Study Finds A Link Between Diet Drinks And Strokes That Cause Dementia
So you thought you’d live life to the max and reduce your sugar intake to zero by switching to diet fizzy drinks? If only it were that simple.
New research is hinting that what might be good for your waist-line just might pose a problem for your brain later.
As part of a series of investigations into how sweet carbonated drinks affect our brains, Boston University School of Medicine used surveys to identify any long term neurological effects of consuming drinks artificially sweetened with substances such as aspartame or saccharine.
Participants were taken from the long-term Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort a group of about 5,000 men and women who have volunteered to provide data over their lifetime since 1971.
The team studied 2,888 members of the cohort aged over 45 for signs of a stroke, and found 97 cases .
A total of 81 cases of dementia were found among 1,484 members aged over 60 were, with 63 of those having symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s disease.
They then used questionnaires that the participants had filled out at several points in their life over a seven year period to determine their food intake.
Crunching the numbers and accounting for factors such as age, education, caloric intake, smoking, and exercise, it appears throwing back at least one diet soda a day makes it nearly three times more likely you’ll have an ischemic stroke a condition that can cause dementia or develop Alzheimer’s.
Cheers!
> > > Root Cause For Alzheimer And Dementia Found
A healthy diet can be a great memory loss remedy. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, as well as low-fat proteins such as nuts and seeds. Drinking plenty of water is also beneficial. The environment and personal experiences can affect the way your brain stores information, and this can lead to memory loss. There are many other causes of temporary memory loss, and it is important to get help as soon as possible. You should consult a medical professional to determine what the best treatment will be for your particular situation. Does Diet Coke Cause Dementia and Strokes
A healthy diet is another effective memory loss remedy. A healthy diet should include plenty of vegetables and fruits. A healthy diet is a key component in memory improvement. This is the best way to prevent memory loss. The best way to do this is to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily routine. If you cant eat fruits and vegetables, you should avoid them altogether. They are packed with antioxidants that can help your brain.
Artificial Sweeteners: Other Shortcomings
Another conundrum: researchers dont have any plausible explanation for why artificial sweeteners might increase stroke risk. Still, there may be other reasons to ditch them.
If you use artificial sweeteners to control your weight, you should know that the support for that strategy is pretty shaky. Some evidence suggests that artificial sweeteners make people crave sugary, high-calorie foods, thereby negating the sweeteners potential to cut your overall calorie intake. And some experts believe that people who use these high-intensity sweeteners may come to find naturally sweet foods, such as fruit, less appealing and less-sweet foods, such as vegetables, downright unpalatable. If so, those people might be missing out on the many heart-protecting nutrients found in fresh, natural foods.
But Dr. Rexrode isnt a stickler when it comes to diet soda. I encourage my patients to eliminate regular soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks to avoid empty calories, she says. But if someone says they cant do without a Coke in the morning to wake up, Ill encourage them to switch to coffee or diet Coke. Water is an even better choice, however. There are a lot of ways to make it more appealing, both visually and taste-wise. she adds. Try flavoring flat or sparkling water with a splash of fruit juice, or add frozen fruit, cucumber, or crushed mint.
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Pregnancy Abnormalities: Pre Term Birth
According to a 2010 cohort study of 59,334 Danish pregnant women published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, There was an association between intake of artificially sweetened carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks and an increased risk of preterm delivery. The study concluded, Daily intake of artificially sweetened soft drinks may increase the risk of preterm delivery.35
- See also: Downing Diet Soda Tied to Premature Birth, by Anne Harding, Reuters
Do Artificial Sweeteners Make You Fat
Another concern many people have over the consumption of artificial sweeteners is if they make you gain weight. Once again the research is mixed on this topic.
- On one hand there are several observational studies that suggest artificial sweeteners may increase cravings for high sugar foods due to the impact they have on appetite-regulating hormones, potentially leading to weight gain.
- Others have found that artificial sweeteners may promote insulin resistance and inflammation, with the potential to lead to weight gain .
But, none of these connections have been proven to be a direct cause of weight gain .
A 2014 systematic review of the available evidence on artificial sweeteners and body weight looked at 24 different studies on this topic, which included a combination of randomized control trials and prospective cohort studies
The review found that the data from the randomized control trails, considered the gold standard for experimental studies, demonstrated that consumption of artificial sweeteners helped lower body weight, fat mass, and waist circumference. The cohort studies on average showed no connection between body weight and intake of artificial sweeteners .
With this meta-analysis of randomized control trials, we can likely conclude that intake of artificial sweeteners do not cause weight in any significant way and may even help with weight loss.
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Diet Sodas Tied To Dementia And Stroke
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A new study links diet soft drinks to an increased risk for stroke and dementia.
Researchers studied more than 4,000 people over 45 who had filled out food-frequency questionnaires and had periodic health examinations between 1991 and 2001. The scientists tracked their health over the next 10 years and found 97 cases of stroke and 81 cases of dementia.
