Imagine that, soda destroys all the health benefits of that double
cheese whopper, large fries and ice cream that came with it.

Diet Sodas Linked With Health Risks
Consumption Increases Risk for Heart Disease and Diabetes

By JULIE STEENHUYSEN, Reuters
Posted: 2007-07-24 11:40:34

CHICAGO - Sodas -- even diet ones -- may be linked with increased risk
factors for heart disease and diabetes, U.S. researchers said on
Monday.

They found adults who drink one or more sodas a day had about a 50
percent higher risk of metabolic syndrome -- a cluster of risk factors
such as excessive fat around the waist, low levels of "good"
cholesterol, high blood pressure and other symptoms.

"When you have metabolic syndrome, your risk of developing heart
disease or stroke doubles. You also have a risk of developing
diabetes," said Dr. Ramachandran Vasan of Boston University School of
Medicine, whose work appears in the journal Circulation.

Prior studies have linked consumption of sugar-laden sodas with
multiple risk factors for heart disease, but Vasan and colleagues also
found the link extends to diet sodas.

The study included about 6,000 middle-aged men and women who were
observed over four years.