Quitting diet soda today

Oh wow. I don't know a lot about nutrition or chemistry, but the advice that was given to me is to consume more whole, natural foods and less of anything I don't need. I'm the OP-I'm new to MFP (first post!) and was just trying to make conversation, really.

Whatever you do, don't let this scare you off of the MFP forums.

Look at it as your first post was a 6+ pager. I've read many times where new people complained that they felt their posts were ignored. You certainly avoided that problem this time.

this is true lol always see the positive (:

Good for you! That stuff is toxic!

Aspartame is broken down into phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol. Phenylalanine and Aspartic Acid are amino acids and there's a much higher concentration of these aminos in a measly 4oz chicken breast than there is in diet soda. 1 Banana will yield more methanol than a 12oz can of soda. The dosage limits that can cause any issues are VERY HIGH, and you'd have to consume massive amounts to even detect any increased levels in a blood test. Cliffs: Diet soda is fine if you don't get headaches from it, and a very small % of people do. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17828671

Everyone should stop spreading rumors and old-wives tales.

and you should stop criticizing someone who's giving up junk food to be healthier.

Dispelling pseudo-science propaganda is not what I'd call criticizing.

People get all freaked out when a tiny percentage of the population has a mild sensitivity to a man made chemical and so they think that it's must automatically be evil and deadly. Guess what? Nuts, tree fruits, shellfish, and other natural things are straight up deadly to some people.

science also prescribed leeching at one time.

do we still do it?

I am reminded by a Tony Robbin's quote that I truly take to heart in my own life: "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten."

I doubt even Tony Robbins would advocate change merely for the sake of change. I could be wrong.

Stop eating entirely! You'll be doing something new and you'll get a new result.

Tony Robbins? Really?

I want to ask a question about this. I've been drinking one can of diet caffeine free coke at night, maybe 3-4 nights/wk, as a way to curb my cravings for higher calorie stuff. (If I feel like the dc is a treat it stops me from wanting ice cream and M&Ms.)

How bad is it really? Otherwise I only drink water and coffee (and half a glass of wine at dinner). Is 3-4 cans/week going to have a huge health impact?

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'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.

!.) 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.

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.

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.

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.