Diet Soda
MsCzar
Posts: 1,069 Member
What say you?
I generally don't drink it. But once in a great while, I indulge my desire for sweet fizz over ice or use it to replace simple syrup in a cocktail. I don't much care for any of the dark versions, but do like the taste of Canada Dry Zero Ginger Ale. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I remember there being good reasons to never drink diet soda aside from Aspartame concerns. Should one completely eschew diet soda? Is it part of your diet?
I generally don't drink it. But once in a great while, I indulge my desire for sweet fizz over ice or use it to replace simple syrup in a cocktail. I don't much care for any of the dark versions, but do like the taste of Canada Dry Zero Ginger Ale. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I remember there being good reasons to never drink diet soda aside from Aspartame concerns. Should one completely eschew diet soda? Is it part of your diet?
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Replies
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I drink a few Coke Zeros every week because I like them and they are 0 calories.
I have no concerns about artificial sweeteners...I've never seen a human study that shows there's anything problematic...just rat studies.
So, no, there's really no "good" reasons, just a lot of scare tactics about "Chemi-KILLZ!"15 -
I drink it semi-regularly. I prefer, overall, to eat minimally processed local food etc etc. But I don't completely forego all the other stuff. I think regular soda is overwhelmingly sweet (I do sometimes enjoy cream or strawberry soda, there are a couple small operations here that make it but that's definitely "rare treat" territory). So if I want a caffeinated pick-me-up in the afternoon, diet soda it is. I could live without it, and have for long stretches of time, but I don't think there's anything especially unhealthy or bad about it, that would make it "worse" than regular soda.4
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One everyday. For like decades. Have yet to experience the formaldehyde build up, "fake sugar" disruption cravings, messed up metabolism, and "insulin spike" proclaimed by those who are against it (actually they make that stuff up cause there's no science to back it).
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I have a few Diet Cokes every week. Especially in the summertime, when hot coffee doesn't sound appealing in the morning, I'll have a Diet Coke or two instead. My parents didn't allow us to have sugar growing up, so diet soda was all we were allowed to have, if we were allowed to have soda at all. It was usually a treat at my grandmother's house or sometimes if we went out to eat. So yeah.....I've been drinking diet soda for practically my whole life and other than it aggravating the ulcers I had in high school and college, I've suffered no ill effects at all from any of the sweeteners they've used over the last few decades.3
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I usually have a Pepsi Zero or Mountain Dew Zero once or twice a week. It's a nice treat when I'm tired of everything else.3
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I drank copious amounts of coca cola, and coke classic before 2014. Because, we all know that diet soda can spike our insulin and cause more cravings issues than regular soda even! Right? Am I right, right? I also weighed in somewhere north of 280lbs in obese 3 territory for my height, and will never know how far into type 2 I had tipped since the prediabetes warning was several years and lbs in the past, with no further visits to the doctor.
Since 2014 I've been drinking coke zero or coke zero mixed with diet coke if I can swing it, or any which other diet pop strikes my fancy. Anywhere from zero cans a month, to 4 or 5 cans a day depending on heat and mood.
I have not noticed any particular craving or issue associated with the diet pop and my A1C levels are... normal. I've also been at a normal weight for a good 5 years.
*re: insulin spikes: I wonder if the various national diabetic associations that list diet pop as allowable would be aware of the fictitious insulin spikes the diet pops are rumoured to cause....8 -
I drank copious amounts of coca cola, and coke classic before 2014. Because, we all know that diet soda can spike our insulin and cause more cravings issues than regular soda even! Right? Am I right, right? I also weighed in somewhere north of 280lbs in obese 3 territory for my height, and will never know how far into type 2 I had tipped since the prediabetes warning was several years and lbs in the past, with no further visits to the doctor.
Since 2014 I've been drinking coke zero or coke zero mixed with diet coke if I can swing it, or any which other diet pop strikes my fancy. Anywhere from zero cans a month, to 4 or 5 cans a day depending on heat and mood.
I have not noticed any particular craving or issue associated with the diet pop and my A1C levels are... normal. I've also been at a normal weight for a good 5 years.
*re: insulin spikes: I wonder if the various national diabetic associations that list diet pop as allowable would be aware of the fictitious insulin spikes the diet pops are rumoured to cause....
Actually, I think there is one study out there (I can't find it today or I would link it here) that shows an insulin spike in rats caused by sucralose. The only problem with the study is that you would have to mainline the diet soda to get the blood concentrations of sucralose components that the study was using to produce the insulin spikes.5 -
"I think I remember there being good reasons to never drink diet soda aside from Aspartame concerns."
I think you are wrong on that (as does every food standards agency around the world that allows its sale).
Never seen any worthwhile, realistic and scientific evidence to show anything problematic to sensible consumption.
