Diet Soda

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Replies

  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,284 Member
    MsCzar wrote: »
    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. ;)

    Could be the carbonation, what else you have with it, some anomaly or unknown component, who knows.

    It isnt the sodium though if you are drinking any regular brand of diet soda - none of them have sodium levels different to most other beverages, including tap water.

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    dfwesq wrote: »
    Not limited to diet soda, but any acidic drink can demineralize tooth enamel and lead to dental damage or disease if consumed too often.
    Not if you take care of your teeth. I've drank it for over 20 years an no issue with either because I have a good oral hygiene plan.


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  • dfwesq
    dfwesq Posts: 592 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    dfwesq wrote: »
    Not limited to diet soda, but any acidic drink can demineralize tooth enamel and lead to dental damage or disease if consumed too often.
    Not if you take care of your teeth. I've drank it for over 20 years an no issue with either because I have a good oral hygiene plan.

    I suppose people could brush their teeth or thoroughly rinse their mouths right after drinking an acidic drink to prevent demineralization, but most probably won't or can't.
  • ChaoticMoira
    ChaoticMoira Posts: 103 Member
    edited July 2021
    Initially I just stuck to regular cola cause 1 cup is under 100 calories and I only drink it like once or twice a month. When I do drink it, I have pretty much about 8 oz. I always hated the taste of diet Coke, since it tastes nothing like regular. But recently I tried a Coke zero and found that was so close to regular Coke, I might as well switch.
    I still rarely drink it though. And I tried a Pepsi zero expecting the same results, dear god that was foul. Apparently they felt they should add ginseng to their zero line.. :/ I am not a fan..

    Cola is the only soda pop I ever drink, but I was considering trying either Sunkist zero, or Orange Crush zero, to add to a vanilla protein ice cream, for a low cal protein orange float. Yum!!!!

    As for the aspartame issue. I have read all the data I could find, and the only legit negative research I came across was based in mice having extremely high amounts for the entirety of their lives. Their lifespan is about 3 years, and in the first two years there wasn't a notable level of health issues. In the third year, yes, some began to get tumors. However, considering that the level they were fed was well beyond what a human would consume, and they were in what would be their elder years comparatively where health issues are more likely to happen; this, plus the fact that aspartame has had more testing done on it than any other sweetener, including sugar and been listed as safe repeatedly by more than just the US - I decided I am okay with it.

    I still have sugar here and there, I use stevia, use erythritol, I use aspartame... So often causes of cancer are linked to carcinogens in too high a frequency/volume. The same is true of many other illnesses; too much sugar, too much fat, too high of med doses etc.. So like all things, everything in moderation.

    EDIT: I forgot I wanted to mention that as for me, I do not get food cravings when I drink Coke zero, and I don't crave more Coke. And in fact weirdly, when I drank it with a meal a few times (this happened with iced tea sweetened with Equal as well), my meal was more satiating overall. Something about having a flavoured beverage I guess. I usually only drink water. My weight loss stays consistent as well.
  • ChaoticMoira
    ChaoticMoira Posts: 103 Member
    dfwesq wrote: »
    I suppose people could brush their teeth or thoroughly rinse their mouths right after drinking an acidic drink to prevent demineralization, but most probably won't or can't.

    I learned from a dentist in my twenties that you should do this after eating or drinking anything. Swishing water to help clear food particles and sugar away. I have done it ever since. But yeah, I think some people find it a little weird that I do it.

  • asonbrody
    asonbrody Posts: 6 Member
    I drank diet soda all the time, would stop by and get a huge 50 oz of coke zero from quiktrip or racetrac almost every day along with a bottle or can with every meal. Then I had my gastric sleeve and I had to give soda up, and I'm definitely happier without it. I never thought it was gonna harm you or whatever, but looking back now that I'm over a year without soda I do think it made me crave sweets and junk food more. I'm sure that varies with each person but that's how it affected me.

    I'll never go back partly because soda tastes gross to me now that I'm not used to it, I don't wanna risk the irritation carbonation causes, and also the benefits of not having caffeine addiction. It just makes me feel better to no longer have any, especially since soda in general has been something I was hooked on since I was like 6 or 7.
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    I keep a 12 pack of diet Dr Pepper at the office and a 12 pack of diet root beer at home. They'll both last me about a month.
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    ccrdragon wrote: »
    PAV8888 wrote: »
    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.

