A general rule of thumb when it comes to food and drink is that all things are fine in moderation, with a few exceptions, and the line seemingly runs true when it comes to Diet Coke.
While the artificially sweetened leading soft drink can be found in fridges worldwide, experts have issued a stern warning about consuming too much.
Of course, when enjoyed in moderation, the carbonated beverage doesn't pose much of a risk at all, but previous studies have proven that sodas with artificial sweeteners can in fact lead to weight gain.
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The Mirror reports that one pharmacist has recently broken down the impacts of drinking just one can of Diet Coke on the body over the course of an hour. The effects of supping the sweetened drink come just 10, 20, 40 and 60 minutes after finishing the last sip.
10 minutes
'Renegade Pharmacist', Niraj Naik, initially shared his pro understanding back in 2015, launching a viral infographic. In which, he stated that tooth enamel is attacked within 10 minutes of drinking Diet Coke.
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 said that during the course of the first 20 minutes, the drinker's body automatically switches to "fat storage mode" - citing studies from The Nurses' Health Study which 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
A caffeine and aspartame combo is claimed to result in a short term high, with Naik alleging that the excitotoxins released may lead to a person's brain becoming exhausted and overstimulated. He continued: "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 the hour mark, Naik says that the drinker is left more hungry and thirsty that they were before drinking Diet Coke - and that the consumer is also more likely to reach for sugary junk food. He went on: "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 contacted Coca-Cola for comment.
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