The study, in the journal Stroke, found that compared with those who did not drink diet soda, people who drank one to six artificially sweetened drinks a week had twice the risk of stroke. There were similar, although weaker, associations for dementia risk. The reasons for the link remain unknown.
The study adjusted for age, sex, education, physical activity, diabetes, smoking and many other characteristics that might affect the risks. But the senior author, Dr. Sudha Seshadri, a professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, said that there were additional variables the study could not address. For example, she said, people might have switched to diet soda because they already had cardiovascular problems.
Still, she added, there are health benefits associated with some drinks, like tea or coffee, but not with soda of any kind, either diet or not.
Top 10 Ingredients To Avoid That Cause Dementia
07/17/2015 / By Greg White
Food affects our bodies and minds. Many people would be surprised to discover just how many food ingredients are linked to cognitive disorders, like dementia.
Dementia is considered by many people to be a disease that accompanies age. Contrary to popular belief, however, dementia isnt a specific malady, but a general term that encompasses a variety of cognitive impairments in memory, thinking and communication.
Its unsurprising that food alters our brains. What is surprising is that certain foods contain ingredients that can damage our brains. Consider the following as a list of ingredients that are best classified as brain poison.
1. Advanced glycation end products may cause plaque buildup in brain AGEs, also known as glycotoxins, are proteins that have become glycated through exposure to sugars. Cooking foods at high temperatures, including fries and meats, can produce AGEs. These harmful compounds have been linked to hypertension and diabetes however, recent evidence suggests that AGEs are associated with dementia as well.
2. High amounts of aluminum are toxic to brain tissueThe human body was not designed to ingest aluminum. Nevertheless, aluminum is a food additive used in almost everything, including cheese, cake mixes and milk formulas. Its also linked to the beginning stages of Alzheimers disease. No one knows how much, if any, aluminum is safe to ingest. The toxic heavy metal is regarded as a dangerous neurotoxin.
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Liver Damage And Glutathione Depletion
A mouse study published in 2017 in Redox Biology reported, Chronic administration of aspartame caused liver injury as well as marked decreased hepatic levels of reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, -glutamylcysteine, and most metabolites of the trans-sulphuration pathway39
A rat study published in 2017 in Nutrition Research found that, Subchronic intake of soft drink or aspartame substantially induced hyperglycemia and hypertriacylglycerolemia Several cytoarchitecture alterations were detected in the liver, including degeneration, infiltration, necrosis, and fibrosis, predominantly with aspartame. These data suggest that long-term intake of soft drink or aspartame-induced hepatic damage may be mediated by the induction of hyperglycemia, lipid accumulation, and oxidative stress with the involvement of adipocytokines.40
Gulp Soda Linked To Memory Woes Strokes And Dementia
24 April 17
People who often drink soda, with sugar or without it, may be more likely to develop memory problems and have smaller brain volumes, according to two recent studies.
In one study, researchers found that people who drank diet soda every day were three times more likely to have a stroke or develop dementia over 10 years than those who did not consume any diet soda.
In the second study, the same researchers concluded that people who consumed at least one diet soda a day had smaller brain volumes than those who did not drink any diet soda. Moreover, that same study found that people who consumed more than two sugary beverages such as soda or fruit juice a day had smaller brain volumes and worse memory function that those who did not consume any such beverages.
Although both studies show that there is a link between drinking diet or sugary beverages and certain health outcomes, the results do not mean that consuming such beverages directly causes these outcomes, said the lead author of both studies, Matthew P. Pase, a neurology researcher at Boston University School of Medicine.
In the second study, published in March in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, the researchers looked at brain scans and results of cognitive tests conducted in about 4,000 people. The scientists also asked the study participants if they consumed any diet or sugary beverages, and, if so, how much.
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Stroke Risk From All Sodas
That study detected a slightly higher risk of stroke in people who drank more than one soda per day, regardless of whether it contained sugar or an artificial sweetener. Although the latest study didnt detect a higher stroke risk from sugary beverages, that certainly doesnt suggest they are a better choice than diet sodas. Many studies have already shown that drinking sugary beverages on a regular basis can lead to weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, she notes.
What Did The Researchers Find
This study looked at the relationship between both sugar-sweetened and artificially-sweetened beverages and the incidence of strokes and dementia. It tracked ~4,000 people from Massachusetts from 1991 until 2014 to see how many sugar-sweetened drinks and artificially-sweetened drinks each person drank, along with how many individuals were diagnosed with strokes or dementia.
Because factors such as smoking, lack of physical activity, and excess caloric intake could increase the risk of having a stroke or developing dementia, the researchers adjusted for these covariates.
The headline-grabbing result was pretty stark: people with a cumulative intake of more than one artificially-sweetened beverage per day were 2.96 times more likely to be at risk for an ischemic stroke and 2.89 times more likely to be at risk for developing dementia, compared to people who did not drink any sweetened beverages. Those who drank sugar-sweetened beverages didnt see an increased risk.
