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"It seems that &amp;quot;diet soda&amp;quot; may actually be an oxymoron. A Purdue University study found that consuming diet drinks and foods with non-caloric, artificial sweeteners may result in weight gain, not loss. &amp;quot;Findings from a variety of studies show that routine consumption of diet sodas, even one per day, can be connected to higher likelihood of heart disease, stroke, [type 2] diabetes, metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure, in addition to contributing to weight gain,&amp;quot; said Susan E. Swithers, PhD, a professor of psychological sciences and a behavioral neuroscientist. Dr. Swithers took a look at existing research on whether zero- to low-calorie, artificially sweetened products resulted in overeating and weight gain. She said in many ways, artificial sweeteners are perceived as good because they have few calories, but they shouldn&amp;#039;t be overlooked when researching the unhealthy effects of sodas. &amp;quot;Beverages are becoming political issues as government leaders and politicians seek regulation and taxing to limit their availability and consumption, but most of these measures exclude diet soft drinks because they are perceived as healthy,&amp;quot; she said. &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s more important than ever that the science is considered and that the public understands what the science says in order to help them make the best health decisions.&amp;quot; The findings also showed that these drinks and foods may be affecting the way people&amp;#039;s brains and bodies react to a sweet taste. When someone consumes a sugary, caloric drink, the body knows to release hormones to prevent and regulate blood sugar. &amp;quot;What happens when you have a sweetener is you get that sweet taste, but calories and sugar don&amp;#039;t show up,&amp;quot; Dr. Swithers said. The body doesn&amp;#039;t respond normally, and hormones that usually make the stomach feel full may not be released causing people to overeat. Her study can be found in Trends in Endocrinology &amp;amp;amp; Metabolism. How do you feel about the study&amp;#039;s findings? Share your thoughts in the comments below. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/news/a48020/purdue-study-shows-diet-soda-doesnt-help-you-lose-weight/>