Almost half of Americans drink diet soda regularly, and while you might assume that Diet Coke is better than regular Coke, it can still do some damage. You just might rethink your habits when you find out exactly what happens when you reach for a Diet Coke every day.

An ingredient that is always going to be found in Diet Coke is at least one type of artificial sweetener. Traditionally, Diet Coke contains aspartame, though some versions contain Splenda, according to Coca-Cola. After all, these artificial sweeteners are what make the diet drinks taste sweet without adding any calories.

According to Healthline, aspartame and sucralose are two of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners and while they and other artificial sweeteners have been deemed safe to consume, the Mayo Clinic says that some people may experience adverse effects from the ingredients.

As some studies have shown, diet soda can potentially increase your risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which in turn increases your risk of developing heart disease. You may think the absence of sugar in soda to be a good thing, but that simply opens the door for artificial sweetener to be used in its stead, and that might not be as good as we've been told. Keep watching to learn What Happens To Your Body When You Drink Diet Coke Every Day!

#DietCoke

You could develop metabolic syndrome | 0:00

You may gain weight | 1:07

You'll crave more sugar | 2:03

Increased risk of diabetes | 2:59

It messes with gut health | 3:45

It can cause hypertension | 4:30

Potential increased stroke risk | 5:14

Possible headaches | 6:17

It may cause premature labor | 6:59

Babies could develop obesity | 8:05

Increased cancer risk? | 9:00

Link to depression | 10:08

Cell damage | 11:01