Diet Soda vs. Crystal Light

ninerbuff

if the fake sugars in diet soda are bad, so are the ones in crystal light. It only makes sense right? I cut out both as much as I can. I haven't had crystal light in forever. I do drink soda on occasion, but regular.

If they were "bad" then it would make sense. They'd have to be bad to start out with.


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

ninerbuff

Water, water, water. So what if it's boring. Treat yourself occasionally, but remember that every thing you eat or drink isn't supposed to be exciting. Some things you just do because they are the right thing to do.

I always tell my friends who say "but I don't like water", "who cares, you're a grown up now, stop whining and drink water"!!

I'm a systematic eater, so lots of food I eat is pretty boring. Boiled eggs, rice, wheat bread, etc. with nothing on it.


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

AngryDiet

Having considered this in the past, I found no reason to believe diet sodas are harmful if drunk in moderation, with a wide margin for error.

So drink whichever you like and focus your energies on other areas of your Weight Loss Journey (tm) where your efforts will gain more benefit.

chelchelt

I drink either unsweetened tea or I drink the propel waters for something different.

ninerbuff

watch Hungry for Change... that will answer your question about diet coke.

Nope it didn't.


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

doorki

Diet soda is okay, Crystal Light is okay. I tend to drink water and when I do, I chew gum which tends to flavor it for me.

chrisdell21

I actually had a meeting with a nutritionist that said the diet soda thing is real. Artificual sweeteners are are exponentially higher in sweetness but we'll still add the same amount to everything. Since that's what happens our bodies will start to crave sweeter and sweeter things which will increase the amount of sweeteners we'll add to other items. And since sugars and carbs break down the exact same way this can lead to an increase in weight gain.

To be on the safe side I just gave up soda entirely unless I'm really needing a caffine boost (I don't drink coffee, can't stand the taste). Crystal light is still lower on the sweet scale and helps me get more water in a day so I prefer it over soda. I like the little packages you can just add to a water bottle and shake in. I usually use two for a 1 liter bottle and drink that faster than I would water on it's on.

Sarauk2sf

I actually had a meeting with a nutritionist that said the diet soda thing is real. Artificual sweeteners are are exponentially higher in sweetness but we'll still add the same amount to everything. Since that's what happens our bodies will start to crave sweeter and sweeter things which will increase the amount of sweeteners we'll add to other items. And since sugars and carbs break down the exact same way this can lead to an increase in weight gain.

To be on the safe side I just gave up soda entirely unless I'm really needing a caffine boost (I don't drink coffee, can't stand the taste). Crystal light is still lower on the sweet scale and helps me get more water in a day so I prefer it over soda. I like the little packages you can just add to a water bottle and shake in. I usually use two for a 1 liter bottle and drink that faster than I would water on it's on.

Your first paragraph is an individual reaction and not the case for many. Plus, it has less relevance when someone is tracking their food intake. If it makes adherence to your calorie target harder, then it will have a negative impact on your weight. If it makes adherence easier, as it does for many people, then it will have a positive impact on your weight.

MizTerry

Rather than going for the processed stuff, why not make your own fruit-infused drinks? Try mixing chunks of real fruit, like strawberries, apples (add cinnamon to make it extra yummy), peaches, raspberries, or lemon, etc. into a pitcher of water and let it sit for a few hours, or overnight, if possible. That way, you can have your flavored drink, but it will be a lot healthier and you can control the ingredients!

I made some apple water and I wasn't crazy about it, but my youngest daughter loves it!

ChristinaR720

Rather than going for the processed stuff, why not make your own fruit-infused drinks? Try mixing chunks of real fruit, like strawberries, apples (add cinnamon to make it extra yummy), peaches, raspberries, or lemon, etc. into a pitcher of water and let it sit for a few hours, or overnight, if possible. That way, you can have your flavored drink, but it will be a lot healthier and you can control the ingredients!

I made some apple water and I wasn't crazy about it, but my youngest daughter loves it!

Yes, you'll definitely want to experiment with different fruits (some people like cucumber-infused water, but the thought of it makes me cringe) to find the best one for you!

This website has a lot of great recipes: http://www.fruitinfusedwater.com/

wibutterflymagic

I've never been a diet soda drinker because I don't like the taste and because of the artificial sweeteners. The carbonation can also contribute to osteoporosis so exessive amounts are probably not good in the long run, so that's another reason to stay away from the soda. Crystal Light and Mio and those other things also have artificial sweetners so it's hard to say. Personally, I do use crystal light etc every now and again when I get bored wtith just plain water even though it's artificial. It's not an everyday thing so I'm not concerned.

