Diet Soda and Weight Loss
Options
Replies
-
lol I love starting threads that end up forming a massive conversation. Anyway thanks to everyone that posted, just needed some help separating fact from fiction.3
-
I truly appreciate the contributions that @Aaron_K123 have made in this thread. Your knowledge is not lost on many of us and MFP needs knowledgeable members like yourself to keep this from becoming the Yahoo! Health comments section.
I don't appreciate when people make wild nonsensical claims and act like people are uptight when they ask for reputable sources to back up their claim while simultaneously accusing a very patient individual of being a shill or having an Internet PhD.
If you're going to make a claim that goes against the scientific consensus then it is your job to back it up with actual research.22 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »Aaron _k123
Thank you for your opinion but are you a doctor? Um, no is my guess. Or do you specialize in kidney health? Um no is my guess. Or do you read stuff on the Web and take it as gospel? Yes, would be my guess.
My kidney health is fantastic. Just sayin...maybe cause I drink water... lol.... I don't know...
Have you tested your kidneys? Probably not...
What I wrote was for people to read and think about. But thank you for your response.
Yes...i am Dr. Aaron K, I just don't flaunt that around because I can explain myself without pointing to my degree. I don't specialize in kidney health I'm a biochemist and molecular biologist so I know more about the metabolic breakdown products of molecules and what affects they have on our bodies.
Aspartame breaks down into aspartate, phenylalanine and methanol within our stomachs and intenstines before it crosses into our blood. Those molecules are also found in chicken (aspartate and phenylalanine are amino acids found in any protein) and in orange juice (methanol is present in any fermentable solution). In fact chicken and orange juice have considerably more phenylalanine, aspartate and methanol than would be found in even liters of diet cola. So if aspartame is hurting your kidneys then orange juice and chicken would be utterly laying waste to them. It is for that reason I am fairly confident aspartame does not cause kidney damage.
I have had physicals yes, I have no kidney issues.
OK, and you should flaunt that degree cause that *kitten* is $$$$. JuSt sayin.
Thank you for your opinion. Then please tell me why when someone has significant damage to their kidney they are told only to drink water for a year plus until they rebuild themselves. Wouldn't you also agree that our bodies tend to bioaccumulate things if we don't flush them with water? So in theory even if this chemical that you defend causes no cancer.... Wouldn't you say to maintain overall Kidney Health you should drink regular water and flush your body?
Chemist here, that's not how that works. Compounds bioaccumulate in our bodies (generally in our fat stores) if they can't be transported by water (such as compounds that are nonpolar/hydrophobic).
Nothing present in diet sodas is bioaccumulating in our bodies.20 -
I think its different for EVERYONE. Personally , I did not manage to lose weight when I cut out diet sodas because I felt deprived and also because it helps my sweet tooth. I began drinking diet soda again and lost weight and am still maintaining while drinking 4 litres of diet soda a day. Just because it works for me , doesnt mean it will work for others. Everyone's mind is different. For some people , diet soda makes them crave something sweet and for me it suppresses my appetite. The only thing that is the same for everyone is CI<CO when it comes to losing weight.1
-
lemurcat12 wrote: »I just worry about overall kidney health. I'm a person with one kidney and I remember my doctor telling me if I were to drink a soda make it a real one. Seriously if you are working so hard to look good on the outside..... learn what can damage your insides. Diet soda is not good for you one bit. Yeah it has no calories, however, do you find that weird at all based on the colour and taste of your drink? Chemicals are rank......
Why would the color and taste make it weird?
Why would you drink something that got its colour from chemicals?
What doesn't get its color from chemicals?
Well, color is weird anyway, as it has to do with our eyes and so on, but setting all that aside...1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »Aaron_K123 wrote: »Aaron _k123
Thank you for your opinion but are you a doctor? Um, no is my guess. Or do you specialize in kidney health? Um no is my guess. Or do you read stuff on the Web and take it as gospel? Yes, would be my guess.
My kidney health is fantastic. Just sayin...maybe cause I drink water... lol.... I don't know...
Have you tested your kidneys? Probably not...
What I wrote was for people to read and think about. But thank you for your response.
Yes...i am Dr. Aaron K, I just don't flaunt that around because I can explain myself without pointing to my degree. I don't specialize in kidney health I'm a biochemist and molecular biologist so I know more about the metabolic breakdown products of molecules and what affects they have on our bodies.
