Minute-by-minute the horrifying things Diet Coke does to your body in just one hour
THERE'S nothing better than the sound of a can of Diet Coke opening.
That first gulp is delicious, as the fizzy substance hits your taste buds and cruises down your throat.
It's a refreshing treat, and for many people, drinking low calorie beverages can be a saviour - especially if you're trying to cut out sugar or lose weight.
But what really happens to your body when you drink them and should you incorporate it into your diet?
Studies have previously shown that drinking beverages like this with artificial sweeteners can increase your risk of gaining weight.
One study, published in the journal warned that they may be contributing to type 2 diabetes.
But for most people - unless you're drinking gallons of the stuff each day - it's unlikely a can here or there will cause you permanent damage.
Low calorie sweeteners are used in place of sucrose, glucose and fructose and have an intense sweet flavour without the calories.
Artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) are also linked with increased risks of death and cardiovascular disease, and strokes and dementia among older people, but it is not clear why.
One study by experts at Zhengzhou University in China found that people who consumed sugar-sweetened drinks had a five per cent increased risk of dying from any cause.
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With those studies in mind, here's what experts say can happen to your body, minute by minute - after consuming the beverage.
10 minutes
The Renegade Pharmacist states that after just ten minutes of drinking a low calorie drink, your taste buds are tricked and the enamel on your teeth is attacked.
The acid attacks your teeth and experts say that this helps chip away at the enamel on the surface.
As well as this, artificial sweeteners included in the drink such as aspartame, trick your body into thinking it has just consumed sugar and needs to process it.
But one expert has slammed these claims and said that the assumption that diet drinks are bad is "born out of the nutrition industry’s innate ability to ignore science and spread pseudoscientific pandemonium."
Graeme Tomlinson, also known as the Fitness Chef, said: "Zero calorie drinks are neither good or bad.
"Their value is dependent on it’s moderate contribution to a nutrient dense, energy controlled diet."
If carbonated drinks are your thing - then it might be worth opting for a change.
The Bearded Water Sommelier Doran Binder, who works with SodaStream, said rather than cutting out the fizzies, you should try and experiment with carbonation.
"Plain tap water isn’t for everyone, so sparkling your water in a SodaStream is a great way to make drinking water more exciting.
"You can then create the taste that works best for you by varying your level of carbonation and adding a new dimension to drinking water.
"Whether you prefer a light fizz or a really bubbly refreshment, you have the power to make your own bespoke taste," he said.
20 minutes
The Renegade Pharmacist also claimed that within 20 minutes of consuming Diet Coke your body switches on it's "fat storage mode".
It highlights studies from The Nurses' Health Study, which states that people who drink it are at a higher risk of high blood pressure and type two diabetes.
however said: ";Diet Coke contains no sugar therefore there is no insulin response".
He also said that these drinks have a significantly lower calorie count in comparison to some smoothies.
40 minutes
Many people have previously reported that they have become addicted to Diet Coke.
The Renegade Pharmacist warns that the ingredients in the drink work the same way as cocaine does.
They claim that the combination of caffeine and aspartame leads to a similar short term high.
They claim that excitotoxins released could exhaust your brain and overstimulate it - if the drink is consumed on a regular basis.
Mr Tomlinson however claimed that the drink could be a "useful fat loss aid".
60 minutes
After an hour, experts say drinks such as Diet Coke can make you feel more hungry and thirsty than you were before.
They claim that these drinks actually dehydrate you and can leave you feeling irritable.
They also claim that the small amount of satisfaction you get from the initial drink could lead you to further crave sweet and sugary treats.
Mr Tomlinson added: "A dated study conducted on rats suggested a possible link to blood cancers, but link is not cause and rats are not humans.
"Nonetheless, in 2013 a meta analysis dispelled any carcinogenic effect in rodents. In 2015 a systematic review by (Mishra et al) concluded no link across 599,741 humans."
He also said that the claim that "diet drinks destroy gut health and cause disease" can be countered.
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He said the fact that only extreme consumption of around 20 cans a day over time would lead to an impact on gut health.
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The Sun has contacted a representative from the Coca Cola Company.
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