What are your opinions on diet soda?

Healthy_Hannah483
Healthy_Hannah483 Posts: 151 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Do you drink it? Why or why not? Why is it so bad for you/worse than regular soda?

Thanks!
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Replies

  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    A Registered Dietitian told me to avoid Diet Coke. I assume she thought the artificial sweetener used is unhealthy. I drink diet sodas, but try to keep the number down. If I have access to it, I prefer freshly made ice tea or bottled water.
  • Tzippy7
    Tzippy7 Posts: 344 Member
    It has aspartame in it which many studies have proven to cause cancer. (aspartame is also used in rat poison...). It has also been linked to alzheimers. Also, some people say that your body responds to sweetness the same way regardless of if its real sugar. This is because digestions starts in your mouth with your taste buds...idk if i believe that one. Additionally, they have done studies and people who drink diet soda are not thinner than people who drink regular soda.
  • julieh1973
    julieh1973 Posts: 121 Member
    Gave up my aspartame addiction about three months ago-just before I started MFP and I have lost 20lbs. so far!!!
  • rawness1127
    rawness1127 Posts: 8
    Garbage!! Dont drink soda at all! Just my opinion:huh:
  • santini1975
    santini1975 Posts: 175 Member
    Well, let's start with aspartame. It's a zero calorie sweetener that, when heated up by your body temperature turns into formic acid, methanol and formaldahyde.Clinical effects can include dizziness and headaches. Early animal testing showed a high incidence of brain tumors in aspartame fed rats.
    Then there's phosphoric acid. It causes you to lose calcium and excrete it from your body. When your body is low in calcium, it draws what it needs from your bones and can cause osteoperosis.
    Then there's the dyes which can cause contact dermatitis or bronchoconstriction as well as cross-react with asprin and acetometophine.

    Try carbonated water instead.
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    I plain don't like the taste. If I'm going to have soda, it might as well be the real deal.
  • strawberrie_milk
    strawberrie_milk Posts: 381 Member
    I don't see anything wrong with it. I enjoy it.
  • keem88
    keem88 Posts: 1,689 Member
    gross.
    if you are looking for soda with 0 calories and 0 sugar, go to the health food section or health food store and get zevia. all natural, comes in different flavors and way better for you.
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    I was addicted to coca cola. Now i drink coke zero.

    hundreds of people will tell you diet sodas will kill you...but so could marriage.
  • bluefox9er
    bluefox9er Posts: 2,917 Member
    gross.
    if you are looking for soda with 0 calories and 0 sugar, go to the health food section or health food store and get zevia. all natural, comes in different flavors and way better for you.

    water?
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Well, let's start with aspartame. It's a zero calorie sweetener that, when heated up by your body temperature turns into formic acid, methanol and formaldahyde.Clinical effects can include dizziness and headaches. Early animal testing showed a high incidence of brain tumors in aspartame fed rats.
    Then there's phosphoric acid. It causes you to lose calcium and excrete it from your body. When your body is low in calcium, it draws what it needs from your bones and can cause osteoperosis.
    Then there's the dyes which can cause contact dermatitis or bronchoconstriction as well as cross-react with asprin and acetometophine.

    Try carbonated water instead.
    This is all false information.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11522558

    As for aspartame, it's a protein chain, you eat it in far higher concentrations in a piece of chicken than you would get from a soda.

    You might want to do some real research into it, and not just Google to get to OMGASPARTAMEISPOISON.com.
  • tlsegar
    tlsegar Posts: 185 Member
    Honestly, I've never understood the addiction to diet soda. To me it tastes absolutely horrible. But to each their own.

    As far as the artificial sweeteners - I suffer from migraines and I notice an uptick in my migraine frequency and intensity when I've been regularly consuming artificial sugar such as splenda. I try to use either real sugar in smaller amounts or natural sweeteners like stevia.

    Personally I would opt to drink the occasional regular soda as opposed to daily drinking the diet stuff.
  • MisMissey
    MisMissey Posts: 10
    When I started with my personal trainer I told her how much diet soda I drink. It's zero calorie, figured I was fine. She hit the roof and within a month I went from 4L a day to none. My skin issues cleared up, my blood sugar evened out, my blood pressure came down and I started sleeping better. I know that a lot of that can also be attributed to the extra effort of working out and eating well, but for me, the most telling was the skin issue clearing up, I feel that was a direct result of stopping with my soda and all the chemicals that are in it. I still dream about my beloved diet pepsi but it's getting easier. It's absolutely a personal choice, just wanted to share my experience.
  • jcr85
    jcr85 Posts: 229
    Well, let's start with aspartame. It's a zero calorie sweetener that, when heated up by your body temperature turns into formic acid, methanol and formaldahyde.Clinical effects can include dizziness and headaches. Early animal testing showed a high incidence of brain tumors in aspartame fed rats.
    Then there's phosphoric acid. It causes you to lose calcium and excrete it from your body. When your body is low in calcium, it draws what it needs from your bones and can cause osteoperosis.
    Then there's the dyes which can cause contact dermatitis or bronchoconstriction as well as cross-react with asprin and acetometophine.

