About a month ago, I read some disturbing studies and blogs on soda. I've come across phrases like 'cancer in a can', 'cola doubles the risk for chronic kidney disease', 'osteoporosis in a can'. So I stopped drinking it. I think a rogue soda slipped down my throat during a weak moment, but since then, nada one has touched my lips. I must say, it's been difficult. The Diet Cherry Cokes stockpiled in family and neighbors' fridges beckon to me -- "here we are, feel our fizz, get a jump from our caffeine!" My new vice is iced decaf Americano at Starbucks with room for cream. Yeah, I know, more fattening.

Now a new study finds an intriguing link between drinking one or more sodas a day (diet or regular) and metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms which increase the risk for heart disease -- large waistlines, higher blood pressures, blood sugars, cholesterol and triglycerides. Yup, you heard right. Diet soda.

This is no small study, the research comes from a 9,000-person, multigenerational heart study observing residents of Framingham, Massachusetts. Results were published on-line in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The Framingham Heart Study has been generating data since 1948.

At the start of the study, one or more a day soda drinkers had a 48 percent increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared to those who drank less soda. Furthermore, time was not kind for daily soda drinkers initially showing no signs of metabolic syndrome. They realized a 44 percent higher risk of developing it four years later.

Experts are all giving their two cents -- 'many people who drink diet soda are overweight to begin with', 'drinking too many liquids at a meal will trigger a person to eat more at the next meal'. Of course, Susan Neely, prez of the American Beverage Association stated just the notion diet drinks are associated with bulging waistlines defies common sense. No, Ms. Neely, it is not a notion -- research begs otherwise. The study's senior author, Dr. Vasan Ramachandran stated the findings do not show diet sodas cause increased heart disease risks, but this most surprising link must be studied.

How about more studies looking into the chemical preservatives in soda? Here's a study on DNA damage caused by the common soda preservative sodium benzoate. How about this recent study that regular and diet cola (not un-colas) double your risk for chronic kidney disease? People with diabetes need to be kind to their kidneys. Read more in the Chicago Tribune.