By Jacob Mayforth
The short answer is no.
The long answer is no, but here’s why. The sweetener used in diet soda is a chemical called Aspartame, which was accidentally discovered in 1965 when a chemist by the name of John Schlatter was researching an anti-ulcer drug. Now it is the most popular artificial sweetener on the market today, but the use and distribution of Aspartame is surrounded in controversy. Different sources from all across the internet, from people who claim to be doctors to “dietary councilors” make wild claims about the health risks and or benefits of the artificial sweetener in diet soda.
Both the FCC and the CDC agree that aspartame is an acceptable chemical to sell to the general public, but so far there are no “confirmed” health risks. According to researchers, the unconfirmed heath risks can include headaches, dizziness, mood changes, skin reactions, nausea, seizures, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision complications, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.
It is important to keep in mind that this long list of possible side effects has not been confirmed by recognized reliable sources such as the Center for the Disease Control, and is simply a list that has been compiled of hearsay evidence. However, while it does not come from a reliable source, it does come from multiple sources. 87% of sites on the internet agree that Aspartame is a dangerous and harmful chemical.
In the end it is probably more harmful to drink diet instead of regular, but if health is really in question then the best thing to do would be to not drink either. Soda is full of empty sugars and calories that your body has a hard time processing if consumed over an extended period. One would be better off drinking fruit juice or just plain water, but every now and again, a regular sugar filled soda would be the best choice for a bubbly treat.