Aspartame breaks down into aspartate, phenylalanine and methanol within our stomachs and intenstines before it crosses into our blood. Those molecules are also found in chicken (aspartate and phenylalanine are amino acids found in any protein) and in orange juice (methanol is present in any fermentable solution). In fact chicken and orange juice have considerably more phenylalanine, aspartate and methanol than would be found in even liters of diet cola. So if aspartame is hurting your kidneys then orange juice and chicken would be utterly laying waste to them. It is for that reason I am fairly confident aspartame does not cause kidney damage.
I have had physicals yes, I have no kidney issues.
OK, and you should flaunt that degree cause that *kitten* is $$$$. JuSt sayin.
Thank you for your opinion. Then please tell me why when someone has significant damage to their kidney they are told only to drink water for a year plus until they rebuild themselves. Wouldn't you also agree that our bodies tend to bioaccumulate things if we don't flush them with water? So in theory even if this chemical that you defend causes no cancer.... Wouldn't you say to maintain overall Kidney Health you should drink regular water and flush your body?
People who have kidney damage are also told to avoid certain fruits and vegetables as to keep potassium levels down...does that mean that these fruits and vegetables shouldn't be consumed by an otherwise healthy individual? Of course not...
Yes you should avoid certain foods no matter what for good health. Agreed. Look, I'm just making a point if water is better for you and you work your *kitten* off to look good.... why not do the same for your insides.... just sayin... I think the labour day weekend of grub is making people cranky.... geez...
The are medical facts that contradict diet soda. But like life it's a choose your own adventure.
What ya trying to say.. actually?
This is the way I see it of course a person with kidney disease is gonna have to be on a special diet structure.
An otherwise healthy person, only needs a balanced diet and perhaps adding in exercise if they choose, that is all that is needed for general health including the kidneys.
But what you described above was "flushing kidneys" etc.. as in some sort of cleanses are need.. Its not.
Its actually needed. Flushing your body is extremely important.
Can you point me in the right direction of your claim?
What claim? Look all I'm saying is why treat your body with that when you can do better??? Right, don't you work hard to look good? Why not treat your insides the same? Look, it's a fact drinking water is good for you. It's a fact that water contributes to weight loss more than anything else. Don't get me wrong you still have to workout and do what you gotta do....
???
(1) Who has said not to drink water? Do you think drinking diet soda is inconsistent with drinking water? Most people drink multiple beverages -- I certainly do. I'm drinking a coffee right now (more my vice than diet soda, although I occasionally drink that too, and am addicted to LaCroix), but I drink quite a bit of plain water also.
(2) Diet soda and many other beverages contain water.
(3) It is most certainly NOT a fact that water contributes to weight loss more than anything else, except that (of course) if we died from lack of water (not that water must be obtained in non mixed form), we would not lose weight in quite the way we want. But this idea that logging water is important to weight loss or that most people are chronically dehydrated and drinking water is an important step to weight loss is just odd.6 -
queenliz99 wrote: »PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »Life's too short not to have fun. Drink and be merry!! Even if it's diet soda or beer or hot dogs or cheesecake or CheesePuffs or Twinkies.
Have you tried Hot 'n Honey Cheez Doodles? Bangin.
Interested!! is that a Canadian thing? I've never seen Doodles, and I know snacks!
I'm in the US (CT). I only ever find them at Big Lots and Dollar Tree.
I'm checking them out, let you know. Big Lots is walking distance, burn some calories
I feel so much pressure right now. If you don't like them, that's pretty much it for me.
2 -
You really think that if you change the subject people aren't going to point out that article does not say what you said it does?
Look there are a lot of articles you can read. 1916..... lol.... not trying to switch the subject I'm just over it. Do what you'd like and enjoy the hell out of it.
You made a claim that you state has scientific backing, but are unable to provide said science. You either know of science that proves your claim, or you were just making a claim based on nothing but personal beliefs. It is not other people's job to do your research for you.
Have a good weekend... hahaha... have a stiff drink, chill, and release the beast. Peace.
A stiff drink...of water?7 -
sweetbug0130 wrote: »I'm not sure about the scientific evidence behind it but I've known tons of people losing 100+ lbs drinking diet sodas every day. I know it can cause you to gain weight around the middle when you gain and drink those, but if it triggered insulin, why do they tell diabetics that are newly diagnosed to switch to diet. I say, drink them in moderation. When you crave the real thing, have a diet version. It's about balance, not perfection right!
I'm one. I would like to quit someday but I've had a few bottles/cans of DMD (Diet Mountain Dew) pretty much everyday while losing 130lbs.1 -
singingflutelady wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Aaron _k123
Thank you for your opinion but are you a doctor? Um, no is my guess. Or do you specialize in kidney health? Um no is my guess. Or do you read stuff on the Web and take it as gospel? Yes, would be my guess.
