Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each the numbered blanks.

Many people drink diet sodas as part of their diet. They believe these drinks are healthier than fizzy drinks. (34) _______, according to a new study, "diet" versions of sugary drinks can be as bad for our heart as fizzy drinks that are loaded with sugar. The researchers (35) _______ conducted the study said people should avoid diet sodas and other artificially sweetened beverages if they want to look after their health. Dr Guy Mintz, a heart specialist, said: "The belief that artificial sweeteners are a safe substitute for sugar is fake news. Artificial sweeteners have also been associated with weight gain, insulin (36) _______, and diabetes."

Researchers looked at health data from over 100,000 people in France. Participants in the study recorded their diet, activity level, and health status every six months. The researchers said: "Higher intakes of ... artificially sweetened beverages were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that artificially sweetened beverages might not be a healthy (37) _______ for sugary drinks. Also, water, water, and more water should be the beverage of choice. Given childhood obesity, (38) _______ sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage should be a staple in children's diets."

(Adapted from https://breakingnewsenglish.com)