Diet soda, does it really make a difference?

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beastmodekittyx
beastmodekittyx Posts: 97 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Okay so I've been drinking diet coke for a while. I ind that it keeps me from binging on sugary stuff such as cakes and candies since it satisfies my cravings for sweets. My question is, is drinking diet soda really that bad? if so, what are the negatives effects?
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  • serenere
    serenere Posts: 70 Member
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    of course picking something full of additives and chemicals over water would make a difference. Just try to give it up no matter what. Also, soda is very acid so drinking that every day could make serious damage to your stomach. If you crave for something sweet to drink have a fresh homemade juice, like orange juice or pineapple juice that are very low fat.
  • timothyaing
    timothyaing Posts: 2 Member
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    Well, don't quote me on this, but this is what my mama told me. Drinking diet soda, coke zero, or basically any sugar substitute throws off how your body responds to real sugar. When drinking a diet coke, your body is ready to process sugar and the calories along with it. But then it doesn't get any. After a while, your body gets used to that, and so when you do ingest real sugar, your body isn't able to process it as well. Kinda makes sense to me me.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
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    That question will certainly open a can of worms and all the fear mongering you may want to read so let me add my 2 cents... I do not buy into the fear mongering, the amount of aspartame that you would have to consume before it would be harmful is tremendous (for me at 250 lbs. I would have to consume over 20+ cans a day for an extended period of time). That being said I drink 2-3 Diet Pepsi a day along with my 100+ oz. of water and have lost a few pounds in the process.... I don't plan on quitting anytime soon but like I said it comes down to what you believe about it.... Best of Luck
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
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    Well, don't quote me on this, but this is what my mama told me. Drinking diet soda, coke zero, or basically any sugar substitute throws off how your body responds to real sugar. When drinking a diet coke, your body is ready to process sugar and the calories along with it. But then it doesn't get any. After a while, your body gets used to that, and so when you do ingest real sugar, your body isn't able to process it as well. Kinda makes sense to me me.

    Um no..... just no.......
  • trackmyday1973
    trackmyday1973 Posts: 393 Member
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    It hasn't hindered my weight loss. However, I cut down quite a bit to one bottle (591ml). I use to drink 3 bottles a day.
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
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    Well, don't quote me on this, but this is what my mama told me. Drinking diet soda, coke zero, or basically any sugar substitute throws off how your body responds to real sugar. When drinking a diet coke, your body is ready to process sugar and the calories along with it. But then it doesn't get any. After a while, your body gets used to that, and so when you do ingest real sugar, your body isn't able to process it as well. Kinda makes sense to me me.

    :noway:
  • meghan_lovely
    meghan_lovely Posts: 48 Member
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    I love Diet Pepsi but from everything I hear I know I should eliminate it. I don't buy the 12 packs I used to every week! Only if I am out once in a while, but honestly I have stopped craving it as much as I used to. My husband stopped drinking it 100% because he swore it was giving him major stomach issues. He hasn't had any sugar substitute since May and he feels so much better and less bloated. I would say if you love it that much just drink it in moderation....
  • nonstopper
    nonstopper Posts: 1,108 Member
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    No! Makes no difference. Yea sure in a way of stuff they probably take Out of the drink but they have to replace it with another chemical that of course will later cause Health problems.

    All soda is the same. They have BAD carbs and sugars and chems to make you CRAVE another Bad carb product. Thats just the SICK truth. (DRINK any type of SODA, you will CRAVE more SODA) diet, sugar free or whatever, its all the same.

