Diet pop all you can drink or bad?

tigersword

Aspartame is NOT a neurotoxin. It's not a poison. Yes it's an artificial sweetener, but it breaks down into AMINO ACIDS. One of which happens to be an essential amino acid. The other is non-essential. There have been no conclusive studies that have show any danger from aspartame. And no, it wasn't "originally invented as an insecticide." That's an urban myth. It was invented by accident while working on anti-ulcer medications. Aspartame also has the same caloric content as sugar, it becomes calorie free because about 200 times less is needed to sweeten an item.

All in all, I don't drink a ton of diet soda, or soda in general, but my nutritionist told me if I needed soda, diet was healthier than non-diet. If it's good enough for the nutritionist, it's good enough for me.

summalovaable

Aspartame is NOT a neurotoxin. It's not a poison. Yes it's an artificial sweetener, but it breaks down into AMINO ACIDS. One of which happens to be an essential amino acid. The other is non-essential. There have been no conclusive studies that have show any danger from aspartame. And no, it wasn't "originally invented as an insecticide." That's an urban myth. It was invented by accident while working on anti-ulcer medications. Aspartame also has the same caloric content as sugar, it becomes calorie free because about 200 times less is needed to sweeten an item.

All in all, I don't drink a ton of diet soda, or soda in general, but my nutritionist told me if I needed soda, diet was healthier than non-diet. If it's good enough for the nutritionist, it's good enough for me.

OK please don't say is "breaks down" into an amino acid like thats all fine and dandy. It actually oxidizes into these amino acids, one of them being methanol, which then further oxidizes into formaldehyde. Aspartame is also a carcinogen due to its chemical structure, you can't truly deny the direct impact of the classic benzene ring. The only reason there has been no "conclusive" evidence to link aspartame to anything harmful is simply because not much has been done on the matter. I believe i read somewhere that the longest study was over 2 or 3 months? Not sure if that's entirely true but when you consider people drink diet drinks EVERY day that's hardly enough time to provide "conclusive" evidence. Perhaps the short term effects aren't fatal but we still are unable to test the long term effects of it. After all, with a society so prone to cancer, how do we reallly know what it came from anymore? Sure there's the obvious culprits like smoking, or over exposure to radiation but what about the little things in our day to day lives that might have prevented it? And as for your nutritionist recommending it, my mother is a nutritionist and I can't remember the last time we had diet pop in our house.


I actually remember having a debate with my lecture group about why it wasn't banned yet, and it all came down to: because it isn't killing us right this moment, it isn't a big enough issue.

And your right about the insecticide thing not sure why that came to mind i just checked my text book though, sorrry! But still the fact that he tasted it.... come on, only a 4 year old would make that kind of mistake in a lab.

In the end, I wouldn't drink it but you won't drop dead the second it touches your lips so if its REALLY helping you get the weight off its clearly the better substitute.( maybe that's what your nutritionist meant!)

Hollycat

Rumour has it aspertame was originally manufactured as a chemical weapon. They discovered by accident that in a diluted form it's sweet...your body, your science experiment.

Despite that 'truth', I drink Diet Coke. It's often my morning coffee, probably 4 days a week. I think I'd shy away from drinking more than that...

For my part, it's the lesser of several evils.

Hollycat
:flowerforyou:

i_love_vinegar

I say bad because aspertame works as a preservative (keeps fat from metabolizing properly). Also, the other additives (like flavors, etc) cause the liver to work harder to remove these impurities from your system. Your liver is the organ you want to pamper (not overwork) when losing weight because it is the one that converts body fat to energy. If the liver is too busy getting rid of toxins, your body will use protein (muscle mass) instead for energy. This is the primary reason people who want to lose weight should avoid processed foods.

if you look, almost everything that is artificially sweetened has aspertame! i was on the hcg diet and couldnt have ANYTHING with aspertame, i found ONE pack of sugar free gum without it adn it was trident cinnamon, otherwise everything had it. so whether its in diet coke or not we are still consuming it... =/

That's why it is best to cut out artificial sweeteners as much as possible in general.

chevy88grl

Rumour has it aspertame was originally manufactured as a chemical weapon. They discovered by accident that in a diluted form it's sweet...your body, your science experiment.

Despite that 'truth', I drink Diet Coke. It's often my morning coffee, probably 4 days a week. I think I'd shy away from drinking more than that...

For my part, it's the lesser of several evils.

Hollycat
:flowerforyou:

Aspartame makes me have horrendous headaches and feel like crap after I consume it. I've been avoiding it for quite awhile now. I can't tolerate most of the artificial sweeteners, which is why I feel sticking with real sugar is a better deal for me. No, it may not be the best thing for me either - but it doesn't give me headaches, diarrhea, or other nasty side affects that I get with the artificial stuff.

jfinnivan

I just bought some soda called "Zevia". It uses stevia as a sweetener, which is an extract from the stevia plant. Stevia, in it's raw form, is supposed to be 100-300 times sweeter than sugar, and no ill effects have been found from using it (so far). I haven't tried the soda yet, but when I do I'll post about it.

Schwiggity

Aspartame will murder you in your sleep.

Lunachic77

Diet sodas actually trick your body into wanting to eat more. The fake sugars tell your brain and body that you are about to have a real sugar rush, then when your body realizes that you dont have any sugar to process, it triggers a hunger response.... with that said.. i do down a big gulp a day of diet dr pepper...

This.

Diet soda = bad

taem

There are chemicals in it so dont go over board.

Everything is a chemical

Hi. Natural foods, not found in a box or package is considered a non chemical item. The reason to avoid soda pop is that it contains chemicals (not natural foods) and so your liver has to process it away or you will feel really bad.

Instead of eating things that your liver has to process out (because it doesn't recognize it as natural), why not help your liver by avoiding eating chemicals and give it natural foods so it can do other things?

Your liver is very important as it does many things for your body, so be kind to it!

sophjakesmom

I am in favor of moderation. If I have met my water goal, I will have a diet coke. But it is definitely not my drink of choice anymore. Now I find I actually crave water when before I would go for the DC. Don't get me wrong, I still love a DC on occasion, but is on occasion. Not every drink.

sophjakesmom

Aspartame will murder you in your sleep.

LOL. Now that is one I hadn't heard before. :laugh:

LorinaLynn

I drink diet soda daily, but I feel better when the bulk of my fluid intake is from water. Albeit water flavored with Crystal Light or similar packets.

The biggest change is that without swallowing so many bubbles of air, I burp and fart less. I haven't decided if that's a plus or minus! :laugh:

taem

Aspartame will murder you in your sleep.

LOL. Now that is one I hadn't heard before. :laugh:

That statement is not far off.

Watch this documentary please. It will open your eyes to aspartame.

http://www.documentarywire.com/sweet-misery-a-poisoned-world

Thanks.

murphysraven

If you do a web search on diet soda dangers there are a lot of articles. I used to be an avid diet soda drinker until my nutritionist told me that its more likely to give me diabetes. I quit soda cold turkey for a month and drank nothing but water. It was hard but I feel a lot better now.

I found a "natural" zero calorie soda sweetened with stevia, called Zevia, that I like. But I still limit myself to only having 1 or 2 cans a week.

You could also try some flavored carbonated water like talking rain. Or unsweetened/lightly sweetened tea.

♥xenawarriorprincess♥

I love diet pepsi but try not to drink it too much...now I am craving V8 yummmmy

Evotchka

There are chemicals in it so dont go over board.

Everything is a chemical

omg thank you!! thank you! I was about the write that!!

Evotchka

There are chemicals in it so dont go over board.

Everything is a chemical

Hi. Natural foods, not found in a box or package is considered a non chemical item. The reason to avoid soda pop is that it contains chemicals (not natural foods) and so your liver has to process it away or you will feel really bad.

Instead of eating things that your liver has to process out (because it doesn't recognize it as natural), why not help your liver by avoiding eating chemicals and give it natural foods so it can do other things?

Your liver is very important as it does many things for your body, so be kind to it!

It all depends on the definition of chemical my friend. The whole world we live in is made out of atoms and molecules and they're all chemicals. You can say artificial and not natural substances but chemical isn't the right way to describe that.
Tired of this word being misused
(I'm a chemical engineer and a little anal about the topic (: )

taem

There are chemicals in it so dont go over board.

Everything is a chemical

Hi. Natural foods, not found in a box or package is considered a non chemical item. The reason to avoid soda pop is that it contains chemicals (not natural foods) and so your liver has to process it away or you will feel really bad.

Instead of eating things that your liver has to process out (because it doesn't recognize it as natural), why not help your liver by avoiding eating chemicals and give it natural foods so it can do other things?

Your liver is very important as it does many things for your body, so be kind to it!

It all depends on the definition of chemical my friend. The whole world we live in is made out of atoms and molecules and they're all chemicals. You can say artificial and not natural substances but chemical isn't the right way to describe that.
Tired of this word being misused
(I'm a chemical engineer and a little anal about the topic (: )

I will admit that artificial is a better or more accurate term, but if you are a chemical engineer, would you admit that methyl ester is a toxic substance as becomes wood alcohol, a real poison? If so, there is 10% of it in aspartame.

princess_in_power

. . . . And no, it wasn't "originally invented as an insecticide." That's an urban myth. It was invented by accident while working on anti-ulcer medications. . . . .

. . . . And your right about the insecticide thing not sure why that came to mind i just checked my text book though, sorrry! But still the fact that he tasted it.... come on, only a 4 year old would make that kind of mistake in a lab.

Um, your responses are even less reputable now.

"the fact he tasted it"
Um, DUH, it seems it was a side invention as part of a new internal medicine, that means it IS something that was intended to go INSIDE you.

Maybe something you should not take 24/7, but it was intended to go inside you (the main point why your "tasted it" comment seems, at best, half-baked.)

Evotchka

There are chemicals in it so dont go over board.

Everything is a chemical

Hi. Natural foods, not found in a box or package is considered a non chemical item. The reason to avoid soda pop is that it contains chemicals (not natural foods) and so your liver has to process it away or you will feel really bad.

Instead of eating things that your liver has to process out (because it doesn't recognize it as natural), why not help your liver by avoiding eating chemicals and give it natural foods so it can do other things?

Your liver is very important as it does many things for your body, so be kind to it!

It all depends on the definition of chemical my friend. The whole world we live in is made out of atoms and molecules and they're all chemicals. You can say artificial and not natural substances but chemical isn't the right way to describe that.
Tired of this word being misused
(I'm a chemical engineer and a little anal about the topic (: )

I will admit that artificial is a better or more accurate term, but if you are a chemical engineer, would you admit that methyl ester is a toxic substance as becomes wood alcohol, a real poison? If so, there is 10% of it in aspartame.

Oh yah! definitely. I am 100% conform on the fact that diet soda is bad for you. I was just being a wise *kitten*, don't mind me.
If a beverage that tastes that sweet doesn't have any calories whatsoever, there were some huge modifications made to make that possible. Not natural whatsoever and definitely not good for your body.
(I still drink em sometimes but in moderation)

drrif

Nah, diet coke helps me. Juice is high cal, high natural sugars...diet coke 0 calories, and I actually find it filling. When I feel a bit peckish, go for some drink...

taem

There are chemicals in it so dont go over board.

Everything is a chemical

Hi. Natural foods, not found in a box or package is considered a non chemical item. The reason to avoid soda pop is that it contains chemicals (not natural foods) and so your liver has to process it away or you will feel really bad.

Instead of eating things that your liver has to process out (because it doesn't recognize it as natural), why not help your liver by avoiding eating chemicals and give it natural foods so it can do other things?

Your liver is very important as it does many things for your body, so be kind to it!

It all depends on the definition of chemical my friend. The whole world we live in is made out of atoms and molecules and they're all chemicals. You can say artificial and not natural substances but chemical isn't the right way to describe that.
Tired of this word being misused
(I'm a chemical engineer and a little anal about the topic (: )

I will admit that artificial is a better or more accurate term, but if you are a chemical engineer, would you admit that methyl ester is a toxic substance as becomes wood alcohol, a real poison? If so, there is 10% of it in aspartame.

Oh yah! definitely. I am 100% conform on the fact that diet soda is bad for you. I was just being a wise *kitten*, don't mind me.
If a beverage that tastes that sweet doesn't have any calories whatsoever, there were some huge modifications made to make that possible. Not natural whatsoever and definitely not good for your body.
(I still drink em sometimes but in moderation)

Even though you know that aspartic acid is found in MSG? You know, the study that found that rats had holes in their brains after ingesting MSG? Aspartic acid, 1 of the 3 molecules that make up aspartame?

From what I understand, your body cannot get rid of the wood alcohol, it continually builds up in your body. I don't believe in moderation if your body can't get rid of it.

But if someone really thinks aspartame is safe, i'll pay them $100 to eat 100 lbs of aspartame if and after you sign a waiver releasing me of all responsibility. I would pay more but I'm broke.

So prove me wrong and sign-up!

this is a joke, i would not wish anyone to eat 100 lbs of aspartame.

YukonJoy

I say it's bad for you. All other chemicals aside, aspartame has been linked to the storage of belly fat.

Try carbonated flavoured water when you crave pop!

kacarter1017

Most diet pop has sodium, which will make you retain fluid. Also, it has an appetite stimulant in it which can make you feel hungrier. A study (granted, just an initial one) has been done that shows diet pop increases your risk of heart disease- and this is averaging 1 a day- not a 12 pack.

If you're going to drink it, don't count it as your water- that needs to be non-caffeinated, non sodium, non carbonated beverages. Especially early on, it seems to not cause problems with weight loss (probably because so many other healthy changes are occurring), but as one get closer and closer to goal, pop can slow weight loss.