Diet Soda, Anyone?
According to a 2008 survey, reported in Reuters Health, 12.5% of U.S. children are now consuming artificially sweetened beverages. Additionally, U.S. adults are also downing more diet drinks, with one-quarter of them surveyed (between 2007-2008) saying they had at least one diet drink in the past day. With the obesity epidemic in this country becoming more and more prevalent, Dr. Miriam B. Vos of Emory University in Atlanta says we need to start focusing more on the effects these beverages have on our health, especially children's health. " I'm not saying they are unsafe," says Vos, "but animal research has raised some potential concerns. For instance, animals fed artificial sweeteners have shown weight gain--suggesting there could be some effect on metabolism," she added. Vos advocates the need for children to consume less sugar, but would like more research to be conducted on how artificial sweeteners affect childhood development before they are deemed a healthy alternative. See more here - http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/15/us-diet-drinks-idUSBRE87E11N20120815