Quitting diet soda today

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Replies

  • deanadimples
    deanadimples Posts: 419 Member
    I'll make this simple. Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. Phenylalanine happens to be an essential amino acid, while aspartic acid is nonessential, as the body makes it. So, basically, if aspartame is actually harmful, then humans would have died out long ago, just from eating. 4 oz of chicken has the phenylalanine and aspartic acid equivalent of 25 cans of diet soda. Beef contains even more. Even nuts and seeds contain it in higher concentrations than a diet soda.

    In short, it's in everything you eat. Even fruit contain aspartic acid and phenylalanine. If aspartame was at all dangerous, everything we eat would be poison.

    That's interesting. Im curious as to why diet sodas have the warning on them about the pku whatever stuff that can cause cancer. If similar properties in diet soda are in meats, which are eaten in mass quanitites at much higher levels, then why does the soda warrant an actual warning label but the meat doesn't? Especially since both food types are monitored in production.
  • FredDoyle
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,273 Member
    I'll make this simple. Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. Phenylalanine happens to be an essential amino acid, while aspartic acid is nonessential, as the body makes it. So, basically, if aspartame is actually harmful, then humans would have died out long ago, just from eating. 4 oz of chicken has the phenylalanine and aspartic acid equivalent of 25 cans of diet soda. Beef contains even more. Even nuts and seeds contain it in higher concentrations than a diet soda.

    In short, it's in everything you eat. Even fruit contain aspartic acid and phenylalanine. If aspartame was at all dangerous, everything we eat would be poison.

    That's interesting. Im curious as to why diet sodas have the warning on them about the pku whatever stuff that can cause cancer. If similar properties in diet soda are in meats, which are eaten in mass quanitites at much higher levels, then why does the soda warrant an actual warning label but the meat doesn't? Especially since both food types are monitored in production.
    Because people make alarmist statements without evidence?
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    I'll make this simple. Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. Phenylalanine happens to be an essential amino acid, while aspartic acid is nonessential, as the body makes it. So, basically, if aspartame is actually harmful, then humans would have died out long ago, just from eating. 4 oz of chicken has the phenylalanine and aspartic acid equivalent of 25 cans of diet soda. Beef contains even more. Even nuts and seeds contain it in higher concentrations than a diet soda.

    In short, it's in everything you eat. Even fruit contain aspartic acid and phenylalanine. If aspartame was at all dangerous, everything we eat would be poison.

    That's interesting. Im curious as to why diet sodas have the warning on them about the pku whatever stuff that can cause cancer. If similar properties in diet soda are in meats, which are eaten in mass quanitites at much higher levels, then why does the soda warrant an actual warning label but the meat doesn't? Especially since both food types are monitored in production.

    PKU has nothing to do with cancer. PKU stands for Phenylketonuria, which is an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes a person to be unable to process phenylalanine. A person with PKU has to severely limit all foods with phenylalanine in them, which can mean completely eliminating meat, eggs, dairy, fish and legumes, and must carefully monitor grains and fruits, to ensure they don't consume too much phenylalanine. The warning is placed on any food that contains aspartame to let people with PKU know that they should avoid the product, as it can potentially be fatal for them to eat, similar to how most foods nowadays have the "may contain nuts, or was processed in a facility that also processes nuts" warning to inform people with nut allergies of potentially fatal issues with consuming a food that may have been contaminated with nuts.
  • deanadimples
    deanadimples Posts: 419 Member
    PKU has nothing to do with cancer. PKU stands for Phenylketonuria, which is an extremely rare genetic disorder that causes a person to be unable to process phenylalanine. A person with PKU has to severely limit all foods with phenylalanine in them, which can mean completely eliminating meat, eggs, dairy, fish and legumes, and must carefully monitor grains and fruits, to ensure they don't consume too much phenylalanine. The warning is placed on any food that contains aspartame to let people with PKU know that they should avoid the product, as it can potentially be fatal for them to eat, similar to how most foods nowadays have the "may contain nuts, or was processed in a facility that also processes nuts" warning to inform people with nut allergies of potentially fatal issues with consuming a food that may have been contaminated with nuts.

