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8 things that happen to your body when you stop drinking diet soda

No matter how many times we’re told of the ill effects, no matter how many times our parents told us ‘drink water instead’ when we were young, most of us still drink soda in one form or another.

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!

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Optical illusion: Find the hidden spouse of the sailor

Hidden figures in optical illusions captivate and challenge viewers, blending natural elements with clever camouflage to make the task of spotting them both intriguing and frustrating.

A classic photograph featuring a sailor looking into the distance through a telescope has been making waves online.

At first glance, the image seems to show a young man standing on the shoreline, using a telescope to scan the vast sea before him.

But if you take a closer look, you might just spot something surprising. And remember, things aren’t always as they seem — this optical illusion is trickier than it looks.

According to some, you have the vision of a hawk if you can spot the sailor’s wife in this optical illusion – only 1% of people are able to find her. Are you one of them?

In an interesting twist, the sailor is actually searching for his wife, completely unaware that she’s been right by his side the whole time!

To spot her, you’ll need to tilt your head and let your imagination work.

If you’re having trouble, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Many have struggled with this one.

Feel free to check the answer below if you’re stuck and can’t find the hidden figure.

The wife’s face is cleverly hidden between the telescope stand and the sailor’s legs. It’s not the easiest thing to spot — her face blends in with the background, making it tricky to notice at first!

From time to time, we stumble across puzzles that truly leave us stumped, and part of the fun is then sharing it with others to see who can – for lack of better words – crack the code.

Well, another such image has also surfaced on the web … one that has people busting their brains and scratching their scalps for an answer. See if you’re one of the lucky few who can see what most people can’t.

The picture below is a classic illusion; one that at first glance is as confusing as it is difficult to decipher. Of course, the great thing about such optical tricks is that once you’ve solved them, you can’t be fooled again.

The image in question hides an image within an image. So, when you look at it, what do you see?

Do you see a frog? Do you see a horse? Do you see both?

If it’s one of the first two, then we have something to tell you. Both are in the image, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to make them both out.

Almost everyone sees the frog in the image … but finding the horse is where things get tricky. Have a closer look.

The horse

Still don’t see it? OK, we’ll give you a hint.

The image doesn’t contain an entire horse, just the head and neck.

Found if yet? Still no?

Right … have a look over by the lily pad – it has a rather odd texture, wouldn’t you agree?

Still haven’t found it? Well … the frog’s body is the horses head. Bear that in mind and try again. Good luck!

Did you see both the horse and the frog without needing help?

If you’ve managed to see both, and the sailor’s wife, share this article on Facebook and challenge your friends and family to a bit of fun!

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Jennifer Lopez sizzles in bold bikini on her snowy Aspen getaway

Jennifer Lopez may have been embracing the snowy vibes of Aspen, but you’d never guess it from her sizzling Instagram post.

Shared memorable moments

The glamorous ski town of Aspen has been buzzing with A-listers lately, with stars like Bella Hadid, Mariah Carey and Heidi Klum.

Just a few weeks ago, superstar Jennifer Lopez took to Instagram to share a reel from her trip to Aspen, Colorado, giving followers a peek into her winter getaway.

The hitmaker shared a few more memorable moments from her week-long getaway, including some adorable snapshots with her 16-year-old twins, Max and Emme.

One jaw-dropping photo in particular had JLo flaunting her famous curves in a black string bikini.

To finish off the look, the singer paired the bikini with a stylish cowboy hat and cozy furry snow boots — definitely not your typical Aspen attire, but she made it work.

The reel was a perfect mix of stunning Colorado scenery and heartwarming moments, with clips of Lopez skiing and enjoying time with her family and friends.

“We’ll be back Aspen,” she captioned the post, leaving fans wondering when the next trip will be.

People couldn’t help but comment on her jaw-dropping physique, with many praising her dedication to fitness. The 55-year-old continues to wow fans, proving that age is just a number. As followers zoomed in on her photos, they couldn’t help but notice her incredible shape—her toned body and impeccable fitness left everyone in awe.

After being spotted earlier that week with Yellowstone star Kevin Costner, it looks like his iconic ranch style might be starting to rub off on Jennifer Lopez. During her Aspen trip, she made a stop at the renowned cowboy hat store Kemo Sabe, so maybe she was simply rocking some fresh new pieces from her shopping spree.

JLo’s Aspen vacation came right before her divorce from ex-husband Ben Affleck was finalized. According to USA Today, the couple called it quits in April 2024, citing “irreconcilable differences.” After just two years of marriage, they officially filed for divorce in August.

What some may not know is that this wasn’t their first time around the block. Nearly two decades ago, Lopez and Affleck were engaged, having met while filming a romantic comedy in 2002. Unfortunately, their engagement ended, with both blaming the pressure of media attention for their split.

In the aftermath of their recent divorce, Lopez spoke candidly about her emotional journey in an interview with comedian Nikki Glaser. The singer revealed she made the difficult decision to cancel her “This Is Me… Live” tour, explaining that she needed time for herself. “I was taking time off to be with my children, family, and close friends,” she shared.

Reflecting on the difficult period, Lopez added, “And I’m glad I did, because it was a really difficult time for me. Probably the hardest time of my life, but it was also the best time because I got to do that work on myself.”

While her personal life may have been challenging, Lopez’s strength and resilience continue to shine through — especially when she’s looking this stunning in a snowy paradise.

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Research shows body senses death is near – it starts in nose

There is one thing in life that every human being will go through, and that is experiencing death. Despite the universality of the experience, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding it.

Humans do not like to be in the dark about things, and perhaps that is why the idea of death scares so many people. However, research shows that while death remains largely a mystery, some of the things surrounding it are becoming more and more obvious.

Keep reading to learn more.

What cannot be explained by science is often referred to as a ‘sixth sense’ by people. And sometimes, scientific research comes out which ends up confirming what humans had long suspected with their sixth sense.

According to research, when a person dies, their body immediately starts to break down. During this, putrescine is emitted into the surroundings. Putrescine is a toxic and foul smell, and humans, at a subconscious level, can recognize this as a putrefying odor. And when the human brain recognizes this scent, it immediately responds to the death.

Researcher Arnaud Wisman from the University of Kent’s School of Psychology in Canterbury, UK, and Ilan Shira from the Department of Behavioral Sciences in Arkansas’ Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas, shared that much like animals, humans can also sense scents and respond accordingly. This is a major survival tactic developed across several species. So when humans come across putrescine, consciously or subconsciously, they respond to it.

The researchers conducted experiments that show that when humans are exposed to the putrescine scent, they move away similarly to animals who also run away in similar circumstances. “We do not know why we like (or dislike) someone’s smell, and we’re usually not aware of how scent influences our emotions, preferences, and attitudes,” Wisman and Shira stated.

“It is hard to think of a scent as frightening,” other researchers have claimed. But it is not untrue that scents make people more alert about their surroundings.

Sex pheromones, which are defined as odors produced by males or females, also have a reaction on human behavior, which usually brings a reaction in another human for the purpose of mating.

“Putrescine signals a different type of message than pheromones, but people’s responses to putrescine (avoidance and hostility) do seem indeed to be the opposite of responses to many sexual pheromones,” one researcher explained.

But unlike other scents, for this one, humans are not aware they are smelling it and their response is more likely subconscious. So it seems our nose can help us figure out if there is death or perhaps ‘danger’ nearby.

It is always so fascinating to learn about how humans work and how our subconscious might be reacting to things we might not even notice! Share this with others so they can also know about this fascinating discovery.