may be causing more harm than good.

According to the American Heart Association’s journal, the risk of having an ischemic stroke increases threefold for those who drink artificially sweetened soda compared to those who never drink the beverages. There is also the same correlation between the drinks and the likelihood to be diagnosed with dementia.

While these studies show serious impacts to drinking diet sodas, this may only be the tip of the iceberg; there isn’t enough evidence to confirm a clear correlation but more studies are beginning.

“More research is needed to study the health effects of diet drinks so that consumers can make informed choices concerning their health,” said Matthew Pase, a senior research fellow in the department of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine (CNN).

Diet soda seems to be a better alternative to the health hazards caused by sugary drinks, but new studies show that there are downsides to both. Thankfully, the studies only found correlation with those who were habitual drinkers, so a soda once in awhile is not going to kill you. The best choice at the end of the day might just be a regular glass of water.

For more information on the studies:

CNN

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