    Ahhh...gotcha.
  • AngryDiet
    AngryDiet Posts: 1,349 Member

    !.) This isn't change for the sake of change in the case of the OP. It is a change she is choosing to make for the sake of improving her health and well being. You do not know everything, least of all about the health ramifications of diet sodas. For every study you can quote advocating it, someone else can post a quote condemning it. She believes it is best for her and it is her prerogative to make her own life decisions. She came here for support and to share something she was excited about.

    I have not advocated diet sodas. Nor have I cited studies advocating diet sodas. Good luck finding those. The point is that there is no evidence that diet soda is bad for you either. Nothing reputable, anyway. There's plenty of quackery out there (and in here). And like that other poster, you seem unable to read, or at least comprehend what I've been saying. Tony Robbins would not be impressed. Then again maybe he would? I wouldn't know.
    2.) I doubt many people would advocate being contrary and antagonistic just for the sake of being contrary and antagonistic. But you are doing it anyway.

    Mostly I'm pointing out the logical fallacies presented here, as well as the lack or reading comprehension of many of the posters here. If you feel like that is being antagonistic, then that's more about you than it is about me. Tony Robbins would not be impressed. Then again maybe he would? I wouldn't know.
    Don't bother responding if you want to antagonize me further. I am opting to ignore your profile after posting this. I have no place in my life or my MFP forums for your brand of useless, unproductive comments and negativity.

    I doubt Tony Robbins would be impressed with you turning your back on information simply because you do not like the message, or the way it's presented. Then again maybe he would? I wouldn't know.

    But good for you for being so closed minded that you willfully turn away from knowledge.

    I think you're just angry that I find Tony Robbins funny.
  • Docmahi
    Docmahi Posts: 1,603 Member
    *popcorn*

    In for all kinds of ludicrous medical claims

    Yes. Loving this. HAHA. :laugh:

    lol this thread went nuts while I was gone...

    *more popcorn*
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    how bout encouraging the OP? or if you're not here to do that, why ARE you in this thread?

    I question the validity of the claim hidden in this personal attack.

    Is there actual value in encouraging someone on to do something completely pointless and without merit?
    yeah that wasn't a personal attack.

    but anyway, no one - not even you - can prove that diet soda is GOOD for you, yes?

    so what's wrong with getting rid of it on the off-chance all we crazy anti-aspartame people are actually right? she risks nothing in doing so, while you all are crossing your fingers and hoping science is serving you well this time.
    I'll make this simple. Aspartame is made up of two amino acids, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. Phenylalanine happens to be an essential amino acid, while aspartic acid is nonessential, as the body makes it. So, basically, if aspartame is actually harmful, then humans would have died out long ago, just from eating. 4 oz of chicken has the phenylalanine and aspartic acid equivalent of 25 cans of diet soda. Beef contains even more. Even nuts and seeds contain it in higher concentrations than a diet soda.

    In short, it's in everything you eat. Even fruit contain aspartic acid and phenylalanine. If aspartame was at all dangerous, everything we eat would be poison.

    I tried the science arguement on page 1. Good luck, it wasn't received well and summarily dismissed in favor of rumor and propaganda.
  • I don't know about the "science stuff", I can only give advice based off of what I know... And that is that I have felt a whole lot healthier and looked and felt a lot less tummy bloated after I gave up diet soda. I used to drink soda to curb my sweet cravings: I could go through a liter of diet mountain dew a day. I just stopped drinking it one day, and I haven't gone back since.

    Drinking water or tea (without a ton of added stuff into the tea) will always be healthier than drinking soda. Soda doesn't hydrate very well, and in my experience it causes you to look bloated.

    If you don't like the taste of plain water, there are a lot of water flavors drops you can buy at the store now to flavor your water to your taste. I can't recommend these enough! The kind I use is made by Crystal Light. They have no calories, no sodium, and no sugar. They do use Acesulfame Potassium, which is an artificial sweetener, but from everything I've read it's very safe. As long as your water is mostly water and 2 drops sweetener, I don't really see any drawbacks.

    I'll also go ahead and recommend Celestial Seasoning brand teas. People swear up and down the benefits of green tea, but I find that most of it is exaggerated. Unless you're drinking buckets of the stuff, it's not the miracle worker people claim it is. That being said, find a tea blend that you really enjoy and make it a part of your diet!

    I felt a lot better after quitting soda, and I hope you do, too!
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Ha. Don't drink soda with artificial sweetener, just drink water with an added artificial sweetener. Like there's a difference. And a soda will hydrate just as well as water or tea.
  • source?
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Good for you! If it helps, buy some seltzer and put a splash of juice in it. It helped me get over my coke habit.

