It’s a liquid change.
Looking to shed pounds and potentially reverse type 2 diabetes? A new study suggests swapping out diet soda for water could make a big difference.
According to research presented at the American Diabetes Association’s annual conference, women who replaced diet drinks with water were more successful in losing weight and achieving diabetes remission. The study’s lead researcher, Dr. Hamid Farshchi of D2Type Health, said the results challenge the widespread belief that artificially sweetened beverages are harmless when managing weight and blood sugar.
While diet sodas contain no calories, researchers point out they may still impact health in other ways. Past studies have linked artificial sweeteners to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Theories include disruptions to glucose metabolism, interference with gut bacteria, and heightened appetite.
In this recent study, 81 women with type 2 diabetes and overweight completed a six-month weight-loss program, followed by a year of maintenance. Half were instructed to drink only water after lunch five times a week, while the rest continued consuming diet drinks. After the study, those in the water group had lost an average of 15 pounds, compared to 10 pounds in the diet soda group.
More notably, 90% of the women who drank water saw their diabetes go into remission, while only 45% of those in the diet soda group achieved the same result. Participants who drank water also experienced greater improvements in blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, and triglyceride levels.
Farshchi emphasized that this simple dietary change could have a significant effect on managing both weight and diabetes. Although the findings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal, they underscore the potential benefits of choosing water over low-calorie sweetened beverages.
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