Why is diet pop bad for weight loss?

24

Replies

  • PhoenixStrikes
    PhoenixStrikes Posts: 587 Member
    \First, the sodium in the diet soda causes your body to retain water

    Why do people say this?

    Not sure why water retention would matter anyway seeing as it's fat we're trying to lose, not water

    That's because focusing on the scale is a hard habit to break but you're absolutely right that it's about lowering your body fat and improving your overall health. .
  • turtleball
    turtleball Posts: 217 Member
    They that when you drink it it takes over your brain and makes you run around and swallow anything that is remotely sweet in sight.

    One of the main reason why i'm here is to control my appetite. Seriously run around and eat sweets? Like I havent thought about that already and I dont even drink diet soda.... :grumble:
  • Unknown
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  • Adrianachiarato
    Adrianachiarato Posts: 362 Member
    They say it's sweet and causes you body to throw insulin in your blood. As your body doesn't really get any sugar, it starts craving it.

    But it depends on you. I drink it daily and I've lost a lot of weight.
  • wcboldt
    wcboldt Posts: 11 Member
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    some studies showed that when people drink "diet" sodas, they tend to make up those calories somewhere else (as though giving up the full-calorie soda freed up those calories). I don't have resources, it's just something I've read a zillion times over a lot of years. Of course...if you are counting your calories...then you won't fall into that trap.

    Other people have bad things to say about it...but anything I'd say would be random stuff I've read but have no resources to back up or disprove. (like artificial sweeteners messing with insulin responses, etc)
    I've seen those studies; the ones that I've seen have shown some correlation between drinking diet soda and eating higher calorie foods. That sounds to me very much like the old 'joke' about the person walking into the diner and ordering a chocolate cake and a diet soda, as if the zero calorie drink will magically eliminate the 600 or so calories in the diner-sized portion of dessert.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.

    It offers no detriments either. And it typically has less than 100mg of sodium in it.

    So...uhhhhh
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.

    Yes, but we need sodium, and diet pop has about the equivalent sodium of a stick of celery.
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.
    The amount of sodium in diet soda is negligible compared to many things typically touted as good for you.
  • FitForRiding
    FitForRiding Posts: 33
    Why would you want to consume something with artificial sweeteners?
    AND...Study after study has proven that reg soda vs diet made no difference in regards to weight loss.
    A better alternative; mineral water with balsamic fruit vinegar or natural flavored stevia drops added.
  • creativerick
    creativerick Posts: 270 Member
    studies don't prove ish when it comes to diet soda...

    Keep linking to studies and reports that MAY show something. In Science these hold almost no weight.
  • botanygeek
    botanygeek Posts: 10 Member
    Actually, research says there's a link to artificial sweeteners cause a release in glucogon - which actually lowers blood sugar. There is no significant effect on insulin or glucose.

    Here's a link to actual research: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/32/12/2184.short

    It's a small study, but it's just one that's accessible to the public for free.


    (No forums were harmed in the making of this study)
  • wcboldt
    wcboldt Posts: 11 Member
    Diet soda has been linked to everything from dehydration to Parkinsons. But if you need 100% proof, I hope you get it soon. At one time, they said cigarettes weren't bad either.
  • botanygeek
    botanygeek Posts: 10 Member
    ~banging head~

    Yah. Science is hard.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Diet soda has been linked to everything from dehydration to Parkinsons. But if you need 100% proof, I hope you get it soon. At one time, they said cigarettes weren't bad either.

    How about you offer some proof instead of half-assed opinion alluding to you "knowing more" than others.
  • grandmothercharlie
    grandmothercharlie Posts: 1,356 Member
    Some people think it messes with insulin levels; that if it tastes sweet the body thinks it is sweet so it releases insulin. Of course, that's not just diet sodas, that would be any artificial sweetener. Some people say the sodium is bad. Water weight keeps the scales high. Those would be the weight loss reasons and I don't know if they are true or not if you drink sodas in moderation. Of course,medical articles say caffeine is good for you one day, bad for you the next. Again, it is all probably a matter of moderation and how well your body tolerates it. You say you drink Diet Pepsi. For me, it is the cola that gives me problems, but not because of weight. One it is a fact that colas increases the rate of bone loss in women. You start losing bone density in your mid-thirties. Osteoporosis is not good. Think about it while you are young. I personally found another reason to give up colas -- after menopause they increased my hot flashes. Definitely not worth it for me.
  • Fodao
    Fodao Posts: 62 Member
    I chug the diet soda. Have been for years.

