A prominent United States (US) cardiologist has urged the public to rethink their faith in “diet” drinks, warning that zero-sugar beverages may be more harmful than their sugary counterparts.
Dr Dmitry Yaranov, who has built a large following on TikTok and Instagram for sharing heart-health advice, went viral after revealing the drink he refuses to consume again.
In a video viewed more than one million times, Yaranov said years of clinical practice had convinced him to avoid diet sodas entirely.
“After years in cardiology, this is why I don’t touch ‘diet’ drinks anymore. The biggest lie in your fridge? ‘Zero sugar’,” he said.
He disclosed consumers had been led to believe that diet sodas were a healthier option for managing weight and blood sugar, but “new data say otherwise.”
According to Yaranov, a recent study found that people who drink diet or zero-sugar beverages daily have a higher risk of liver disease than those who consume sugary drinks.
“Let that sink in, the fake sugar hits harder than the real thing,” he said.
He added that artificial sweeteners appear to alter gut metabolism and the way the liver handles fat, raising the risk of metabolic liver disease by roughly 60 per cent.
By comparison, sugary drinks were linked to about a 50 per cent increased risk. Water, he said, remained “safest by far.”
The research he cited was presented last month at UEG Week 2025 and followed 123,788 UK Biobank participants who had no liver disease at the outset.
Diet was assessed through repeated 24-hour questionnaires, with researchers examining links between sweetened drink intake and risks of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, liver fat build-up and liver-related mortality.
Yaranov has gone viral before for challenging popular assumptions about fitness and health.
In an earlier post, he cautioned that having a “shredded” physique did not necessarily reflect what was happening inside the body.
Describing one patient who appeared in peak physical condition, he said: “I’ve seen what’s inside those vessels, and it’s not pretty.”
He warned that extreme high-protein or meat-heavy diets, including so-called carnivore regimes, could drive dangerous rises in LDL cholesterol, damage blood vessel linings, and accelerate inflammation and early plaque formation.
“The body outside looks like a machine. But the inside tells a different story. I’ve cared for ‘fit’ 35-year-olds with heart attacks. No symptoms. No warning. Just a ticking time bomb,” he said.
He added that athleticism, low body fat and visible muscle tone do not guarantee protection from cardiovascular disease.
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