Is diet pop really bad for you?

Jbarnes1210
Jbarnes1210 Posts: 308 Member
edited November 14 in Health and Weight Loss
My name is jessica , and I'm addicted to diet pop! I'm trying to give up, it has 0 calories/carbs... So why do I keep hearing it will,prevent weight loss????
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Replies

  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    Bad for you? Oh, probably. Most have Aspartame, which has quite a bad reputation.

    Impede weight loss? Anecdote alert: for me...no.
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    My name is jessica , and I'm addicted to diet pop! I'm trying to give up, it has 0 calories/carbs... So why do I keep hearing it will,prevent weight loss????

    It will not prevent weight loss, as the calories are negligible. If you enjoy it and it helps you meet your goals, definitely keep drinking it.

    Just be sure and care for your teeth!
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    edited March 2015
    LAWoman72 wrote: »
    Bad for you? Oh, probably. Most have Aspartame, which has quite a bad reputation.

    Nothing wrong with aspartame: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1308408/why-aspartame-isnt-scary/p1

    It has a bad rap for no real reason.

    Enjoy :smile:

    *Edit to add that it can be a migraine trigger for some (just like many things), so if that's the case with you, then avoid it. Or if you have PKU.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    It's probably better to drink water but I don't think there is anything too conclusive. Seems to be a lot of old wives tales and scare tactics.
  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
    No.

    Not really... unless you believe the sensationalism masking as journalism and *LET* it be your excuse ... but you're not gonna let it be, right?

    Right?
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    are there HEALTHIER things to drink? sure. but it doesnt add to your calories and the 'bad for you' seems to be highly debated so if you want it, and suffer no ill effects from drinking it, go for it.

  • dantl
    dantl Posts: 2 Member
    It does prevent weight loss because of the chemical artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame-K (potassium), saccharin and aspartame. They have zero calories, but the chemicals and the sweet taste with zero calories doesn't trick the brain that you are eating sugar and instead stimulates your appetite so you eat more to make up for the calorie deficit the brain is expecting. It causes you to gain more weight and proportionately more fat and in turn slows your metabolism.

    I would suggest a few things. You can put lemon or cucumber slices in your water to flavor it. You an also try sparkling mineral water (Perrier has flavored waters) or using plain and mixing with a little bit of 100% cranberry juice with a touch of stevia. The more you can fall in love with regular water - the better your weight loss.
  • LAWoman72
    LAWoman72 Posts: 2,846 Member
    dantl wrote: »
    It does prevent weight loss because of the chemical artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame-K (potassium), saccharin and aspartame. They have zero calories, but the chemicals and the sweet taste with zero calories doesn't trick the brain that you are eating sugar and instead stimulates your appetite so you eat more to make up for the calorie deficit the brain is expecting. It causes you to gain more weight and proportionately more fat and in turn slows your metabolism.

    I would suggest a few things. You can put lemon or cucumber slices in your water to flavor it. You an also try sparkling mineral water (Perrier has flavored waters) or using plain and mixing with a little bit of 100% cranberry juice with a touch of stevia. The more you can fall in love with regular water - the better your weight loss.

    I don't feel any greater an appetite when drinking Diet Coke than when not drinking it. Steadily losing weight.
  • misskarne
    misskarne Posts: 1,765 Member
    I actually drink Diet Coke to make my tummy happy. Drinking it with a meal actually makes me less likely to overeat because I feel fuller.

    And it's yummy.
  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
    dantl wrote: »
    It does prevent weight loss because of the chemical artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame-K (potassium), saccharin and aspartame. They have zero calories, but the chemicals and the sweet taste with zero calories doesn't trick the brain that you are eating sugar and instead stimulates your appetite so you eat more to make up for the calorie deficit the brain is expecting. It causes you to gain more weight and proportionately more fat and in turn slows your metabolism.

    I would suggest a few things. You can put lemon or cucumber slices in your water to flavor it. You an also try sparkling mineral water (Perrier has flavored waters) or using plain and mixing with a little bit of 100% cranberry juice with a touch of stevia. The more you can fall in love with regular water - the better your weight loss.

    Yer funny, Bro.

    Have a look at my profile pics and tell me again it "prevents weight loss"

    I'm laughin' over here ...

