If you’re an older woman, you may want to think twice before you bring that can of diet soda to your lips.
A new study says older, healthy women who down two or more diet drinks a day are 30 percent more likely to experience a heart attack or other dangerous cardiovascular event, and 50 percent more likely to die as a result.
The study was recently presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual session. According to MarketWatch:
“Our findings are in line with and extend data from previous studies,” says Ankur Vyas, a fellow of cardiovascular diseases at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and the lead investigator of the study. The study, it should be noted, found a correlation between the drinking of diet soda and heart disease, not evidence that one causes the other.
Researchers analyzed nearly 60,000 women ages 50 to 79 in what so far is the largest study of its kind.
The beverage industry said people need to remember that there’s no causation. The American Beverage Association said the results of the survey can easily be explained.
Those who are overweight and already at risk for heart disease may consume more diet drinks in an attempt to control their weight, says Christopher Gindlesperger, a spokesman for the American Beverage Association.
In other soda news, sales of diet pop plummeted in 2013. The Wall Street Journal said Americans are turning their backs on diet soda. Diet Coke experienced a 6.8 percent drop in sales in 2013, while Diet Pepsi plunged 6.9 percent.
A growing number of people are worried about potential negative health impacts from artificial sweeteners like aspartame and the food coloring used to dye the soda brown.
I do enjoy a Coke or Pepsi, usually on a daily basis. But I refuse to drink diet soda, as I don’t particularly like the taste, and I’ve noticed that I crave sugar for hours after drinking it. I questioned my doctor about it, and was told to stick with sugared sodas over diet.
Are you a diet soda drinker? What do you think of the study results? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.
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