Sweetener used in Diet Coke possibly causes cancer, WHO set to declare
ground.news
The World Health Organization is on the verge of declaring the aspartame sweetener in Diet Coke a possible carcinogen, Reuters reported Thursday.

Aspartame is also linked in some studies to weight gain, GI disorders, mental health issues and more:

According to some studies, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners can lead to weight gain instead of weight loss 12. Aspartame has been linked to increased appetite, diabetes, metabolic derangement and obesity-related diseases 2.

One study showed that aspartame causes greater weight gain than a diet with the same calorie intake but no aspartame 1. Another study found that even acceptable daily intakes of aspartame might make you hungrier and lead to weight gain 3.

…some research suggests an association between aspartame intake and metabolic damage to the central nervous system (CNS), such as changes in enzyme and neurotransmitter activities 2. Aspartame acts as a chemical stressor by elevating plasma cortisol levels and causing the production of excess free radicals. High cortisol levels and excess free radicals may increase the brain’s vulnerability to oxidative stress which may have adverse effects on neurobehavioral health 3.

There is also some evidence that high-aspartame consumption may lead to weaker spatial orientation, irritability, depression, and other neurobehavioral conditions 14. However, these studies are limited in scope and further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of aspartame on human health.

Worth researching more, especially if you eat/drink anything with this stuff - and it’s in a lot of food products.

    • @ricdehEnglish
      7•1 year ago

      That’s always the problem with research, or rather with insufficient consumer protection laws. It needs time to run studies and provide reliable and definitive scientific results in an academic setting, and in the meantime, millions of human beings are exposed to toxic compounds. But because research cannot really be accelerated that much without a loss in quality, we should really push for better regulation of “experimental” products.

        • @ricdehEnglish
          3•1 year ago

          Yeah the EU supposedly regulates a lot more, but I cannot really feel much of that. In the end, we Europeans (I’m from Germany) have likely been exposed to as much aspartame as you have (assuming that you are American)

            • @ricdehEnglish
              4•1 year ago

              That’s fair. It’s just that Europe is far from paradise as well lol, even our food regulation is way too lax in my opinion

    • CoinEnglish
      2•1 year ago

      Assuming you mean cutting soda out entirely and not just diet soda, I just want to reassure you that it does get easier. I’ve gone from drinking a can or 2 at lunch/dinner to only drinking like a handful of times a year (only at parties/events for social purposes). In my experience after the 6 month mark, soda straight up tastes bad and at that point it’s smooth sailing. Your teeth and wallet will thank you.

        • CoinEnglish
          2•1 year ago

          Ahh my bad, I misunderstood. That’s great to know!