Thoughts on Diet Coke

xipow

Probably harmless, the FDA is happy with it.

I will, however, state a non-medical personal two-part opinion on sweet drinks which you may take or ignore as you like.

Chemicals are our friends. We use chemicals every day for a variety of ways to benefit our bodies. I submit that using a chemical to make a drink sweet may not be an optimal use if you can learn to do without it. There's a near-zero chance that aspartame is hurting your weight loss, but a zero chance that unsweetened water would.

I found when I was drinking soda frequently that the daily ingestion of something sweet exacerbated my cravings for other sweet things, even if that sweet was from a zero-calorie sweetener. I switched from full-sugar soda to diet, and didn't notice much of a difference. When I gave up soda entirely, my outlook on food underwent a pretty dramatic change for the better. In my personal experience, which may or may not match yours, I find things like donuts and sweets a lot easier to resist now that the diet soda monkey is off my back. I also enjoy the actual taste of sweet things more but get tired of the sweetness sooner, and therefore can get by with a lot less of them to satisfy what cravings I do have. My overall diet is a lot cleaner, and it wasn't really much of a conscious effort on my part once the diet soda went bye-bye.

I agree with this perspective. Thanks

xipow

That stuff is not good for you. It's pretty much like drinking liquid chemicals - not good for your body! There are 'soda' like drinks that are made from all natural sweetener, like zevia. You should look into those

Everything you drink is a chemical (from a scientific standpoint). Now dependent on how your body reacts to it is how you gauge if it's good for you or not.

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Seriously, why would you, as a health and fitness professional, advocate processed drinks?
You should be encouraging people to strive for an ideal - not some chemical laced soda.

Seriously, it is not your credentials that have credibility it is what you say.
We all could list stuff.
Been in fitness for 48 years
College Level Athlete
Coached Seven children through High School Athletics
BS in Health
RN
ETC.

ninerbuff

Aspartame isn't natural. I read that it is somehow related to formeldahyde. If you want the Coke just drink the Coke. At least your body knows how to deal with sugar. Sugar is natural. Aspartame is not.

PS I stay away from drinking my calories in general. Your body doesn't register it as food so you're still hungry. The only thing I drink is water.

Misinformation is why people get confused. Formaldehyde is also formed from eating fruits and vegetables. Your body knows how to deal with anything it ingests. It doesn't "choose".
As for drinking calories, there millions of people that drink protein shakes that use them as meals or snacks. Do some peer reviewed research and you can learn more.

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BigRich822

Its Garbage

ninerbuff

It's not part of eating clean - basically a chemical cocktail. Better to do a nice herb tea or of you want fizz do a carbonated water.

Yep it's not. But clean eating isn't the only way to be healthy.

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ninerbuff

At what dosage is this poisonous or toxic and at what dosage does it cause problems?

Go ahead, I'll wait.

It's the dosage equal to drinking 20 12 oz cans a day. Hell, I know people who drink more beer than that.

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ninerbuff

I've actually learned that diet sodas are worse for you than regulars. The "0 calorie" kind of fools you. In diet sodas, the synthetic sugars don't mesh well with the enzymes you have in your stomach. This causes you to bloat and expand in your waist, and you'll gain the weight in your mid-section, which is the worst part of your body to carry your weight. Just saying

You don't have enzymes in your stomach. The hydrochloric acid would devour it. Just sayin'. Lol, lots of pseudoscience here.

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ninerbuff

I have found that Diet Soda's cause me to retain water really bad. The sodium is terrible in those things. I am guilty of having one ever so often, but I try to stay away. I would rather see weight loss than have a soda.

35 mg of sodium bad? There's more in chicken breast.

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ninerbuff

That stuff is not good for you. It's pretty much like drinking liquid chemicals - not good for your body! There are 'soda' like drinks that are made from all natural sweetener, like zevia. You should look into those

Everything you drink is a chemical (from a scientific standpoint). Now dependent on how your body reacts to it is how you gauge if it's good for you or not.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Seriously, why would you, as a health and fitness professional, advocate processed drinks?
You should be encouraging people to strive for an ideal - not some chemical laced soda.

Seriously, it is not your credentials that have credibility it is what you say.
We all could list stuff.
Been in fitness for 48 years
College Level Athlete
Coached Seven children through High School Athletics
BS in Health
RN
ETC.

Strawman argument. Are you able to dispute what I post with evidence to refute it? By all means please post opposing peer reviewed clinical study and I'll be more than happy to read it. I only echo research that has actually been done, peer reviewed and done several times not just once.

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paulaviki

I love diet coke, I don't have it every day and mainly drink it if I am socialising as I don't drink alcohol very often. Fruit juices just have too many calories in them, and to be honest I'm sure the acid in them is just as bad for your teeth as fizzy drinks!

l2bt

Err on the side of caution. Diet Coke contains chemicals, which are not food. Once you quit drinking it you'll lose your taste for it, as you probably did before. That's what happened to me. It tastes pretty gross to me now.

Aside from that, it looks like enjoying artificial sweeteners prevents us from enjoying regular wholesome unsweetened foods.

ninerbuff

Err on the side of caution. Diet Coke contains chemicals, which are not food. Once you quit drinking it you'll lose your taste for it, as you probably did before. That's what happened to me. It tastes pretty gross to me now.

Aside from that, it looks like enjoying artificial sweeteners prevents us from enjoying regular wholesome unsweetened foods.

Actually artificial sweeteners help many to avoid over consumption of other sweetened process foods (candy, cookies, etc). You can eat fruit too, but like anything else, over eating it can lead to excess calories, too much fiber and in some cases bowel issues.

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grannygethealthy1111

Aspartame, known as "NutraSweet" and "Equal," is safe. Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly tested substances in the U.S. food supply. Numerous authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the FAO/WHO, the European Community, and the American Medical Association have concluded that aspartame is a safe product, except in the rare cases of phenylketonuria. For more information on aspartame, please refer to ACSH's peer-reviewed booklet, "Low Calorie Sweeteners" and beware of Internet health hoaxes.

If you don't want to drink it, don't.

ninerbuff

Aspartame, known as "NutraSweet" and "Equal," is safe. Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly tested substances in the U.S. food supply. Numerous authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the FAO/WHO, the European Community, and the American Medical Association have concluded that aspartame is a safe product, except in the rare cases of phenylketonuria. For more information on aspartame, please refer to ACSH's peer-reviewed booklet, "Low Calorie Sweeteners" and beware of Internet health hoaxes.

If you don't want to drink it, don't.

THIS. But of course the "anti" aspartame crowd will say there's a conspiracy with any SCIENTIFIC and MEDICAL studies that prove it.

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jones137

Aspartame, known as "NutraSweet" and "Equal," is safe. Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly tested substances in the U.S. food supply. Numerous authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the FAO/WHO, the European Community, and the American Medical Association have concluded that aspartame is a safe product, except in the rare cases of phenylketonuria. For more information on aspartame, please refer to ACSH's peer-reviewed booklet, "Low Calorie Sweeteners" and beware of Internet health hoaxes.

If you don't want to drink it, don't.

THIS. But of course the "anti" aspartame crowd will say there's a conspiracy with any SCIENTIFIC and MEDICAL studies that prove it.

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What do you think of this study......

http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/29/studies-why-diet-sodas-are-no-boon-to-dieters/

grannygethealthy1111

Aspartame, known as "NutraSweet" and "Equal," is safe. Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly tested substances in the U.S. food supply. Numerous authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the FAO/WHO, the European Community, and the American Medical Association have concluded that aspartame is a safe product, except in the rare cases of phenylketonuria. For more information on aspartame, please refer to ACSH's peer-reviewed booklet, "Low Calorie Sweeteners" and beware of Internet health hoaxes.

If you don't want to drink it, don't.

THIS. But of course the "anti" aspartame crowd will say there's a conspiracy with any SCIENTIFIC and MEDICAL studies that prove it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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What do you think of this study......

http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/29/studies-why-diet-sodas-are-no-boon-to-dieters/

Actually, I believe there is some merit to the study that you highlighted. Diabetics have a metabolic disorder. I could see artificial sweeteners could give someone the false sense of security that they can drink endless diet pops without harm. That is not true and I am not advocating that you should do so; however, in moderation ... aspartame is safe for the majority of the public.

I do not have a metabolic disorder, I only crave sweets once a year or so, but I drink 2 Diet Pepsi cans per day and have for done so for years. I also drink it in my coffee. It never has made me crave sweets in any form. I also have a 25" waist. Now if you can show me a scientific study that shows aspartame makes my thunder thighs grow larger, you will have me sold to quit! Hee! Hee!


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American Diabetes Association

American Diabetes Association, the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy, states that there is no credible scientific evidence linking aspartame to any health-related problems for people with diabetes.

URL: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/common-terms/
URL: http://forecast.diabetes.org/magazine/food-thought/size-your-sweetener-options

peachyxoxoxo

I think all soda is gross and I try to avoid artificial sweeteners. Never been a fan of soft drinks.

Serenstar75

A. To me, Diet Coke tastes like liquified buttholes.
B. In 20 years, aspartame will be the Agent Orange and asbestos of our generation.
C. Cute baby.

A. I haven't tasted liquefied buttholes before. :P I'm fairly sure if I asked what they taste like, you'd say "Diet Coke." To me, it tastes like medication. I can handle Diet Pepsi, but really don't like -any- soda. I DO on the other hand like sugar free energy drinks on occasion and that's like the same thing (just yummier.) I do Suger free creamer in coffee and otherwise stick to a lot of water.

B. I can so agree. There's no telling what they'll discover. I don't expect the FDA to be overly honest.

C. Now I'm going to have to go back and look. Shows how well I pay attention!

ninerbuff

Aspartame, known as "NutraSweet" and "Equal," is safe. Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly tested substances in the U.S. food supply. Numerous authorities, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives of the FAO/WHO, the European Community, and the American Medical Association have concluded that aspartame is a safe product, except in the rare cases of phenylketonuria. For more information on aspartame, please refer to ACSH's peer-reviewed booklet, "Low Calorie Sweeteners" and beware of Internet health hoaxes.

If you don't want to drink it, don't.

THIS. But of course the "anti" aspartame crowd will say there's a conspiracy with any SCIENTIFIC and MEDICAL studies that prove it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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What do you think of this study......

http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/29/studies-why-diet-sodas-are-no-boon-to-dieters/

Correlation. There's no references to diet, activity, stress factor (like loss of a loved one, loss of a job), compensation for age. It's nice to read, but not conclusive enough to say that aspartame was the cause.

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om3guz

I don't drink it, or I try not to. I probably have one soda a month and I usually choose diet. Just as eating badly makes me feel sick, consuming artificial sweeteners or too much refined sugar make me feel sick too. There is too much sugar in the everyday foods we consume.