Diet Soda Anyone?

auzziecawth66

I try to limit the amount I drink of it because it makes me crave sugary crap really really bad and it also makes my tummy puffy and bloated. I am a big fan of the coke zero, only diet stuff that doesn't taste gross to me lol.

ninerbuff

If you don't drink it a lot, it's fine, but ehhhhhhhhhhh. Diet soda is still not very good for you. It may have no calories, but it still has a lot of harmful crap in there. I'm no expert, but a quick google search will you give you some idea!

Unfortunately the "google" searches aren't usually peer reviewed, but opinionated or subjective views on it because of many correlations.
None of the ingredients are harmful and practically all of them can be found in other foods we consume.

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tigersword

Never drank it or plan to start. I drink water, green tea or coffee (with *shock* 1 tsp real sugar*). Got the idea that diet drinks were bad for me as it contained a lot of chemicals, forgot where I got the advice from but I stuck with it. But then, my diet is only in it's 2nd week.

Green tea and coffee contain "a lot of chemicals." In fact, they both have more chemicals than diet sodas. Everything you eat or drink is made of chemicals. Your entire body is composed of chemicals.

Stop throwing the word chemicals around like it means something bad or scary. It's an argument people use out of fear, rather than informing themselves.

ninerbuff

Never drank it or plan to start. I drink water, green tea or coffee (with *shock* 1 tsp real sugar*). Got the idea that diet drinks were bad for me as it contained a lot of chemicals, forgot where I got the advice from but I stuck with it. But then, my diet is only in it's 2nd week.

Phenylalaine and aspartic acid are amino acids. Both can be found in meats and dairy and the later also in fruits and vegetables.
There are lots of "natural" organizations that will try to scare people about it. (IE. like it forms formaldehyde in the body). Ironically formaldehyde also forms in the body from eating fresh citrus fruits and tomatoes. But of course they won't tell you that.

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tigersword

Like so many things, it might not affect your weight loss in a week or a year, or even years but the toll it takes on your health otherwise is really not good. Diet soda has been accused of causing migraines, brain tumors, ulcers, rotted teeth, cancer, gut issues and leaching calcium out of the bones. Why knowingly drink acid? If someone flavors goat piss with enough fake sugar to make it palatable and put it over ice, it probably wouldn't cause weight gain either. But why?

Why knowingly drink acid? Seriously? 99.9% of all foods are acidic. Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are all much stronger acids than diet soda. Yes, diet soda has been accused of causing lots of health problems. So have eggs, butter, milk, meat, bread, rice, apples, and pretty much every food, ever. The evidence shows diet soda doesn't cause any of the things you listed. Again, stop spreading fear and ignorance, take the time to actually study these things.

tigersword

Never drank it or plan to start. I drink water, green tea or coffee (with *shock* 1 tsp real sugar*). Got the idea that diet drinks were bad for me as it contained a lot of chemicals, forgot where I got the advice from but I stuck with it. But then, my diet is only in it's 2nd week.

Phenylalaine and aspartic acid are amino acids. Both can be found in meats and dairy and the later also in fruits and vegetables.
There are lots of "natural" organizations that will try to scare people about it. (IE. like it forms formaldehyde in the body). Ironically formaldehyde also forms in the body from eating fresh citrus fruits and tomatoes. But of course they won't tell you that.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Also, aspartic acid is the main "active" ingredient in aspartame. The human body also makes aspartic acid, as it's not an essential amino acid, so, since it's all POISON, the human body must be intent on trying to poison itself, right?

ninerbuff

Like so many things, it might not affect your weight loss in a week or a year, or even years but the toll it takes on your health otherwise is really not good. Diet soda has been accused of causing migraines, brain tumors, ulcers, rotted teeth, cancer, gut issues and leaching calcium out of the bones. Why knowingly drink acid? If someone flavors goat piss with enough fake sugar to make it palatable and put it over ice, it probably wouldn't cause weight gain either. But why?