My kidney health is fantastic. Just sayin...maybe cause I drink water... lol.... I don't know...
Have you tested your kidneys? Probably not...
What I wrote was for people to read and think about. But thank you for your response.
Well, he's not an md but he has a pH.d
PH.D in what? Lol.... this is so funny. Lol.. do what you want... but thank you again for your opinion
Molecular biology and biochemistry so yeah he's an expert. What's your training?
Yeah, but does he have a Youtube channel?
No :-(3 -
I can guarantee that a lot more research has gone in to aspartame than in to water as water deprivation and/or hyperhydration would be unethical.
For the same reason you won't find many oxygen deprivation studies or blood transfusion studies.
It's obvious that water, oxygen and blood supply are essential to life.
Aspartame is a funny bitty chemical with some interesting properties. Since very little happens when we consume it, study away.
There is no aspartame/insulin relationship.4 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Aaron _k123
Thank you for your opinion but are you a doctor? Um, no is my guess. Or do you specialize in kidney health? Um no is my guess. Or do you read stuff on the Web and take it as gospel? Yes, would be my guess.
My kidney health is fantastic. Just sayin...maybe cause I drink water... lol.... I don't know...
Have you tested your kidneys? Probably not...
What I wrote was for people to read and think about. But thank you for your response.
Well, he's not an md but he has a pH.d
PH.D in what? Lol.... this is so funny. Lol.. do what you want... but thank you again for your opinion
Molecular biology and biochemistry so yeah he's an expert. What's your training?
Yeah, but does he have a Youtube channel?
No :-(
That wasn't a requirement for your dissertation1 -
Then please tell me why when someone has significant damage to their kidney they are told only to drink water for a year plus until they rebuild themselves.
Low sodium to keep low blood pressure to avoid aggrevating the problem. Drinking lots of water will tend to balance out the high amount of sodium most people get from their foods. The same person would likely also be told to avoid high sodium foods. That doesn't mean that sodium damages your kidneys.Wouldn't you also agree that our bodies tend to bioaccumulate things if we don't flush them with water?
No I wouldn't. The extent to which a particular molecule bioaccumulates has nothing to do with how much water you drink. Aspartame doesn't bioaccumulate at all, its metabolically processed and doesn't even reach your blood let alone bioaccumulate. If anything is correlated to bioaccumulation its hydrophobicity and aspartame is quite polar.So in theory even if this chemical that you defend causes no cancer.... Wouldn't you say to maintain overall Kidney Health you should drink regular water and flush your body?
If aspartame causes cancer so does protein mixed with fruit juice because they are metabolically the same. I think you should drink water yes. Water is the main ingredient in most beverages and it is important to stay hydrated. Drinking not enough water or over use of diuretics such as caffeine can cause some issues if they are used to the extreme over long periods of time.
What does this have to do with aspartame?7 -
PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »Life's too short not to have fun. Drink and be merry!! Even if it's diet soda or beer or hot dogs or cheesecake or CheesePuffs or Twinkies.
Have you tried Hot 'n Honey Cheez Doodles? Bangin.
Interested!! is that a Canadian thing? I've never seen Doodles, and I know snacks!
I'm in the US (CT). I only ever find them at Big Lots and Dollar Tree.
I'm checking them out, let you know. Big Lots is walking distance, burn some calories
I feel so much pressure right now. If you don't like them, that's pretty much it for me.
LOL I didn't mean to put you on the spot!! honest!! Maybe I will drive instead, if that makes you feel better. 1 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »
You really think that if you change the subject people aren't going to point out that article does not say what you said it does?
Look there are a lot of articles you can read. 1916..... lol.... not trying to switch the subject I'm just over it. Do what you'd like and enjoy the hell out of it.
You made a claim that you state has scientific backing, but are unable to provide said science. You either know of science that proves your claim, or you were just making a claim based on nothing but personal beliefs. It is not other people's job to do your research for you.
Have a good weekend... hahaha... have a stiff drink, chill, and release the beast. Peace.
A stiff drink...of water?
It's funny because ethanol is actual poison (which I enjoy ingesting and will be ingesting this weekend), yet many will claim the evils of aspartame/phosphoric acid/carnonation/caffeine, while claiming wine is super healthy and regularly consume craft beer.
Nothing against wine or craft beer because I love them both and enjoy them in moderation. But you're going to die a lot faster if you try to drink two gallons of wine than you would by drinking two gallons of diet Coke.10 -
singingflutelady wrote: »Same as protein. Kidney patients also cut back on that too.
