thoughts on diet soda

Caramel coloring has been found to be carcinogenic

Nope:

http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v20je11.htm

and the verdict is still out on artificial sweeteners, though it certainly can't be good for you.

Nope:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame#Safety_and_health_effects

There is also evidence that artificial sugar actually makes you crave real sugar, which is not what you want if you're on a diet.

Nope (PDF — look specifically at pp. 21-24):

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/doc/1641.pdf

0 for 3.

Caramel coloring has been found to be carcinogenic

Nope:

http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v20je11.htm

and the verdict is still out on artificial sweeteners, though it certainly can't be good for you.

Nope:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame#Safety_and_health_effects

There is also evidence that artificial sugar actually makes you crave real sugar, which is not what you want if you're on a diet.

Nope (PDF — look specifically at pp. 21-24):

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/doc/1641.pdf

0 for 3.

When threads like this pop up I do a quick scan for fact-based links to scientific evidence.

I wish I could upvote or like a comment on MFP. You'd have mine.

I used to be a diet soda addict. It was my caffeine source since I can't stand even the smell of coffee. I was usually drinking at least three one-liter bottles of diet whatever (usually Dr. Pepper) a day because the not-diet kind was far too sweet to me, as I have no sweet tooth to speak of. So I can't say it made me crave sweets. I was simply in for the caffeine. Then about a year ago I started having very noticeable irregular heartbeats, which scared the crap out of me. I thought it was the caffeine, so I quit the diet soda (and any other sources of caffeine, including non-decaf teas) cold turkey. Haven't touched a drop since, and although the withdrawal was terrible, I don't miss caffeine at all now....although as it turned out, the irregular heartbeats were caused by undiagnosed heart failure due to two bad heart valves, not by caffeine. But the caffeine certainly didn't help with that.

OP, I suspect that the "crutch" works because you've simply exchanged one highly addictive stimulant for another. If you have no health issues that preclude you from having caffeine, I don't see why you couldn't keep drinking diet soda, if you want to. TBH, my own habit makes me kind of sick looking back on it, but if you're good with your Diet Coke and your heart is clicking along as it should, I say do what makes you happy. Although I think that if you're asking, "Is it OK to drink this," you're probably already thinking that it's probably not OK. You know?

Obviously, water with some lemon is better, but you know that. I still drink diet soda, but limit it to the "clear" variety( 7-up or clear fruity ones) . The question is how much are you willing to compromise to get the weight off. Only you can be the judge. If it takes a diet soda versus "the real thing" for a while, go for it . Just keep trying to adjust it to something more pure as you go. Figure out what works for you, always striving for H2O as an ultimate.

It will kill you. Then it will save your life. And it will kill you again.

Scientific evidence provided by Republicans, Democrats, Concierge Staff, Mechanical Engineers, that Punk in the Mustang with an obnoxious sound system, and Armchair Experts across the world has indisputably proven this fact to be a myth based on truth as shared by Johnny Liar-Liar-Pants-On-Fire Tucker.

(That aside, if you want to, drink it. Nobody has ever overdosed on a Coke Zero. It's got some sodium in there that is meant to make you a tad thirsty so you'll go grab another one from the fridge sooner than later, but big deal. Bottoms up!)

*
Just keep in mind....I'm a paramedic, and we have yet to respond to an aspartame overdose, just saying.

Live dangerously.

LOL Love this!!

I just drink the normal stuff. I might treat myself 1-2 times a week. I'd rather have moderation and have the things I like then switch something that doesn't really taste that great.

Diet sodas aka can of chemicals are extremely bad for us! We might as well drink poison.

*sips on a sugar free redbull*

Each to their own... If you don't like the taste I would recommend making them habit, they are bad for us and addictive!

*grabs popcorn*


But to answer your question, I love me my diet soda and alllll the aspartame that goes with it. It's a nice treat when I have minimal calories left but want something sweet.

Just keep in mind....I'm a paramedic, and we have yet to respond to an aspartame overdose, just saying.

Live dangerously.

LOL! Critical Care here and I have to agree!

That said, OP needs to be aware there is a lot of hidden sodium in those drinks which will make her thirstier. High sodium may cause some H2O retention.

40 milligrams is considered high?

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

There has been some research that fake sweeteners confuse the body. So instead of getting high calorie sugar its getting no calorie sweetener and it can cause the body to react differently to natural sugars like those found in fruit. So instead of breaking down real sugar like your body is supposed to and cause weight gain. NPR did an interesting piece on it a little bit ago. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/07/11/200488420/do-diet-drinks-mess-up-metabolisms

I personally choose to avoid soda because my teeth are much whiter without it.

Unsupported evidence. Weight gain happens from over consumption and not the "confusion" principle.

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

My main drink is water too. Diet coke is empty calories.

The only thing I can add to this is that I found after getting rid of sweet drinks (real sugar or fake) my pallet changed drastically. There are foods I once could not stomach that I like now (mostly green vegetables). I also do not crave salty contrasts to go with food paired with it (like fries or chips) .

My main drink is water too. Diet coke is empty calories.

Wait wut?

Is this a joke?

I say pick your poison. If you're trying to adopt healthy eating habits and you find drinking diet soda helpful then I see no problem with having some. However anything with artificial ingredients should be used in moderation in my opinion. There is research that suggests that the artificial sweeteners fool your body into expecting calories and then when you don't get them your appetite increases. I have not read the published research myself though. Water with some citrus is refreshing and cleansing and I have come to love it. Plain seltzer with some juice splashed in is a good alternative to soda. Good luck!

It's Drink I sometimes have as is coffee, tea and water. That's it it's nothing more and nothing less despite what the haters say. If you want to stop drinking it fair enough but it's no magic nirvana to losing weight and is not the reason why you are fat either.