DIET Coke is a staple for those who love the refreshing taste but don’t want to drink a load of sugar.
But despite its name, the drink might not be as healthy as you think, experts warn.
Think Diet Coke is he healthier option? Experts warn it might not be as good for you, as you think
Studies show drinking too much can increase your risk of gaining weight.
Other research, published in Current Atherosclerosis Reports, linked drinking it to a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Here’s what experts say can happen to your body, minute by minute after consuming the beverage.
10 minutes: Attacks your teeth
The Renegade Pharmacist states that after just ten minutes of drinking a low calorie drink, the acid starts to harm your pearly whites.
The drink can chip away at enamel, leaving you with erosion, cavities and sensitivity over time, dentists say.
Dr Raj Juneja, of the Face Teeth Smile Dental Clinic, said: “Diet Coke, like other carbonated beverages, is highly acidic.
“The carbonation process involves the addition of carbonic acid, which gives the drink its characteristic fizz.
“The acidity of Diet Coke can contribute to tooth enamel erosion over time.
“Enamel is the protective outer layer of the teeth, and when exposed to acid regularly, it can weaken and become more susceptible to cavities and sensitivity.”
Dr Khaled Kasem, an orthodontist at Impress, said: “Although diet sodas appear to be a healthier alternative compared to full sugar drinks, the actual impact these drinks have on our teeth is just as bad.
“It’s best to reduce your intake of these drinks and we would always advise using a straw if you do consume them and drinking water afterwards, to help protect your teeth.”
20 minutes: Fat storage mode
The Renegade Pharmacist also claimed that within 20 minutes of consuming Diet Coke your body switches on its “fat storage mode”.
This is because it triggers your body to produce insulin — the hormone that normally breaks down sugar in the blood — he claims.
However experts are not convinced all diet drinks cause this insulin spike.
Douglas Twenefour, head of care at Diabetes UK, said “Studies on the effects of artificial sweeteners on insulin production have varying results, with some showing more insulin produced.
“The results can differ depending on the artificial sweetener used and on whether test subjects had diabetes.”
Dr Matthew Snelson, research fellow at the Monash School of Biological Sciences and the Victorian Heart Hospital, said while insulin can trigger fat storage, it is not clear sweeteners in Diet Coke boost levels of the hormone.
He said: “Insulin is released by our body in response to foods, in particular when that food contains carbohydrates, and it helps those nutrients get into our body.
“Insulin does play a role in helping our bodies store fat. There’s no evidence that the types of sweeteners used in diet coke (specifically: aspartame, acesulfame K) affect insulin.
“One well-conducted study gave people two cans a day for 12 weeks and found no effects of the artificially sweetened drinks on insulin sensitivity.”
40 minutes: Addiction
After just 40 minutes from taking your first sip of Diet Coke, your body can experience a short, addictive high, according to the Renegade Pharmacist.
He said: “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.”
Aspartame and caffeine can trigger the brain’s reward system, causing addiction in some people.
Diet Coke has around 42mg of caffeine per 330ml can, according to Coca Cola.
60 minutes: Thirst and hunger
Drinking Diet Coke can actually make you thirstier than you were before.
After just an hour you could feel like you need a drink or food because the caffeine in it triggers dehydration, the Renegade Pharmacist says.
Dr Juneja said: “While Diet Coke contains less caffeine than regular Coke, it still contains a moderate amount.
“Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it can contribute to dehydration.”
Dehydration occurs when you have too little water in your body.
Caffeine causes your body to produce more urine by increasing blood flow to your kidneys, spurring them on to release more water.
This can leave you feeling not only thirty but also hungry — as many people feel the urge to snack when they’re dehydrated.
A Coca-Cola spokesperson said: “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.”