Dr. Oz Reveals Donald Trump's Bizarre Belief About Diet Coke's Effect On Cancer Cells

It's no secret that fast food is one of President Donald Trump's favorite food groups, particularly McDonald's. On a typical day, he may eat a Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish, and Quarter Pounder alongside plenty of fries. He's even ordered burgers and pizza for White House guests. To top it off, regular and sugar-free sodas are a major part of Trump's daily diet — especially Diet Coke and Fanta. What's interesting, though, is that he has defended this diet soda habit with the argument that "it must kill cancer cells."

In an interview on the "Triggered with Donald Trump Jr." video podcast, Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, let President Trump's argument slip while recalling what typically happens during their Oval Office meetings. "So, he'll he'll first start off with, uh, you know, candy bars — that little candy jar, he'll call it. He'll hit the red button. And, then comes the the diet soda pop, which is, 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 and Donald Jr. both took the statement lightheartedly and laughed about it. The now administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also recalled the president joking about Fanta, saying that it must not be that bad for him because it's fresh-squeezed. To be fair, these are the same types of arguments that many people might make to justify their diets. Can science support or debunk them, though?

Before we get into whether or not diet sodas have cancer-stopping or promoting properties, let's address President Trump's defense that pouring them on grass will kill it. Pouring diet soda on grass or other plants doesn't give them a death sentence because they lack the sugar of regular sodas, which do kill plants. It doesn't do much more than regular water, but watering plants with club soda actually has positive effects because it contains nutrients that support plant growth.

As for whether drinking diet sodas cause or kill cancer, the research is still inconclusive. The varied biologies of people and how much artificially sweetened drinks they consume are what's holding back a definitive conclusion. For instance, a study published in European Urology Open Science found that drinking any diet beverages is associated with a higher risk of kidney cancer in postmenopausal women. A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, though, didn't find the same correlation in healthy adults. Additionally, an umbrella review published in Advances in Nutrition found weak evidence for a correlation between artificially sweetened drinks and cancers of any kind.

That doesn't mean drinking diet soda every day has no negative effects on your body. In fact, research published in Diabetes Care shows that it confuses the brain into thinking that you're consuming calories, so it unnecessarily releases insulin, which has been linked to a higher probability of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Other research published in American Journal of Public Health suggests that people consuming diet sodas are more likely than those who don't to eat higher calorie foods and have higher BMIs. Diet sodas might not cause cancer, but they aren't good for you.