Diet Soda May Be Worse for You Than Regular: Which Do You Drink?

You may think you're being healthy when you crack open a can of Diet Coke, but drinking these types of soft drinks regularly may raise your risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new study.

In a nine-year study of more than 2,500 people, those who drank diet soda every day were 48 percent more likely to have a heart attack or stroke or die from those events, compared with those who rarely or never drank soda, WebMD reports.

Believe it or not, you may be better off opting for a can of regular. There was no increased risk of cardiovascular disorders among daily drinkers of regular soda, says study researcher Hannah Gardener, an epidemiologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, according to the health website.

But experts say the study is inconclusive -- and drinking diet soda instead of regular soda may still be a healthier choice.

"The body of scientific evidence does show that diet soft drinks can be a useful weight management tool, a position supported by the American Dietetic Association," Maureen Storey, senior vice president of science policy for the American Beverage Association, told WebMD.

Storey says researchers failed to control for two important variables -- family history of stroke and weight gain -- that affect stroke risk.

No matter how you look at it, diet soda is not a healthy beverage. It is not a naturally occurring substance, and it offers no nutritional benefits. That said, sugary regular soda has been blamed for obesity and other health issues.

Bottom line: Don't drink soda, period!