The American Heart Association (AHA) released a science advisory counseling against soda consumption. They now recommend people replace diet and regular soda with plain, carbonated, flavored but unsweetened water. 

Based on the evidence the committee combed through for over two years, there may be an association between low-calorie soda consumption and weight gain, dementia, stroke and other health problems, but the science behind the correlations are fuzzy.  Further studies are planned.

The AHA believes the best advice at the moment is to decrease intake and avoid excessive intake of diet sodas.

The committee understands that a “diet” soda may be helpful as a replacement when someone is trying to ween themselves off of regular sugar-laden soda. However, there is no real evidence that this strategy works.  

“There’s nothing health-promoting about it. The only health-related role it has is as a transition beverage, replacing or displacing sugar-sweetened beverages.”

The recommendations were published July 30 in the journal Circulation

Luckily, a report from the federal data base showed that adults and young people are drinking less of both sugary soda and diet soda.

To learn more – “AHA (American Heart Association): Limit Diet Sodas and Drinks, Stick to Water Instead” by Health Day

Learn more about sugar intake, ways to avoid sugar and how to spot hidden high sugar offenders with our “The Joy of Six” resource page.

Download the Sugar Rush app from Fooducate to see how much sugar has been added to your food. Just scan the bar-code of any product and instantly see a breakdown of naturally occurring and added sugar.