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.

    lol if i were in the herd you'd think more people would support my opinions. :wink:
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.

    lol if i were in the herd you'd think more people would support my opinions. :wink:

    The herd of baseless, non scientific quackery is a large and powerful one that many of us here work to cull.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.

    lol if i were in the herd you'd think more people would support my opinions. :wink:

    The herd of baseless, non scientific quackery is a large and powerful one that many of us here work to cull.

    you truly think MD's treat every disease in the best possible manner? you truly think that pharmaceutical studies don't have a conflict of interest? you really believe everything your government tells you?

    meh, I'm happy to be a part of non-scientific quackery if that's the alternative!
  • NaBroski
    NaBroski Posts: 206

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.

    lol if i were in the herd you'd think more people would support my opinions. :wink:

    The herd of baseless, non scientific quackery is a large and powerful one that many of us here work to cull.

    you truly think MD's treat every disease in the best possible manner? you truly think that pharmaceutical studies don't have a conflict of interest? you really believe everything your government tells you?

    meh, I'm happy to be a part of non-scientific quackery if that's the alternative!

    Another wiki link for ya

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_dilemma
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.

    lol if i were in the herd you'd think more people would support my opinions. :wink:

    The herd of baseless, non scientific quackery is a large and powerful one that many of us here work to cull.

    you truly think MD's treat every disease in the best possible manner? you truly think that pharmaceutical studies don't have a conflict of interest? you really believe everything your government tells you?

    meh, I'm happy to be a part of non-scientific quackery if that's the alternative!

    Why do you keep asking me (and everyone else who disagrees with you) if we believe things that we've never stated?? It's like we keep trying to debate about apples but you keep throwing oranges into the mix!
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.

    lol if i were in the herd you'd think more people would support my opinions. :wink:

    The herd of baseless, non scientific quackery is a large and powerful one that many of us here work to cull.

    you truly think MD's treat every disease in the best possible manner? you truly think that pharmaceutical studies don't have a conflict of interest? you really believe everything your government tells you?

    meh, I'm happy to be a part of non-scientific quackery if that's the alternative!

    Why do you keep asking me (and everyone else who disagrees with you) if we believe things that we've never stated?? It's like we keep trying to debate about apples but you keep throwing oranges into the mix!

    fair enough. why do you feel that if something isn't supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies, that it's necessarily wrong? that's a fallacy as well.
  • NaBroski
    NaBroski Posts: 206

    fair enough. why do you feel that if something isn't supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies, that it's necessarily wrong? that's a fallacy as well.

    It's a little thing called "preponderance of evidence".

    If you make a claim (ie "aspartame is harmful"), and the preponderance of evidence shows this claim to be false, then your claim is most-likely false.

    Science does not deal in absolutes, so although there may be a chance that your claim is true despite the evidence to the contrary, there is no reason to believe it to be so.
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.

    lol if i were in the herd you'd think more people would support my opinions. :wink:

    The herd of baseless, non scientific quackery is a large and powerful one that many of us here work to cull.

    you truly think MD's treat every disease in the best possible manner? you truly think that pharmaceutical studies don't have a conflict of interest? you really believe everything your government tells you?

    meh, I'm happy to be a part of non-scientific quackery if that's the alternative!

    Why do you keep asking me (and everyone else who disagrees with you) if we believe things that we've never stated?? It's like we keep trying to debate about apples but you keep throwing oranges into the mix!

    fair enough. why do you feel that if something isn't supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies, that it's necessarily wrong? that's a fallacy as well.

    Again, things I've never stated.
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member

    And don't listen to people who tell you it's safe to drink artificial sweeteners.

    Yeah those crackpots with their science and logic. :huh:

    yeah how could science EVER be wrong?!?!?

    if you don't like my leech analogy, look up Lobotamies.

    be skeptical, it will serve you better than being a sheep.

