But are these branded diet products really diet friendly? Delve a little deeper and you will realise that all is not hunky-dory.

The packaging is attractive, but hides essential information in fine print.

Diet or Normal Soft Drink

A normal soft drink is a strict no-no for the calorie conscious. So soft drink companies came out with diet soft drinks.

What makes it different from a normal soft drink is that it has zero calories and zero sugar content. So does that make it a better product?

Also Read: Diet Soda Equally Bad

We checked out the contents of a 300ml normal and diet soft drink of a leading brand. And here's what we found:

Criteria	Normal Soft Drink	Diet Soft Drink
Calorie	100	0
Sugar	28gm	0
Caffeine	25mg	24mg
Aspartame	0	118mg

Is the zero calorie content making you feel happy? Well it isn't that simple.

A diet soft drink uses aspartame (an artificial sweetener) instead of sugar, thereby cutting on the calorific content. Although, the US Food and Drug Administration and the European FSA have approved of aspartame, it is still considered widely controversial in the medical circle.

Click here to read why artificial sweetners are bad for your health.

Though many people drink diet colas without any apparent ill health, it is wise to pay attention to your body. If your body is sensitive to it, it may cause problems like allergy or panic attacks.

So, if you have a daily dose of diet soft drink along with your lunch thinking that you are enjoying a cola without the added risk of calories, think again.

This does not mean you have to avoid it altogether. Having a diet cola occassionally and moderatley will keep the risk factor lower.

Glucose or Digestive Biscuit

Most dieticians would suggest a digestive biscuit over a normal glucose biscuit for the simple reason that it has lesser calorie content than a normal biscuit.

Also Read: To Diet of Not to Diet?

But before you go ahead and buy it, take a closer look at the ingredients list. Compare it with a normal glucose biscuit and you will be surprised how you have been fooled.