    Thank you. I am a diabetic with a sweet tooth so I have things like flavored sparkling water with sucralose. I have someone (not my dr) suggesting I avoid all artificial sweeteners. She was talking of insulin spikes. I was not sure what to believe but my glucose levels are great and I feel fine. She does have some good advice but I think I will ignore this and keep doing what works for me.
  • swimmchick87
    swimmchick87 Posts: 458 Member
    My mom is diabetic, so I've been drinking diet pop since childhood. Many years ago I did give it up for a few months just to see if it would have any impact on weight loss. Obviously it has no calories, but "they" are always saying it makes you crave more real sugar. I didn't find that to be true, and in fact it made weight loss harder because I replaced the diet pop with things that had calories.

    Ironically, after feeding me diet pop my entire childhood, my parents have now bought into it being terrible and gave it up years ago. My dad basically replaced it with full calorie gatorade and sugar laden coffee drinks. He has an incredible metabolism (did I inherit that? No!) so it hasn't really impacted him that much, but for someone like me it would have a big impact.

    A couple of years ago I made myself learn to like sparkling water (it's an acquired taste, IMO) just so I wasn't drinking so much pop. I was having it with every meal and snack and I figured that much of anything, calories or no, just couldn't be good for you. That many cans a day was also an expensive habit. Now I only have it with dinner. Still probably seems like a lot to some, but I'm fine with it.
  • spyro88
    spyro88 Posts: 472 Member
    I have a few Pepsi Max's in a week, and use slimline tonic as a mixer if that counts (I think it also has aspartame)

    I guess it's one of those things where it could be slightly better for your health not to, but if you like them then life is less fun without. It's all about balance.
  • spyro88
    spyro88 Posts: 472 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    "I think I remember there being good reasons to never drink diet soda aside from Aspartame concerns."

    Seen plenty of dumb arguments such as it's amazingly acidic (it isn't)

    I think it is quite acidic. My friend is a printmaker and uses Diet Coke for etching, so there must be some acid in there!!!

    However, I still drink it :)
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    spyro88 wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    "I think I remember there being good reasons to never drink diet soda aside from Aspartame concerns."

    Seen plenty of dumb arguments such as it's amazingly acidic (it isn't)

    I think it is quite acidic. My friend is a printmaker and uses Diet Coke for etching, so there must be some acid in there!!!

    However, I still drink it :)

    Agreed. I wasn't kidding about the corrosion on the car battery thing. 😀
  • MargaretYakoda
    MargaretYakoda Posts: 2,997 Member
    edited July 2021
    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.



    Off the top of my head it’s Diet Coke (40 mg) and a diet root beer (115 mg) my husband likes. And, to be fair, we have to be very careful with my husband’s sodium levels, so there isn’t much wiggle room. And he has dementia, so telling him he can only have one a day isn’t effective.
  • yweight2020
    yweight2020 Posts: 591 Member
    I drink diet soda but less than I used to.🥤
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,284 Member
    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.



    Off the top of my head it’s Diet Coke (40 mg) and a diet root beer (115 mg) my husband likes. And, to be fair, we have to be very careful with my husband’s sodium levels, so there isn’t much wiggle room. And he has dementia, so telling him he can only have one a day isn’t effective.


    I'm not familiar with root beer, seems it might have higher sodium content.

    Diet coke does not.

    40mg per can is about 13mg per 100ml - same as pepsi max and I would guess, most other soft drinks

    Really not a high sodium item - well less than a slice of bread, for example.

  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member

    I'm not familiar with root beer,

    I just want to interject how sad I am for you. A good, foamy, creamy root beer is one of the great small pleasures of life.

    Root beer floats.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,480 Member
    glassyo wrote: »

    I'm not familiar with root beer,

    I just want to interject how sad I am for you. A good, foamy, creamy root beer is one of the great small pleasures of life.

    Root beer floats.

    Orange soda floats. Or a local delicacy known as an FO (Frosted Orange). Made to the old recipe.

    I mean, while I’m fantasizing.
  • dreamer12151
    dreamer12151 Posts: 1,031 Member

    I'm not familiar with root beer, seems it might have higher sodium content.

    Based on the Christmas pud as your profile picture, I assume you are British? Most Brits (my Mum being one of them - yes, I'm a hybrid!) are not familiar with, nor do they like root beer. She says it tastes it tastes too much like a childhood medicine she was made to take.

    However, being a Midwest girl, I love a good root beer, and a good root beer float (vanilla ice cream in a cold root beer - sooo good!)

