3. It’s associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Drinking one diet soda a day was associated with a 36 percent increased risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes in a University of Minnesota study.
Metabolic syndrome describes a cluster of conditions (including high blood pressure, elevated glucose levels, raised cholesterol, and large waist circumference) that put people at high risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, Bjork explains.
4. It has no nutritional value
When you drink diet soda, you’re not taking in any calories—but you’re also not swallowing anything that does your body any good, either.
The best no-calorie beverage? Plain old water, says Bjork.
“Water is essential for many of our bodily processes, so replacing it with diet soda is a negative thing,” she says.
If it’s the fizziness you crave, try sparkling water.
5. Its sweetener is linked to headaches
Early studies on aspartame and anecdotal evidence suggests that this artificial sweetener may trigger headaches in some people.
“I have several clients who used to suffer from migraines and pinpointed their cause to diet soda,” Bjork says.