Diet coke - does it make you put on weight

Kara_xxx

Stop drinking it! Giving up sodas was this best thing I did a couple years ago. The artificial sweeteners in diet drinks make you hungry so you tend to eat more if you consume a lot of diet sodas.

SO TRUE!

Yup!

natpalit

Diet sodas really have no positive nutritional value, and even though they may or not be "bad," I have certainly never seen any evidence saying they are "good." I used to drink lots of diet coke, up to a litre a day. And the main reason for me giving it up was because I felt like it had desensitised me to sweetness. This meant when I had sweet desserts etc, I was more likely to go for the sweetest option, with the most sugar. I switched to water with artificially sweetened fruit cordials, and now I just sip chilled water throughout the day. It has definitely had an effect on how much sweetness I can taste. And my teeth are also less sensitive.

If you have a craving for something sweet, why don't you try having a piece of fruit, or some fruit juice. If you're worried about the calories, you could try diluting them with water. Plus fruits have vitamins in them which are good for you, and might even make your skin, hair and nails better!

Matt_Wild

Stop drinking it! Giving up sodas was this best thing I did a couple years ago. The artificial sweeteners in diet drinks make you hungry so you tend to eat more if you consume a lot of diet sodas.

No they don't, they don't increase insulin nor blood glucose. Indeed studies show this:

Overall - http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7921865

Aspartame - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1946186

Saccharin - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7652029

Sucralose - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21245879


Don't let facts get in the way of your interesting story tho

Kara_xxx

Aspartame... no thank you.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/268655-what-makes-diet-pop-bad-for-consumption/

ChelleFeegan

I live for Diet Coke. At work I drink at least 3 x 500ml bottles and at home, a few glasses a night.

I am trying to cut out a couple and replace with water, purely because it's costing me a fortune, but I can't cut it out all in one hit - I am making a lot of changes at the moment with one thing and another and adding this to the mix might disrupt everything.

Thanks

Flixie00

I drink 1-2 cans per day and have had no problems losing weight.

beachlover317

Stop drinking it! Giving up sodas was this best thing I did a couple years ago. The artificial sweeteners in diet drinks make you hungry so you tend to eat more if you consume a lot of diet sodas.

No they don't, they don't increase insulin nor blood glucose. Indeed studies show this:

Overall - http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7921865

Aspartame - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1946186

Saccharin - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7652029

Sucralose - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21245879


Don't let facts get in the way of your interesting story tho

Haven't seen any HARD FACTS in this thread. If it works for you, great. If it doesn't, keep drinking. For ME, it cured years of craving sweets all the time. It was the only thing I did differently during that time. Just woke up one day and realized I hadn't been munching out on sweets during every day. This was the month before I found MFP and started tracking calories. We all know that there is not scientific links to some of our "observations", but that doesn't mean there won't be one in the future, now does it???

Spokez70

I use to drink a ton of diet coke- like a 2 liter bottle a day- but quit back in March and now just drink water with only the occasional coffee, tea, or energy drink. I don't really think it makes you gain weight though- as for cravings it probably makes you just want more diet coke. I did have a couple glasses while on vacation last week and I was kind of expecting a big wow moment and it was more like kind of as let down and I just drank some water after because I was still thirsty.

Kara_xxx

Stop drinking it! Giving up sodas was this best thing I did a couple years ago. The artificial sweeteners in diet drinks make you hungry so you tend to eat more if you consume a lot of diet sodas.

No they don't, they don't increase insulin nor blood glucose. Indeed studies show this:

Overall - http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7921865

Aspartame - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1946186

Saccharin - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7652029

Sucralose - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21245879


Don't let facts get in the way of your interesting story tho

or don't let personal bias get in the way of good research?

"In the constant battle to lose inches or at least stay the same, we reach for the diet soda. Two studies presented June 25 at the American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions suggest this might be self-defeating behavior.

Epidemiologists from the School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio reported data showing that diet soft drink consumption is associated with increased waist circumference in humans. They also discussed a second study that found aspartame raised fasting glucose (blood sugar) in diabetes-prone mice."

“Data from this and other prospective studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners as healthy alternatives may be ill-advised,” said Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D., professor and chief of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology in the School of Medicine. “They may be free of calories but not of consequences.”

http://www.uthscsa.edu/hscnews/singleformat.asp?newID=3872

AND

"We have recently investigated the effect of different macronutrient compositions on plasma glucose and insulin levels during an acute bout of exercise in 14 men with type 2 diabetes. We compared the same subjects in random order in five different conditions: 1) high–glycemic index sucrose meal, 2) low–glycemic index fructose meal (both of which are matched for total calories [455 kcal], macronutrient composition, and taste), 3) aspartame meal (358 kcal), 4) high-fat/low-carbohydrate meal (also containing 455 kcal), and 5) fasting. We hypothesized that using fructose or aspartame instead of sucrose would have a lower impact on insulin release and glucose response than a sucrose-sweetened meal.

Contrary to all expectation, the aspartame breakfast induced a similar rise in glucose and insulin levels at baseline than the sucrose meal, even if the aspartame meal had the same taste, and was 22% lower in calories and 10% lower in carbohydrates, with an inferior glycemic index."

http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/7/e59.full

mandimuscles

Fake sugar was meant for diabetics and those who can't process regular sugar. Unfortunately it's turned into a popular beverage for people without those health issues as it contains no calories, everyone thinks they'll lose weight and can still have their sodas. I don't know about all the technical aspects of it, however I know many people that have some major issues from drinking said items. I am a super crazy firm believer in that if you want sugar, have SUGAR. Not some chemical substitute that you don't know what it's doing to your body. Some people seemingly have no problems with it, but I've seen many more that do after time. I don't take that chance myself. I'd recommend running away from it!

