In fact, many of us have actually turned to diet soda in recent years; an alternative that’s supposedly not as bad for your health, but still goes some way to curing the craving. And yet, many reorts would have you believe that the chemicals in diet soda can be just as damaging to your body and, whilst research is still in its early stages, it looks like the safest bet might be giving up soda altogether.

Not convinced? I wasn’t either, not entirely. That was until I discovered a list of things that change in your body when you stop drinking diet soda. Interested? Read on below to see how you could alter your body by cutting it out …

A lot of times we think that to avoid the ‘greater evil’ of a regular cold drink, we can just choose one that has low or zero sugar. However, research shows that this might not be a good option either.

Sometimes, products that are marketed as ‘healthy’ can actually hide some other facts that would make them less desirable.

So, if you are someone who takes care of their health and likes to know exactly what they are putting into their body, then keep reading.

1. Less sugar cravings

With most diet soda relying on aspartame as a substitute for real sugar, you’d be forgiven for thinking the drinks don’t affect your cravings for sugar.

Wrong. Aspartame actually makes you crave sugar, because the artificial sweetness causes your insulin levels to spike. As diet and fitness expert Dr. Melina Jampolis explains: “The taste of sweet does cause the release of insulin, which lowers blood sugar, and if carbohydrates are not consumed, it causes a drop in blood sugar, which triggers hunger and cravings for sugar.”

2. Less food cravings overall

Sugar isn’t the only thing diet soda could be making you crave. In fact, it actually makes you long for a whole lot more.

As per nutritionist Isabel Smith: “Artificial sweeteners affect our sense of satiety. Our bodies have [evolved] to expect a large amount of calories when we take in something exceedingly sweet, and those artificial sweeteners are from 400 times to 8,000 times sweeter than sugar.”

She continues: “The muscles in your stomach relax so you can take in food, and hormones are released. With artificial sweeteners, your body says, ‘Wait a minute, you told me you were going to give me all this high-calorie food. It can actually send some people searching for more food, out of lack of satisfaction.”

Basically, when your body doesn’t get what it was expecting, it turns to other options – namely seeking out high-calorie foods that can give it what it’s after.

3. You could actually lose weight

Making the switch from regular soda to diet soda is usually one done with weight loss in mind. Yet, due to bloat and the aforementioned cravings, consuming diet soda can actually make it really difficult for one to effectively drop the pounds. Studies have found that diet sodas can cause an increase in metabolic syndrome, obesity, high-blood pressure and diabetes, so it’s probably better to cut out the sodas altogether.

4. You’ll taste more food

The artificial sweeteners in diet sodas actually overwhelm your tastebuds over time, meaning they can’t properly appreciate the whole range of flavors they might have been able to before.

As a result, you’ll notice a change in your tastebuds after giving up diet sodas, including being able to notice how sweet things really are. If that’s not a motivation then I don’t know what is.

5. Your immune system can improve

Researchers now believe that diet sodas affect not only your cravings and sugar intake, but also manipulate your metabolism.

According to Isabel Smith, diet sodas can impact the “healthy gut bacteria” and change how your body processes everything, from your blood sugar to your immune system.

6. Stronger bones

With research still in its formative stages it’s unclear exactly as to why, but studies have shown that even one diet soda per day can increase your risk of a hip fracture by 14%.

There’s an existing link between those who drink a lot of soda and lower bone density, which could mean that cutting out the fizz gives you healthier bones!

7. You won’t get drunk as easily

This one’s strictly for those who use diet soda as a mixer with alcoholic drinks.

If you do so, you might find yourself getting drunk faster than friends who don’t. This is because the diet soda passes through your system quicker than regular soda, leaving you with just the alcohol, which in turn increases your blood alcohol level.

Switching to other alternatives could mean that you’re able to party for longer … and that’s never been a bad thing.

8. Healthier kidneys

It should go without saying that optimal kidney function is important. That’s why it’s only right to warn you that the ingredients in diet soda tend to give your kidneys quite a hard time.

When your kidneys are no longer occupied with having to sort through all those complicated ingredients, your body should be able to clear toxins and stabilize blood sugar levels more efficiently.

Well, that’s certainly opened my eyes a fair bit. If you regularly drink diet soda, why not try cutting it out to test the effects on your body? If that seems impossible, perhaps see if you can lower the amount you drink, with an eye on eventually stopping for good.

Help us spread word of the harmful effects of drinking diet soda by sharing this article with your friends and family on Facebook!

The thought of dying in your sleep has probably crossed your mind more than once. It’s a terrifying idea — one you’d rather not dwell on before closing your eyes at night.

But at the same time, it might be good to know if you’re at risk so you can take steps to prevent it. Let’s see what experienced doctors have to say:

Hypnophobia is the overwhelming fear of falling asleep, often fueled by the fear of losing control or even dying during sleep. For some, this fear becomes so intense that it disrupts their quality of life and takes a toll on their health. But what’s behind this fear, and is there any truth to the idea that sleep could be dangerous?

Let’s explore why some people die in their sleep and what you should know about the risks.

Oversleeping

Did you know that sleeping too much could be problematic? Over the years, a lot of research has been conducted on sleep, and many people still believe that getting plenty of it is always good for the body. But if you’re sleeping more than seven to eight hours a night, you might want to pay attention—it could be a warning sign.

Researchers have discovered a link between excessive sleep and an increased risk of early death, according to The Guardian.

Sleeping ten hours a night raises your risk of dying early by 30% compared to someone who sleeps eight hours. This was revealed in a 2018 study published in The Journal of the American Heart Association.

Additionally, sleeping ten hours is associated with a 56% higher risk of dying from a stroke and a 49% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases.

Why people die in their sleep

In 2023, Dr. Milind Sovani from Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK shared some insight with Newsweek about the mystery of dying in one’s sleep. According to Dr. Sovani, these sudden and silent deaths are “usually related to the heart, lungs, or brain.”

People can die in their sleep for various reasons, with sudden cardiac arrest being one of the most common causes. A 2021 study in Heart Rhythms found that about 22% of these deaths happen between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Dead-in-bed syndrome

Dr. Milind Sovani highlights another risk factor for dying in your sleep: ”Occasionally, people with diabetes can die in their sleep from low glucose levels,” he explains.

There’s even a term for this tragic phenomenon — Dead-in-Bed Syndrome (DIB). This term refers to cases where someone with type 1 diabetes (T1D) goes to bed seemingly healthy but doesn’t wake up.

Younger individuals with type 1 diabetes, especially those under 50, are at a higher risk of experiencing Dead in Bed Syndrome.

The good news is that DIB syndrome is rare, accounting for only about 6% of all deaths in people under 40 with type 1 diabetes, according to Diabetes UK.

Pompe Disease

There are also more complex and less common medical conditions that can lead to someone dying in their sleep. For instance, sleep apnea, a disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, can sometimes result in fatal complications if left untreated.

If you’re worried about having involuntary sleep interruptions, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor. There are tests you can do overnight. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, you may be able to treat it with a device called a CPAP machine. This machine uses a hose connected to a mask or nosepiece to provide constant, steady air pressure to help you breathe while you sleep.

Dr. Sovani once treated a patient with Pompe Disease, a rare genetic condition where glycogen — a complex sugar—accumulates in the cells of the body, specifically in the lysosomes, as explained by the Cleveland Clinic. This happens when the body lacks an essential enzyme called acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). The disease leads to severe muscle weakness and wasting, and if left undiagnosed or untreated, it can be fatal.

Sadly, the patient, who was in his late 30s, passed away in his sleep. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by undiagnosed genetic conditions and the importance of early detection and treatment.

Diaphragmatic paralysis

Conditions like unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis, where one side of the diaphragm doesn’t work, can make breathing harder, especially when lying down. Dr. Sovani points out that this can mess with your lung capacity, which can lead to complications.

Another thing to watch out for is Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), which is more common for those with uncontrolled epilepsy. Essentially, a seizure can cause problems with breathing or heart rhythm, as the CDC explains.

On top of that, high blood pressure that’s not under control, heart failure, and sleep apnea — which causes your breathing to stop and start throughout the night — can all increase the chances of dying in your sleep. It’s definitely something to keep in mind if you’re dealing with any of these conditions.

”If you suffer from a heart condition, you may also be fitted with a pacemaker or implanted defibrillator,” Dr. Sovani adds, which help regulate your heartbeat.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle — getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising—along with regular check-ins with your doctor, can also play a big role in preventing these conditions from getting worse.

Concussion – be aware of this

If you’ve hit your head hard or experienced significant trauma to your head, it’s important to keep an eye on things. Severe brain injuries can sometimes lead to sudden death, often while a person is asleep. Symptoms like nausea, constant headaches, or dilated pupils can sometimes be missed or brushed off after a head injury. If someone tries to ”sleep off” these symptoms, they could end up having a brain bleed during the night and passing away.

It’s generally okay to sleep after a concussion, but it’s crucial to see a healthcare provider or go to the emergency room first for an evaluation.

Is it painful to die in your sleep?

Whether dying in your sleep is painful or not really depends on what causes it. Some people pass away peacefully, not feeling any pain or even realizing what’s happening.

But for others, they might wake up for a moment and feel some distress before they pass. Conditions like a heart attack or trouble breathing can bring pain before death.

The thought of dying suddenly in your sleep is terrifying, and it’s something none of us want to imagine. But it’s important to remember that it’s rare to pass away unexpectedly without having been diagnosed with a serious condition.

While there are risk factors that could increase the chances of dying in your sleep, don’t forget to live. Life is precious, and it’s the moments we share, the love we give, and the memories we create that truly matter. So, take care of yourself, cherish those around you, and live fully—because each day is a gift.

I love animals, and I can say with certainty that being chained up in the back of a pickup truck is no a place for an animal, especially not a full-grown mountain lion.

But that was exactly where a mountain lion named Mufasa was forced to live.

He belonged to a traveling circus in Peru and his life was made a living hell — all so people could be entertained and his owner could make money off of him.

Fortunately, some animal lovers came to his rescue…

Even today, many animals are still abused and neglected in circuses, zoos, and shows. In recent years, the situation for many animals has improved, but we still have a long way to go.

Because thousands of poor animals are still forced to live in tight spaces and don’t get the chance to live the lives they deserve.

The mountain lion Mufasa was found chained up on the of a pickup truck in Peru. He had lived there for 20 years, forced into a life he neither wanted nor deserved.

Luck came to Mufasa late in life, but thankfully, it did come. In 2015, the animal rights organization Animal Defenders International was able to get him released after several months of hard work. The organization found him when they it trying to shut down a whole Peruvian circus.

Experiencing freedom made a significant difference in Mufasa’s well-being. Instead of enduring a life filled with anxiety and oppression, he was granted the fundamental right that all wild animals deserve — to spend his final years in the embrace of nature, living on his own terms.

Mufasa’s rescue story is beautiful, and the video below shows his first step in freedom. It’s amazingly nice!

After being rescued from the circus, Mufasa had a few months of freedom before his health began to decline.

Being chained to the back of a pick-up truck for 20 years had taken its toll, leading to kidney failure and other age-related issues. He passed away in 2015, according to Animal Defenders International.

But his story continues to shed light on an important issue.

Mufasa was a magnificent, gentle creature who found joy in receiving back scratches. While it is saddening that he couldn’t enjoy more time in his natural habitat in the Amazon, it would have been a greater tragedy if he had never experienced freedom at all.

No animal deserves to be treated the way Mustafa was! Please share this video to show that you’re also on the side of animals!

Published by Animal Bible. Please like.