diet soda? Yay or nay?

hollieponine
hollieponine Posts: 14 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Let’s talk diet soda.....
I feel like I drink too much of it.
My husband thinks I need to completely stop.
Does anyone think it’s okay?
Does anyone think it’s terrible?
And.... go!
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Replies

  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    I don't drink coffee. I rarely drink tea. I'm a night owl who gets up early. If it weren't for diet cola, I'd have no caffeine at all.
  • Panini911
    Panini911 Posts: 2,325 Member
    i started drinking it when i started losing weight. helps keep me full.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    Not a problem at all.
    I’ve been drinking Diet Pepsi for almost 50 years, and I’m still living with no diseases and on no prescription medications. I tend to drink more water now days, but I still bought 4-12 packs of Diet Pepsi on sale this week for $10 for the 4th of July. It always goes on sale for holidays where I shop.
  • ceiswyn
    ceiswyn Posts: 2,256 Member
    How much of it do you think is 'too much'? Why is it too much? What is it that you think is wrong with it? Is it causing you some kind of health problem?
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited July 2019
    The only downsides to diet soda
    • if you drink caffeinated sodas and suddenly stop. Caffeine withdrawals are horrible.
    • A very small number of people (less than 1%) may have an allergic reaction to one or more artificial sweeteners.
    • There is growing evidence that too much phosphoric acid (an additive in ALL soda, especially cola) can leech calcium from the bones leading to early osteoporosis

    In other words, too much soda in general may not be good for you. Unless you have a sensitivity or allergy to artificial sweeteners there is nothing inherently bad about diet soda.

    If you think you may be drinking too much (personally I would think that more than a 2 liter, 6 cans, or 3 bottles per day is too much, but that is IMHO) try substituting something like still water or seltzer for some of it. Only you can determine if you are drinking too much.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    There’s no reason not to drink it unless you have an allergy or other health problem related to ingredient(s) in the soda.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    edited July 2019
    I agree this is a touchy subject on MFP for whatever reason. I usually get a ton of "woos" no matter what I say about it, which is kinda funny to me.

    I like the taste & carbonation of diet soda especially with certain foods like homemade pizza. I always have some in the fridge. I'd say I go through a 12 pack in a month, usually. I am maintaining a loss of about 130 lb for years.

    I also drink stuff like Bubly and La Croix, though less often...and honestly, I don't find those to be a good substitute for Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr. Pepper...to me they're totally different. Some really like that substitution though and find it satisfactory when trying to cut out specific sweeteners.

    In the past (before using MFP), I drank almost exclusively diet soda. I would have a can with lunch and dinner, coffee with breakfast, and typically drank no other water or beverage at all. I think that was not a great thing and I needed more hydration and sometimes snacked or had lattes etc, because I was thirsty rather than hungry...just didn't realize it. Everyone's a little different with stuff like this, but that's my .02 on diet soda...I think it's fine, but am careful not to get in the habit of drinking it 24/7 instead of water.
  • hollieponine
    hollieponine Posts: 14 Member
    seltzermint555 wrote: »
    I agree this is a touchy subject on MFP for whatever reason. I usually get a ton of "woos" no matter what I say about it, which is kinda funny to me.

    I like the taste & carbonation of diet soda especially with certain foods like homemade pizza. I always have some in the fridge. I'd say I go through a 12 pack in a month, usually. I am maintaining a loss of about 130 lb for years.

    I also drink stuff like Bubly and La Croix, though less often...and honestly, I don't find those to be a good substitute for Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr. Pepper...to me they're totally different. Some really like that substitution though and find it satisfactory when trying to cut out specific sweeteners.

    In the past (before using MFP), I drank almost exclusively diet soda. I would have a can with lunch and dinner, coffee with breakfast, and typically drank no other water or beverage at all. I think that was not a great thing and I needed more hydration and sometimes snacked or had lattes etc, because I was thirsty rather than hungry...just didn't realize it. Everyone's a little different with stuff like this, but that's my .02 on diet soda...I think it's fine, but am careful not to get in the habit of drinking it 24/7 instead of water.

    It is touchy, yes.
    And I totally agree about not letting myself get in the habit of drinking it 24/7 instead of water.
  • texasredreb
    texasredreb Posts: 541 Member
    edited July 2019
    I rarely drink soft drinks, but when I do I drink diet if my calories can't support regular; and regular if my calories can support it.