Hollthulhu

As the question was, are artificial sweeteners in X product as bad as X product, the answer is: Yes.

Artificial sweeteners are unneeded chemicals you are voluntarily putting into your body. Most of these chemicals your body can't even absorb. So if you think about it in that light, the answer would be yes. As others have said, certain artificial sweeteners affect others differently. My personal experience is that Aspartame (found in most diet drinks and water flavoring packets) makes me crave more sweets. Aspartame is a very harmful chemical and you should really do some research on any chemicals you are putting into your body. There is much more to be concerned about than just the artificial sweeteners. Here is a helpful article that brings to light some things about the questioned product, and perhaps it will encourage you (and others) to do some research on the foods you eat. http://www.livestrong.com/article/309079-the-pros-cons-of-crystal-light-drink/

Sarauk2sf

As the question was, are artificial sweeteners in X product as bad as X product, the answer is: Yes.

Artificial sweeteners are unneeded chemicals you are voluntarily putting into your body. Most of these chemicals your body can't even absorb. So if you think about it in that light, the answer would be yes. As others have said, certain artificial sweeteners affect others differently. My personal experience is that Aspartame (found in most diet drinks and water flavoring packets) makes me crave more sweets. Aspartame is a very harmful chemical and you should really do some research on any chemicals you are putting into your body. There is much more to be concerned about than just the artificial sweeteners. Here is a helpful article that brings to light some things about the questioned product, and perhaps it will encourage you (and others) to do some research on the foods they eat. http://www.livestrong.com/article/309079-the-pros-cons-of-crystal-light-drink/

Livestrong is not a good site to use for research.

doorki

As the question was, are artificial sweeteners in X product as bad as X product, the answer is: Yes.

Artificial sweeteners are unneeded chemicals you are voluntarily putting into your body. Most of these chemicals your body can't even absorb. So if you think about it in that light, the answer would be yes. As others have said, certain artificial sweeteners affect others differently. My personal experience is that Aspartame (found in most diet drinks and water flavoring packets) makes me crave more sweets. Aspartame is a very harmful chemical and you should really do some research on any chemicals you are putting into your body. There is much more to be concerned about than just the artificial sweeteners. Here is a helpful article that brings to light some things about the questioned product, and perhaps it will encourage you (and others) to do some research on the foods you eat. http://www.livestrong.com/article/309079-the-pros-cons-of-crystal-light-drink/

Welcome to the site. Here is some research for you:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/aspartame

Jamcnair

I've tried the flavor packets from Walmart and after just a couple days of drinking them, my tongue starts to feel strange and I feel dehydrated! I stopped using them and started putting some frozen fruit into a bottle of water and it's much better! You could even add a little bit of Stevia to sweeten it

Astacia74

I quit regular soda ages ago & finally gave up diet soda last November. I wonder if all the talk about diet soda being worse for you than regular, making you crave sweets & being full of chemicals and fake sugar means that drinks like Crystal Light considered the same?

Right now, if it's not coffee or hot tea, (or beer!) I basically only drink water. I've never been a fan of it & that's all I drink... day in and day out. It gets kinda boring.

So, should Crystal Light be considered as bad as a diet soda?

:drinker:

If you go the Crystal Light route, make sure to get the "Pure" not the sugar-free. The issue with diet soda, and all sugar free stuff for that matter, is the use of Aspertame as a sweetener. When you consume this chemical, your body reads it as sugar and your pancreas releases insulin to break down the sugar - problem is, there is no sugar for it to break down.

Sarauk2sf

I quit regular soda ages ago & finally gave up diet soda last November. I wonder if all the talk about diet soda being worse for you than regular, making you crave sweets & being full of chemicals and fake sugar means that drinks like Crystal Light considered the same?

Right now, if it's not coffee or hot tea, (or beer!) I basically only drink water. I've never been a fan of it & that's all I drink... day in and day out. It gets kinda boring.

So, should Crystal Light be considered as bad as a diet soda?

:drinker:

If you go the Crystal Light route, make sure to get the "Pure" not the sugar-free. The issue with diet soda, and all sugar free stuff for that matter, is the use of Aspertame as a sweetener. When you consume this chemical, your body reads it as sugar and your pancreas releases insulin to break down the sugar - problem is, there is no sugar for it to break down.