    What you need to do is get on juices instead like Gatorade or Poweraid , IF you need that taste, But I HIGHLY recommend sticking to water Water WAter. If you drink a gallon of water everyday , you NEVER have to worry about gaining "water wait" due to yuor body already consuming enough water!

    friendly tips!:glasses:
  • LeilaFace
    LeilaFace Posts: 412 Member
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    That question will certainly open a can of worms and all the fear mongering you may want to read so let me add my 2 cents... I do not by into the fear mongering, the amount of aspartame that you would have to consume before it would be harmful is tremendous (for me at 250 lbs. I would have to consume over 20+ cans a day). That being said I drink 2-3 Diet Pepsi a day along with my 100+ oz. of water and have lost a few pounds in the process.... I don't plan on quitting anytime soon but like I said it comes down to what you believe about it.... Best of Luck

    This dude knows what's up. Do what works for you. I drink diet every now and then because of medical issues I have to severely limit my sugar so I do what I can (I have splenda sometimes, oh nooooo). Bottom line: Listen to your body.
  • timothyaing
    timothyaing Posts: 2 Member
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    Well, don't quote me on this, but this is what my mama told me. Drinking diet soda, coke zero, or basically any sugar substitute throws off how your body responds to real sugar. When drinking a diet coke, your body is ready to process sugar and the calories along with it. But then it doesn't get any. After a while, your body gets used to that, and so when you do ingest real sugar, your body isn't able to process it as well. Kinda makes sense to me me.

    Um no..... just no.......

    Lol, thanks for calling me out. I guess I shouldn't believe everything my mama says :)
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
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    No, it does not make a difference. At all.
  • gsop22
    gsop22 Posts: 84 Member
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    I too love soda and have for the most part cut back drinking it. I have 2-3 a week now as opposed to 2-3 a day. I think diet soda was always worse but must admit if I am craving a coke I have had a few diet cokes in the past few weeks. I am sure in moderation it’s not a big deal or even normal soad is fine as long as you figure it into you daily calorie plan. I would love to just drink water but know that is unrealistic for me.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
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    You would have to look at the label to find the name of the precise artificial sweetener in yours, then go on google and find good research on that sweetener not just articles that can be written by anyone. Then analyze the levels it takes to do anything. Then decide for yourself.
  • FerretBuellerr
    FerretBuellerr Posts: 468 Member
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    That question will certainly open a can of worms and all the fear mongering you may want to read so let me add my 2 cents... I do not buy into the fear mongering, the amount of aspartame that you would have to consume before it would be harmful is tremendous (for me at 250 lbs. I would have to consume over 20+ cans a day for an extended period of time). That being said I drink 2-3 Diet Pepsi a day along with my 100+ oz. of water and have lost a few pounds in the process.... I don't plan on quitting anytime soon but like I said it comes down to what you believe about it.... Best of Luck

    I don't mean to disagree with you, but it's not fear-mongering - it's being aware. I really despise the term "fear-mongering" that pops up all the time on this site. :grumble:

    Our bodies we're really made to intake and process man-made chemicals, so putting in your body doesn't really do it any good - and if you think otherwise I think you are foolish. It seems like drinking it or not drinking it doesn't really make a difference weight wise, but pop in general isn't really that great for you....
  • imzadi481
    imzadi481 Posts: 86 Member
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    I drink it. I try to limit myself to one a day, but I don't freak out when I drink more. I try to choose water over soda, but to be honest, I love the taste of soda and I don't want to give it up completely.

    I know this doesn't answer your question, but I thought you'd like to know that others are in the same boat. :)
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
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    Okay so I've been drinking diet coke for a while. I ind that it keeps me from binging on sugary stuff such as cakes and candies since it satisfies my cravings for sweets. My question is, is drinking diet soda really that bad? if so, what are the negatives effects?

    Some people seem to experience the unfortunate opposite effect - that it does nothing to curb sweet cravings.

    Anyway, just be aware it's mostly a caffeine injection. If you're drinking it at night, you're probably messing with your sleep.
  • SJCon
    SJCon Posts: 224
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    Just my opinion but it seems that there are two issues being bandied about here. One is Diet Coke bad for you and two are artificial sweeteners bad for you.
    On the first question, yes diet cokes are not good for you but they may take a loooooooog time to have an effect. All carbonated drinks have been shown to leach calcium from your body so you may develop more of a tendency to have osteoporosis. Than there is the artificial additives and the psychological factors mentioned in previous posts.
    Question two, yes there are clear indications that some artificial sweeteners are bad and the jury is still out on others. As one posters Mamma said they do have an affect on how you body handles sugar. Your brain gets a signal that you are eating sweet (sugar) and releases insulin to covert what it doesn't need to fat. Excess insulin in your body is not good in and of itself but it also tends to lead to a blunting of future response to sweet taste later.

