Doctor has warning over diet drinks, especially for women

A doctor who graduated from Harvard University has gone viral after issuing a warning about diet drinks. Dr Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist, shares his experience and knowledge with his 410,000 followers on TikTok (@doctorsethimd).

He previously said caping could be “killing sperm” as well as warning about the fertility risks of saunas and mobile phones. Now, in a recent clip, racking up over 160,000 views and over a thousand likes, he’s answered the question of whether diet drinks are better for us.

He said: “Women who drink two or more diet sodas daily face a significantly higher risk of heart attack and strokes." And he said that the high phosphorus content in diet drinks can contribute to chronic kidney disease.

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He added: “Diet sodas can negatively impact insulin sensitivity and disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting your gut health They can increase cravings for high-calorie foods, disrupting appetite control.”

Dr Sethi said: “Ultimately, diet sodas offer no nutritional benefits.”

Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions. “Everything in moderation,” Jenny commented. Lennon added: “So glad I never liked any soda regular or diet.”

“I lost 50lbs on diet sodas,” another user said. Someone else commented: “Way better for your teeth [...]” “Me on my way to go get a Diet Coke,” one person added. But does this mean we should be opting for regular sodas instead?

Dr Sethi added: “When I mention that diet soft drinks aren’t the best alternative to regular soda – we should still try to limit both. Regular because of the high sugar content, and diet due to artificial sweeteners like aspartame.

“Healthier choices would be water, still or sparkling, with natural fruit flavouring. “Or unsweetened coffee and tea.”