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Shockingly, a recent study that was released by Harvard's school of Public Health found that drinking too much diet soda can actually cause as much damage to your teet and gums as if you were chronically abusing methamphetamines or cocaine. This was a startlingly discovery, as until this point, it was thought to be mostly harmless to drink diet soda. It's certainly always been considered far better than the full sugar alternatives. The acids found in these artificial sweeteners was found to eat away tooth enamels, which can cause fairly rapid decay. There's also been several other studies which have come out in recent years that diet sodas, at least those with the more "chemical sweeteners" have been a particular source for harmful side effects such as depression, diabetes and obesity.

Even given these negatives that diet soda can cause, the full fledged variety is far worse. Obesity, diabetes, chronic weight gain, metabolism drops, lack of energy and seriously bad heart conditions have all been linked to regularly soda consumption. It's no surprise that doctors often recommend removing soda from your diet as the very first step to improve your health. The high fructose corn syrups found in these products are totally unnatural, and extremely calorie intensive. We've compiled a list of studies that demonstrate some of the many consequences of regular soda consumption.

What Science is Saying About Daily Soda Intake

A research study at Bangor University in England found that sugar in soda actually changes your metabolism. They tracked men and women who had a large soda worth of sugar each day (roughly 140 grams, about two cans of Mountain Dew for scale). They found that metabolism dropped considerably after 4 weeks, making it much more difficult for them to burn calories. Another study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that several compounds in most sodas, such as 4-MI, was a carcinogen. The levels found in a typical soda were actually above the threshold were increased cancer risks actually occurred.

There is other information about the damage that soda can cause from a plethora of other universities and studies. A Danish study found that in a group of obese and overweight people, they drank about a liter per day of soda. The groups that had the same volume of liquid, even from milk or diet sodas, have significantly lower fat and in far less damaging areas of their bodies. They found increased fat stored on the person's liver and muscles if the person drank soda regularly.

There's also some other risks to drinking soda, another study by a group of researchers found that the high levels of phosphorus found as a coloring agent in many "dark" sodas actually shortens the person's lifespan. They have typically a lifespan reduction of 10-20% over the mean, with lifetime exposure to high levels of this substance. This is just another reason to avoid a lot of soda intake, needless to say.

Given these consequences, from obesity to heart disease to even fat induced sclerosis of the liver, soda carries with it some difficult to live with side effects. Diet soda is certainly better, and there's no doubt you should drink this instead if no other options are available. However, few things are as good for us as natural water, or naturally sweetened flavorings for water. Coffee and tea are also excellent additions as many studies have shown, helping to cut down on cancer risk as well as improve digestion and decrease your risk of diabetes. Still, soda drinkers face a long and arduous climb if they want to lose weight and continue drinking it daily. It's important that people start with these sugary sodas first if they're really determined to lose weight.

For years now both physicians and researchers have been telling people 'slow and steady weight loss is best'. New research, however, actually points in the opposite direction. Considerable study has been conducted on the best speed at which someone loses weight, particularly when examining the long-term consequences of that weight loss. One of the most common recommendations for dieters is to avoid losing weight too quickly, which many have previously claimed results in 'yo-yo' results. Recent research conducted by the University of Melbourne actually shows the opposite to be true. This recent study found that the faster someone is able to lose weight, the more likely it was that they were able to keep the weight off in the long term.

These sorts of rapid diets, often called RWL, is a strict diet of 500 to 800 cal per day. This is a very common weight loss technique, having been used for years as part of the hCG diet. However only recently has it been identified as a powerful weight loss method even without the use of the hormone as is traditional. Participants in the study who needed to lose over 12.5% of their total body weight also were prescribed a maintenance diet for three years afterwards. The results were startling, with over 81% of the group of the rapid weight loss plan lost their goal weight, in comparison to less than 50% of the more gradual group.

What is Attributed As Bringing About This Result

The results from the study indicated that weight that was regained was far lower for both sets of participants if they were on a maintenance diet after they achieved their goal weight. In either case, roughly 71% of all the weight that was lost returned within three years. The authors of the study suggested that better results were actually achieved by those who also limited carbohydrate intake along with the very low calorie diet. This was thought to be a result of the body burning fat, using a particular substance known as ketones, which suppress hunger. There is also considerable evidence that the more quickly weight is lost, the more likely it is for people to persist and stick to the diet they are on.

Several researchers have found fault with this analysis, however it does still present a good insight into many of the problems people will face when trying to lose weight. What's most important, as the studies have shown, is finding a method that actually works for you and is sustainable over a long period. A British dietary expert from Oxford University, Susan Jebb, indicated that the study is important as it shows the common claim that rapid weight loss results in poor results is not necessarily true for most. The rapid weight loss group was much more likely to stick to the plan, and also to achieve the end goal. This speaks to motivational factors are important in any successful weight program.

It's definitely difficult to assess the best methods for every person from a simple study such as this one, as there is some wide variation on what will work best among people. Gradual weight loss may be even slower, ideally, than what was tested, and therefore the results do not speak to some universal law regarding weight loss. However, what is clear is that rapid weight loss in some cases can be more advisable. A "fad diet" where you are going on some kind of "crash" method may actually be more successful ultimately than trying to adjust your body with only small progress seen per week on the diet (maybe as little as half a pound). This is why it's imperative to find a method that works for you, and also one that is sustainable.