Why are diet soft drinks so bad?

ImCasual

I drink quite a lot of diet lemonade and I've managed to lose weight, however I've seen posts about coke addictions and so forth, so why is it so bad?
And if I drink Water, and water only, will I lose a lot more weight than before?

RainbowPearl

Bump

tlems

I think that it boils down to the fact that the artificial sweetners used in diet drinks make you crave sweet - sugary things.

erickirb

I drink quite a lot of diet lemonade and I've managed to lose weight, however I've seen posts about coke addictions and so forth, so why is it so bad?

one word: Chemicals

And if I drink Water, and water only, will I lose a lot more weight than before?

Only if you were drinking drinks with cals in them, otherwise no difference.

UponThisRock

They're not.

NoAdditives

Because anything that is 90% chemicals isn't healthy.

neanderthin

Because the average American doesn't know what moderation is.

CaptainGordo

Another thread with some insights: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/390245-is-it-ok-to-drink-soda

MysticLiz

Because anything that is 90% chemicals isn't healthy.

agree!

Ralphrabbit

Aspatamine has been shown to have a very negative effect on the body & is bad for the neurological system (nerves) in that it thins the myolin sheath. This junk has become acceptible to be chucked into food instead of sugar because it gives the required sweetness. We are far better off just adjusting ourselves to less of the good stuf!

sweetsarahj

Some people say that the fake sweetness in diet drinks makes them crave more sugar. I drink any kind of pop only occasionally because the ingredients freak me out.

KatyRing

Diet sodas help me from giving into worse things. I also love Diet rite, which is made with Splenda instead of aspertame and doesnt have the caffine.

But still, I know that it has crap in it that isnt the best but it it keeps me from chowing down on cake...then so be it.

kmbrooks15

I think the main danger with diet drinks is that we associate them with things like french fries and candy. We tend to get the mentality of "I'm eating the candy bar, but I'm drinking a diet drink with it, so it's okay".

It's like anything else...moderation is key. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a diet coke, but it probably shouldn't be your only source of fluids. I avoid them because they have a lot of sodium, which tends to make my ankles swell up. I drink decaf tea instead.

bcattoes

There is some evidence that cola (diet or regular) can have negative health effects. But overall diet drinks are fairly safe, I think. There have been ample studies on them with no proof that they are unhealthy.

You are certainly better off drinking diet lemonade than lemonade that is high in sugar.

Unknown

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MikeSEA

90% chemicals? Since when is diet soda not mostly water?

erickirb

Not a good argument, in that case everything is mostly water.

what if you had a glass that was 99% water and 1% anthrax (by weight or volume, take your pick) would you say, it is safe because it is mostly water?

ambeer2

Read "Skinny B(fill in the blanks)," and you'll discover the answer. Great book about the dangers of what most of us consume on a daily basis, and more of what we should be eating to prevent disease.

The only safe sweetener is Stevia, or Sugar in the Raw/turbinado sugar. I love me some Splenda, but just because it doesn't have aspartame, doesn't mean it's good for you, either.

Pangea250

90% chemicals? Since when is diet soda not mostly water?

Thank you for saying what I was about to. What frustrates me so much is that there are so many "facts" thrown about here that really aren't "facts" at all.

To the OP: just because 1 or 10 or 500 people say something, it doesn't mean it is true. Do the research, then make up your own mind.

bcattoes

Because anything that is 90% chemicals isn't healthy.

That's silly and not based on science.

MikeSEA

Not a good argument, in that case everything is mostly water.

Except things that aren't mostly water...

In any event, I wasn't making any argument. I was suggesting that implying that diet soda is 90% chemicals is ridiculous. It's either 100% chemicals (because technically water is a chemical) or we recognize that's mostly just plain ol water.

Whether or not the added chemicals are good or bad for someone is, well...more complex than saying "Rawr! Chemicals bad!"

