People who drink diet sodas have 44% more heart attacks and strokes than those who don't. Pretty good sample size in this new study: N = 2564, 36% men, mean age 69 ± 10, 20% white, 23% black, 53% Hispanic. Done in Manhattan. They controlled for all the other stuff that (we know) influences CV events (age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, BMI, daily calories, consumption of protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, and sodium).

SOURCES
http://www.springerlink.com/content/b042807u865853t7/
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758833?src=mpnews&spon=34

“Although the bromide ion is widely distributed in nature, the main route of exposure in humans stems from bromide residues in food commodities as a result of the abundant use of bromide-containing pesticides, like methylbromide and ethylene dibromide, for soil fumigation in intensive horticulture and for postharvest treatment.” --van Leeuwen
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Mercola says that fructose inhibits uric acid excretion. Here's the article: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/2/19/surge-in-gout-blamed-on-sweet-drinks.aspx
( Did you know that high fructose corn syrup also causes gout?Collapse )

Mercola has posted a neat little video about how to make a tasty fizzy cold drink from your teas.....
http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Healthy-Green-Tea-Soda-10263.aspx

Green Tea Fields in Korea