Artificial Sweeteners May Change Our Gut Bacteria in Dangerous Ways
I'm currently trying to kick a Diet Coke habit (my equivalent of smoking), which I think is contributing to several health problems, not the least of which is carrying about 40 pounds more than I should around.<p>Part of it, which isn't covered by these studies, is how a reliance on diet soda affects your diet overall. It serves as a lubricant, for lack of a better word, for dense starchy carbs and salt. I can wolf down french fries with diet soda, but it's a lot harder with just water, which doesn't cut the salt or grease.<p>My real warning to cut back came from my mouth. I have an autoimmune problem that causes sores similar to cold sores. My salty, sour, spicy diet aggravates it, and the diet soda enables that diet (and is itself acidic). I'm tired of pain, so I'm cutting back.<p>Lost five pounds in an instant.