My assumption with the whole "aspartame causes kidney damage thing" is someone who was looking for a reason to think aspartame was toxic read that high intake of aspartate and phenylalanine can cause kidney damage and that aspartame is comprised of aspartate and phenylalanine. It is true that high amounts of those can cause kidney damage because as we have discovered from people who go on extremely high protein diets, ketogenic metabolism long term due to high protein loads can cause kidney damage.
That said we are talking about people consuming 250 grams of protein a day and severly limiting their carbs. The amount of aspartame in a can of diet coke is 180 milligrams. So basically there are 162 mg of protein in it (18mg would be methanol).
To get enough protein from diet cokes as to cause yourself kidney damage over time you would have to drink so much you would die from the sheer amount of water.
That is the only remotely lose connection I can even concieve of between aspartame and kidney damage. But I'm just guessing why someone would have gotten that idea, anyone who actually believes it themselves might explain by what mechanism they are picturing this happening.8 -
singingflutelady wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Aaron _k123
Thank you for your opinion but are you a doctor? Um, no is my guess. Or do you specialize in kidney health? Um no is my guess. Or do you read stuff on the Web and take it as gospel? Yes, would be my guess.
My kidney health is fantastic. Just sayin...maybe cause I drink water... lol.... I don't know...
Have you tested your kidneys? Probably not...
What I wrote was for people to read and think about. But thank you for your response.
Well, he's not an md but he has a pH.d
PH.D in what? Lol.... this is so funny. Lol.. do what you want... but thank you again for your opinion
Molecular biology and biochemistry so yeah he's an expert. What's your training?
You defend him so bold.... lol.... look this was just a talk... not meant to offend anyone. Sorry you can't talk.... without slamming someone. Seriously think... I get it... he is smart and you should listen to him.... however, have your own opinion and learn to see if he really is right...... Dr. Aaron no offense.
None taken, I promote skepticism and would never hide behind a degree. I wouldn't have ever brought it up if you hadn't asked me directly. I don't think people should believe me because I'm me, I think if they are willing to listen I can answer questions related to it fairly accurately and do a decently good job at explaining what aspartame actually is and how our bodies metabolize it.7 -
What claim?
This claim:The are medical facts that contradict diet soda.
The one you keep repeating without any sort of support even though its a pretty extrodinary claim that a food additive on the market for 50 years has "medical facts" that "contradict it" (I assume you mean medical evidence of harm).
Could you provide some with cited sources? You keep saying this but I am not aware of any medical evidence of toxicity or kidney damage or health issues related to consumption of aspartame. I am aware of a lot of misinformation on the internet though so if you end up posting a youtube video from Mercola.com I'm going to have to point out that might not be the most reliable source.
4 -
singingflutelady wrote: »Aaron_K123 wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Aaron _k123
Thank you for your opinion but are you a doctor? Um, no is my guess. Or do you specialize in kidney health? Um no is my guess. Or do you read stuff on the Web and take it as gospel? Yes, would be my guess.
My kidney health is fantastic. Just sayin...maybe cause I drink water... lol.... I don't know...
Have you tested your kidneys? Probably not...
What I wrote was for people to read and think about. But thank you for your response.
Well, he's not an md but he has a pH.d
PH.D in what? Lol.... this is so funny. Lol.. do what you want... but thank you again for your opinion
Molecular biology and biochemistry so yeah he's an expert. What's your training?
Yeah, but does he have a Youtube channel?
No :-(
That wasn't a requirement for your dissertation
No...but my dissertation is available online if you are ready for that thrilling gripping read. 159 pages of pure awesome, will leave you gripping your seat waiting to find out what happens next.10 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Aaron_K123 wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »singingflutelady wrote: »Aaron _k123
Thank you for your opinion but are you a doctor? Um, no is my guess. Or do you specialize in kidney health? Um no is my guess. Or do you read stuff on the Web and take it as gospel? Yes, would be my guess.
My kidney health is fantastic. Just sayin...maybe cause I drink water... lol.... I don't know...
Have you tested your kidneys? Probably not...
What I wrote was for people to read and think about. But thank you for your response.
Well, he's not an md but he has a pH.d
PH.D in what? Lol.... this is so funny. Lol.. do what you want... but thank you again for your opinion
Molecular biology and biochemistry so yeah he's an expert. What's your training?
Yeah, but does he have a Youtube channel?
No :-(
That wasn't a requirement for your dissertation
No...but my dissertation is available online if you are ready for that thrilling gripping read. 159 pages of pure awesome, will leave you gripping your seat waiting to find out what happens next.
I actually would read this... Just saying.3
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 391.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.5K Getting Started
- 259.7K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.6K Food and Nutrition
- 47.3K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 393 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.7K Motivation and Support
- 7.8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.3K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 939 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.3K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions