Maybe that Diet Coke isn\u2019t so toxic after all.<\/p>\n
Diet soda has long promised a hit of sweetness without the sugar overload that can fuel weight gain. But sobering research has linked<\/a> artificial sweeteners to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular disease.<\/p>\n Now, a landmark new study<\/a> finds that cracking open a can of diet cola may actually be more beneficial than reaching for the water tap.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a new twist in the long-running debate over whether artificial sweeteners can actually be helpful for people trying to slim down. Pormezz \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Researchers at the University of Liverpool recruited 493 adults who were overweight or obese and randomly assigned them to drink plain water or commercially available diet beverages daily.<\/p>\n The diet drinks contained low- or no-calorie sweeteners, including aspartame<\/a>, acesulfame potassium (acesulfame-K<\/a>) and sucralose.<\/p>\n Both groups also participated in a structured behavioral weight-management program, allowing researchers to track how their drink of choice affected their efforts to shed pounds and maintain their weight loss. <\/p>\n By the end of the two-year study, participants in both groups had slimmed down \u2014 and kept much of it off. <\/p>\n Those in the diet-beverage group lost an average of about 10.6 pounds, compared with 8.2 pounds among those drinking water. <\/p>\n Water is known to support weight loss<\/a> by promoting the feeling of fullness and temporarily increasing metabolism.<\/p>\n The difference between the two groups wasn\u2019t statistically significant, though, meaning the researchers couldn\u2019t conclude that diet drinks offered a meaningful weight-loss advantage over water.<\/p>\n Adults who drank diet soda and those who stuck to water slimmed down and maintained their weight loss in a new study. Africa Studio \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n The weight loss did appear to hold up after the assisted portion of the program ended.<\/p>\n Waist and hip measurements shrank in both groups, while participants also saw improvements in body composition and several measures of metabolic health.<\/p>\n Sugar intake fell across the board, too, with a slightly bigger drop among those sipping diet beverages.<\/p>\n \u201cFor people trying to manage their weight, nonnutritive sweetened beverages offer an effective alternative to sugar-sweetened drinks \u2014 and perform equivalently to water over two years,\u201d Professor Jason Halford said in a news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n The findings add a new twist to the long-running debate over whether artificial sweeteners can actually be helpful for people trying to slim down.<\/p>\n Some scientists have raised concerns that sugar substitutes can interfere with appetite regulation, fuel cravings, disrupt the gut<\/a> and ultimately make it harder to keep the pounds off.<\/p>\n In one study<\/a>, researchers found that sucralose triggered greater activity in the hypothalamus \u2014 a brain region that helps regulate hunger \u2014 than sugar did. The effect was particularly pronounced among people with obesity, who also reported feeling hungrier.<\/p>\n Researchers also observed stronger connections between the hypothalamus and other brain regions involved in motivation and decision-making.<\/p>\n The findings raised questions about whether the artificial sweetener could influence cravings and eating habits.<\/p>\n But the new long-term trial offers a more reassuring picture when it comes to diet soda and weight management.<\/p>\n Diet soda offers a sweet fix without the high sugar content of regular soda. FERNANDO \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n \u201cThese latest findings show that concerns about sweeteners disrupting appetite or causing weight gain are not supported when tested in a rigorous, long-term randomized trial,\u201d said Professor Joanne Harrold, dean of psychology at the University of Liverpool.<\/p>\n The data could also put existing public health guidance under a fresh spotlight. <\/p>\n The World Health Organization<\/a>, for instance, has advised against relying on nonsugar sweeteners for weight control, citing uncertainty about their long-term benefits and evidence from observational studies.<\/p>\n \u201cThis study provides the long-term clinical evidence that has been missing from international discussions,\u201d Halford said. \u201cWe hope this evidence informs future WHO guidance and public health policy.\u201d<\/p>\n Across the US, more than 140 million Americans<\/a> regularly consume artificial sweeteners, often as a way to cut back on sugar.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a worthy goal. The American Heart Association advises<\/a> that men consume no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar a day, while women should cap their intake at 6 teaspoons.<\/p>\n