Thursday, February 10, 2011

Diet Soda's Link to Heart Health

The second study in the last four years suggests drinking diet soda may significantly increase the risk of having a stroke or other vascular system disorder.clearpxl

University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine presented research at the American Stroke Association’s annual conference stating that people who drank diet soda every day have a 61 percent higher risk of having a vascular event, compared to people who don’t drink any diet soda.

The researchers said their findings suggest switching from regular soda to diet soda is not an effective strategy in lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The study included 2,564 participants who were asked about their soda consumption habits. During an average follow-up of 9.3 years, 559 vascular events occurred, including ischemic stroke, which is caused by the rupture of a weakened blood vessel.

The researchers said that the risk of this type of stroke remained high, even when accounting for other risk factors, including a patient’s metabolic syndrome, peripheral vascular disease and heart disease history.

In 2007, data from the famous Framingham heart study also reported a link between people who drank sodas -- diet or otherwise – and a 48% higher risk for metabolic syndrome, a condition that is known to double one’s risk of developing heart disease.

Bonnie - I guess docs have not been paying attention to neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock and other researchers who have said for year that artificial sweeteners destroy vitamin B-6, magnesium, thus causing short-circuiting of the neurotransmission and depleting vital heart-healthy nutrients.

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