    Just started doing the weight loss thing 2 months ago, and it hasn't seem to hindered me at all.

    I say drink away...
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    Diet soda has been linked to everything from dehydration to Parkinsons. But if you need 100% proof, I hope you get it soon. At one time, they said cigarettes weren't bad either.
    You know what else was commonly linked to "everything". Ingesting water! Oh noes...
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Diet soda has been linked to everything from dehydration to Parkinsons. But if you need 100% proof, I hope you get it soon. At one time, they said cigarettes weren't bad either.
    You know what else was commonly linked to "everything". Ingesting water! Oh noes...

    The Black Plague was once blamed on cats.
  • delaney056
    delaney056 Posts: 475
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.

    Well, yes, sodium causes water retention. It also increases blood pressure. If you keep track of your sodium intake you should have minimal issues with either, unless you're super sensitive to sodium.
    There are many foods labeled "healthier" (such as Lean Cuisines and other frozen meals) that contain MUCH higher levels of sodium than a diet soda.
  • knra_grl
    knra_grl Posts: 1,566 Member
    I think I gave it up because of the artificial sweeteners - I eat real butter, real sugar etc - if i do so in moderation there is no need to give it up and replace it with junk
  • wcboldt
    wcboldt Posts: 11 Member
    It won't kill you. Drink up. I'll buy more Coca-Cola and United Health stock.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    It won't kill you. Drink up. I'll buy more Coca-Cola and United Health stock.

    Again, no actual information.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I think as long as you aren't a lab rat forced to eat tons of artificial sweetener you'll be just fine and lose weight
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    It won't kill you. Drink up. I'll buy more Coca-Cola and United Health stock.

    100% of water drinkers will die. That's sobering.

    I'm not going to call it a health drink, but it hasn't been proven to be truly harmful either.

    My guess is that people drink it for the same reason some choose motorcycles over cars--enjoyment. :wink:
  • absentmindedhousewife
    absentmindedhousewife Posts: 68 Member
    I don't know about gaining weight on it or glucose or sodium...I just know that when I drink soda, especially diet, I bloat up like a Maceys Thanksgiving parade float.
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    It won't kill you. Drink up. I'll buy more Coca-Cola and United Health stock.

    Again, no actual information.
    No kidding. Argument by assertion and showing abs.
  • lynleeg88
    lynleeg88 Posts: 104 Member
    I myself drink diet soda. Diet Coke is my favorite. I don't drink it daily but I would if it was in my house. When I started my diet, it helped stave off cravings for the food with calories.

    Now, why some people say it is bad is that supposedly, and I believe it personally, that the sugars are not good for you. I did see, but I'm not digging it up, that they have even been linked to cancer. But so has aloooot of stuff.

    Also, it has been said to be literally addictive.

    But as for effecting an actual diet? I have never heard of it being a problem. Like I said, it even helped me get past cravings.
  • Fullsterkur_woman
    Fullsterkur_woman Posts: 2,712 Member
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.

    Well, yes, sodium causes water retention. It also increases blood pressure. If you keep track of your sodium intake you should have minimal issues with either, unless you're super sensitive to sodium.
    There are many foods labeled "healthier" (such as Lean Cuisines and other frozen meals) that contain MUCH higher levels of sodium than a diet soda.
    But straw man arguments are fun!! :grumble:
  • lynleeg88
    lynleeg88 Posts: 104 Member
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.

    My diet coke has 50mg of sodium a serving, compared to everything else I eat, it isn't bad.

    Now if someone is drowning a 2-liter a day I can see where the problem is.

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