Sugar-free alternatives are no healthier than traditional sodas, research suggests. (Stock, Getty Images)
Many of us opt for diet drinks, believing zero-calorie sodas are healthier than their sugary alternatives. It may not be quite so simple, however.
Research into artificial sweeteners like aspartame, often a key ingredient in diet pop, has thrown up mixed results. Soda fanatics may benefit from switching to a calorie-free alternative, however, animal studies have suggested aspartame could cause cancer.
Now, after analysing 14 studies with 1.2 million adults between them, scientists from Zhengzhou University in China found those who consumed either sugary or artificially-sweetened drinks were up to 23% more likely to die prematurely.
