Diet Sodas?
mtbusse73
Posts: 93 Member
Ok...I hear that Diet Sodas are bad for you. But are they as bad for you as regular sodas? Is one a day OK? Would I be better off having a glass of dry wine? Thoughts? Suggestions?
4
Replies
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There's nothing wrong with diet soda. Unless you personally have an issue -- if it triggers cravings or if the sweeteners taste terrible to you -- then go ahead and drink it.
ETA: Water's good too. Drink what you like and log it.8 -
bad in what way?
diet soda has no calories regular soda and wine do.5 -
Bad for you in what way? For weight loss they are zero calories so are better to help manage your calorie intake than a full sugar soda which is just empty calories basically (much like a glass of dry wine). I can tell you from my own experience that I have great health markers and I am losing weight with no problems like many others drinking a can of Diet Coke most days.
This thread will degrade into a debate over the safety of Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners as all threads of this nature do. You may find this thread helpful to read http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1308408/why-aspartame-isnt-scary/p14 -
Yes, they are bad for you.
No, they are not bad for you.
Depends on how you are looking at them. Chemicals and fake sugars are never as good as all natural.. Zero calories won't make you gain weight though. And the chances of cancer? Negligible.35 -
Ok...I hear that Diet Sodas are bad for you. But are they as bad for you as regular sodas? Is one a day OK? Would I be better off having a glass of dry wine? Thoughts? Suggestions?
It depends on your goal?
A glass of dry wine contains alcohol, and will tend to bring physical and mental relaxation.
Diet sodas tend to contain caffeine, and will tend to bring physical and mental energy and focus.2 -
Where did you hear they were bad for you? Whatever site that was, stop visiting that site, or stop taking to that friend about weight loss.
Diet sodas are not bad for you. They are neutral. The artificial sweeteners are one of the most studied compounds in the last 50 years and time and again science has determined there is nothing to fear.
Substituting wine seems like an odd alternative - I drink both but different reasons and at different times of the day. I drink coffee in the morning, a Diet Coke at linch, water throughout the day and a glass of wine after dinner to relax.16 -
They are fine. Yup water is a better choice...somedays I just need an ice cold carbonated drink and because when I am thirsty...the bigger the better, I make it diet(the calorie hit otherwise is too much to justify).
I probably average one a day, and have for many years.
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if they are bad for us then every diabetic since the invention of diet pop better be watching out.
smh11 -
OP
Where did you hear that?
What precisely did you hear?
What is said to be bad about them? In what dosage or context?
Why do you think what you heard is accurate or came from a credible source?
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I wouldn’t drink them myself. Although the calorie advantage is very obvious, they might alter your cravings as they don’t trigger the same brain response in your reward center as real sugar does. There’s also a lot of research regarding how it could modify the apetite and satiety regulating sensors. All in all you might end up craving more, eating more over time and keep gaining weight.
Of course it depends on a lot of factors, like frequency, quantity, your food pattern and choices and so on. But I personally don’t find them worth consuming.27 -
But anything "natural" is chemically bonded at the molecular level. When people talk of chemicals, they speak of artificial, but artificial isn't really "bad" in anyway unless there's a health issue with it.MinuitMinuet wrote: »Yes, they are bad for you.
No, they are not bad for you.
Depends on how you are looking at them. Chemicals and fake sugars are never as good as all natural.. Zero calories won't make you gain weight though. And the chances of cancer? Negligible.
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
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Resource? Hopefully they are peer reviewed.ioanapopand wrote: »I wouldn’t drink them myself. Although the calorie advantage is very obvious, they might alter your cravings as they don’t trigger the same brain response in your reward center as real sugar does. There’s also a lot of research regarding how it could modify the apetite and satiety regulating sensors. All in all you might end up craving more, eating more over time and keep gaining weight.
Of course it depends on a lot of factors, like frequency, quantity, your food pattern and choices and so on. But I personally don’t find them worth consuming.
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
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Only food that has mold or smells off is bad. Otherwise consume in moderation. We need to stop labeling food as "good" or "bad".11
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ive lost 100 pounds and drink diet coke every day.
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ioanapopand wrote: »I wouldn’t drink them myself. Although the calorie advantage is very obvious, they might alter your cravings as they don’t trigger the same brain response in your reward center as real sugar does. There’s also a lot of research regarding how it could modify the apetite and satiety regulating sensors. All in all you might end up craving more, eating more over time and keep gaining weight.
Of course it depends on a lot of factors, like frequency, quantity, your food pattern and choices and so on. But I personally don’t find them worth consuming.
The issues with artificial sweeteners triggering cravings in some individuals is not a particularly common occurrence as these threads happen on a weekly basis around here and most of the respondents in them who regularly consume diet soda report no such experience.
Even if OP is one of those individuals who experiences this, if she is logging her food on MFP I'm not sure how this is a concern as she would have a daily reminder to keep calories in check and avoid the weight gain that you predict.4 -
I found a couple articles that discuss that studies that have been done on artificial sweeteners and their impact on the body/insulin receptors. I've posted the links below. I thought they were interesting and informative. Both articles cite their sources of information, too.
The TL;DR of them is that there hasn't been enough research to authoritatively say whether they're good or bad for you, and that larger/longer studies are warranted. However, some of these studies (and robust reviews of them) show that artificial sweeteners don't help you lose weight, and because of the way they interfere with your gut microbiome, they can have a negative impact on glucose reception. Another review of 18 studies (in the Forbes article) showed an association between consumption of artificial sweeteners and weight gain in children and teens. Lastly, in a rodent study where the mice were fed artificial sweeteners in their water, artificial sweeteners were linked to impaired glucose tolerance. Apparently, it's also difficult to make the blanket statement that all artificial sweeteners are bad for you because their chemical makeups differ greatly from one to the other. Again, a lot more research needs to be done, but that's what these studies have found.
As for me, I don't drink diet soda because I think it tastes bad haha! XD Just figured I'd post the info and let y'all take from it what you will.
"The Awful Truth About Diet Soda And Weight Gain, According To Science" - forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/09/08/the-awful-truth-about-diet-soda-and-weight-gain-according-to-science/#1ff9c527462f
"Does Diet Soda Affect Insulin?"
https://www.livestrong.com/article/471194-insulin-dosage-calculations/23 -
Coke Zero Sugar with a squirt of kool-aid cherry is the nectar of the gods.10
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adheadrick14 wrote: »I found a couple articles that discuss that studies that have been done on artificial sweeteners and their impact on the body/insulin receptors. I've posted the links below. I thought they were interesting and informative. Both articles cite their sources of information, too.
The TL;DR of them is that there hasn't been enough research to authoritatively say whether they're good or bad for you, and that larger/longer studies are warranted. However, some of these studies (and robust reviews of them) show that artificial sweeteners don't help you lose weight, and because of the way they interfere with your gut microbiome, they can have a negative impact on glucose reception. Another review of 18 studies (in the Forbes article) showed an association between consumption of artificial sweeteners and weight gain in children and teens. Lastly, in a rodent study where the mice were fed artificial sweeteners in their water, artificial sweeteners were linked to impaired glucose tolerance. Apparently, it's also difficult to make the blanket statement that all artificial sweeteners are bad for you because their chemical makeups differ greatly from one to the other. Again, a lot more research needs to be done, but that's what these studies have found.
As for me, I don't drink diet soda because I think it tastes bad haha! XD Just figured I'd post the info and let y'all take from it what you will.
"The Awful Truth About Diet Soda And Weight Gain, According To Science" - forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/09/08/the-awful-truth-about-diet-soda-and-weight-gain-according-to-science/#1ff9c527462f
"Does Diet Soda Affect Insulin?"
https://www.livestrong.com/article/471194-insulin-dosage-calculations/
This is what international science says on aspartame safety as a whole:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3496/epdf
Tl;dr: There's no reason to change the current recommendations on maximum daily intake because its metabolism is known and that's the amount of the metabolic byproducts that is safe.
That's pretty authorative if you ask me.
As for insulin:
https://examine.com/nutrition/do-artificial-sweeteners-spike-insulin/
Tl;dr: No[1][2][3][4][5]9 -
Is the internet one big giant gossip mill? We wouldn't (or shouldn't) judge a family member based on gossip. Why ban foods based on what is "heard", "somewhere", by "somebody's sister".
My daughter did some internet "research" and read "rats", and "tumors" in the same sentence and was turned off aspartame for life. I did additional research and determined meh, it does me no harm.8 -
They are not great for you. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener is really bad for you over time. Definitely do some research on that. As for your diet, they will only satisfy your craving for sugar, not curb it. You will still crave sugar because your body will still register that artificial sweetener as the real deal. I only allow myself to have a diet soda like once a month because its just better to go with unsweetened tea, water, or powerade zero.
Good luck!
Rebecca39 -
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RebeccaHovland wrote: »They are not great for you. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener is really bad for you over time.