Seen plenty of dumb arguments such as it's amazingly acidic (it isn't), a tiny amount of caffeine will dehydrate you (it won't and non-caffeine varieties are available), it provokes an insulin response (yet diabetic guidelines suggest it's a good choice), etc. etc.
"Should one completely eschew diet soda?"
Not because of unfounded fears.
"Is it part of your diet?"
Yes a small part, it's mostly water and I find it refreshing and thirst quenching. That's it, just a drink, one of many different drinks I will have throughout the day.
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I used to only drink diet coke (not a lot really...just a can with dinner and a medium cup when I went out for lunch) but then went to water because of hitting a plateau (and also never drinking water...it was when people were saying it dehydrated you). I started drinking it again and now it's all I drink anymore.1
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I used to guzzle diet soda. Back in the Tab days that disgusting soda was my drink of choice. Yuck! Then I switched to Diet Coke and was drinking about 4-6(maybe even more) cans a day until one day I thought to myself, how ridiculous and expensive a habit it was for me.
I drink coffee, even during the summer but mostly have a glass of water beside me at all times. It's probably been 6 years or so since I gave it up and even though I've been tempted many times to grab an icy cold one on a hot day, I know it'd be a foot back into an old un-necessary habit.
Dh still guzzles it every day; as soon as he drains a can or bottle he pops open another one. I haven't seen him drink a simple glass of water in the past 2 years.
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I drink diet fizzy drinks, don’t see any issue with it. They help fill me up, they help to hydrate me. I don’t generally drink Diet Coke or other cola style drinks because I’ve recently decided I don’t really like the taste.
I’ve discovered a bunch of other diet fizzy drinks that I really do enjoy so that’s what I drink! 2-3 330ml cans per day in summer, probably just 1 in cooler weather.2 -
I drink about 4 liters of caffeine free diet coke a week and have for years. If it caused major issues I'd be dead.7
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No diet pop. Prefer the taste (non-taste?) of water or unsweetened tea.0
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I say YES
I've went without soda for a long time because it makes me gain like crazy, and also because its just not healthy, but it doesn't matter how much water I drink, I'm always thirsty, and I have to some soda either every other day or every two days, because my mouth just gets so yuck feeling and the only thing that feels refreshing is a nice bubbly drink. I've tried carbonated water and all that crap but honestly it just doesn't hit the spot like soda.
So I say yes to diet soda, and my go to is coke zero..I don't drink any other soda, unless im having the occasional regular coke and sometimes ill do half regular coke and half zero.
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Sometimes, and I agree with those who see no reason not to. I enjoy diet coke, but even more diet ginger ales and various other rarer options. I drink mostly water and coffee and when I remember make iced tea from herbal teas, but there's a place in my life for diet soda.2
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Not limited to diet soda, but any acidic drink can demineralize tooth enamel and lead to dental damage or disease if consumed too often.0
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At our house the problem with diet sodas is the sodium some have.
Occasionally, figured into the daily sodium count, my husband enjoys a Diet Coke or a root beer.
This would not be a concern for people who don’t have a need to limit their sodium intake.
Typically we go through 12 to 18 cans of fizzy water daily, though. That’s between three to five people, depending on who’s home, plus any company.0 -
I drink equivalent of 2 or 3 cans of diet soda per week.
No issues so will continue on doing so.2 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »At our house the problem with diet sodas is the sodium some have.
Occasionally, figured into the daily sodium count, my husband enjoys a Diet Coke or a root beer.
This would not be a concern for people who don’t have a need to limit their sodium intake.
Typically we go through 12 to 18 cans of fizzy water daily, though. That’s between three to five people, depending on who’s home, plus any company.
Which ones have high sodium content??
This issue has been brought up before and nutrition labels of popular sodas have not been any higher in sodium than most other beverages, including tap water.
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I can range between a can a week and a couple of cans a day depending on mood. Always diet/zero; I cut right back on caffeine at the start of the year and now it does affect me so I'll always choose caffeine free if available.
I try to prioritise drinking water over soft drinks as I see better results on the scale and feel less bloated, but sometimes I really want the sweet fizz.2 -
i lost 150 pounds drinking many many diet sodas a day.
now, due to a medication im on... i cant stand the taste of any (sodas) other than diet sprite or diet 7 up. on average, i have 1 a day. I do not keep them in the house, but will get one when im out.
zero effect on weight loss or overall health (because of my meds i have blood work done quarterly and am as perfect as perfect gets, a bit of excess weight aside lol)0 -
paperpudding wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »At our house the problem with diet sodas is the sodium some have.
Occasionally, figured into the daily sodium count, my husband enjoys a Diet Coke or a root beer.
This would not be a concern for people who don’t have a need to limit their sodium intake.
Typically we go through 12 to 18 cans of fizzy water daily, though. That’s between three to five people, depending on who’s home, plus any company.
Which ones have high sodium content??
