A man in Stockport, Greater Manchester in the UK, has told how a
lifelong addiction to Diet Coke has come to dominate his
life.
Darren Jones, 38, can't go a day without downing 18 cans of the
soft drink - the equivalent of 42 litres a week, costing him around
£3,000 (RM14, 824) a year.
Over the past decade his habit has gradually worsened and now he
can't leave the house without a bottle of Coca Cola.
Astonishingly the father of two, from Stockport, Greater Manchester
insists his huge intake - which amounts to 65,700 cans over the
past ten years - hasn't caused him any medical or dental
problems.
But he did say that if he doesn't get his daily fix he can get
moody and irritable.
Darren Jones has been downing 18 cans a day for the past ten
years
He said: "I don't really drink anything else. When I don't have it
my family says I'm a nightmare to be around."
Although he has bottles stored in his kitchen he doesn't let his
children Abbie, seven, and James, six, drink the sugar-free soft
drink.
Despite Jones insisting that his addiction hasn't affected his
health, health experts have warned otherwise.
Dr Vicci Owen-Smith, National Health Service Stockport's deputy
director of public health, said: "Diet Coke has artificial
sweetener and contains caffeine. Too much of either of these may
cause harm."
In June, U.S. researchers confirmed artificial sweeteners and diet
drinks cause weight gain, possibly by boosting a craving for sugary
foods.
Darren Jones says he can get moody and irritable without his daily
fix of Diet Coke
Diet Coke was first introduced in the US on August 9, 1982,
becoming the first new brand since 1886 to use the Coca-Cola
trademark.
It was sweetened with aspartame, to save money, after the sweetener
became available in the U.S. the following year.
A Coca-Cola spokesperson commented: 'Our packaging clearly shows
caffeine, calorie and sugar content in relation to recommended
daily guidelines.'
Mother-of-two Claire Ayton was also revealed to be a Diet Coke
addict earlier this year. She said she felt constantly tired,
thirsty and found it impossible to lose weight as a
consequence.
Artificially sweetened diet drinks may actually cause you to pile
on the pounds, say scientists.
A study review by Professor Qing Yang at Yale University found
aspartame and saccharin both increased the desire to eat
more.
The June 2010 paper found that artificial sweeteners can activate
food reward brain centres without fully satisfying the resulting
cravings.
So while the drinks themselves contain hardly any calories they may
encourage consumers to reach for another treat afterwards.
Source:
Daily Mail, UK
Image Source: MEN
