Diet Soda

LesIsMoreXX

Why do people say diet soda is worse for you than regular soda? Is it just because of the artificial sweetener or is there another reason why?

here_I_go_again

I don't know, but I'd like to know too! Thanks for posting! Anyone?

bhankiii

Diet coke:

Carbonated water, colour (caramel E150d), sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame-K), flavourings (including caffeine), phosphoric acid, citric acid. Contains a source of phenylalanine.

Why would anyone choose to put this in their body? (Says the man who drank Diet Coke for 30 years.)

These days there are other things I'd rather drink - coconut water, Kombucha, a nice cup of tea or an unsweetened cappuccino. Even a plain sparkling mineral water.

merrillfoster

I'm enjoying a nice can of diet coke right now and it is DELIGHTFUL.

dusty_712001

I have heard some say that diet soda actually increases your hunger. I don't know if it is true, I have not looked for or been told if there is any proof one way or another. I still drink diet soda, but my intake has gone down significantly as I have increased my water intake.

emhargs

have drunk coke for about 20 years, and in the last 2 years switched to coke zero. Up until two days ago was drinking about 5 cans a day. Have now gone cold turkey.

yes its the artificial sweetener in it which most likely gives us cancer. Particularly if you are drinking 5 cans a day.

also i have read some research which suggests drinking diet soda is actually detrimental to weight loss.

anyways.

AmeChops

Regular coke:

Carbonated Water , Sugar , Colour (Caramel E150d) , Phosphoric Acid , Natural Flavourings including Caffeine.

Pretty much the same things except sugar has been replaced with aspartame and ace-k (or E951 and E950, I think) which are chemicals...in saying that though you don't just walk up to a tree and grab some sugar it's gotta be extracted and stuff.

Phosphoric Acid is used as a rust remover (extract from Wikipedia):

Rust removal

Phosphoric acid may be used as a "rust converter", by direct application to rusted iron, steel tools, or surfaces. The phosphoric acid converts reddish-brown iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3 (rust) to black ferric phosphate, FePO4.

"Rust converter" is sometimes a greenish liquid suitable for dipping (in the same sort of acid bath as is used for pickling metal), but it is more often formulated as a gel, commonly called naval jelly. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer". As a thick gel, it may be applied to sloping, vertical, or even overhead surfaces.

After treatment, the black ferric-phosphate coating can be scrubbed off, leaving a fresh metal surface. Multiple applications of phosphoric acid may be required to remove all rust. The black phosphate coating can also be left in place, where it will provide moderate further corrosion resistance (such protection is also provided by the superficially similar Parkerizing and blued electrochemical conversion coating processes).

And in saying that I'll still drink it occasionally!!

alienrite

I found that diet sodas and artificially sweetened drinks make me feel weird and not all are quite as bad. Diet colas are the best for me while diet root-beer and diet iced teas are the worst. At the worst, they consistently trigger binge consumption and I can easily drink a two-liter bottle of diet soda in less than an hour and still feel thirsty and hungry. They also make me much more likely to eat huge portions of food without even noticing. I cut out the worst of them years ago and recently cut out all diet drinks (less than one every two weeks) and feel much better. Even beyond the binge trigger, I decided I didn't need to wash that many chemicals through my body. I have also found that I get full during meals much quicker when I just drink water with my food.

Starvandeva

I cut out all pop( I drank diet pepsi) a year and a half ago except for an occasional small amount of sprite, in hopes to drop weight. It worked for other people I know. The only thing it did for me was improved my skin and now I have a hard time staying hydrated. But I just finished a college nutrition course and the instructor drinks it. He sais anything in moderation is just fine. There are no "bad foods"

Cgrnlaw

I think its the artificial sweeteners....but I will have one maybe once every two weeks.

SuffolkSally

I went off it when a UK TV programme on household tips recommended for descaling toilets and removing tarnish from brass...

Nicola1944

Ok before i say this il point out i drink alot of Pepsi max!! lol

There's lots of reasons why we shouldnt drink it.... Aspartame (sweetener) being a big one!! But i think the gas also stretch's out your stomach!!

Id like more info on this too if anyone can help x

raindance_maggie

I went off it when a UK TV programme on household tips recommended for descaling toilets and removing tarnish from brass...

basically, this...

*says she who drinks diet sprite with her rum from time to time but figures the alcohol might minimize the effects of the tarnish removing minerals*

douglasmobbs

I went off it when a UK TV programme on household tips recommended for descaling toilets and removing tarnish from brass...

basically, this...

*says she who drinks diet sprite with her rum from time to time but figures the alcohol might minimize the effects of the tarnish removing minerals*

Lemon and vinegar are great cleaning products as well so that blows that argument out of the water

tlruffino

gave up pop 4 months ago. Switched to water and tea. Every now and then I get a craving, but I have read so much about how bad it is for your health and it can lead to heart attacks and stroke.

beccarockslife

aspartame has been shown to increase blood sugar levels and cravings for actual sugar and sweet things.

tony2009

I think it has to do with that.

You know, it's also worse for you than water ^_^

ScatteredThoughts

I'm enjoying a nice can of diet coke right now and it is DELIGHTFUL.