    Edit: I never developed the "taste" for sodas, so when I say I rarely have one, I mean once every 3-4 months. I do like Topo Chico as a change from plain water and have one of those every few weeks.
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,464 Member
    I think if you’re asking the question, you know the answer.
    If it wasn’t bothering you in some way, why would you ask?
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    corinasue1143 wrote: »
    I think if you’re asking the question, you know the answer.
    If it wasn’t bothering you in some way, why would you ask?

    Maybe looking for points about it being really horrible/unhealthy that she hadn't heard? That is my guess.
  • Rammer123
    Rammer123 Posts: 679 Member
    Everything in moderation is fine IMO. Could it negative health consequences over years and years and years? Maybe. Does it effect different people differently? Probably.

    I think it’s just like everything in the world. If you enjoy it enough just do it in moderation and be smart about it.

    I drink diet soda on a daily basis. Don’t really notice any effects day to day. I do notice though that if I stop for a couple days for whatever reason, I do feel a slight reduction in water retention for me personally. I don’t drink insane amounts, maybe a cup or two a day.

    If it’s causing you problems, or you’re concerned about it, then try stopping. I’d say for 95% of people it’s a habit and maybe a slight addiction, but once broken I don’t think it would really be missed much.
  • o0kody0o
    o0kody0o Posts: 642 Member
    I drink Diet Coke and Pepsi Max every single day. I might have around 4x330ml cans and I’ll pour myself around 3 or 4 glasses from the bottle. It hasn’t stopped me losing any weight as I’ve lost 40lbs since February. Prior to losing weight, I would drink the same amount of full sugar soda but I’ve not had any for around 6 months now.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Studies have shown that for some people, artificial sweeteners increase appetite. However, many users on MFP have said that this is not true for them.

    I avoid artificial sweeteners because to me they taste nasty.

    If you want to stop diet soda but not caffeine, alternatives are coffee, tea, or caffeine pills.
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    I don't drink soda anymore. I never really drank much but once I saw the complete lack of nutrition in it, I didn't feel it was worth it at all.
  • vanityy99
    vanityy99 Posts: 2,583 Member
    100 yays.
    I don’t keep it in the house but when I go out diet sodas that’s my go to.

    Why does your hubby want you to stop?
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    I like diet soda and drink it occasionally (mainly Diet Coke and diet ginger ales, occasional diet root beer or cream soda). I limit it because I love coffee and don't really need more caffeine in my life. I also like plain water (ideally cold), sparkling water, LaCroix, homemade iced tea (I tend to use fruity or herbal teas).

    I find diet soda (as with other beverages) tend to make me less hungry, not more, and I sometimes went through periods where I drank no soda and at other times drank more (I took a break from coffee at one point), and it made 0 difference for me.
  • Marksgirl71
    Marksgirl71 Posts: 3 Member
    I love diet coke, and have drank it for years. I think one per day is fine.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,262 Member
    I enjoy drinking the equivalent of about 3 cans of diet soda per week.

    I like it and it has no ill effects for me - although I do take the point about osteporosus risk ( with all sodas,not just diet ones!)

    Given I am not in a high risk group and 3 cans per week is moderation in any language, that seems ok to me.
  • littlesallyracket
    littlesallyracket Posts: 2 Member
    Diet soda is essentially just carbonated water with some artificial flavourings (which have no additional nutritional value) added to it. Even when it contains caffeine, which is slightly diuretic, it can't dehydrate you. So if you were dehydrated while drinking it, there was definitely something else going on there to cause dehydration - either you were drinking less than you needed or you were sweating more, or something else.

    Some people get stomach pain from drinking too many carbonated drinks. Some people say it makes them crave sweet foods. Neither of those have ever been true for me personally, but if they're true for you then obviously you might want to think about stopping. Personally, I find it curbs any sugar cravings I might have, but we're all different.

    I know some people are convinced that the artificial sweeteners in diet drinks are bad for you, but personally, I don't think any of the studies stand up to scrutiny. Again, if you feel differently, stop drinking it - but don't stop based on being nagged by someone else. Decide for yourself rather than letting your husband dictate what you do and don't eat or drink. It isn't his choice.

  • floofyschmoofer
    floofyschmoofer Posts: 209 Member
    I drink an epic kitten ton of water so I allow myself a Diet Coke when my soul yearns for one. They're still a pleasure in this dark, critical world of ours and you can pry the occasional fountain beverage from my cold, dead hands.

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