DIET SODA!

carbons2k

Ill have maybe 1 can a week? Usually ill drink juice, lemonade or iced tea.

CookNLift

I live off of diet drinks including soda. I keep it diet decaf mostly because for some reason my body likes to retain water when I drink only diet coke. I like diet birch beer (natural decaf) and diet decafe coke.

Is it bad for you? I'll have to ask you a question in return. Isn't EVERYTHING bad for you in one way or another?

that's very similar to the argument of smoking. if you smoke cigarettes it can cause cancer, everything causes cancer, so thus far my cigarette smoking is the least of my worries. Over consumption IS bad for you, moderation is NOT.

You can have a Big Mac, it's not going to kill you. However, eat a big mac three times a day - you may want to see a heart specialist after a while.

Obviously over consumption of anything is bad. Even to much water can kill you

funny/not funny story - my old boss drank so much water she was drinking so much water a day, that she was literally flushing out all of the vitamins and minerals she was consuming (according to her nutritionist) i thought that was crazy!

coreyreichle

The only issue with diet soda that I've noted is they are REALLY high in sodium, which could contribute to water retention and bloated feeling.

NO

I just checked labels on both. 8 oz of milk has 3x the sodium as a 12 oz can of diet soda. Neither is high (120 mg vs 40)

Seeing as diet soda has zero nutritional benefit (It's akin to water), it's pretty high sodium. And, not something most people notice, until they look.

So, if you're drinking it like water, you'll be packing in quite a bit of sodium each day.

Lleldiranne

The only issue with diet soda that I've noted is they are REALLY high in sodium, which could contribute to water retention and bloated feeling.

NO

I just checked labels on both. 8 oz of milk has 3x the sodium as a 12 oz can of diet soda. Neither is high (120 mg vs 40)

Seeing as diet soda has zero nutritional benefit (It's akin to water), it's pretty high sodium. And, not something most people notice, until they look.

So, if you're drinking it like water, you'll be packing in quite a bit of sodium each day.

Eh, I guess it's how you look at it. Yes, it's more sodium than water, but really it's not significant. There are many nutrient deficient foods with more sodium per serving. Chips. Fries. Pork Rinds. Ramen (wow, 950 mg sodium per serving, and most people eat the full 2 serving packet). Sure, they have calories, and so macro nutrients, but not much else.

And yes, if you drink soda like water, I guess it can at up. I mean, if you drank 120 oz that's 400 mg of sodium, so you've knocked out 1/6 of your daily allowance. If you went really wild and doubled that, you'd have 800 mg, or 1/3 of your allowance (by the way, that's almost 5 of those big convenience-store 44 oz cups) But as you increase fluid intake, you also increase trips to the bathroom. Which washes some of the sodium back out. People who drink that much fluid without increasing electrolytes are starting to look at throwing their system out of whack in the other direction (too little sodium in the system).

At that point, you're also taking in quite a bit caffeine and sweetener. Both are more concerning at those levels than the amount of sodium involved.

Again, the key is moderation. If you can have 1 or 2 (cans or bottles, not the huge cups) a day, none of those are going to be significant (well, except maybe the sugar, but we're mostly talking diet soda).

rabblerabble

Generally diet sodas are much better than regular sugar loaded sodas. But I just drink lots of cold water each day. Haven't had a drop of soda since the beginning of the year.

fleetzz

I drank diet soda all day and still didn't get to my sodium goal unless I added salt to my food or ate processed food.

Gave it up recently because of the amount of $$ going toward it, the caffeine in the brand that I was purchasing was keeping me addicted, and to see if I could.

Now drinking flavored water, with occasional diet pepsi. Drinking diet soda has NOT derailed my weight loss one bit.

Recent studies have called into question whether it actually helps people eat fewer calories and stave off diabetes, as well as some pointing to higher stroke risk.

I think overall it is probably (most likely) much healthier to switch to plain water. Will see if I ever manage that....

markbolch

I drink Diet Coke, a couple a day. It may not be good for me for a multitude of reasons. The only thing I know for sure is I don’t care. I pick and choose my vices.

Philllbis

I drink it in moderation. I still lost weight and my cravings for sugar haven't increased.

knityoupants

I think I'm recovering from a diet soda addiction. I worked in a movie theater for five years and it was always available... during that time, I didn't think I had much of a sweet tooth and only ate desserts and candies on rare occasion.

After I quit the theater job (and quit drinking about 50 ounces of Coke Zero every day), I immediately wanted sweets ALL THE TIME. I've heard diet soda can do this... trick your brain into thinking you're having an insulin rush, and then craving more afterwards. Anyway, I buy that. I feel like it happened to me. That's also when I gained the fifteen pounds that led me to MFP!

I try to only consume it once a week, or as an alternative to alcohol... sometimes

TanyaGirl76

It's HORRIBLE for you! WAYYYYYY WORSE then reg soda!

Escape_Artist

I used to drink a diet coke pretty much everyday. Sometimes I would evern drink 2 or 3 a day on weekends.
I stopped not too long ago, surprisingly enough I don't miss it. *shrugs*

I don't think there is anything wrong with one once in a while though

Amberlynnek

I like using La Croix. I get a flavored La Croix like Peach- Pear or Coconut and then I add a little liquid crystal lite, like mango passionfruit to it. Its AMAZING and refreshing!!

orczombie

Gotta drink my Diet Coke, and it must be in a can. It's how I get my caffeine and don't become a big raging b. I'm down to only one can a day, sometimes more on weekends for some sweet late night gaming sessions. It's more for money reasons than health reasons.

logicman69

Pepsi Max is my go to soft drink. If that is not available then Coke Zero.

TKRV

I don't drink pop often, but when I do, I try and go diet. The way I see it, aspartame is a very bad thing... and so is the sugar. I was once at a relay for life event where a doctor talked about what they have learned about cancer, and one thing was that many cancers feed on sugar.

The way I see it, either substance is harmful, so I simply choose the one with the least calories. And, if I don't drink it too often, then I will be just fine.

amykluver

NOT ANY MORE - As of the past 14 days.
I used to like Diet Dr Pepper or cherry Coke Zero.
I found - when I DID have a Diet soda - I craved more sweets like chocolate! But days I didn't (even before this reaction started) I didn't want other sweets.

Why I quit it - I have developed an intolerance for the artificial sweeteners. I get a strange headache, and strange nausea (sorry - they just aren't "typical" so it's hard to describe). I can't even do sugar-free candy.

I can sneek in about 1 S-F piece of gum in a day and but that's it (I tried 2 pieces yesterday and started to feel ill).

1wskygrl

STAY AWAY from diet sodas! If you're going to splurge and have one, just have a small can (the little ones) of the regular, fully loaded one. Diet ones are horrible! The reason that they have "Zero" everything is they are all made of artificial chemicals. They actually break down to formaldehyde in your system once broken down. And, they trick your brain into thinking you are hungry. Have you ever noticed when you have a diet, you start craving junk food? Whether it be a sweet or salty, it makes you crave carbs. Can BOMB your efforts! If you like fizz, try sparkling mineral water with a slice of lemon or other citrus to add flavor.
Here's a few links for you to check out:

http://www.thenatureinus.com/2008/05/formaldehyde-in-diet-soda.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/517129-does-diet-soda-cause-sweet-cravings/
http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/study-diet-soda-increases-risk-diabetes-why-still-192600358.html

Jen

wamydia

I don't drink diet soda because I hate the taste. If I have soda, I will spring for the real thing once in a while.