    On the original discussion, I have drunk Diet Pepsi for years. Not as much now as I used to, but I still do, and I also make sure I drink at LEAST my 8 glasses of water as well. I have heard all the warnings, and "you know you shouldn't s..." but let me have my pop/soda/fizzy drink and I let you have your meat, I say. If you want some diet soda, have it - in moderation.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    glassyo wrote: »

    I'm not familiar with root beer,

    I just want to interject how sad I am for you. A good, foamy, creamy root beer is one of the great small pleasures of life.

    Root beer floats.

    Orange soda floats. Or a local delicacy known as an FO (Frosted Orange). Made to the old recipe.

    I mean, while I’m fantasizing.

    So like creamsicles....but not!

    You should go have a frosted orange (I googled.). In honor of the summer Olympics. There are no calories in history. 😀
  • penguinmama87
    penguinmama87 Posts: 1,155 Member
    glassyo wrote: »

    I'm not familiar with root beer,

    I just want to interject how sad I am for you. A good, foamy, creamy root beer is one of the great small pleasures of life.

    Root beer floats.

    Orange soda floats. Or a local delicacy known as an FO (Frosted Orange). Made to the old recipe.

    I mean, while I’m fantasizing.

    During one very hot summer a while back, my husband and I made rum-and-coke floats. They were absolutely delightful. :yum: Also a little dangerous.
  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,354 Member
    edited July 2021
    Amateurs! There's a brewery in my town that makes a Mexican chocolate stout that's pretty tasty on its own. Poured over some Mexican chocolate ice cream, you have the most sublime summer dessert EVER!

    Edited for grammar
  • futuresylph
    futuresylph Posts: 2,178 Member
    glassyo wrote: »
    So like creamsicles....but not!

    I just reinvented the creamsicle: vanilla protein shake with Mio-type flavor drops in orange-tangerine. Get it extra cold in the freezer for a few minutes and enjoy. I'm thinking it'll be even better when my ice-crushing blender arrives, so I can make it slushy.
  • SunnySkyze
    SunnySkyze Posts: 4 Member
    I usually drink one diet soda a day, sometimes two. My favorites are diet Dr Pepper and Diet Pepsi. I used to drink two or three in one day, years ago. But now I try to incorporate more water in my daily drinking. 😁
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,744 Member
    edited July 2021
    glassyo wrote: »

    I'm not familiar with root beer,

    I just want to interject how sad I am for you. A good, foamy, creamy root beer is one of the great small pleasures of life.

    Root beer floats.

    Orange soda floats. Or a local delicacy known as an FO (Frosted Orange). Made to the old recipe.

    I mean, while I’m fantasizing.

    @springlering62 I bought creamsicles at the market tonight so THANKSALOT! :)
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,284 Member

    I'm not familiar with root beer, seems it might have higher sodium content.

    Based on the Christmas pud as your profile picture, I assume you are British? Most Brits (my Mum being one of them - yes, I'm a hybrid!) are not familiar with, nor do they like root beer. She says it tastes it tastes too much like a childhood medicine she was made to take.

    I am Australian.

    Root beer is similar to sarsaparilla?? - we have that as a soft drink here.

    Not overly keen on it myself though.



  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    spyro88 wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    "I think I remember there being good reasons to never drink diet soda aside from Aspartame concerns."

    Seen plenty of dumb arguments such as it's amazingly acidic (it isn't)

    I think it is quite acidic. My friend is a printmaker and uses Diet Coke for etching, so there must be some acid in there!!!
    Your stomach acid totally nixes the acid in soda.


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  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,480 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    spyro88 wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    "I think I remember there being good reasons to never drink diet soda aside from Aspartame concerns."

    Seen plenty of dumb arguments such as it's amazingly acidic (it isn't)

    I think it is quite acidic. My friend is a printmaker and uses Diet Coke for etching, so there must be some acid in there!!!
    Your stomach acid totally nixes the acid in soda.


    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

    9285851.png

    Being a former GERD sufferer of the worst kind, I can second that.
  • mph323
    mph323 Posts: 3,565 Member
    glassyo wrote: »

    I'm not familiar with root beer,

    I just want to interject how sad I am for you. A good, foamy, creamy root beer is one of the great small pleasures of life.

    Root beer floats.

    Cream soda floats (made with those expensive 8 oz. bottles that contain real cane sugar). I only have that once or twice a year. Please don't judge :D