Sodium benzoate is added to soft drinks as a preservative and a bacteria-destroying agent. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America states that significant numbers of people report allergic reactions to the compound.

Although diet soda does not contain any calories, it also does not have any nutritional value. Since liquids from foods and beverages are essential for healthy body functions, choosing drinks that also contain other nutritional value will further enhance your health.

Aspartame is one of the most commonly used sweeteners, widely used in food and beverages for its low calories and its sweeter-than-sugar flavor. This artificial sweeter consists of amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and is 200 times sweeter than sugar.

A doctor uses a colonoscopy to examine the surface area of your large intestine. The test begins with insertion of a lighted tube with a tiny camera into the rectum. The tube moves upward through the lower rectum into the colon and terminates at the entrance to the small intestine.

Splenda is the brand name for the no-calorie artificial sweetener sucralose. It is used in a variety of food and beverages. Sucralose is the only sugar alternative made from sugar, but it does not contribute to tooth decay despite being 600 times sweeter than table sugar.