    Science is never wrong but human error often creates bad science. Good science it still the best evidence we have for anything BY A LONG SHOT. Skeptics don't come bigger than myself. I dismiss 9 studies out of every 10 I read for poor execution. Back to the herd with you.

    lol if i were in the herd you'd think more people would support my opinions. :wink:

    The herd of baseless, non scientific quackery is a large and powerful one that many of us here work to cull.

    you truly think MD's treat every disease in the best possible manner? you truly think that pharmaceutical studies don't have a conflict of interest? you really believe everything your government tells you?

    meh, I'm happy to be a part of non-scientific quackery if that's the alternative!

    Why do you keep asking me (and everyone else who disagrees with you) if we believe things that we've never stated?? It's like we keep trying to debate about apples but you keep throwing oranges into the mix!

    fair enough. why do you feel that if something isn't supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies, that it's necessarily wrong? that's a fallacy as well.

    Again, things I've never stated.

    you called things that are non-scientific "quackery"

    what did you mean by that, then?
  • CoachReddy
    CoachReddy Posts: 3,949 Member

    fair enough. why do you feel that if something isn't supported by multiple peer-reviewed studies, that it's necessarily wrong? that's a fallacy as well.

    It's a little thing called "preponderance of evidence".

    If you make a claim (ie "aspartame is harmful"), and the preponderance of evidence shows this claim to be false, then your claim is most-likely false.

    Science does not deal in absolutes, so although there may be a chance that your claim is true despite the evidence to the contrary, there is no reason to believe it to be so.

    but to say flat out that aspartame is "safe" is just as fallacious as saying it absolutely isn't. the truth is that - yes, scientific studies have shown it to be safe in normal doses, and unsafe in large doses, but NO STUDY has been done as to the LONG-TERM affects of a lifetime of drinking diet coke!

    I've always said that it's the better logical choice not to drink it, given that drinking it can only possibly cause harm (even if the possibility is remote), while not drinking it, cannot cause harm.

    but this argument's being had in another thread. so... OP... I'll say it again - good for you. :smile:
  • NikoM5
    NikoM5 Posts: 488 Member


    you called things that are non-scientific "quackery"

    what did you mean by that, then?

    NaBroski explains it best here...
    It's a little thing called "preponderance of evidence".

    If you make a claim (ie "aspartame is harmful"), and the preponderance of evidence shows this claim to be false, then your claim is most-likely false.

    Science does not deal in absolutes, so although there may be a chance that your claim is true despite the evidence to the contrary, there is no reason to believe it to be so.
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
    :laugh:

    I don't know what else is going on in this thread but I wanted to say those who have quit soda, keep up the good fight!
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    I've decided to quit. Cold turkey-like. I've been drinking easily a liter a day for a decade or more (except when I've lacked access to it-international travel, mainly! :tongue: ) It's one of those things I've been telling myself I need to do and just never have attempted it. Two days ago, I saw a documentary and they talked about the side effects of artificial sweeteners and it really opened my eyes. I need to quit now! I finished off my 2 liter yesterday and now I'm done. I drank plenty of water this morning and a cup of coffee to get me going and I feel just fine so far. Wish me luck...

    I noticed a dramatic increase in fat loss when I stopped doing diet soda and all other artificial sweetners. Hope you experience the same.
  • Drinking a can of Diet Coke as I read this thread... I regret nothing.
  • SweetestLibby
    SweetestLibby Posts: 607 Member
    Drinking a can of Diet Coke as I read this thread... I regret nothing.

    lol! I'm a diet rootbeer girl...although I only have it every once is a while. Drinking one now but the last one was...3 days ago?
  • LadyMustard
    LadyMustard Posts: 104 Member
    Something I started recently that helps me keep my water levels up:

    Get a Nalgene, or any other water bottle with ounce/millileter measurements on the side. My husband and I decided to take the "at least 8 cups of water a day" challenge (that's two nalgenes worth of water) and we message each other, n1 500ml (first nalgene, down to 500ml) n2 200 (second nalgene, down to 200ml) , n1 0 (finished off the first nalgene) etc.

    It keeps us accountable and since I have a fiercely competitive spirit with weird stuff, it keeps me motivated. We've actually found that we're now getting closer to 10 or 12 cups of water in too, since we usually finish off the 8 cups before 4pm and we work out in the evening. For those that care (probably nobody but that's fine), we're 1:1 today. Hubby finished his first bottle before me, and I reached the end of the second bottle before him, with him almost done at n2 200. And in the end, we both win regardless of the "score". ^o^

    That being said, I can't remember the last time that I drank pop... :blushing: