Diet drinks not a healthy option

We might be sceptical of advertising, but we expect products to do what they say on the tin. So research that shows diet drinks may increase the risk of stroke, heart disease and an early death will be alarming, especially for those who believed they are choosing the healthier option.

Rather than using sugar, these beverages use artificial sweeteners for their flavour.

While an ordinary can of fizzy or fruit juice may contain 150 calories, the diet option often doesn’t have any.

But a new study has shown that does not necessarily make them better for you.

A study involving more than 80,000 women found that those who have more than two diet drinks a day are 29% more likely to develop heart disease and 23% more likely to suffer a stroke than those who have diet drinks once a week or less.

More worryingly, it found the risks increased for women who were obese or, in other words, those most likely to choose a diet drink over the regular option.

While the authors of the study are at pains to stress that while they may have found a link between artificiallysweetened drinks and these diseases, they cannot say they cause them.

However, what is clear is that when it comes to a healthy option, the best choice is to avoid sweetened drinks – whether diet or otherwise – altogether.