A pharmacist has voiced concern over the alleged impact of Diet Coke. The artificially sweetened drink can quickly have adverse effects on the body, according to qualified pharmacist Niraj Naik.
The health entrepreneur, also known as the Renegade Pharmacist, claimed the soft drink attacked tooth enamel within 10 minutes, the Mirror reports. "The phosphoric acid attacks the enamel in your teeth, while the artificial sweeteners like aspartame hit your system," claimed Mr Naik. "Aspartame may trigger taste receptors and trick your body into thinking it has just processed sugar."
He claimed that within 20 minutes the drinker's body switched to "fat storage mode". Mr Naik cited research from The Nurses' Health Study that connected such drinks to a higher risk of high blood pressure and type two diabetes. "Like regular Coke, this can trigger insulin, which sends your body into fat storage mode," he claimed. You can get more Swansea news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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He claimed that within 40 minutes the caffeine and aspartame combination could cause a short-term high. If drunk regularly, the excitotoxins released could lead to the brain becoming exhausted and overstimulated, said Mr Naik.
After one hour has passed, the drinker will be more likely to reach for sugary junk food, according to Mr Naik, who claimed: "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."
A Coca-Cola spokesperson told the Mirror: "Diet Coke has been enjoyed by millions of people around the world for more than 30 years. As with all the drinks we sell, its ingredients are perfectly safe and can be enjoyed as part of a balanced lifestyle.”
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