[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to a study, published in the journal Stroke, it was found that drinking diet drinks could possibly increase the risk of stroke among post-menopausal women.<\/p>\n
Caused by a blocked artery, especially small arteries, stroke can turn out to be life-threatening. The association was found after drawing a comparison between women who consumed diet drinks less than once a week or not at all. The study was conducted on 81,714 post-menopausal women aged 50-79 years.<\/p>\n
As per the findings of the study, women who drank two or more artificially sweetened beverages per day were 23 percent more likely to have a stroke, 31 percent more likely to have ischemic stroke, and 29 percent were at risk of developing heart disease (fatal or non-fatal heart attack). In addition, there was a 16 percent risk of deaths from any cause.<\/p>\n
Apart from this, the risk of stroke doubled in women without previous heart disease or diabetes.<\/p>\n
“Many well-meaning people, especially those who are overweight or obese, drink low-calorie sweetened drinks to cut calories in their diet. Our research and other observational studies have shown that artificially-sweetened beverages may not be harmless and high consumption is associated with a higher risk of stroke and heart disease,” said lead author Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, Associate Professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the US.<\/p>\n
However, the results in post-menopausal women may not be generalisable to men or younger women.<\/p>\n
“The American Heart Association suggests water as the best choice for a no-calorie beverage,” suggested Rachel K. Johnson, Professor at the University of Vermont in the US.<\/p>\n