A Critique of Zied’s “Dieting? Why you should Ditch Diet Soda”

Obesity rates have skyrocketed. The majority of Americans would most likely express a desire to lose weight. People all over the country have resorted to drinking diet soda, because they believe that it is a healthier option than the full-calorie version of the popular beverage. In her article “Dieting? Why you should Ditch Diet Soda,” author Elisa Zied provides insight on the detriments that Diet Cola might actually cause to one’s health. She denies the popular belief that the beverage will help one to keep off the pounds, and provides a contradictory opinion of the fizzy drink. The argument that Zied presents in her article is factual, and includes research that efficiently supports her ideas.

Zied claims that the reason diet colas are so popular is because they often contain zero, or very few, calories. Larger higher calorie meals can be, in her words, “justifiable,” because of the low calorie beverage that accompanies it. For many people, water is not an option. They think, “Why should I force myself drink a tasteless beverage like water when I could instead enjoy a fizzy flavored drink?” The author claims that caloric intake can be decreased by drinking diet, rather than regular, soda, but evidence does not support its ability to help one to lose weight. Zied’s provides proof to back up this statement—a review from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The author seems to be sticking true to the fact that diet soda should be avoided, but at the beginning of her third paragraph she contradicts herself. At this point she provides a quote from a registered dietitian saying that diet sodas can, in fact, help one to lose weight. This statement contradicts the idea of the paragraph and even the very title of Zied’s article...

... middle of paper ...

...rs, especially in the form of diet soda, may be a large cause of the problem. The author included insightful details that caused the reader to re-think their consumption of diet beverages. She used refutable sources and studies to back up her ideas. Zied’s paper was not as effective as it could have been, however, because of its incoherence. The reader was left confused on what the author’s message really was. It is evident that Zied does not think that Diet Cola is a good beverage choice. It was unclear whether or not she thought it should be ditched completely, as a good portion of her essay implies, or if it is okay in a regulated amount. Either way, the author would have benefited from picking one idea or the other and sticking with it. Overall, Zied provides an informative article that could have been made even better with a little extra critique and planning.