Ella Scott
A health expert has weighed in after Dr Mehmet Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said Donald Trump believes drinking diet soda can ‘kill cancer cells’.
On Monday (13 April), Dr Oz, 65, appeared on the Triggered with Don Jr. podcast hosted by the US President’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., 48.
The businessman, often nicknamed Don Jr., learned from the American TV favourite that his father believes diet soda is healthy, despite it being associated with weight gain and insulin resistance, as per the Cleveland Clinic.
“Your dad argues that diet soda is good for him because it kills grass — if poured on grass — so, therefore, it must kill cancer cells inside the body,” Dr Oz explained.
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“You know, we were on Air Force One the other day, and I walk in there because he wants to talk about something, and he's got an orange soft drink on his desk. He's got a Fanta on the desk.”
“And I say, ‘Are you kidding me?’ So he starts to, like, sheepishly grin. He says, ‘You know, this stuff’s good for me, it kills cancer cells.’”
The former cardiothoracic surgeon continued, claiming that Trump, 79, falsely said that Fanta couldn’t be bad for him because it was made from ‘fresh squeezed’ orange juice.
European versions of Orange Fanta are made with 3.7 percent orange juice from concentrate and 1.3 percent of citrus fruit from concentrate, as per Coca-Cola.
In the United States, the ingredient list includes high fructose corn syrup and natural flavours, rather than fresh orange juice, the company's website reads.
“OK, OK,” Trump’s son interjected. “But then maybe he’s onto something. Because I will say this: I know a lot of guys pushing 80 — not a lot have his level of energy, recall, stamina.”
In an interview with MS Now, global health policy expert Dr Vin Gupta said that statements like Dr Oz’s and Trump’s comments on so-called health benefits can ‘upset’ experts.
“Soda beverages do not kill grass, and maybe this is where the President is confused and doesn’t have his facts right [but] baking soda can kill grass.
“There’s numerous health concerns with carbonated beverages,” he continued, citing weight gain and high blood pressure.
He added there was ‘no health benefits’ to drinking fizzy, low-sugar beverages.
Dr Oz’s comments come amid new US dietary guidelines and information on over-consuming products with added sugar.
Experts insist that Americans try to limit their added sugars ‘as much as possible’ and that they should aim to eat less (or much less) than 50 grams a day.
Instead of drinking soda, health experts advise citizens to guzzle plain water, sparkling water, or unsweetened tea instead.
“Low and no-calorie sweetners like in ‘diet sodas’ and sugar-free syrups can help you cut down on added sugars and calories but they may not be a good way to manage your weight in the long term,” the dietary guidelines read.
FOODbible has contacted the White House for comment regarding Dr Oz’s comments.