On the medical side, critics are saying that the study is rife with unscientific assumptions and just plain bad data. I do have to agree that because the study did not take into account anything but the frequency of diet soda consumption it does have serious flaws. Just because there is a correlation it does not constitute a causation. The study did not take into account other dietary, fitness and genetic variables that would have a huge impact on a persons likelihood of developing heart related diseases.
Because many people look at diet sodas as if they will burn the fat off a 1,500 calorie double cheese burger and fries lunch, ones attitude about food and consequently their nutrition intake would obviously play a major role in the disease in question. Salt, fat, food additives and other factors contribute to heart diseases so, not to take these into account in this study brings its findings into question. Another little wrench in the gears of this study is that it was purely on a questionnaire basis. Knowing that people fudge the truth to outright lie on questionnaires also damages the validity of this study.
But just hold on a minute there you diet soda lovers, you aren't off the hook. Thankfully ABC medical spokesperson Dr. Richard Besser, while pointing out the flaws of the study, still said that we shouldn't be consuming that many diet sodas (In our opinion, you should never consume any soda). On Good Morning America Dr Besser suggested that maybe people should limit their diet soda intake to once a week to the howls of protest by hostess Robin Roberts, "What, only once a week?" Dr Besser then relented to the protest saying that maybe a few more was okay.
After the conversation viewers were urged to offer their opinions on the whole debate and study. That's where the whole thing just rubbed me the wrong way. So, we're going to let the majority opinion decide whether or not diet soda is bad for you? In the age of interactive everything in social media these days, we seem to think that the majority holds the truth. It does not.
While diet soda may not kill you, it may contribute to heart disease if you take into account all the other things consumed such as high fat, high protein, preservatives, high sodium, alcohol, cigarette smoke and a plethora of chemical soup and toxins we are exposed to every day. Diet soda is just one more nail in the coffin of good health in America.
While we agree that the study is quite flawed, we see a danger in making light of a study such as this because it tends to cause a backlash and people miss the important point. Let me sum up the important point, diet soda isn't food!
Putting together a chemical mixture of caramel coloring, some kind of poisonous artificial sweetener such as aspartame or sucralose, high sodium content, sodium or potassium benzoate (rocket fuel), natural flavors (MSG), caffeine, water and a few other ingredients doesn't constitute a food substance that is nutrition for your body. And that's really the most important question you should be asking yourself when you are putting food, that is supposed to be fuel, into your body, is it food?
It really is a simple answer. If you want to remain healthy, do you want to consume anything other than real food to fuel the functions of your body? Then you don't have to worry about whether or not there is a link between diet soda and heart disease. When you eat right, it doesn't matter.
