Former USDA food expert warns against diet drinks containing chemicals
Diet sodas are often marketed as ‘healthier’ alternatives to regular soft drinks, but a former USDA nutritionist has warned that they are just as bad, if not worse, for your health.
Dr. Darin Detwiler told DailyMail.com that soft drinks, whether regular or diet, “are of great concern because of their ingredients and the degree of ultra-processing.”
Although regular soda is mainly criticized for its high sugar content, Dr. Detwiler emphasizes that diet soda replaces sugar with artificial sweeteners and “often adds other chemicals that can pose health risks.”
Diet soft drinks are sweetened with artificial sugars such as aspartame, sucralose and saccharin to reduce the calorie content.
However, these can wreak havoc on metabolism and “may alter the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes over time.”
Studies have shown that the sweeteners can negatively impact the gut microbiome, potentially leading to inflammation and metabolic disorders.
Michelle Routhenstein, a preventive cardiology dietitian and heart health expert, told this website that synthetic sweeteners, “can reduce insulin sensitivity, which can promote fat accumulation in the liver.”
Additionally, animal studies have shown that these sweeteners can increase fat storage in the liver and increase markers of insulin resistance, “a key factor in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.”
Diet sodas are often marketed as a ‘healthier’ alternative to regular soft drinks, but a former USDA nutritionist has warned that they are just as bad, if not worse, for your health
In 2023, the World Health Organization deemed aspartame, the artificial sweetener in Diet Coke, a possible carcinogen, meaning it could cause cancer.
However, the FDA disagrees with the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s findings, saying the study had “significant deficiencies.”
While many people turn to diet sodas packed with sweeteners instead of sugar in an effort to control their weight, Dr. Detwiler says these drinks can actually have the opposite effect.
He explains: ‘The lack of calories in diet soft drinks can psychologically encourage the overconsumption of other high-calorie foods. Someone might order a diet soda, but then choose a double cheeseburger instead of a single.”
In addition to sweeteners, Dr. Detwiler says there are other chemicals in soft drinks – both full-calorie and diet products – that can have harmful effects.
Caramel coloring is a common ingredient in colas and other dark soft drinks, and a possible human carcinogen – 4-MAY – is formed during the production of some types of coloring.
Dr. Detwiler notes that more colorful soft drinks, such as orange or grape soda, use synthetic dyes such as Red 40 and Yellow 5, “which have been linked to hyperactivity in children and possible allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.”
Another concern of Dr. Detwiler are the various preservatives added to soft drinks to increase acidity, improve taste and act as a preservative.
Phosphoric acid is an additive found in full-fat soft drinks and diet soft drinks, but it has been linked to the development of kidney stones, chronic kidney disease and urinary changes.
This is often consumed in combination with sodium benzoate – another popular preservative – which has been linked to asthma attacks, muscle spasms and fatigue, recurrent eczema and other skin rashes in excess.
Dr. Darin Detwiler told DailyMail.com that soft drinks, whether regular or diet, “are of great concern because of their ingredients and the degree of ultra-processing.”
Although many people assume that diet soda is better for your teeth because it contains no sugar, Dr. Detwiler emphasizes that using acids as a preservative and flavor enhancer attacks tooth enamel and causes acid erosion.
From his own experience and from conversations with weight-loss doctors and health professionals, he says he “can say with confidence that no reputable doctor or dietitian would recommend diet soft drinks as part of a healthy lifestyle.”
Instead of soft drinks (both regular and diet drinks), he suggests choosing natural, minimally processed drinks such as water, herbal tea or sparkling water with a ‘sprinkle’ of natural flavor.
He concludes: ‘The bottom line: there is little to nothing healthy or positive to be gained from drinking diet soft drinks.
“They may seem like an easy swap, but in reality they are a chemical-laden distraction from truly nutritious choices that support long-term health and well-being.”
“Personally, I’ve avoided soda for fifteen years, except for the occasional ginger ale. I’d be surprised if I drank more than four or five a year.
‘This is not a matter of food safety, but of choice. My dental hygienist once commented that she noticed that I don’t drink soda. What does that say about what they can do to your teeth!’