Cheers! :drinker:

CommandaPanda

I have heard some say that diet soda actually increases your hunger. I don't know if it is true, I have not looked for or been told if there is any proof one way or another. I still drink diet soda, but my intake has gone down significantly as I have increased my water intake.

It's actually the artificial sweeteners in the diet soda, it basically shuts out feelings of satiety. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080210183902.htm)

As for the cancer things (as I've seen someone mentioning in here), there has been no credible evidence that the ingredients in diet soda cause.

Basically, diet soda is alright... just don't go crazy on it -- go EASY on it. I see some people drink it like it's some sort of nectar from the gods.

*edit* -- additional source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diet-soda/AN01732

Rockmyskinnyjeans

I've heard over and over from people saying it stretches the stomach. No, it does not stretch the stomach. It does however increase food cravings so I've severely cut back my usage of it. I have maybe 3 small glasses of it a week now (with dinners) instead of a couple of bottles a day. I've noticed that by drinking more water and less soda, I'm hungry less.

LesterBlackstone

aspartame has been shown to increase blood sugar levels and cravings for actual sugar and sweet things.

Stop making things up.

Tat2dDom624

I stopped drinking diet soda months ago. Now it's just water and Crystal Light iced tea if i want to change things up a bit. To be honest, i really hate the taste of soda now.

fatmom51

I went off it when a UK TV programme on household tips recommended for descaling toilets and removing tarnish from brass...

basically, this...

*says she who drinks diet sprite with her rum from time to time but figures the alcohol might minimize the effects of the tarnish removing minerals*

Lemon and vinegar are great cleaning products as well so that blows that argument out of the water

Ditto to baking soda, ketchup, and probably lots of other things that I can't think about right now.
I am not going to sit here and argue that diet soda is GOOD for you-- even though I drink it a little too frequently -- because it's clearly not GOOD for you. But I'm also not going to demonize it as being inherently BAD for you either. In moderation, it probably doesn't cause cancer or stones, or any of the other things people say it will do. Yes, for some it will cause bloating or gassiness, but unless you have a sensitivity to artificial sweeteners, it's not poison. (I don't know that Crystal Light is any better for you, but some people who are quick to pan diet soda in one breath will say in the other that they drink Crystal Light instead.)

Water is certainly healthier and likely is the best choice for hydration. Diet soda does not CAUSE weight gain, per se, but I have heard that since diet soda has no calories, its sweetness "tricks" the brain and causes the drinker to want to satisfy his/her sweet tooth and hunger with things that actually do have calories since they've gotten the sweetness but no caloric payout. That said, if you're tracking your food you're already taking control of what you put into your mouth. And if you're using diet soda instead of full sugar soda with a meal, for instance, than you're making a reasonable trade-off. Everything in moderation has been my mantra lately.

sherronh

There is actually no real evidence that it is linked to cancer. The Mayo clinic says a can a day won't hurt you.

People say diet soda makes you gain weight but they are also misinformed.

lizziebeth1028

It's all the artificial crap that goes into it. BUT...... doesn't stop me from drinking diet pop!!! I limit it to one glass a day:drinker:

lizziebeth1028

aspartame has been shown to increase blood sugar levels and cravings for actual sugar and sweet things.

Nope. Not for me it hasn't!

dr3wman

People say diet soda is dangerous because of aspartame. However, the studies that have shown it causes cancer were done on rats, and they were given a outrageous amount of it. I would reccoment checking out this video on the topic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdiY5SoWzNg

ctooch99

I'm enjoying a nice can of diet coke right now and it is DELIGHTFUL.

Hahahahaha - I admit I have a Diet Dr. Pepper addiction. I think the main issue with diet soda is that the human body has no idea how to process it. From what I have read, it can make the liver act in weird ways because the body is trying to figure out if it is a sugar or what. Also, supposedly because it can taste sweeter than regular soda, it increases the craving to eat more food.

I just use the moderation rule. I drink a diet Dr. Pepper maybe 2 or 3 times per week at most, usually with dinner. I enjoy the taste and it does not add any calories and I personally have not seen any ill affects from this admitted addiction...

Here is a good article on diet soda:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/sodas-and-your-health-risks-debated

purplegoboom

It is the artifical sweeteners people are talking about. But then again, regular soda isn't good for you either. I think it's blown out of proportion.

I rarely drink soda, (and when I do, it's not diet because I can't stand the taste) but I think anything in moderation is fine. One or two a week is fine and if it keeps you sane, go for it.

lizziebeth1028

To me it's a personal choice, I like it, I'm going to drink it. You'll get all kinds of people going crazy on these forums about how horrible it is for you (I always wonder if those same people are smokers). Chemically....yep not good for you especially if consumed in large quantities. But once again...I'm an adult, I'll make my own decisions. As far as it causing sweet cravings...NEVER have I experienced this. And as far as it making you gain weight......it's ZERO calories you won't gain weight.

terri0527

Have no idea, but I drank some Diet Pepsi Sunday after having only water since before Christmas, and it felt like it was burning my throat as I swallowed. Freaky feeling...but otherwise it was pretty good. Still love my water tho!:drinker: