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Written by Superhuman
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Thursday, 17 January 2008 |
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Diet sodas will not prevent obesity or improve your health. According to researchers from the Framingham Heart Study— a large population health study that began in 1948— drinking more than one diet or regular soft drink a day increased the risk
of the Metabolic Syndrome by 48 percent. The Metabolic Syndrome is a group of symptoms that include abdominal fat deposition, high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It is linked to heart disease, stroke and some kinds of cancer. This four-year study examined soft drink consumption and the incidence of the Metabolic Syndrome in nearly 9,000 people. The researchers speculated that drinking sweet beverages increased appetite and promoted overeating. Another explanation is that people who drink sodas may also eat less healthy foods. The study did not show that diet sodas caused the Metabolic Syndrome— only that the two were related. We do not understand why people who consume soft drinks have more heart disease risk factors. (Circulation, in press; published online July 23, 2007)
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