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RESEARCH NEWS: DIET SODA INCREASES BELLY FAT

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The trend among obese kids is to drink diet colas.

The new study, from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, set out to determine whether there was any connection between diet soda consumption and Belly Fat. The researchers followed 750 European-American and Mexican-American people over the age of 65 for almost 10 years.

It turned out that people who drank the most diet soda (at least one drink per day) had a much steeper rise in waist circumference over the years than those who didn’t drink the stuff at all. After adjusting for other variables like smoking status, age, activity level, the results were still striking: Waist circumference increased 0.8 inches for “non-users” (that is, non-diet-soda-drinkers), 1.83 in for occasional users, and 3.16 inches for daily users.

WHY?

Artificial sweeteners may shift the assortment of friendly bacteria in the gut. A study last fall found altered ratios of gut bacteria (along with glucose intolerance) in both mice and men after drinking artificially sweetened drinks for a week. Gut bacteria are well known to affect how we digest and metabolize food, and if their ideal ratios are altered in any way, this may pave the way for overweight and obesity.

Last month a highly publicized study suggested the caramel color in some sodas, 4-methylimidazole, was found in amounts sufficient to increase our cancer risk, prompting the authors to call for federal regulation.

REMEMBER

Diet product doesn’t mean being consequence-free!

Source: Forbes & Others

Author: txnaturalpediatrics

By training, I am a American Board Certified Pediatrician. But in my younger years I grew up with natural alternatives. As a mom I have tried to incorporate both for my kids and it has worked wonders. And finally, as I am studying natural & alternative medicines, I realize the beauty and wisdom of living closer to earth. Hence in my practice I integrate both...for acute ailments I follow American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation but for simple and/or chronic conditions I prefer natural alternatives. In western training we were raised to think that "health is the absence of symptoms and problems". But eastern sensibilities has educated me that "Health is state that allows one to use the full capabilities of their body, mind and intellect. Therefore, healthy living is a balanced state of well being: physically, mentally, socially and spiritually." This implies that healing is not a "one-pill-fits-all", but a personalized experience.

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