In a landmark study performed by a researcher from the Statens Serum Institut, based in Copenhagen, the artificial sweetener used to make diet soft drinks or ‘light’ soft drinks palatable has been identified as a possible trigger for premature births.  The study was published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Controversial results

The controversial results of the study has drawn the interest of other researchers in the field of nutrition. According to Shelley McGuire MD from the American Society of Nutrition, the Danish study is an important development in the drive to prevent premature births around the world.

According Dr. McGuire, until other studies are performed to clarify that artificial sweeteners do not cause premature births, pregnant women should simply opt not to drink diet soft drinks.  In the end, McGuire surmised, pregnant women should be more interested in drinks that are nutrient-rich and proven safe for pregnant women.

The Danish study, which was performed by lead researcher Thorahallur Halldorsson, suggested that women who regularly had at least one serving of diet soft drinks per day was 38% at risk for premature birth.

Women who had up to four drinks per day raised their risk for premature birth by a whopping 78%.  According to Halldorsson, a woman may give birth before the 37th week is reached.  The study made use of necessary filters to weed out other potential factors that may be causing the premature births - the researcher found none.

The real deal behind soft drinks

It is estimated that the United States alone consumes an amazing 49.78 billion liters of soft drinks every year. More than 20% of all the sugar in the average American diet is acquired through soft drinks.  While some people simply shrug their shoulders - what’s the real deal behind soft drinks?  Here are some things you have to know before drinking your next can of Pepsi or Coke:

1. Regular soft drinks are loaded with corn syrup - one of the worst types of sugar around.  Too much sugar in the average American diet has already caused millions to succumb to adult-onset diabetes.  Recent research has also pointed to the key role of sugar in increasing blood pressure.

2. In an independent US study published in the medical journal The Lancet, it was found that regular consumption of soft drinks predisposes preadolescents to obesity by as much as 60%.

3. A daily serving of any regular soft drink can can increase your weight by more than 10 pounds per year. How long have you been drinking soda regularly?

4. A single serving of regular soft drink causes insulin in the body to spike continuously - and over time, this cycle can cause premature aging, heart diseases and of course, diabetes.

5. Excessive sugar intake has been associated with increased risk for breast cancer and even colon cancer.

6. Fructose (like corn syrup) has to be metabolized by the body to be used.  Metabolism produces its own waste products; increase the sugar intake and the metabolic processes also have to increase.

Over time, all the waste products produced by sugar intake affects the amount of uric acid that we have in the bloodstream.  As we age, we lose our capacity to expel uric acid naturally and efficiently.  Too much uric acid in the body can cause one of the most painful manifestations of arthritis - gout.

7. A large slushy drink can contain as much as 800 calories - almost half of the RDA for adults.

8. Hankering for a diet soft drink? Be careful - soft drinks can also lead to caffeine dependence.  Unless the manufacturer specifically stated that the soft drink is caffeine-free, a serving of diet soft drink can contain as much as 42 milligrams of caffeine.  This is more than 7 times the usual amount for regular soft drinks.

Sources:
telegraph.co.uk
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