There's no doubt about it, soda is unhealthy in many forms. What about diet, you may ask? Herein lies the hidden problem that almost everyone is guilty of misunderstanding. The word diet may seem useful to the general population, a great alternative and a “healthier” choice. This is where most people go wrong. The diet soda that is so commonly overlooked may actually cause more harm than other non-diet sodas. With all the health risks involved, you may need to think twice the next time someone reaches for a diet soda. Let's open the information lid on the wonderful world of diet soda. What ingredients in diet soda are so different from regular soda that they could be classified in a blend labeled "diet"? Diet soda is full of artificial sweeteners designed to give you the taste of regular soda, without the normal calorie intake. These artificial sweeteners trick the body into thinking it is getting the sugar it needs when in turn the body is not getting any and ends up feeling hungrier or likely wanting to consume more. If the fact of the artificial sweeteners alone doesn't make you protest the diet, perhaps the rest of the ingredients will. Aspartame (another form of artificial sweetener) is one of the main reasons why the topic of dieting is more harmful than helpful. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. This sweetener is dangerous because it is not stable in a liquid solution and is made of methanol that breaks down into formaldehyde and diketopiperazine, two neurotoxins known to cause damage to the nervous system (Megan Heimer JD, 03/14/2011). Aspartame is also linked to health problems such as stroke and vascular disorders. Another ingredient in this mystery drink that should be c...... middle of paper ...... while you shop; remember that diet doesn't always mean diet. There are many healthy alternatives to diet soda. Milk, juice, water and heck, maybe even regular soda can be better for your body than the disguised and falsely advertised diet drink. http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/7-side-effects-of-drinking-diet-soda http://www.livescience.com/35534-is-diet-soda-bad-for-you .html http://www.naturalnews.com/031691_diet_soda_strokes.html http://www.naturalnews.com/039857_cancer_cigarettes_diet_soda.html http://www.nbcnews.com/id/41479869/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/ daily-diet-soda-tied-higher-risk-stroke-heart -attack/#.Ud8Y72TF2nR http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57586640/