Diet soda and LCHF...?
Xo_healthylc
Posts: 77 Member
So I've read so many articles that are all over the place on this. I drink about 1 liter of diet Dr Pepper a day. I also get almost a gallon of water in as well. I'm a big drinker. It doesn't trigger cravings for me and actually helps me when I am craving something sweet to grab a cup. Is this really such a bad thing? Everyone I know drinks regular soda and tells me how bad it is for me and how it would be healthier to just drink regular soda...
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Also to add I don't plan on switching it to regular soda lol just wondering if it's that bad that I'm not even conserned with cutting my diet soda. I've cut everything else "unhealthy" out of my diet and I am just hoping to keep diet soda without any affect to my LCHF lifestyle.0
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I drink diet ginger ale and have consistently lost
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It's really an individual thing. Most artificial sweeteners used in commercial sodas cause problems with your gut (anything pink, blue, or yellow being sweet n low, nutrasweet, or splenda aka as saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose is said to cause leaky gut/punch holes in your gut). That being said, if they don't currently cause you issue, you may be able to maintain them in your plan. For me, they are a no-go except once in a blue moon, due to the cravings and reactions they cause for me. The only AS I do well with at all is SweetLeaf Brand Stevia... Others can attest to how artificial sweeteners have affected them through inflammation and others things.
Personally, I'd leave your soda in for now, work on reducing the volume just in general, and keep it in your back pocket as an option for reducing or eliminating later...should it be necessary or preferable.2 -
Pretty much all of the internet fearmongering about artificial sweeteners is nonsense, especially in regard to aspertame. The best way that I have seen it put, is as follows:
"As stated we know the metabolic breakdown products of aspartame. They are aspartate and phenylalanine, amino acids that are non-toxic unless you have PKU and methanol. Methanol gets further converted to formaldehyde which does have toxicity which is why methanol is toxic. But with all things toxic there is a dose at which they are toxic and below which they are not.
The toxic dose of methanol far far FAR exceeds the amount you get in a soda or in fruit juices or in wine.
To answer your question as best I can let me put it this way. If you were to drink diet soda, one right after the other non-stop until you died the substance that killed you would be water. Water is therefore the most "toxic" ingredient in diet soda."7 -
I'd restate Gallowmere's post slightly - studies on excitotoxins have mixed results at best. In addition, I have known people that have had negative reactions to artificial sweeteners ranging from the minor (fatigue/low energy) to the moderate (temporary short term memory loss) to the severe (benign brain tumors), all of which resolved once artificial sweeteners were removed with no other interventions.
So, if you notice no negative side effects and don't mind the risk, knock yourself out.0 -
I can drink aspartame with no problems, but not splenda. It gives me migraines every time. I did give them both up since starting keto. Not because I believe they will be a problem but because I just don't want them. I now use a little stevia if I have an iced coffee occasionally. I really don't think diet pop is a problem for everyone so if it helps you with your weight loss, go for it!0
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I drink diet sodas as needed for the go to sweetness factor that you mentioned. I've lost over 100 pounds and feel great. That said, I always have and still do struggle with a wicked sweet tooth that seems more attached to emotions than artificial sweeteners. I say do what works for you and if the time comes when you want to adjust your plan...then do that. Keep reading up about low carb and good luck!9
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I can drink diet sodas as well, no problem. When it comes to quest bars... That's a different story. It says it's sweetened with stevia but I swear I cannot control myself with those bars. They trigger cravings and I can't eat just one. I realized that they also make me bloated.
Stevia in coffee, no problem. Splenda in coffee, no problem either.3 -
LolaDeeDaisy23 wrote: »I can drink diet sodas as well, no problem. When it comes to quest bars... That's a different story.
No wonder. They're laced with catnip!3 -
Xo_healthylc wrote: »Everyone I know drinks regular soda and tells me how bad it is for me and how it would be healthier to just drink regular soda...
Hmmm..... ask them if they're diabetics-in-training?
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I drink maybe 2-3 cans of diet soda per day. Mostly because sometimes I want something sweet and, according to "The Ketogenic Diet" by Lyle McDonald, aspartame is unlikely to have an effect on insulin but will vary from person to person.
I've found that my body does not really care about any variety of diet soda that I drink. So if you continue to see results drinking diet soda then I think you're fine.2 -
When I did the Dukan Diet (low carb, low fat) previously, I had a lot of Diet A&W and it really helped with my sweet cravings. I lost well, too.
Now on LCHF/keto, I haven't done a lot of diet soda, but sporadically I'll drink it. Right now I bought a big case of zevia (multiple types) from Amazon. It's a nice way to try out the different flavors.0 -
Actually have been using a Dark Chocolate liquid Stevia to add to coffee or decaf, can't tell you how good it is. In my past life pre (LCHF) it was normal for me to enjoy chocolate treats, this cuts out any deprivation.
The dark choc stevia along with heavy cream and Kerry gold are as good as good can get.....still losing without any hunger and no cravings.2 -
Actually have been using a Dark Chocolate liquid Stevia to add to coffee or decaf, can't tell you how good it is. In my past life pre (LCHF) it was normal for me to enjoy chocolate treats, this cuts out any deprivation.
The dark choc stevia along with heavy cream and Kerry gold are as good as good can get.....still losing without any hunger and no cravings.
Whoa. Brand?0 -
Last year, I weened myself off of all artificially sweetened beverages after I read about that Israel study about gut bacteria in mice. Basically, artificial sweeteners change the gut's good flora to bad flora. It took a lot of mental effort and months to drop the artificial sweeteners as I drank over a liter per day and poured the Splenda into everything. I save money now to invest in more steak.
Recently there have been articles about sweet taste receptors in the stomach (also reacts to artificial sweeteners) that send signals to the pancreas to increase insulin levels. That is just what we need more insulin to contribute to more insulin resistance.3 -
I've never seen or heard of dark chocolate liquid stevia, but I so want some now! Where did you find it?0
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Actually have been using a Dark Chocolate liquid Stevia to add to coffee or decaf, can't tell you how good it is. In my past life pre (LCHF) it was normal for me to enjoy chocolate treats, this cuts out any deprivation.
The dark choc stevia along with heavy cream and Kerry gold are as good as good can get.....still losing without any hunger and no cravings.
I love it too! I get mine from Amazon
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B41CA6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=11 -
I do drink diet soda. Not many but I do have them. But! Here's my story: About 9 years ago I was miserable. I was hurting all over my body, had awful stomach issues, couldn't sleep, was constantly itchy, migraines were worse than ever. I was at a "typical" weight for me - way less than I am today. Oh, by the way...I drank about a case of Coke Zero a day and that was about all I drank. I woke up with one, I went to bed with one. Only water I got was in the melted ice from my soda. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, docs said nothing was wrong with me. I finally went to see a Naturopath. She was WONDERFUL! We spent hours and hours going over my life history. At the end of that day she asked me what was the one thing I couldn't give up - chocolate, cake, etc. and I told her Coke Zero. I was truly addicted. She said "Donna you have to give it up or you will kill yourself." I cried like a baby; I kid you not. She gave me another hour or so worth of information as to why this was at the root of many issues. I left her office, bought a 24 ounce and drank it on the way home. I didn't touch another soda, diet or otherwise, for 7 ish years. All and I mean all of my problems went away. I lost 15 lbs in the very first month of going off the Coke Zero. I was MISERABLE for two weeks, as I detoxed but after that...WOW! I felt so much better. I wouldn't even take a swig of someone's drink for fear I'd fall off the wagon. Until...sigh...I met Rowdy in Feb of last year. He drinks Pepsi and I started drinking it too. It was in the first year that he and I met that I gained all this weight I'm trying to drop now. (Fat and happy!) When I decided to go LCHF I stopped drinking his fully leaded Pepsi and thought I'd stop drinking them all. But in the first few weeks of Keto I wanted something sweet so I decided to try diet soda. Now I keep them in the fridge but I drink them on occasion. I will never go back to drinking them as my only source of liquid. I believe I was killing myself with them. Truly killing myself. So I believe wholeheartedly, for me, that moderation is key when it comes to diet soda.1
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Thanks! Can't wait to try it.
Anyone ever try making flavors from unsweetened extract/concentrate + liquid or powdered stevia?0 -
I don't drink diet soda because it seems to flare up my RA. I don't know the whys or hows but there is a clear link for me so I stick to unsweetened coffee, tea, and water. I know lots of people drink it with no ill effect so if that's how you are no need to eliminate them. I will occasionally use flavored Sweetleaf stevia to make a "dessert" beverage and that doesn't impact me. Honestly though I'm just so used to unsweetened things that I usually end up not finishing a sweet drink.1
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RowdysLady wrote: »I do drink diet soda. Not many but I do have them. But! Here's my story: About 9 years ago I was miserable. I was hurting all over my body, had awful stomach issues, couldn't sleep, was constantly itchy, migraines were worse than ever. I was at a "typical" weight for me - way less than I am today. Oh, by the way...I drank about a case of Coke Zero a day and that was about all I drank. I woke up with one, I went to bed with one. Only water I got was in the melted ice from my soda. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, docs said nothing was wrong with me. I finally went to see a Naturopath. She was WONDERFUL! We spent hours and hours going over my life history. At the end of that day she asked me what was the one thing I couldn't give up - chocolate, cake, etc. and I told her Coke Zero. I was truly addicted. She said "Donna you have to give it up or you will kill yourself." I cried like a baby; I kid you not. She gave me another hour or so worth of information as to why this was at the root of many issues. I left her office, bought a 24 ounce and drank it on the way home. I didn't touch another soda, diet or otherwise, for 7 ish years. All and I mean all of my problems went away. I lost 15 lbs in the very first month of going off the Coke Zero. I was MISERABLE for two weeks, as I detoxed but after that...WOW! I felt so much better. I wouldn't even take a swig of someone's drink for fear I'd fall off the wagon. Until...sigh...I met Rowdy in Feb of last year. He drinks Pepsi and I started drinking it too. It was in the first year that he and I met that I gained all this weight I'm trying to drop now. (Fat and happy!) When I decided to go LCHF I stopped drinking his fully leaded Pepsi and thought I'd stop drinking them all. But in the first few weeks of Keto I wanted something sweet so I decided to try diet soda. Now I keep them in the fridge but I drink them on occasion. I will never go back to drinking them as my only source of liquid. I believe I was killing myself with them. Truly killing myself. So I believe wholeheartedly, for me, that moderation is key when it comes to diet soda.
I thought about only having water at home to try to wing myself. Don't buy it and I won't drink it kind of thing. I have two small children and going to the store for a soda won't happen. Maybe have it as a treat when we eat out (which is like 3 times a week0 -
I don't drink diet soda because it seems to flare up my RA. I don't know the whys or hows but there is a clear link for me so I stick to unsweetened coffee, tea, and water. I know lots of people drink it with no ill effect so if that's how you are no need to eliminate them. I will occasionally use flavored Sweetleaf stevia to make a "dessert" beverage and that doesn't impact me. Honestly though I'm just so used to unsweetened things that I usually end up not finishing a sweet drink.
I heard if I give myself a month I will be fine. I don't eat sweets anymore so after a month when I try it it will taste totally different and to sweet. Hmm
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Where do you buy the DARK CHOCOLATE STEVIA that sounds awesome!!0
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One other perspective that I was only able to adopt after I gave up caffeine - any addiction or craving is a symptom of some deeper issue that needs to be addressed for optimal health and well being.
If I can't walk away from something comfortably, cue the robot from 'Lost in Space': "Danger Will Robinson, danger!"4 -
The bubbles in soda kill my stomach.
If I'm in the mood for sweet Powerade Zero usually
gets the nod.
or 
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Majcolorado wrote: »One other perspective that I was only able to adopt after I gave up caffeine - any addiction or craving is a symptom of some deeper issue that needs to be addressed for optimal health and well being.
If I can't walk away from something comfortably, cue the robot from 'Lost in Space': "Danger Will Robinson, danger!"
This is kinda how my mindset is too. I literally hid candy around my house at one time so I could sneak off and eat it without anyone knowing because the amount of candy that I ate openly was so much that my husband always commented on how I ate so much candy all time. He didn't have any idea how much I actually was eating!
That was a HUGE problem! I would literally start to feel anxious about how I "needed" something sweet... Just a little... Just a couple pieces... Didn't seem like such a big deal until I was eating a couple pieces 5-6 times a day and finding any excuse to get out of the house to go buy more if I was out.