    1425152206280.gif




  • Greeneyedgrl_24
    Greeneyedgrl_24 Posts: 34 Member
    It wont.

    Diet Pepsi is my world. Lost all my weight while drinking it. Don't believe everything you hear.
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    dantl wrote: »
    It does prevent weight loss because of the chemical artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame-K (potassium), saccharin and aspartame. They have zero calories, but the chemicals and the sweet taste with zero calories doesn't trick the brain that you are eating sugar and instead stimulates your appetite so you eat more to make up for the calorie deficit the brain is expecting. It causes you to gain more weight and proportionately more fat and in turn slows your metabolism.

    I would suggest a few things. You can put lemon or cucumber slices in your water to flavor it. You an also try sparkling mineral water (Perrier has flavored waters) or using plain and mixing with a little bit of 100% cranberry juice with a touch of stevia. The more you can fall in love with regular water - the better your weight loss.

    This is not true.

    I've also had cucumber water. It's gross.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    LAWoman72 wrote: »
    Bad for you? Oh, probably. Most have Aspartame, which has quite a bad reputation.

    Nothing wrong with aspartame: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1308408/why-aspartame-isnt-scary/p1

    It has a bad rap for no real reason.

    Enjoy :smile:

    *Edit to add that it can be a migraine trigger for some (just like many things), so if that's the case with you, then avoid it. Or if you have PKU.
    +1. I've drank it for over 25+ years now. With all the "formaldehyde" formation, I should be a mummy.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png


  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    dantl wrote: »
    It does prevent weight loss because of the chemical artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame-K (potassium), saccharin and aspartame. They have zero calories, but the chemicals and the sweet taste with zero calories doesn't trick the brain that you are eating sugar and instead stimulates your appetite so you eat more to make up for the calorie deficit the brain is expecting. It causes you to gain more weight and proportionately more fat and in turn slows your metabolism.

    I would suggest a few things. You can put lemon or cucumber slices in your water to flavor it. You an also try sparkling mineral water (Perrier has flavored waters) or using plain and mixing with a little bit of 100% cranberry juice with a touch of stevia. The more you can fall in love with regular water - the better your weight loss.
    You should read actual peer reviewed studies that would refute above. The link mentioned above has some.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png


  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    LAWoman72 wrote: »
    Bad for you? Oh, probably. Most have Aspartame, which has quite a bad reputation.

    Nothing wrong with aspartame: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1308408/why-aspartame-isnt-scary/p1

    It has a bad rap for no real reason.

    Enjoy :smile:

    *Edit to add that it can be a migraine trigger for some (just like many things), so if that's the case with you, then avoid it. Or if you have PKU.
    +1. I've drank it for over 25+ years now. With all the "formaldehyde" formation, I should be a mummy.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png


    Right? I've had people tell me to get back to them in a few years and see how my teeth fare. I am old, I got the "NutraSweet" gumball in the mail. I have been ingesting aspartame for over 30 years. Only in the past couple of years did I get what my dentist described as a "tiny" cavity. I don't have osteoporosis, I'm not pickled. :lol:

  • squirrlt
    squirrlt Posts: 106 Member
    edited March 2015
    Well you are a sample size of "1". We could observe a McD's drive through and see how many obese people pull up and order diet drinks too (I'm guessing a lot). But that's not really valid either.

    There's a Johns Hopkins study showing diet soda may trigger already obese people to consume more solid food. However, there is another study sponsored by the beverage industry (hmm) that indicates diet soda can help with weight loss. So OP, just decide for yourself if you want to drink it, people can argue about this all day, and laugh at each other, but my best guess based on this limited and conflicting data would be that drinking it may help, hinder, or have no effect (in terms of weight loss) depending on the individual.
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    dantl wrote: »
    It does prevent weight loss because of the chemical artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame-K (potassium), saccharin and aspartame. They have zero calories, but the chemicals and the sweet taste with zero calories doesn't trick the brain that you are eating sugar and instead stimulates your appetite so you eat more to make up for the calorie deficit the brain is expecting. It causes you to gain more weight and proportionately more fat and in turn slows your metabolism.

    I would suggest a few things. You can put lemon or cucumber slices in your water to flavor it. You an also try sparkling mineral water (Perrier has flavored waters) or using plain and mixing with a little bit of 100% cranberry juice with a touch of stevia. The more you can fall in love with regular water - the better your weight loss.

    This is not true.

    I've also had cucumber water. It's gross.

    yeah. it really is. i drink water all day, and have been known to put stuff in it (lemon, lime, orange, berries) but cucumber really wasn't very good. neither was kiwi. LOL
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    squirrlt wrote: »
    Well you are a sample size n=1. We could observe a McD's drive through and see how many obese people pull up and order diet drinks too (I'm guessing a lot).

    There's a Johns Hopkins study showing diet soda may trigger already obese people to consume more solid food. However, there is another study sponsored by the beverage industry (hmm) that indicates diet soda can help with weight loss. So OP, just decide for yourself if you want to drink it, people can argue about this all day, and laugh at each other, but my best guess based on this limited and conflicting data would be that drinking it may help, hinder, or have no effect depending on the individual.

    Diet soda has no effect one way or another on weight loss. It's simply a way to enjoy the taste of soda without having to drink your calories.

    People who blame diet soda for their weight gain are using it as an excuse. If you're counting calories and otherwise monitoring your intake, diet soda will have no effect.
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    dantl wrote: »
    It does prevent weight loss because of the chemical artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame-K (potassium), saccharin and aspartame. They have zero calories, but the chemicals and the sweet taste with zero calories doesn't trick the brain that you are eating sugar and instead stimulates your appetite so you eat more to make up for the calorie deficit the brain is expecting. It causes you to gain more weight and proportionately more fat and in turn slows your metabolism.

    I would suggest a few things. You can put lemon or cucumber slices in your water to flavor it. You an also try sparkling mineral water (Perrier has flavored waters) or using plain and mixing with a little bit of 100% cranberry juice with a touch of stevia. The more you can fall in love with regular water - the better your weight loss.

    This is not true.

    I've also had cucumber water. It's gross.

    yeah. it really is. i drink water all day, and have been known to put stuff in it (lemon, lime, orange, berries) but cucumber really wasn't very good. neither was kiwi. LOL

    Ha, I know. I can drink water when I'm thirsty, but it has to be plain and ice cold. Putting anything in it makes it taste weird and I don't like chunks in my water, either.

    Sometimes you just gotta have a yummy diet root beer, or Diet Dr. Pepper.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    dantl wrote: »
    It does prevent weight loss because of the chemical artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame-K (potassium), saccharin and aspartame. They have zero calories, but the chemicals and the sweet taste with zero calories doesn't trick the brain that you are eating sugar and instead stimulates your appetite so you eat more to make up for the calorie deficit the brain is expecting. It causes you to gain more weight and proportionately more fat and in turn slows your metabolism.

    I would suggest a few things. You can put lemon or cucumber slices in your water to flavor it. You an also try sparkling mineral water (Perrier has flavored waters) or using plain and mixing with a little bit of 100% cranberry juice with a touch of stevia. The more you can fall in love with regular water - the better your weight loss.

    No, none of this "tricking the brain" stuff is true.

    Diet sweeteners have been proven to be safe.

    If you enjoy diet soda, there's no reason to stop drinking it.

  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    My name is jessica , and I'm addicted to diet pop! I'm trying to give up, it has 0 calories/carbs... So why do I keep hearing it will,prevent weight loss????

    We just had this discussion in another thread. No, diet sodas do not impede weight loss. There is no proof that artificial sweeteners are bad for you. They contribute nothing good as far as nutrition goes, but also contribute nothing harmful.

    Try substituting fizzy water for one or two of your sodas over the course of the day if you really feel like you need to cut down the soda you drink.

  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
    edited March 2015
    squirrlt wrote: »
    Well you are a sample size of "1".

    We're up to *AT LEAST* n=5 now, just in this thread, just in the last page of responses, right?

    Still laughin' over here ...

    Ashton-kutcher-laughing-top-10-vine-videos.gif
  • squirrlt
    squirrlt Posts: 106 Member
    edited March 2015
    squirrlt wrote: »
    Well you are a sample size n=1. We could observe a McD's drive through and see how many obese people pull up and order diet drinks too (I'm guessing a lot).

    There's a Johns Hopkins study showing diet soda may trigger already obese people to consume more solid food. However, there is another study sponsored by the beverage industry (hmm) that indicates diet soda can help with weight loss. So OP, just decide for yourself if you want to drink it, people can argue about this all day, and laugh at each other, but my best guess based on this limited and conflicting data would be that drinking it may help, hinder, or have no effect depending on the individual.

    Diet soda has no effect one way or another on weight loss. It's simply a way to enjoy the taste of soda without having to drink your calories.

    People who blame diet soda for their weight gain are using it as an excuse. If you're counting calories and otherwise monitoring your intake, diet soda will have no effect.

    You are right in a way, it's an indirect effect in that the diet drinks seemed to trigger people in the study to eat more (it's not an excuse though, the participants didn't know the purpose of the study). The real reason they gained was, as always, eating too much. But it set them up for failure with their weight loss goals. Might not be a problem everyone. They just did the study on already obese people. (Myself, I think diet soda tastes disgusting, so I don't know why anyone would drink it, ever, lol) But I can understand if you are choosing between that and regular, the diet option would make the most sense for most people who are trying to lose weight. But OPs question was worth wondering about, especially if she finds herself having trouble staying within her calorie goals at some point.
  • SunnyLu3
    SunnyLu3 Posts: 41
    Of course it's just one more anecdotal claim, but I've given up diet sodas and artificial sweeteners multiple times for extended periods and it didn't change a thing. I did replace them with honey as suggested by a clean eater and gained weight lol. Also I have complex migraines and aspartame and other sweeteners are not a trigger for me personally. I'm not saying they're healthy food or that I wouldn't be better off without them, but I don't believe they've ever impeded weight loss for me. Not measuring/tracking food accurately has :-D
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    N=6, I drink a couple of coke zeros every day. Some days more than that.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
    squirrlt wrote: »
    Well you are a sample size of "1".

    We're up to *AT LEAST* n=5 now, just in this thread, just in the last page of responses, right?

    Still laughin' over here ...

    Ashton-kutcher-laughing-top-10-vine-videos.gif

    N=6.
  • LoupGarouTFTs
    LoupGarouTFTs Posts: 916 Member
    Add another n=1 here for (I think) N=8. I go through periods during which I drink a lot of diet soda and other periods during which I drink none at all. My weight loss is about the same during both periods. My brain isn't "tricked" into consuming more food, since I weigh, measure, and prepare the same amounts regardless of what I drink with my meal.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Why are you giving it up?
  • I gave up soda because I didn't like all of the unnecessary chemicals I was consuming and the fact that I was pretty much addicted to it. I feel so much better without soda in my life.
  • dantl
    dantl Posts: 2 Member
    Wow my first post (now my last) - as I find too much negativity here. That's too bad - you should be nurturing a supportive open environment here, rather than being defensive, critical and immature (laughing, really?) and let people make their own decisions. If something works for you - great - if not then find what does. There wouldn't be thousands of diets if one way worked for everyone. If you want to state what worked or didn't work for you fine - but there's certainly a better way to do that than what I am seeing here.

    Jessica asked a question, I provided an answer. She asked why she hears that drinking pop will prevent weight loss. Keep in mind everyone is different and there are long term effects to take into consideration. The incidence of metabolic syndrome is a fact - and you can have it and be thin, so be careful not to fall off the diet wagon - the weight gain will be much worse.

    For all of you ingesting chemicals and being so defensive - you do whatever you want. But it doesn't take a genius to know that drinking water is better than drinking pop - or soda or whatever you call it where you live - that is made with chemicals!

    Multiple different scientific studies are cited in the articles below, from several credible resources.

    http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/06/19/artificial-sweeteners-could-be-sabotaging-your-diet/

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/20040630/artificial-sweeteners-damage-diet-efforts?page=1

    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/04/saccharin-aspartame-dangers.aspx

    http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/artificial-sweeteners-sugar-free-but-at-what-cost-201207165030

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/

    http://chriskresser.com/the-unbiased-truth-about-artificial-sweeteners

    http://time.com/3380013/artificial-sweeteners-obesity/
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