Matt_Wild

Please tell me how a zero calorie drink can increase waist circumference? All that shows me is people who drink diet drinks may also eat bad diets as well. How often do you see people at McDonalds clearly over weight eat a burger and fries with "a diet coke" please.

There is no bias for or against. I've actually provided 3 pubmed studies on insulin and glucose levels AND a recent overview of diet drinks combined and they all show what I say.

Your information states "he American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions suggests" meaning they have not drawn any conclusions based on the data they have.

beachlover317 - "Haven't seen any HARD FACTS in this thread" - so studies I provided plus an overall co-allation of date I provide aren't based on FACTS and blood glucose and insulin readings? Um? Ok then. Ignore the science!

aimeelambert88

I was drinking diet coke every day and after cutting it out of my daily diet I have started to lose weight, I dont know if there is any link or its just a coincidence, but I know if i now drink too much it really makes my stomach feel bloated and yacky.....i've swapped the diet coke for flavoured water (might be equally as bad) but this works as a good replacement for me

Matt_Wild

Kara_xxx - since the aspartame has no calories nor does it need insulin for it to be lifted into the system, it would be the carb's in the meal causing the insulin/glucose rise, fairly obvious really!!!

Kara_xxx

Kara_xxx - since the aspartame has no calories nor does it need insulin for it to be lifted into the system, it would be the carb's in the meal causing the insulin/glucose rise, fairly obvious really!!!

ooohhh who do I believe... the research of Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D., professor and chief of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology in the School of Medicine or "Wild Matt"....

it's tough really...

_Mimi_

Like most things, it's individual as far as the cravings/weight gain. For me? WOW! I can't even believe the difference since giving it up. Not only diet soda, but all artificial sweeteners, and most sugars. I use a bit of honey...other than that, I add no sweetener, natural or artificial.

As to the qestion of if they are harmful to you? Again, you can find a study to convince you of whatever you wish to believe. Personally, I try to eat as clean as possible, and stay away from as much processed foods as I can. At the very least, it is processed, so for me, I don't consider it a healthy choice.

I would like to suggest that anyone out there who is a binge eater, or has huge cravings, especially for sweets, try cutting all the artificial sweeteners, and don't add any refined sugars, for 2 to 3 weeks. See if you feel a difference. I truly believe this one change is what is going to finally get me off the diet roller coaster, and help me to live a happier, healthier, thinner life.

smithy85

I know it won't help with the artificial sweetener issue, but I now drink diet lemonade instead of diet coke, so at least I get the sweet fizzy hit, but without the caffeine.

Ive also been buying diet lemonade recently! Good Stuff! x

Matt_Wild

My name is actually Matt Wild, its my real name, I don't hide behind pseudo names - http://www.gasparinutrition.co.uk/195.html

As for who you believe, my studies are all from pubmed again by published scientists and my overall conclusion again, the same.

If you feel the need to start name calling, the I think it shows general level of confidence in your own data. I provide studies on humans, you provide them in mice.

As much as they can suggest human interactions with insulin, I can 100% state that I am not, have never been and will never have the endocrine, digestive nor biological set-up of a MOUSE.

Stuz359

I don't think it makes you gain weight, just increases your cravings for the other sweet stuff. It's like giving an alcoholic a light beer, or an ex smoker a fake cigarette. It just brings back the cravings and makes you want more.

3LittleMonkeyMom

Without being a nutritionist or doctor of internal medicine I can say this: I gave up a years long habit of DAILY coke zero/diet coke, and feel 100% better. My stomach doesn't bloat as it used to, I have have bladder issues anymore, and I don't have fuzzy brain. I actually remember what I walked into a room for.

I have a large cup of coffee in the morning, and drink water the rest of the day. I never thought I could kick my addiction (that's what it felt like when I was giving it up!!) to diet coke...but I did.

ETA: By "Daily" I mean it was the only thing I drank besides my cup of coffee in the A.M.

beachlover317

Please tell me how a zero calorie drink can increase waist circumference? All that shows me is people who drink diet drinks may also eat bad diets as well. How often do you see people at McDonalds clearly over weight eat a burger and fries with "a diet coke" please.

There is no bias for or against. I've actually provided 3 pubmed studies on insulin and glucose levels AND a recent overview of diet drinks combined and they all show what I say.

Your information states "he American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions suggests" meaning they have not drawn any conclusions based on the data they have.

beachlover317 - "Haven't seen any HARD FACTS in this thread" - so studies I provided plus an overall co-allation of date I provide aren't based on FACTS and blood glucose and insulin readings? Um? Ok then. Ignore the science!

I believe you misunderstood what I was stating. I said that all the previous posters were just stating their opionions. We were providing anecdotal evidence from our own experiences. I know you gave fact based studies - I agree. At this point there is not relevant PROOF that says diet drinks cause weight gain, cravings, etc. I can only say what works for me. That's it. I'm not telling anyone to drink or no drink. These forums do not always have to be all or nothing. My telling someone my experiences does not harm them. If they quit drinking diet sodas they are not harmed either. Have a good day.