‘I’m a doctor - this everyday drink could be putting your health at risk’

Despite intentions to live healthier as the new year rolls in, substituting regular fizzy drinks for diet versions might not be the smartest move. Dr Emily Carter warned against the use of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which is a commonplace sugar alternative in these drinks. The nutritionist explained: "Aspartame is widely used as a low-calorie sugar substitute in many diet sodas.

While it’s approved for consumption in regulated amounts, frequent intake has been linked to potential side effects, particularly in sensitive individuals." Collaborating with analytics specialists at CasinoWizard , they identified the most common adverse reactions to diet and sugar-free soft drinks, primarily headaches and migraines. The research mentioned shows 15-20% of aspartame consumers are prone to headaches or migraines, and the figures rise among those who have a particular sensitivity to artificial sweeteners.



Regularly drinking aspartame-laden beverages may lead to the not-so-sweet side effects of bloating, gas, and tummy trouble for those with fragile guts; around 10% of soda fans can reportedly attest to such mild digestive discomfort. Despite there being no clinical association, up to 10% of aspartame consumers report unsettling neurological impact of fizzy drinks, from feeling "off" to noticing shifts in mood and memory issues. 'Sugar-free' drinks might lure people eager to lose weight and live healthier but it can actually increase your chance of overeating elsewhere in your diet.

Experts at the IARC and JECFA, arms of the World Health Organisation, have also flagged aspartame's potential carcinogenic nature in 2023, proposing a daily max of 40mg per kg of body weight. Be wary though, a single 12-ounce can of certain soft drinks could be brimming with up to 200mg. Yet it’s not just in sodas where this sweet impostor hides as unsuspecting chewing gums, gelatine product6s and even some yoghurts may harbour it.

A 2021 analysis, examining scores of studies on aspartame and featured in the National Library of Medicine , raised the alarm that this common sweetener could wreak havoc on health, including inducing "mental stress affecting learning skills and memory" among a whole host of other adverse reactions. Despite these concerns, the experts ultimately concluded: "According to current knowledge benefits of aspartame use outweighs the possible side effects.".