The American diet is filled with high fat, high-risk foods that pack on the pounds. We're always looking for a way to lose weight in a way that doesn't take much time. One of the big things associated with weight loss and better health is cutting calories. The fewer calories foods or drinks have, the better it must be for you, right? As diet soda proves, that's not always the case.A common myth that exists is that diet soda has more health benefits for people than regular soda. While diet soda isn't exactly worse than regular soda, many studies have shown it's not making people any healthier, either.
Acidity and Diet Coke
Every single consumable beverage has an acidity level that measures the potential hydrogen, or pH, of the drink. The more hydrogen a beverage has, the less acidic it is. For instance, stomach acid has a pH of 1, which makes it acidic. In comparison, water has a pH of 7, making it less acidic.Your blood has a pH level of about 7.5. This is an average level of pH for a human body. If the levels change, the body adjusts its processes so the pH level can be maintained. Less acidic minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iodine are introduced into the bloodstream to balance it out. A can of Diet Pepsi has a pH level of about 3.03. Most diet sodas have a pH between 3 & 4.5.A key ingredient in a can of diet soda is phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid's acidity is only slightly higher than battery acid. One of the ingredients that counteract acidity is iodine. Iodine maintains the thyroid gland, which helps metabolize your diet. The more iodine you give to your thyroid, the better your metabolism.However, if you are always drinking diet soda, then iodine will be leeched from the thyroid to balance out the acidity of the blood. This does not let the thyroid work as efficiently, which causes increased fat storage and weight gain.
Why Do Artificial Sweeteners Make You Crave Sweets?
Instead of using sugar, which can provide needed carbohydrates, many diet sodas use an artificial sweetener to make it low calorie and provide the same great taste.The problem with artificial sweeteners is that they can be at least 100 times sweeter than sugar. The sweetness does one of two things:
- Stimulates pleasure centers of the brain
- Induces cravings for more food
One of our basic evolutionary traits is a reward for sweetness. When humans began foraging for food, they would either eat something bitter, neutral, or sweet.Often, the bitter taste would go along with something that was dangerous to consume. When we found a sweet taste, that would let our ancestors know that that food not only tasted good, but it was also healthy.That evolutionary trait survived and, as humans evolved, we were able to manipulate sweetness. Now, we have artificial sweeteners that are highly acidic and stimulate our pleasure centers, but have none of the healthy benefits. In fact, as many university studies have shown, your health is put in danger through diabetes, heart disease, severe obesity, and overall bad nutrition.With something like an artificial sweetener, research indicates that the sugar intake (and acidity) of the body needs to be balanced out.Artificial sweeteners give off a taste of sugar, but do not have the caloric value of sugar. Therefore, the body broadcasts to the brain that it is okay to have artificial sweetener. It just needs to balance out the acidity of the sweetener by taking in more nutrients. This can induce cravings for more food and diet soda, which can make you hungrier.
How To Stop Craving Diet Soda
Eat less acidic foods. Leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, and fish are low in acid and will help normalize your body. Less acidity will use less iodine, which will allow your thyroid gland to process sugars and sweeteners a bit better. Drink more water.Also, talk with a Blue Tree Health professional about how to adjust your diet in a successful way. Many of us backslide on our diets, which is why having a professional help you on your weight loss journey can give you an effective weight loss regimen. For more information, contact Blue Tree Health today.
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