Diet Coke may have  negative health effects despite its reputation as a “healthier” alternative to regular Coke

By Caroline Zhang
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According to junior Sarah Helmy, it was not unusual for her to drink four to five cans of Diet Coke each day in the past. Helmy said she prefers Diet Coke over regular Coke. “I like the taste of it more and it has less calories,” she said.

Health teacher Emily Good said she chose Diet Coke for many of the same reasons. “It’s the fact that you’re not drinking your calories,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about caloric intake.”

However, Good said she admits the word “diet” can be deceptive. She said, “(Students) see the word diet and suddenly it’s a healthier choice.”

On the contrary, Good said Diet Coke and other diet sodas can lead to health problems later in life. She said the artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and chemicals such as phenylalanine can lead to cancer.

In addition, diet soda may be tied to weight gain, despite its lower calorie count. According to a 2008 study published in Circulation, a scientific journal published by the American Heart Association, diet soda may be linked to metabolic syndrome, which includes a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

“There’s studies that show the ingredients of Diet Coke can lead to a slower metabolism,” Good said.

According to a Purdue scientists’ study in 2004,  “A Pavlovian Approach to the Problem of Obesity,” rats that consumed artificial sweeteners, such as the ones found in Diet Coke, tended to consume more calories and gain more weight than rats who ate glucose, anatural sugar.

In fact, Good said regular Coke may sometimes be the healthier choice, despite its greater number in calories. She said, “If you can manage to drink just one normal Coke versus one Diet Coke, go with the normal Coke, which (uses natural sweeteners).”

Senior Jamie Sundin said she prefers regular Coke. “It has a lot more flavor to it than diet and diet is just as bad,” she said. “Why drink the worse version when you can just have the real version?”

Helmy said health considerations have limited the number of Diet Cokes she consumes. “After I heard all the risks, I tried to minimize the number of Diet Cokes I drink. I usually drink about two cans a day.”

However, Helmy said she does not plan to stop drinking Diet Coke altogether. “I don’t feel the risks are proven enough to stop,” she said. “People are always coming up with things you shouldn’t do.”

According to Good, Helmy shouldn’t have to give up Diet Coke completely as long as she doesn’t go overboard. She said, “It’s all about moderation. One Coke isn’t going to hurt anyone.”