The USA Today Headline reads: “Study: Diet soda linked to heart risks”
Apparently, they didn’t read their own article:
The results surprised the researchers who expected to see a difference between regular and diet soda drinkers. It could be, they suggest, that even no-calorie sweet drinks increase the craving for more sweets, and that people who indulge in sodas probably have less healthy diets overall.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Vasan Ramachandran, emphasized the findings don’t show diet sodas are a cause of increased heart disease risks. But he said they show a surprising link that must be studied.
What doesn’t surprise me is how often the diet experts are surprised by the results of studies, which is a lot.
I think too many people have the idea there is “good” food and “bad” food. But what’s the real difference between soda (bad) and fruit juice (good). Both are almost entirely water and sugar in nearly the same mixture which the body treats the same. The only significant difference is the small amount of flavor and vitamins. Sugar water is not poison in one case and nutrition in the other. The real distinction is that of “good” food and “better” food.