We all know that sugary drinks like fruit juices, smoothies, sports drinks, and sweetened teas can add a ton of unwanted calories, but did you know that diet soda can be just as harmful? Although diet soda is low in calories, and a popular choice for those of us who are looking to lose weight, scientists and nutritionists are coming to the conclusion that artificial sweeteners cause more harm to our bodies than good.

Surprisingly, the secret to losing weight successfully may be to avoid the word "diet" in the first place -- something Kara Goldin, a tech entrepreneur who lost 45 pounds after breaking a years-long Diet Coke addiction, ended up learning almost accidentally. She invented Hint, a naturally flavored 0 calorie water that doesn't use any artificial sweeteners, to help her own weight loss journey. Now, she wants to spread the word.

Diet soda actually dehydrates us, causes blood sugar spikes and acne, can lead to weight gain, and increases the risk of diabetes and hypertension. The artificial sweeteners in diet soda may even increase appetite by stimulating hunger hormones, altering sweet taste receptors and triggering dopamine responses in the brain. That's definitely not good if you're trying to lose weight. Water and diet soda are both calorie-free, but only water provides nourishment that's absolutely essential -- and you can get all of it with Hint, which is now found alongside the water in gyms, schools, and health food stores.

Essentially, drinking Hint is the same thing as drinking water, just with a blast of taste from natural fruit essences. And unlike diet soda, you don't have to worry about drinking too much or forming an addiction. Hint water comes in flavors like watermelon, blackberry, apple, and peach, and gets its flavoring by boiling water with fruit. It's the only hydrating drink that has all the fruit flavor--and yes, it is delicious--without any of the additives.

Adopting a healthier lifestyle or new eating regimen can be challenging, albeit a little less now that we don't have to rely on "diet" products filled with counterproductive ingredients. It's no wonder the health conscious among us are walking past the diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages and picking up Hint water instead -- it's even Whole 30 approved. Finally, Goldin has given us a craving that even dieters can actually indulge in. People are even turning to delicious Hint flavors when they want to indulge a sweet tooth as a guilt-free dessert. And the best news of all -- the dreaded word "diet" won't come up at all. Thanks to alternatives like Hint, healthy living is now just living.

UPDATE: The folks at Hint are offering a special promotion to our readers! Follow this link to get 35% off PLUS free shipping!