_Timmeh_

What's bad for you may not be bad for another, diet soda has too many mystery ingredients IMO.
Some people have bad reactions to food coloring, you might not even know it.
Lately the only time I've had soda is when alcohol is mixed in it.

erickirb

Not a good argument, in that case everything is mostly water.

Except things that aren't mostly water...

In any event, I wasn't making any argument. I was suggesting that implying that diet soda is 90% chemicals is ridiculous. It's either 100% chemicals (because technically water is a chemical) or we recognize that's mostly just plain ol water.

Whether or not the added chemicals are good or bad for someone is, well...more complex than says "Rawr! Chemicals bad!"

Point taken, but most of the "additives" in food now a days is not considered safe. I have a book at home about food additives and preservatives, that rank additives, from fine, to avoid at all costs. I would have to check the labels to see where the ones in soda fit, but in general, the less additives the better.

mandij86

It’s hard to kick the habit of drinking sodas but try your best to cut back. Diet drinks are loaded with chemicals, more noticeably, dyes and sweeteners. Aspartame and Splenda used to sweeten diet foods turn to arsenic and formaldehyde while processing in your body. Scary!

CaptainGordo

Ok...EVERYTHING is chemicals!!!!!! Haha.....why do people throw that out like it's some "scary" word???

Thank you!

ElizabethRoad

Read "Skinny B(fill in the blanks)," and you'll discover the answer. Great book about the dangers of what most of us consume on a daily basis, and more of what we should be eating to prevent disease.

The only safe sweetener is Stevia, or Sugar in the Raw/turbinado sugar. I love me some Splenda, but just because it doesn't have aspartame, doesn't mean it's good for you, either.

I read that book. It basically just tells you to go vegan.

trlyblssd79

Not sure but I saw on the Today show a few weeks ago that the artificial sweetners in the diet sodas may interact with your brain and keep you from feeling full causing soda drinkers (diet sodas or regular) to both gain weight.Who knows if they also were doing other unhealthy things along with soda intake to contribute to their weight gain though.

Diet sodas are also still linked to higher risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

It took me a while to give up my daily Pepsi and my husband still drinks Diet Pepsi.

sbeisel1

Because anything that is 90% chemicals isn't healthy.

Spot on! any dietition with your health in mind will tell you that the fake sugars will cause sugar cravings and binging. not to meniton, migranes, loose stool(depending on brand) and many other health issues.

drink water or caffien free herbal tea which are good warm or cold. if you need a little sweet try steevia or honey(its naturally sweeter than sugar) have tea with cinnamon it is a naturally sweet tasting spice.

i just gave up all juice and pop and I drink water and decaf green or orange peako tea(sometimes with milk) or herbals I dont miss the pop or juice at all (took me about 21 days to get over it)

good luck

FearAnLoathing

Read "Skinny B(fill in the blanks)," and you'll discover the answer. Great book about the dangers of what most of us consume on a daily basis, and more of what we should be eating to prevent disease.

The only safe sweetener is Stevia, or Sugar in the Raw/turbinado sugar. I love me some Splenda, but just because it doesn't have aspartame, doesn't mean it's good for you, either.

I read that book. It basically just tells you to go vegan.

That book was horrible

kekl

I say, everything in moderation.
Life is too short not to have something you enjoy every once in a while.

SiltyPigeon

This is a contextual question.

Calorie-wise:
Water = Diet Soda > Regular Soda.

"Horrible killer chemical"-wise
Water > Diet Soda = Regular Soda.

Sugar causing Diabetese-wise
Water = Diet Soda > Regular Soda.

Clean eating-wise
Water > Diet Soda = Regular Soda (except maybe 7-Up which is all natural and flows freely from 7-up Rivers in the Andes, of course)

I used to drink one regular soda per day. Now I drink one diet soda per day. Health-wise I have not changed (except that I've lost 50 lbs, but that is not directly related to drinking diet soda. Certainly switching helped but is not the direct cause).