    Now both of those indicate Diet soda is bad for you but if it helps you avoid worse things like real sweets and food so you can improve your weight or health in other ways than as the lesser of two evils, DO IT.

    All of life is a trade off of things, seek balance.

    JMO mileage may vary.
  • beastmodekittyx
    beastmodekittyx Posts: 97 Member
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    oh well thanks everyone! i guess I won't be quitting drinking soda anytime soon
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
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    Get rid of it, and never look back!


    Diet soda is doing these 7 awful things to your body
    TODAY Health
    Oct. 19, 2012 at 8:31 AM ET


    nbcnews.com /
    Pop quiz! What's the single biggest source of calories for Americans? White bread? Big Macs? Actually, try soda. The average American drinks about two cans of the stuff every day. "But I drink diet soda," you say. "With no calories or sugar, it's the perfect alternative for weight watchers...Right?"

    Not so fast. Before you pop the top off the caramel-colored bubbly, know this: guzzling diet soda comes with its own set of side effects that may harm your health--from kickstarting kidney problems to adding inches to your waistline.

    Unfortunately, diet soda is more in vogue than ever. Kids consume the stuff at more than double the rate of last decade, according to research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Among adults, consumption has grown almost 25 percent.

    But knowing these 7 side effects of drinking diet soda may help you kick the can for good.

    Kidney Problems

    Here's something you didn't know about your diet soda: It might be bad for your kidneys. In an 11-year-long Harvard Medical School study of more than 3,000 women, researchers found that diet cola is associated with a two-fold increased risk for kidney decline. Kidney function started declining when women drank more than two sodas a day. Even more interesting: Since kidney decline was not associated with sugar-sweetened sodas, researchers suspect that the diet sweeteners are responsible.

    Messed-Up Metabolism

    According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits is unclear. But is that one can really worth it?

    Obesity

    You read that right: Diet soda doesn't help you lose weight after all. A University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%. Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods, suggested an animal study from Purdue University. That means people who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more.

    A Terrible Hangover

    Your first bad decision was ordering that whiskey-and-diet-cola -- and you may make the next one sooner than you thought. Cocktails made with diet soda get you drunker, faster, according to a study out of the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia. That's because sugar-free mixers allow liquor to enter your bloodstream much quicker than those with sugar, leaving you with a bigger buzz.

    Cell Damage

    Diet sodas contain something many regular sodas don't: mold inhibitors. They go by the names sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate, and they're in nearly all diet sodas. But many regular sodas, such as Coke and Pepsi, don't contain this preservative.

    That's bad news for diet drinkers. "These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it - they knock it out altogether," Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology and biotechnology at the University of Sheffield in the U.K., told a British newspaper in 1999. The preservative has also been linked to hives, asthma, and other allergic conditions, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

    Since then, some companies have phased out sodium benzoate. Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi have replaced it with another preservative, potassium benzoate. Both sodium and potassium benzoate were classified by the Food Commission in the UK as mild irritants to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.

    Rotting Teeth

    With a pH of 3.2, diet soda is very acidic. (As a point of reference, the pH of battery acid is 1. Water is 7.) The acid is what readily dissolves enamel, and just because a soda is diet doesn't make it acid-light. Adults who drink three or more sodas a day have worse dental health, says a University of Michigan analysis of dental checkup data. Soda drinkers had far greater decay, more missing teeth, and more fillings.

    Reproductive Issues

    Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. That's a lot of risktaking for one can of pop.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
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    of course picking something full of additives and chemicals over water would make a difference. Just try to give it up no matter what. Also, soda is very acid so drinking that every day could make serious damage to your stomach. If you crave for something sweet to drink have a fresh homemade juice, like orange juice or pineapple juice that are very low fat.



    Wha??? Replace the acid from diet soda with the acid from orange or pineapple juice? This makes no sense.


    OP: If you're not suffering any ill effects from drinking diet soda, and it helps keep your sweet tooth at bay, you're fine.

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