Do you have any studies that show aspartame causes an insulin spike as the ones I have seen show that it does not?

brower47

I've never been a diet soda drinker because I don't like the taste and because of the artificial sweeteners. The carbonation can also contribute to osteoporosis so exessive amounts are probably not good in the long run, so that's another reason to stay away from the soda. Crystal Light and Mio and those other things also have artificial sweetners so it's hard to say. Personally, I do use crystal light etc every now and again when I get bored wtith just plain water even though it's artificial. It's not an everyday thing so I'm not concerned.

Carbonation does not contribute to osteoporosis. Some studies have pointed to phosphoric acid as a possible contributer due to the reasoning that the body must pull calcium out of your system to combat the acidity. However, there are far more acidic foods out there than diet and regular soda. That means you'd have to avoid most acidic foods, and that is why the studies have been questioned in peer reviews of the studies. Yet again, moderation tends to be a good rule of thumb.

All that said, carbonation being the culprit is a dietary myth.

"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes." -- Mark Twain

Edit: stupid typo

ninerbuff

I actually had a meeting with a nutritionist that said the diet soda thing is real. Artificual sweeteners are are exponentially higher in sweetness but we'll still add the same amount to everything. Since that's what happens our bodies will start to crave sweeter and sweeter things which will increase the amount of sweeteners we'll add to other items. And since sugars and carbs break down the exact same way this can lead to an increase in weight gain.

Nutritionist's don't need licenses and many echo information they HEAR and not actually studied.
Dieticians on the other hand are licensed and a peer reviewed study on recommendation/non recommendation favored recommendation by majority for use of artificial sweetners along with good diet to help lose weight.

http://gradworks.umi.com/1499296.pdf


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

ninerbuff

As the question was, are artificial sweeteners in X product as bad as X product, the answer is: Yes.

Artificial sweeteners are unneeded chemicals you are voluntarily putting into your body. Most of these chemicals your body can't even absorb. So if you think about it in that light, the answer would be yes. As others have said, certain artificial sweeteners affect others differently. My personal experience is that Aspartame (found in most diet drinks and water flavoring packets) makes me crave more sweets. Aspartame is a very harmful chemical and you should really do some research on any chemicals you are putting into your body. There is much more to be concerned about than just the artificial sweeteners. Here is a helpful article that brings to light some things about the questioned product, and perhaps it will encourage you (and others) to do some research on the foods you eat. http://www.livestrong.com/article/309079-the-pros-cons-of-crystal-light-drink/

Lol, articles aren't evidence. You may actually want to do some ACTUAL RESEARCH. Use the search function on here to links to actual peer reviewed studies on aspartame and other artificial sweetners and you'll probably find that the hoopla being spouted by the source you link is unfounded by actual science.

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

ninerbuff

If you go the Crystal Light route, make sure to get the "Pure" not the sugar-free. The issue with diet soda, and all sugar free stuff for that matter, is the use of Aspertame as a sweetener. When you consume this chemical, your body reads it as sugar and your pancreas releases insulin to break down the sugar - problem is, there is no sugar for it to break down.

Incorrect. Research it again.


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

sahm23ladies

I enjoy reading all the comments and I figured as much, that fake is fake. I gave up sweet iced tea & fresh lemonade even though natural... to avoid the added sugar.

Many people speak of moderation. I know for me, most times I'm an all-or-nothing kinda girl.

So I suppose I'll go grab a glass of good ol' water.

Kadesha72

I've never really liked water so much either, and was at one point drinking 8-10 cans of full power Dr. Pepper a day.... ouch... but once I had accomplished cutting back that, and started forcing myself to drink water, it really became so easy... I wake up in the morning wanting a glass of cold water now!! My skin is better too. the only real draw back is peeing so much, I feel like most of my day is spent coming and going to the bathroom....LOL

But... I do alow myself 2 diet sodas a day, and 1 "full power" on the weekend... I can't drink too much diet soda anyway because I tend to get LOTS of headaches on it.

nathan6878

I love the Crystal Light kind of all throughout the day. And I used to drink a ton of diet coke. But now it is really only one small can of the Coke zero.

So have cut the soda drinking down and getting in more water with the crystal light.

beastmodekittyx

never giving up diet coke, YOLO!