I've done research on that and have found nothing credible to suggest that reasonable amounts of diet soda are harmful.As for your diet, they will only satisfy your craving for sugar, not curb it.
I find this odd, because consuming diet soda has 0 to do with wanting sugar. If I really just want something sweet (rare for me), I will have an apple, or maybe pineapple -- that's about as sweet as can be, and juicy too.
Sometimes I have a desire for a dessert item, but then it's not just sweeteness, but something else, a mix of flavors, maybe a creamy texture. In any case, diet soda would hardly be on my mind then. (I like black coffee with a dessert, personally.) I think about diet soda when I want something to drink and don't feel like water -- diet soda might be nice, or a homemade iced tea (unsweetened), or sometimes iced coffee (black) or a LaCroix. That diet coke tastes good to me is why I like to have it occasionally (same with diet ginger ale, which I like a lot, Diet Dr. Brown's Cream Soda, when I can find it, so on). Has nothing to do with wanting something sweet.You will still crave sugar because your body will still register that artificial sweetener as the real deal.
No, I certainly don't crave sugar after having a diet soda.6 -
I like the idea of drinking wine instead 9
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RebeccaHovland wrote: »They are not great for you. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener is really bad for you over time. Definitely do some research on that. As for your diet, they will only satisfy your craving for sugar, not curb it. You will still crave sugar because your body will still register that artificial sweetener as the real deal. I only allow myself to have a diet soda like once a month because its just better to go with unsweetened tea, water, or powerade zero.
Good luck!
Rebecca
How is aspartame "really bad for your over time"? Can you provide some references to support this claim, from peer reviewed studies?
If you are interested in learning from an actual scientist and not an internet fear monger - you might find this thread interesting.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1308408/why-aspartame-isnt-scary/p1
Again, the impact of artificial sweeteners on cravings is completely individualized and after participating in hundreds of these threads over time, I've only seen a handful of people mention they feel that they actually are subject to this situation where they experience more cravings as a result of drinking diet soda. Just as many report that diet soda report that it actually does satisfy their cravings for something sweet - and for most people - it has no effect on cravings, it is just a tasty beverage that can be consumed in moderation as part of an individual's overall diet.
Again, diet soda is neutral as it pertains to health. It is >95% water, and the additional ingredients have proven time and again to have no harmful effects in humans. It is a zero-10 calorie beverage which can actually help people achieve their weight loss goals, if they use it as a substitute for a calorie laden beverage. In that regard, I actually think it is "healthy" as the simple fact of losing weight, improves health markers for many, many people.9 -
RebeccaHovland wrote: »They are not great for you. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener is really bad for you over time. Definitely do some research on that. As for your diet, they will only satisfy your craving for sugar, not curb it. You will still crave sugar because your body will still register that artificial sweetener as the real deal. I only allow myself to have a diet soda like once a month because its just better to go with unsweetened tea, water, or powerade zero.
Good luck!
Rebecca
Did you read the thread linked early in this thread? Aspartame has never been proven to be bad. And in 3.5 years of drinking diet soda it has never made me crave sugar.6 -
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RebeccaHovland wrote: »They are not great for you. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener is really bad for you over time. Definitely do some research on that. As for your diet, they will only satisfy your craving for sugar, not curb it. You will still crave sugar because your body will still register that artificial sweetener as the real deal. I only allow myself to have a diet soda like once a month because its just better to go with unsweetened tea, water, or powerade zero.
Good luck!
Rebecca
Eh, nobody's advocating Diet Coke as being "great" for you, and I'm sure there are BETTER choices, but there's no research at all to suggest that moderate consumption of diet soda is actually harmful.
What's "moderate?" I don't know. But I'm not losing any sleep over it.2 -
as my husband says it smells like *kitten* but he also says shrimp smells like *kitten*
..but some people like it soft and mushy in soups....cabbage that is.
who am I to judge right?1 -
RebeccaHovland wrote: »They are not great for you. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener is really bad for you over time. Definitely do some research on that. As for your diet, they will only satisfy your craving for sugar, not curb it. You will still crave sugar because your body will still register that artificial sweetener as the real deal. I only allow myself to have a diet soda like once a month because its just better to go with unsweetened tea, water, or powerade zero.
Good luck!
Rebecca
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2013.3496/epdf
You obviously didn't read this from above...
Aspartame is the most widely studied food additive ever and has been studied for over 50 years and has been deemed safe by pretty much ever world health body out there. I'm not advocating for drinking liters upon liters of diet soda, but I certainly am not losing any sleep over my evening diet Fresca or diet A&W.6
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