When my niece, who is a recovering drug addict came home after spending 3 years in prison for theft to support the habit, she was talking about her recovery and the mindset she had then and now and though they are not the same, something still kept putting them together in my mind. I couldn't ignore it.
Along with other hard times some family members were dealing with, I found myself comparing my "struggle" to resist candy binging with their difficulties and found myself embarrassed that I was behaving like my sugar addiction could even compare! Like it was just soooooooo hard to not stuff junk into my mouth...
I thought, if I couldn't even make myself simply not eat candy and sugar, and these guys could do the incredibly more difficult things they had to do just to be even remotely healthy and stay alive and free... Then that was an absolute shame.
I couldn't stand the thought of sugar controlling my behavior for one more second. If things ever feel like I "need" them, I take immediate action.
That's why I stopped using artificial sweeteners too. Though I do use just enough to kill the insanely sour taste of my ascorbic acid I drink in water each day. It's like drinking straight lemon juice as far as how sour it is! In that case, I do need the sweetener. Lol, but not for the same reason.
Anyway, sorry to ramble...2 -
Xo_healthylc wrote: »RowdysLady wrote: »I do drink diet soda. Not many but I do have them. But! Here's my story: About 9 years ago I was miserable. I was hurting all over my body, had awful stomach issues, couldn't sleep, was constantly itchy, migraines were worse than ever. I was at a "typical" weight for me - way less than I am today. Oh, by the way...I drank about a case of Coke Zero a day and that was about all I drank. I woke up with one, I went to bed with one. Only water I got was in the melted ice from my soda. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, docs said nothing was wrong with me. I finally went to see a Naturopath. She was WONDERFUL! We spent hours and hours going over my life history. At the end of that day she asked me what was the one thing I couldn't give up - chocolate, cake, etc. and I told her Coke Zero. I was truly addicted. She said "Donna you have to give it up or you will kill yourself." I cried like a baby; I kid you not. She gave me another hour or so worth of information as to why this was at the root of many issues. I left her office, bought a 24 ounce and drank it on the way home. I didn't touch another soda, diet or otherwise, for 7 ish years. All and I mean all of my problems went away. I lost 15 lbs in the very first month of going off the Coke Zero. I was MISERABLE for two weeks, as I detoxed but after that...WOW! I felt so much better. I wouldn't even take a swig of someone's drink for fear I'd fall off the wagon. Until...sigh...I met Rowdy in Feb of last year. He drinks Pepsi and I started drinking it too. It was in the first year that he and I met that I gained all this weight I'm trying to drop now. (Fat and happy!) When I decided to go LCHF I stopped drinking his fully leaded Pepsi and thought I'd stop drinking them all. But in the first few weeks of Keto I wanted something sweet so I decided to try diet soda. Now I keep them in the fridge but I drink them on occasion. I will never go back to drinking them as my only source of liquid. I believe I was killing myself with them. Truly killing myself. So I believe wholeheartedly, for me, that moderation is key when it comes to diet soda.
I thought about only having water at home to try to wing myself. Don't buy it and I won't drink it kind of thing. I have two small children and going to the store for a soda won't happen. Maybe have it as a treat when we eat out (which is like 3 times a week
That's how I did it. I just stopped buying case upon case of it. I am never without water now and that's still habit from when I drank ONLY water. We have soda in the fridge these days - but it's a fridge outside on the carport. Not in the kitchen with everything else...it's a trip to go get it.
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@BaconSan2 - There's a link above to Amazon.
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Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »...Anyway, sorry to ramble...
Not at all. The other times I've been successful at losing I substituted alternative versions of whatever I was overeating and then went right back to the regular versions when I attempted maintenance.
It wasn't until I wrecked my health in a high stress job along with poor diet, poor sleep, and a 1,000 mg a day caffeine habit that I realized that I had to leave the food and stimulants that I was using as a crutch (and the job) behind if I was go to get and stay where I wanted to be permanently. I don't miss any of it anymore.
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Majcolorado wrote: »It wasn't until I wrecked my health in a high stress job along with poor diet, poor sleep, and a 1,000 mg a day caffeine habit that I realized that I had to leave the food and stimulants that I was using as a crutch (and the job) behind if I was go to get and stay where I wanted to be permanently. I don't miss any of it anymore.
Call off the search! We have finally found a wise human being.3