The "tolls" are usually correlated and not cause. Aspartame is one of the most researched artificial sweeteners in the world and there aren't any peer reviewed studies showing that general population use in moderation is causing the issues mentioned above. People with PKU or reactions to it yes, but then they shouldn't be drinking it in the first place.

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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Kevalicious99

Everyday. I love my diet Pepsi.

Used to be a Diet Pepsi junkie .. but I gave it up cold turkey. I think that pop is one of the worst things we can do to our bodies. I avoid it totally now, and don't miss it.

DamePiglet

I've never been a big soda drinker, diet or otherwise.
That being said, diet coke + spiced rum makes a tasty beverage!

Diet_Soda

My username says it all...yes!

Cindyinpg

Everyone's opinion is so different, but you guys are also helpful. Its good to see other POVs of this BC I am truly confused lol.

I was confused too. Then I properly researched it. Tigersword's and Ninerbuff's posts are absolutely correct, as always. :happy:

mrsamanda86

I used to drink like ONLY pepsi all day long, then a few years ago switched to diet pepsi. Apparently I just upped my food calories to compensate because I didn't lose any weight after switching lol
I don't really drink any soda anymore, mainly just coffee, water, and tea now. Soda makes me feel bloated and I just don't love the taste of it anymore like I used to. I'll occasionally have one if I go out to a restaurant but that's very rarely even then, usually I'll get like a strawberry lemonade or some other fruity type of drink if I'm out.

Siansonea

"Diet soda is full of chemicals!!!!!111!!!!!" :noway: :laugh:

All matter is composed of "chemicals", btw. :huh:

DaniNicole321

If I didn't eat or drink everything someone said may be harmful to me in the long run I would probably have to be growing my own garden right now. Like Ninerbuff said, sooo many of the foods we eat daily are said to have bad long term effects on us but I'm certainly not going to starve because of it. So yeah I drink Diet Dr. Pepper quite a bit, not exactly daily but I don't knock those who do. Weight loss is about you and doing what works for you. If you deprive yourself there's a good chance you'll end up binging later. It should be a lifestyle change not just a temporary diet so you have to figure out how to make that change for yourself.

lissaann29078

If I didn't eat or drink everything someone said may be harmful to me in the long run I would probably have to be growing my own garden right now. Like Ninerbuff said, sooo many of the foods we eat daily are said to have bad long term effects on us but I'm certainly not going to starve because of it. So yeah I drink Diet Dr. Pepper quite a bit, not exactly daily but I don't knock those who do. Weight loss is about you and doing what works for you. If you deprive yourself there's a good chance you'll end up binging later. It should be a lifestyle change not just a temporary diet so you have to figure out how to make that change for yourself.

I feel the same way!

somerisagirlsname

I will drink it when I go out to eat or if I'm really in the mood, but it's not a staple in my diet by any means. I don't purposely avoid it because I think it's bad for you though, I just can't have other options of beverages around the house if I'm going to meet my water intake.

WaistAweigh

Good because i was kinda under the notion that it was terrible for you with all of those artificial sugars and such.

kdhamner

I would love to drink my Diet Dr. Pepper - miss it - but it makes me sick. After many, many tests ran by specialists, we found out I was sick from soda. Doesn't matter if it is diet or regular, must be something in the carbonation.

knittinlady

Nope. I can't stand the taste of the fake sugar. Aspartame, Splenda, whatever. They all taste nasty to me. I'd rather drink regular soda, but even that is rare these days. I'd rather eat my calories than drink them.

I drink water. And occasionally juice. And green tea.

WaistAweigh

Diet coke does have that certain aftertaste that I dislike. I also am not a fan of Splenda. It doesn't taste right.

TigerBite

Tastes weird ... If I want bubbles, I just drink sparkling water (or sparkling wine :P ... )

WaistAweigh

I should try sparkling water...

aimforhealthy

I should try sparkling water...