    Try carbonated water instead.

    This is totally misleading. The side effects listed above are at extremely high doses. Anything at excesses can be toxic even water. There is less than a 10th of an once of aspartame in the average diet soda, I don't think having from time to time will hurt anyone.
  • fmbomzo
    fmbomzo Posts: 382 Member
    I don't drink them because I hate the way they taste. All of the ones I've tried have an aftertaste or an "exaggerated" sweet taste. It's not the same taste or experience as sugar. If I'm going to drink a soda, I go for the real thing and I just have a serving.

    Also, certain artificial sweeteners give me an immediate migraine-like headache that makes me feel as if my head is going to explode.

    I am a recovering sugar addict. I know my sugar and aspartame is not an acceptable substitute to me. And consuming products containing Splenda (sugar alcohol) prompted a worldwind tour of G.I. specialists.

    Give me non-diet soda or I just prefer to drink water and unsweetened tea.
  • LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo
    LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo Posts: 3,634 Member
    Yes I still drink it sometimes when an occassion calls for it (I would be lying if I told you that I don't drink it or never once fallen victim of it.) but before I used to drink it many times a day. Now I just stick with good old water.

    Diet sodas in my opinion can only make the person fatter because of the artificial sweeteners on it. Because its zero calorie so people would think they can eat more & drink more than a glass of it which isn't good. My weight ballooned when I was still drinking it regularly.
  • love4fitnesslove4food_wechange
    love4fitnesslove4food_wechange Posts: 6,897 Member
    sometimes i drink it. try not to do it all the time but i think it's delicious so i won't completely refrain--especially not if it's free.
  • tat2dmrsgrimm
    tat2dmrsgrimm Posts: 226 Member
    I drink 2 Pepsi Ones a day. They are made with Splenda. I have lost 11 pounds so far. I guess I am not going to give it up. I also Drink probably at least 80 oz of water a day. To each their own. If you are able to have one or two diet sodas a day and still lose weight, then that is your choice. No one can make it but you.
  • riskiestlavonn
    riskiestlavonn Posts: 207 Member
    Used to drink a lot of Coke Zero until yesterday (haha). I switched to diet soda a while back because I thought it would be better for me. But now that I think about it, the diet version is probably no good either. No more for me :-).
  • missashley884
    missashley884 Posts: 188 Member
    aspartame gives me awful headaches!
  • Katie1951
    Katie1951 Posts: 312 Member
    Gave up diet soda because of the sodium. If I want a carbonated drink I go for the real thing. Would really just prefer water or ice tea.
  • laurieagain09
    laurieagain09 Posts: 183 Member
    Terrible and addicting :(
  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    My favorite is Coke Zero. It's not as good as Coke Classic, but I like it better than Diet Coke. It's great for when I want flavor without the calories. And, having done my homework, I'm comfortable consuming both splenda and aspartame in low dosages.
  • squirrelygirl82
    squirrelygirl82 Posts: 31
    I used to drink Diet Pepsi like it was water. Since I have started MFP, I have decreased my consumption to 1 can per day at most. I don't drink diet pop over regular because I think it is healthier, or because it's less sugar, I drink it because I prefer the taste over regular pop. I don't think there is anything wrong with it if you are making sure to drink your water, too.
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    Nope I dont drink it. It has aspartame in it, which is bad for u. That is why reg soda is better than diet, but it's empty cals. Water is the best thing for u.
  • gpstrucker
    gpstrucker Posts: 930 Member
    Personally I have never cared for sodas, diet or otherwise. Can't possibly be good for you.
  • fenwaysgirl
    fenwaysgirl Posts: 22
    i quit drinking ANY soda, i lose weight...i start drinking it again, i start gaining..im DONE w all soda! lol
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    I prefer diet coke, but will drink coke zero if I must, and occasionally I will go for a diet Dr. Pepper.

    I drink probably too much, and I would say the only negative I can really think of is that I frequently find myself drinking it in lieu of water.
  • akrnrunner
    akrnrunner Posts: 117 Member
    I try to stick to mostly water but that gets boring. So I'll have one every one in awhile. I have to purpose myself to get one though, like if I'm at a restaurant or something. I don't keep it in the house. But I also find that I don't crave it like I used to. I will do a mixed drink with it though to keep the calories down. Malibu Rum & Diet Coke are my fav. :)
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    I drink Diet Pepsi or Pepsi Max daily and have lost a few pounds while consuming it... I highly doubt I will ever stop drinking it.. I get 120 oz. of water in daily as well so I don't feel a couple bottle a day is going to kill me... Heck if I was still 560 lbs. my soda habit would be the least of my problems...

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