Lleldiranne

I think there are two things that potentially make Crystal Light better than diet soda. One is the lack of carbonation and the acids that go along with it. Those are bad for your teeth and probably can contribute to osteoporosis. (This is coming from a diet soda lover, by the way :laugh: ). The other is that you can dilute crystal light. I usually use the to-go packs and put one pack in a 32 oz bottle of water (the recommendation is 16 oz). It still tastes good, not super diluted, in my opinion, and you're getting less of the concerning chemicals while getting more hydration. (Again, I'm not overly concerned with them, but less is better in this case). I also try to alternate, 1 bottle of flavored and then 1 bottle of plain, especially if I'm having diet soda that day as well.


FWIW, I don't buy the actual Crystal Light. Target, Kroger, and Wal-Mart all have store brands with more varieties and less cost (and probably stronger flavor, so better in the diluted state I go for). Blueberry acai and Dragonfruit, from Great Value (walmart) brand are my favorites! Do read the labels, though, some of the Kroger energy ones have other stimulants besides caffeine … guarano? I don't remember … but I avoid those.

Lleldiranne

If you go the Crystal Light route, make sure to get the "Pure" not the sugar-free. The issue with diet soda, and all sugar free stuff for that matter, is the use of Aspertame as a sweetener. When you consume this chemical, your body reads it as sugar and your pancreas releases insulin to break down the sugar - problem is, there is no sugar for it to break down.

Incorrect. Research it again.


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

Yeah, there was an article linked a couple of weeks back. A real, academic review article (going over multiple sources of previous research) IIRC … and it found that aspartame DOESN'T cause an insulin release. I may be associated with the release of other, "smaller" chemicals that have to do with satiety or hunger cues, but not insulin. It's not the sweet taste that causes the body to release insulin, it's the presence of glucose (and pretty much all sugars are broken down into glucose to be metabolized).

davepearson86

If you go the Crystal Light route, make sure to get the "Pure" not the sugar-free. The issue with diet soda, and all sugar free stuff for that matter, is the use of Aspertame as a sweetener. When you consume this chemical, your body reads it as sugar and your pancreas releases insulin to break down the sugar - problem is, there is no sugar for it to break down.

Incorrect. Research it again.


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

Share your knowledge with us. I've read the same explanation in Primal Blueprint for the insulin release which keeps fat locked up and makes you want high glucose foods. Also the diet sodas do seem to induce cravings for sweets.

ninerbuff

If you go the Crystal Light route, make sure to get the "Pure" not the sugar-free. The issue with diet soda, and all sugar free stuff for that matter, is the use of Aspertame as a sweetener. When you consume this chemical, your body reads it as sugar and your pancreas releases insulin to break down the sugar - problem is, there is no sugar for it to break down.

Incorrect. Research it again.


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

Share your knowledge with us. I've read the same explanation in Primal Blueprint for the insulin release which keeps fat locked up and makes you want high glucose foods. Also the diet sodas do seem to induce cravings for sweets.

In answering the question, an artificial sweetner that's bitter in taste (like saccharin) may increase insulin, but aspartame has no effect on pancreas releasing insulin. Does insulin "lock" up fat from being burned? Yes. But that wasn't part of the statement made previously.
As for cravings, there have been several done on how aspartame doesn't affect it.

Aspartame The effects of aspartame were reviewed in all of the above studies and showed consistent results throughout. Aspartame, classified as a non-bitter NCS, was shown not to augment insulin secretion from rat pancreatic islets (Malaisse 1998). In two distinct studies, Anderson et al (1990) and Birch et al (1989), performed on children, neither one showed increased hunger ratings or caloric consumption based on the presence of aspartame in a beverage consumed before lunch. Furthermore, the effects of aspartame in the presence of a carbohydrate group were studied, and still proved not to have a significant effect on the hunger ratings or caloric consumptions of children aged 9-10 years old (Anderson et al 1990). Twenty healthy adults also showed no significant increases in appetite ratings or caloric consumption after drinking beverages sweetened with aspartame (Canty and Chan 1991). This was consistent with the study of 42 male subjects, in the study performed by Rolls (1991). The correlation between the findings of these five studies, in spite of their great variation in subjects, shows that aspartame does not yield significant increases in any of the following: insulin secretion, appetite stimulation, or increased caloric intake.

http://healthpsych.psy.vanderbilt.edu/2010/NonSweetenedBeverages.htm

Also

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2650084/

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition