With the summer finally here, an expert is warning of various negative effects enjoying a cold can of Diet Coke can have in the space of just one hour. The impact can be seen 10, 20, 40, and 60 minutes after finishing that last sip.
Although when drunk in moderation, Diet Coke doesn't pose too much of a risk, previous studies have shown that drinking beverages with artificial sweeteners can lead to weight gain. And one study, published in the journal Current Atherosclerosis Reports, warns that such drinks could be contributing to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
10 minutes
Qualified pharmacist Niraj Naik, best known as The Renegade Pharmacist, went viral in 2015 with an infographic about how Diet Coke affects a person within that first post-drink hour and says tooth enamel is attacked within just 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."
Read more: Morrisons apologises after accidentally selling £36 premium whisky for £2.50 a bottle
20 Minutes
After 20 minutes, Naik says the drinker's body switches to its "fat storage mode", citing studies 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.”
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