This issue has been brought up before and nutrition labels of popular sodas have not been any higher in sodium than most other beverages, including tap water.
I am wondering this, too. Coke Zero has 40 mg of sodium in a 12oz can. Almost half of that is just from the water that it contains (water has sodium). That's a really low amount...maybe other sodas have more? I'm not sure.4 -
I suppose it is purely coincidental then - but I have noticed that the scale never shifts after a day of drinking more than two tall glasses of diet soda. I have often wondered if there wasn't some sinister water-retaining mechanism at work.
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I suppose it is purely coincidental then - but I have noticed that the scale never shifts after a day of drinking more than two tall glasses of diet soda. I have often wondered if there wasn't some sinister water-retaining mechanism at work.
I experience the same issue.
I’m sure it has nothing to do with the chips and salsa, or the burger and onion rings that generally accompany it.
😇9 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »At our house the problem with diet sodas is the sodium some have.
Occasionally, figured into the daily sodium count, my husband enjoys a Diet Coke or a root beer.
This would not be a concern for people who don’t have a need to limit their sodium intake.
Typically we go through 12 to 18 cans of fizzy water daily, though. That’s between three to five people, depending on who’s home, plus any company.
Which ones have high sodium content??
This issue has been brought up before and nutrition labels of popular sodas have not been any higher in sodium than most other beverages, including tap water.
I am wondering this, too. Coke Zero has 40 mg of sodium in a 12oz can. Almost half of that is just from the water that it contains (water has sodium). That's a really low amount...maybe other sodas have more? I'm not sure.
I really feel like this is a side effect of people not understanding nutrition labels. Since everything else is 0 on a diet soda label, the sodium seems to jump out so people mistakenly think it's high sodium.8 -
janejellyroll wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »At our house the problem with diet sodas is the sodium some have.
Occasionally, figured into the daily sodium count, my husband enjoys a Diet Coke or a root beer.
This would not be a concern for people who don’t have a need to limit their sodium intake.
Typically we go through 12 to 18 cans of fizzy water daily, though. That’s between three to five people, depending on who’s home, plus any company.
Which ones have high sodium content??
This issue has been brought up before and nutrition labels of popular sodas have not been any higher in sodium than most other beverages, including tap water.
I am wondering this, too. Coke Zero has 40 mg of sodium in a 12oz can. Almost half of that is just from the water that it contains (water has sodium). That's a really low amount...maybe other sodas have more? I'm not sure.
I really feel like this is a side effect of people not understanding nutrition labels. Since everything else is 0 on a diet soda label, the sodium seems to jump out so people mistakenly think it's high sodium.
I don't know. I seem to remember A&W Root Beer (or some other root beer) having something like 115mg of sodium. Which reminds me I'm lacking in my annual summer hansen's diet root beer six pack. I miss trader joe's carrying it.0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »SuzySunshine99 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »At our house the problem with diet sodas is the sodium some have.
Occasionally, figured into the daily sodium count, my husband enjoys a Diet Coke or a root beer.
This would not be a concern for people who don’t have a need to limit their sodium intake.
Typically we go through 12 to 18 cans of fizzy water daily, though. That’s between three to five people, depending on who’s home, plus any company.
Which ones have high sodium content??
This issue has been brought up before and nutrition labels of popular sodas have not been any higher in sodium than most other beverages, including tap water.
I am wondering this, too. Coke Zero has 40 mg of sodium in a 12oz can. Almost half of that is just from the water that it contains (water has sodium). That's a really low amount...maybe other sodas have more? I'm not sure.
I really feel like this is a side effect of people not understanding nutrition labels. Since everything else is 0 on a diet soda label, the sodium seems to jump out so people mistakenly think it's high sodium.
I don't know. I seem to remember A&W Root Beer (or some other root beer) having something like 115mg of sodium. Which reminds me I'm lacking in my annual summer hansen's diet root beer six pack. I miss trader joe's carrying it.
I'm seeing anywhere from 65-70mg per 12oz can of A&W.
I guess if you're drinking A LOT of it, it might add up.0 -
I stopped drinking pop, accidentally, 10-12 years ago after a trip to Europe.
It was hot, and a lot of walking and hiking was involved, pop just wasn’t good once sticky, sweet, and warm so I started ordering a couple of bottles of ‘agua minerali con gas’ fizzy water.
By the time I got home pop was out; fizzy water was in.
Never touched diet pop wasn’t interested (off super sweet tasting pop). If I wanted a G&T regular tonic was fine.
COVID
G&T became a frequent drink.
I tried the diet tonic, it was fine.
There, my first diet pop experiment and I didn’t shrivel up and die, didn’t think I would.
Just sat and did a bit of maths. If I had drunk regular tonic I would have put on about 35lbs, weighed the most I ever had, and hit overweight for the first time in my life!
So, after all that, if diet pop fits the bill, drink it.
Cheers, h.3
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