I’m a Doctor: NEVER Drink Diet Sodas

SWEETER THAN FENTANYL –

Oct. 17, 2024 – A Harvard-educated gastroenterologist has taken to TikTok to share the four shocking reasons you should never drink diet soda.

Dr. Saurabh Sethi, a California-based GI doctor and popular healthcare influencer, was asked whether diet soda is a “healthier alternative” to regular soda. It’s a hard no, folks, and here are the four reasons why, according to Sethi. While diet sodas contain fewer calories than their sugary counterparts, research shows they can still trigger the receptors in the brain that cause food cravings. The fact that most people believe the drinks are healthier also tends to lead to over-consumption.

And there’s seemingly no end to the bad news.

Researchers at the University of Southern California found that soda’s fizz can also affect nerves. The California team found that the carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks sets off the same pain sensors in the nose as mustard and horseradish, potentially invoking a stress response in the body.

Another sour note about the sweet fizz? Artificial sweeteners and artificially sweetened beverages, in particular, are associated with an increased risk of depression, with researchers suggesting that these chemicals spur certain transmissions in the brain that can lead to depression.