The internetcola
community has been rumbling with rumors about our precious diet colas saying that they could be linked to an increased risk of stroke and heart disease. Before you put down that delightfully non-fattening diet coke, let's go through the facts and see what exactly is being said.
Yes, there has been a study that touched on diet sodas and
the risks with which they could be associated. It was presented at the American
Stroke Association's 2011 International Stroke Conference. It began in 2003 with 2,564 people were
asked about their soda intake (both diet and regular) and other dietary issues.
It was put in place to determine risk factors for the multi-ethnic population
of New York City. This year the results were assessed. What they found was that
those who said that they regularly consumed diet sodas had a 60 percent higher
rate of stroke and heart attacks. When the data was adjusted for factors like
age, sex, race, smoking, etc. the risk, though still high, decreased to 48
percent. So what exactly does this mean? In a release from the stroke association
Hannah Gardener of the University of Miami School of Medicine noted that, "If
our results are confirmed with future studies, then it would suggest that diet
soda may not be the optimal substitute for sugar-sweetened beverages for
protection against vascular outcomes."
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Again, calm down, stop throwing out your winter stock of
diet cola. The study, it should be noted, does not directly prove that drinking
diet soda increases health risks. It links the two. These are simply facts to
note and realize that these questions were asked in 2003 after which the
subjects could have changed their habits (they were not monitored year to
year). The answers to these questions were also self-reported, which is not
always a reliable means of attaining accurate information. So until we hear
further, don't fear the diet sodas but simply keep a watchful eye over them as
they sit chilling in your fridge - and maybe drink a glass of water now and
again.