That said, I don't think an occassional diet soda has every hurt anyone. The big debate right now really is about artifical sweeteners overall and centers on whether drinking lots of diet soda all of the time can contribute to insulin issues in your body. Basically, the argument goes that when you drink diet soda, your body may not be able to biochemically tell the difference between real sugar and sugar substitutes. So it reacts as if you have had real sugar and releases insulin into the blood. At that point, since you don't have any actual sugar for the insulin to work on, your body starts signalling that you're hungry so that it can get the sugar to make up for the insulin that is now swimming around in your blood and causes you to eat more. Anyway, the research right now is inconclusive as there is evidence both supporting and disproving this theory.

jodynolte

I used to be a multi-can per day drinker of Diet Dr Pepper, and while I still have my one can or small bottle per day, I have substituted the rest of my beverage consumption with water, sometimes flavored with crystal light packets. It is my one vice but I refuse to give it up, so I just limit myself. And I drink diet because I do not like the taste of the regular ones.

lucyricky2

I drink diet Pepsi on occasion now. I used to drink it quite abit. I now drink more crystal light or the walmart brand of orange or raspberry lemonade.

Bigjuicyhog

I usually drink at least one diet soda a day. It has not hampered my weight loss in any way.

Lleldiranne

I'm confused about the insulin resistance thing.

I don't have a bio-chem background, only took 1 year of biology classes, and medical training to EMT level, so I'm not super informed here. But I thought that it was the presence of carbohydrate -- as in the CHO chains -- that caused release of insulin into the blood stream (from the pancreas), not the sensation of sweetness on the tastebuds/ going to the brain. Has recent research actually changed this (and I don't mean research based on effects of artificial sweeteners/ diet drinks /etc, I mean actual medical research).

If it is true that just the sensation of sweetness messes with the insulin reaction, then why isn't there some sort of reaction when we smell sweet things - candles, flowers, perfume, etc? Because aren't olfactory and taste receptors in the brain closely linked (after all when your nose is stuffed and you can't smell, foods taste more bland, and you can actually fool someone about what they're eating by giving them something different to smell at the same time).

I'm legitimately interested in knowing this, not bringing it up just for the sake of arguing.

intrinsicliving

True! Big report out this year about how much more long term damage is done by diet sodas.

willdob3

It's been over 10 years since I had a diet soda and many years longer since I had a regular one. I don't miss it at all.

I don't believe they are healthy and do feel they can contribute to health problems. Diet or not, soda/pop/coke has no place in my life.

walterm852

I only drink it on occasion, sort of as a treat. I do notice it affects me and I am glad I am not a daily drinker anymore.

Love_cup

i don't always drink soda, but when I do - i prefer the real stuff, Coca Cola. Stay Thirsty my friends.

Thisss guyyy

dellaquilaa

Artificial sweeteners are more closely associated with Type II Diabetes than regular sodas and fruit juices, so I steer pretty clear of that stuff. I get a little aspartame in my yogurt on occasion, but I cut out my 4 daily Coke Zeros since I popped "diet soda" into the CINAHL database.

timesinfinityplus2

Aspartame has been around since 1974 and the world's population doesn't seem to be decreasing. Since they didn't track cancer rates prior to 1973 it is pretty much impossible to say if it has had an effect other than saying that giving a gallon to a rat causes it to get cancer.

That said, I went from drinking tons of it every day to having smaller amounts each day. Whether my Mio stuff or diet soda, I drink it still. Losing weight, not any more hungry, and you can literally get cancer from ANYTHING anymore.

EDIT:

Acesulfame potassium is what is in my water flavoring, so not even aspartame. Oh well, either way, not giving it up unless certain body parts start shrinking or something...

LeahT84

Diet Mountain Dew, every single day of my life for a few years now. Still losing weight consistently, and I don't plan to give it up no matter what anyone says about it. We all have our vices.

JenSD6

Artificial sweeteners are more closely associated with Type II Diabetes than regular sodas and fruit juices, so I steer pretty clear of that stuff. I get a little aspartame in my yogurt on occasion, but I cut out my 4 daily Coke Zeros since I popped "diet soda" into the CINAHL database.

But is the association because of the aspartame itself, or is it generally because of the type of consumer ingesting the diet sodas? I'm talking about the consumer who's already obese, at risk of diabetes, and ordering their Big Mac meal supersized with a Diet Coke.