Diet Coke is a very popular drink, with many people reaching for a can or a bottle for a caffeine boost.
Like most other food and drink, it is pretty harmless in moderation, but studies have shown the artificially sweetened beverage can cause negative effects just one hour after drinking. A pharmacist has explained what consuming just one can of the soft drink does to the body in 60 minutes.
Also known as The Renegade Pharmacist, Niraj Naik first shared his professional knowledge back in 2015 through a viral infographic, and Diet Coke will likely be disappointed.
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According to the expert, changes that occur within that post-drink hour impact hunger, energy levels and a number of other areas. Previous studies have linked drinks with artificial sweeteners to weight gain, but further research has found they can affect more than just the scales, 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.
Mr 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."
Here's what happens in the hour after you drink a Diet Coke:
20 minutes
Mr 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
Mr 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, Mr 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 contacted Coca-Cola for comment.
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