When drinking Diet Coke you might not think of the effects the beverage can have on your body. Experts have warned that the drink should be enjoyed in moderation and not drink it too much.
The artificially sweetened beverage is a popular drink but health experts have warned about the health risks of drinking too much of it. When drinking it in moderation, it can be harmless but studies have shown that drinking beverages with artificial sweeteners can lead to weight gain.
As the Mirror reports, One pharmacist has broken down what consuming one can of this soft drink does to the body in just an hour. The effects of drinking a can of Diet Coke can apparently be seen in just one hour, with an impact seen 10, 20, 40, and 60 minutes after finishing that last sip.
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10 minutes
Also known as The Renegade Pharmacist, Niraj Narik first shared his professional knowledge back in 2015 through a viral infographic.
He said that tooth enamel is attacked within 10 minutes.
Naik said: "The phosphoric acid attacks the enamel in your teeth, while the artificial sweeteners like aspartame hit your system. Aspartame may trigger taste receptors and trick your body into thinking it has just processed sugar."
20 minutes
Naik says that in 20 minutes the drinker's body switches to its "fat storage mode", citing studies from The Nurses' Health Study that connect such beverages to a higher risk of high blood pressure and type two diabetes.
According to Naik: "Like regular Coke, this can trigger insulin, which sends your body into fat storage mode."
40 minutes
Naik claims the caffeine and aspartame combination results in a short-term high, in a comparable way to the Class A drug cocaine. If drunk regularly, Naik claims the excitotoxins released could lead to your brain becoming exhausted and overstimulated.
He explained: "The potentially deadly combination of caffeine and aspartame creates a short addictive high similar to the way cocaine works. Excitotoxins are released which may exhaust your brain by overstimulating its neuroreceptors, especially if consumed on a regular basis."
60 minutes
After one hour has passed, Naik says the drinker will be left more hungry and thirsty than they were previously, and more likely to reach for sugary junk food.
He continued: "Unlike the small amount of satisfaction you get from regular Coke your body may still crave sweets. This makes you likely to reach for another soda, or worse, some other junk food you consider to be safe, and the cycle continues.
"A can of diet coke provides no nourishment and would replace a more nutritious drink you could have drunk while potentially depleting your body of essential minerals."
The Mirror has said they have contacted Coca-Cola for comment.
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