After following ~4,000 people over fourteen years, researchers found that people who consumed more than one artificially-sweetened beverage per day were around three times more likely to experience an ischemic stroke or dementia, while sugar-sweetened beverage drinkers didnt have an increased risk.
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Neurotoxicity Brain Damage And Mood Disorders
Aspartame has been linked to behavioral and cognitive problems including learning problems, headache, seizure, migraines, irritable moods, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, wrote the researchers of a 2017 study in Nutritional Neuroscience. Aspartame consumption needs to be approached with caution due to the possible effects on neurobehavioral health.16
Oral aspartame significantly altered behavior, anti-oxidant status and morphology of the hippocampus in mice also, it may probably trigger hippocampal adult neurogenesis, reported a 2016 study in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.17
Previously, it has been reported that consumption of aspartame could cause neurological and behavioural disturbances in sensitive individuals. Headaches, insomnia and seizures are also some of the neurological effects that have been encountered, according to a 2008 study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. e propose that excessive aspartame ingestion might be involved in the pathogenesis of certain mental disorders and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning.18
eurological symptoms, including learning and memory processes, may be related to the high or toxic concentrations of the sweetener metabolites, states a 2006 study in Pharmacological Research.19
Aspartame could impair memory retention and damage hypothalamic neurons in adult mice, according to a 2000 mice study published in Toxicology Letters.20
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Foods That Cause Dementia
Diet soda and other sugary beverages arent the only cause of dementia. There are other foods that cause dementia.
Beer: Beer contains nitrites, which can cause Alzheimers disease.
Microwave popcorn: It contains diacetyl. It is a chemical that may increase amyloid plaques in the brain.
White foods: Foods like white sugar, white rice, white bread, pasta, and cake cause a spike in insulin production and sends toxins to the brain.
Processed meats: Processed meat like bacon, smoked turkey, and ham contain nitrosamines. They cause the liver to produce fats that are toxic to the brain.
Processed cheese: Consuming processed cheese like mozzarella sticks, Cheez Whiz, and American cheese can cause Alzheimers disease.
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Alternatives To Soda: Waterwater Water
So, what is worse forhealth, drinking regular sodas or dietalternatives? The simple solution is to simply cut out bothsugary soda drinks and diet soda altogether, and just drink water or otherlow-sugar alternatives. While this may seem easier said than done, thecountless benefits of drinking water regularly are quite motivating. Drinking water helps you lose weight, keeps youenergized, fights stress, regulates body temperature, boosts skin health, andsupports healthy digestion. The list of waters benefits go on and on.
If you are trying to reduce your intake of sugary drinks, here are a few heart-healthy recommendations to make water a little more exciting. Your heart and your body will thank you!
- Try sparkling water withzero sugar or additives, like La Croix, which gives you that zingy soda feelingwithout the negative side effects.
- Infuse water with freshfruits to give it a naturally sweetened flavor.
- Drink unsweetened iced teasand add lemon or mint for an extra kick.
To learn more about cardiovascular health and maintaining a heart-healthy diet, visit our team of experts at CVG today.
CATEGORIES
Editorial Highlights Study Associating Diet Drinks With Stroke And Dementia
Ralph L. Sacco, M.D., M.S., professor and chairman of Neurology and Olemberg Family Chair in Neurological Disorders at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, served as senior author of a companion editorial to a study that associates artificially sweetened beverages with stroke and dementia. The study findings and Saccos editorial Sugar-Sweetened and Artificially Sweetened Beverages in Relation to Stroke and Dementia: Are Soft Drinks Hard on the Brain? were published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
The study found that drinking at least one artificially sweetened beverage daily was associated with almost three times the risk of developing stroke or dementia compared with drinking artificially sweetened beverages less than once a week. The study calls for more research into the mechanisms underlying this association and whether it could be due to other confounding issues.
Both sugar and artificially sweetened soft drinks may be hard on the brain, said Sacco, a former president of the American Heart Association and president-elect of the American Academy of Neurology. Hannah Gardener, Sc.D., assistant scientist in UMs Department of Neurology, co-authored the editorial.
Researchers caution that the long-term observational study was not designed or able to prove cause and effect, and only shows a trend among one group of people.
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What The Research Examined
The study looked at data on 81,714 women between the ages of50 and 79.
Researchers found that drinking artificially sweetened beverages was associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart disease and even death.
Women who drank two or more diet drinks a day had a 23% increasein stroke risk when compared with women who drank diet drinks less than onceper week.
Malone says artificial sweeteners change our gut bacteria,among other things.
Sugar, in general, promotes an increase in your personal blood sugar, as well as spikes in insulin. All of these things combined can contribute to excess weight gain particularly fat, and also inflammation.
Its also important to keep in mind that artificial sweeteners tend to be hundreds of times sweeter than regular sugar, Malone notes.