As a follow up to the question on drinking a lot of diet soda, is there any health risk if the soda is sweetened by a natural artificial sweetener like Stevia, and the soda is caffeine free?  -Sherwyn D.

Studies aren’t definitive on whether “natural” diet sodas can still affect skin and teeth, increase vaginal cysts and breast masses, or correspond with heart attack and stroke.

There would still exist the problem ingredients (phosphoric acid and sodium) that can be part of a soda drinker’s chemical addiction.  Fruit, ginger or lemon/lime flavored diet sodas are a step up.  Yet the flavorings are still acidic, which is a concern for tooth enamel erosion.

Plain carbonated water does not pose a problem, according to writers at Mayo Clinic and Scientific American.  Carbonated mineral water or seltzer would be suitable choices as substitutes for caffeine-free naturally sweetened diet soda. – Debbie J., MS, RD

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Debbie James is a registered dietitian. Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or recommendations of Fitness International, LLC.