Diet Soda not Good for Weight Loss

Is Diet Soda Good for Weight Loss?

You're thirsty, so you head to the refrigerator or the nearest quickie mart for a drink. Or maybe you're staring at the beverage options on a restaurant menu trying to decide what to order. You love the taste of an ice-cold soda with bubbling effervescence. But should you go with regular or diet? If you're trying to control your weight, you might go for the diet soda. After all, most diet soda contains zero to only a few calories and no added sugar.

Diet soda might seem like a harmless beverage to consume as a regular part of your eating plan. But it still might be the reason you're having trouble managing your weight. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health researchers found that overweight diet soda drinkers actually consume 88 more calories in a day than regular soda drinkers.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Sara Bleich, from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, says artificial sweeteners in diet soda actually make your brain think you're still hungry. And the result is, you crunch and munch your way through the day and eat more food that people who drink the real deal.

If diet soda isn't the answer to cutting calories, then what?
If you're trying to manage your weight, you're better off not drinking soda at all, diet or regular. Water is really the only proven beverage of choice that is zero calories and is untainted by added sugar or artificial sweetener. Make drinking water a first priority to get your diet on track. Then take a closer look at your eating habits.

Healthy meals like Chicken and Artichoke with Spinach, Seared Salmon Filet, or Stuffed Peppers made by MagicKitchen.com are good examples of the kind of food you should be eating. If your goal is to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, half your plate should be filled with fruits and vegetables at every meal. Whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products also provide the vitamins and nutrients you need for best health.

The most effective weight loss plans also include at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Forget the soda and drink water. Eat healthy, and get regular exercise. And you'll be on your way to a lighter, leaner, healthier you.

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