I love flavored sparkling water. When I started my weight loss journey I was drinking a full liter of regular soda daily on some days because I worked overnights and though I now drink some diet soda, I used flavored sparkling water to wean myself off the soda kick.

bellevie86

Looks like you've gotten a lot of mixed opinions on this one and I'm not surprised. I rarely drink them, if I do I'll drink the real thing and factor it into my calories. I don't ever keep it in the house, for me it's not something I ABSOLUTELY have to have. If I go to a fast food joint where you fill up your own cups I only fill it up halfway so that I drink less and don't just mindlessly drink a giant soda. There's an inordinate amount of research done on diet soda and regular soda and majority of what I see doesn't say great things. But, to each their own. If it's something that makes dieting easier do it, but don't drink a lot everyday. The way I see it is if it doesn't hurt you to NOT drink it then try to cut it out as best you can. No harm done if it's not a huge need for you to keep you on track. However, I used to live in a copper building where the plumbing was too old to use Draino, the people in the building, including myself had used coke several times to unclog drains. So take what you will from all these responses, cause this is a HUGE debate. Good luck!

bellevie86

Like so many things, it might not affect your weight loss in a week or a year, or even years but the toll it takes on your health otherwise is really not good. Diet soda has been accused of causing migraines, brain tumors, ulcers, rotted teeth, cancer, gut issues and leaching calcium out of the bones. Why knowingly drink acid? If someone flavors goat piss with enough fake sugar to make it palatable and put it over ice, it probably wouldn't cause weight gain either. But why?

Why knowingly drink acid? Seriously? 99.9% of all foods are acidic. Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are all much stronger acids than diet soda. Yes, diet soda has been accused of causing lots of health problems. So have eggs, butter, milk, meat, bread, rice, apples, and pretty much every food, ever. The evidence shows diet soda doesn't cause any of the things you listed. Again, stop spreading fear and ignorance, take the time to actually study these things.

I'm curious, when have apples been accused of doing damage to the body? (other than organic vs. non organic) And yes lemons and limes go in acid, but are turned alkaline in the body. Alkaline= good. Other than apples all of the other food you mentioned are acids.

Grafakos

We have a free soda dispenser at work, so occasionally I'll get a cup of Diet Coke to go with my brown-bag lunch. That's pretty much the only time I drink soda, though. I'm more of a beer and whiskey guy :-)

Carnivor0us

Diet soda is a must in my diet! It would otherwise be very difficult to eat my ketogenic diet with my sweet tooth....

Carnivor0us

Like so many things, it might not affect your weight loss in a week or a year, or even years but the toll it takes on your health otherwise is really not good. Diet soda has been accused of causing migraines, brain tumors, ulcers, rotted teeth, cancer, gut issues and leaching calcium out of the bones. Why knowingly drink acid? If someone flavors goat piss with enough fake sugar to make it palatable and put it over ice, it probably wouldn't cause weight gain either. But why?

Why knowingly drink acid? Seriously? 99.9% of all foods are acidic. Oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits are all much stronger acids than diet soda. Yes, diet soda has been accused of causing lots of health problems. So have eggs, butter, milk, meat, bread, rice, apples, and pretty much every food, ever. The evidence shows diet soda doesn't cause any of the things you listed. Again, stop spreading fear and ignorance, take the time to actually study these things.

I'm curious, when have apples been accused of doing damage to the body? (other than organic vs. non organic) And yes lemons and limes go in acid, but are turned alkaline in the body. Alkaline= good. Other than apples all of the other food you mentioned are acids.

Your stomach acid has a pH of 2. Nothing is turning alkaline in there.

MyPaperBleedsInk

Yep. Diet Pepsi for me. I know, it doesn't taste as amazing as regular Pepsi, but it's 0 calories sooooo. I'm a bit of a soda addict so there's no way I'd be able to quite entirely or find a better/healthy substitute, so if I have to drink diet, I have to drink diet. Once in a while I'll go for regular soda like at a family holiday event/gathering.

erinkeely4

It's a no for me. Too processed and full of chemicals. But I've never been much of a soda person. I'd much rather have tea!