Back in 1952, when the first ‘diet soda’ came on the market, it was called No-Cal, a sugar-free ginger ale. The product, first released in Brooklyn, New York, was meant for diabetics, not dieters, and it never left the local market.

However, in a few more years, with the growing popularity of soft drinks both Pepsi and Coca-Cola picked up on the burgeoning diet craze and came out with several versions of “no calorie” sodas.

The first artificial sweeteners in use were cyclamates, which were later banned by the FDA on evidence that they caused cancer in lab rats. Saccharin then became the sweetener of choice, and it too was temporarily banned because of suspected cancer-causing properties.

While the ban was later lifted, most manufacturers had switched to aspartame and/or other sugar substitutes.

To date, there have been several long-term studies indicating that all these no-calorie diet sodas may actually have the opposite effect from the one intended.

The Framingham Heart Study in Massachusetts noted that 48% of the 9,000 male and female subjects in their study who drank diets sodas were at higher risk for weight gain and elevated blood sugar. Their findings also indicated that the use of artificial sweeteners actually seemed to increase cravings for other sugar-laden sweets.

A report made at the American Diabetic Association’s annual session by Sharon Fowler from the University of Texas Health Science Center showed some other surprising results.

A correlation between consumption of sodas and weight gain was established (not surprising), but the risk of weight gain among those who drank diet sodas averaged out greater than that of the ones who drank regular cola’s.

The reasons for this are not clear, but there are a couple of theories that researchers are trying to substantiate. One is that the body may be ‘thrown off’ by the artificial sweetener, reacting as if it were getting the real thing but when the expected calories are not delivered, appetite for sweets increases.

Another theory has to do with life style and mindset. Dieters hoping to lose weight may convince themselves that since their cola has no calories it’s OK to have a few extra sweets, as it all balances out.

No definitive conclusions have been reported at this time, but it is beginning to look as if dieters who stick faithfully to sugar-free colas may be misplacing their faith. Since about half the calories in a ‘regular’ soda are more than many of the currently popular diets allow, the options seem to be limited.

The most effective, if not the most attractive to many people, is simply to stop drinking sodas, period. This may mean a real change in life style, which is advocated by most of the legitimate dieticians and health care providers anyway. It is probably time to re-think the way you eat and drink.

It is also a good idea to evaluate your overall level of physical activity. If you get enough exercise to burn off the calories you consume, you’re in a position to enjoy better health both physically and mentally.