So-called “light” sodas are often considered as healthier alternatives to sugary sodas. Wrongly, since according to a study carried out by the American Heart Association and published in the journal stroke This February 14, the consumption of low-calorie drinks is associated with an increased risk ofstroke (stroke) or heart attack. However, research was only carried out with menopausal womenand cannot be generalized.
A call for caution
The data relating to the health of more than 82,000 women aged 50 to 79 and postmenopausal, participating in a long-term study were thus analyzed. Among them, 5.1% reported consuming at least one diet soda per day. They had a probability “significantly larger” to suffer from a stroke or coronary artery disease. But those who drank it at least two daily were 23% more likely to have it, to have an ischemic stroke (31%), to suffer from heart disease (29%) and to die from any cause (16%) than other respondents.
The study also showed that overweight women were particularly at risk, even if they had no history of heart disease. “Many well-meaning people, especially those who are overweight or obese, drink low-calorie sugary drinks to cut calories in their diets”, develops Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, lead author of the report. ” Our research and other observational studies have shown that artificially sweetened beverages may not be harmless and that high consumption is associated with a higher risk of stroke and heart disease”he summarizes.
The American Heart Association recently published a scientific opinion concluding that the research did not provide enough evidence to distinguish the effects of low-calorie sweeteners on heart and brain health. “This study adds to the evidence that limit your intake of diet drinks is the safest thing to do for your health”, say the researchers, however. The association also recognizes that diet sodas can help replace sugary and high-calorie drinks, but recommends plain, flavored or carbonated but unsweetened water as the best alternative.
Read also :
- Sugar-free sodas, a slimming scam?
- The positive effects of the soda tax
