diet soda or no diet soda

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  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    I a practical first Diet Soda REALLY INCREASE MY APPETITE... No way I can stay in my calorie range if I have one.

    (On the other hand...
    I've heard many horrible things about the chemicals in diet soda striping nerves of their protective coating leading to chronic pain and Osteoporosis from them sapping phosphorus and calcium from your bones.

    I'll admit, I haven't researched studies on this.
    I look at my Mom (who has guzzled diet soda for as long as I can remember.) and how she suffers with chronic pain and bone loss (to the point where she is crippled). And I can't help but wonder if the diet soda (since the early days of TAB) contributed to it. I look at what she goes through and think I'm just not that tough. If the soda has contributed to her many conditions and I cut it out now, maybe I can save myself some pain and suffering, If I'm wrong and it does NOT... you know what I'm not doing myself any harm by substituting things like water, tea, juice, and coffee)

    I try to wean myself off it many times, I was not successful until I replaced it with coffee. (It's not the caffeine I object to it's the chemicals)
  • bordersmommy
    bordersmommy Posts: 17
    Diet soft drinks tend to have a lot of hidden sodium which can cause you to retain fluids. Also you have a constant (to a degree) sweet access so your pallet doesn't acclimate to a less sweet diet. I am guilty of drinking them myself but I am very conscious of drinking a lot of water to flush out extra sodium.
  • thinnerisstronger
    thinnerisstronger Posts: 124 Member
    Diet soda has aspartame in it. Aspartame breaks down in your body into formaldehyde (which is the stuff scientists use to preserve dead things).

    Aspartame is also sweet which your body interprets as sugar. So your brain prepares itself for the instant energy it thinks it's going to receive. When it doesn't, it crashes and forces you to seek out other sweet foods which can cause you to binge.

    I personally steer clear of diet soda. I don't really like soda but when I do decide to have a glass, it's a treat. Soda should be treated as an occasional thing, the same you would do with chocolate cake or some other treat.

    As an alternative- you can drink sparkling water! It comes in various flavors and it has the word 'sparkling' in it which makes it sound pretty cool.
  • thinnerisstronger
    thinnerisstronger Posts: 124 Member
    Diet soda has aspartame in it. Aspartame breaks down in your body into formaldehyde (which is the stuff scientists use to preserve dead things).

    Aspartame is also sweet which your body interprets as sugar. So your brain prepares itself for the instant energy it thinks it's going to receive. When it doesn't, it crashes and forces you to seek out other sweet foods which can cause you to binge.

    I personally steer clear of diet soda. I don't really like soda but when I do decide to have a glass, it's a treat. Soda should be treated as an occasional thing, the same you would do with chocolate cake or some other treat.

    As an alternative- you can drink sparkling water! It comes in various flavors and it has the word 'sparkling' in it which makes it sound pretty cool.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    Diet soft drinks tend to have a lot of hidden sodium which can cause you to retain fluids. Also you have a constant (to a degree) sweet access so your pallet doesn't acclimate to a less sweet diet. I am guilty of drinking them myself but I am very conscious of drinking a lot of water to flush out extra sodium.

    It's not really hidden, it's listed right there on the label. My 16.9 oz diet mt dew has 70 mg sodium. That's 3% RDA. Really not that bad. The bottle is actually labelled 'very low sodium'.

    I'm not saying its good for me, I'm just saying it's not loaded with sodium. Might not be true of all brands.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Diet soda has aspartame in it. Aspartame breaks down in your body into formaldehyde (which is the stuff scientists use to preserve dead things).

    Aspartame is also sweet which your body interprets as sugar. So your brain prepares itself for the instant energy it thinks it's going to receive. When it doesn't, it crashes and forces you to seek out other sweet foods which can cause you to binge.

    I personally steer clear of diet soda. I don't really like soda but when I do decide to have a glass, it's a treat. Soda should be treated as an occasional thing, the same you would do with chocolate cake or some other treat.

    As an alternative- you can drink sparkling water! It comes in various flavors and it has the word 'sparkling' in it which makes it sound pretty cool.

    You didn't read the thread, obviously. I posted this link once already, I'll post it again.

    Here's a list of foods that naturally have formaldehyde in them, just for your information.

    http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_fa/files/formaldehyde.pdf

    Interesting, bananas, apples, and pears all have a lot more formaldehyde in them than soda. Can we please stop using the "formaldehyde scare tactic" now?
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    No need to get frustrated. Everyone is entitled to an opinion or post. Plus, I don't have time to read 11 pages of posts. I, personally, don't agree that diet sodas are the right way to go. I'm sure not everyone who disagreed with the study is an expert other than the fact that they like to drink diet sodas.
    Opinion is fine, but posting a "study" of correlation and stating it as the cause is false information. It's like saying mowing lawns is the cause of allergies. The flying grass may make more people sneeze, but it's not the actual cause.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
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    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    I don't agree that the study is giving false information. And, you can make correlation to anything and state it as fact if you try hard enough. The medical industry does it all the time in promoting prescription medication that isn't necessary.

    However, by reading this thread, I would lean to the debate that diet sodas have an addictive affect. Which shows through all the hostility to others on here when told that it is bad for you. Heck, I could say cocaine isn't bad for you since I've lost weight on it. I'm only using this as a point. I don't really use drugs. Just saying that when trying to defend an addiction, people will use any means necessary to prove a point.

    Also, there is a lot of money being made on diet sodas. So, you have to believe that the "industry" is going to do their best to debunk any study that may cause harm to their bottom line.

    Talk about a straw man argument. So people that look at studies, and study the evidence, decide it's fine in moderation because there isn't a single study that actually shows diet sodas actually causing any health issues, and spend their time in this thread correcting misinformation are just junkies that are addicted to soda? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. I drink diet soda because it helps with my weight loss. I gave it up for 2 months, and nothing changed. I didn't feel any different, I didn't lose any more weight, I just drank twice as much green tea. So now I still occasionally drink diet sodas, particularly when I go out to restaurants.
  • myak623
    myak623 Posts: 615 Member
    No need to get frustrated. Everyone is entitled to an opinion or post. Plus, I don't have time to read 11 pages of posts. I, personally, don't agree that diet sodas are the right way to go. I'm sure not everyone who disagreed with the study is an expert other than the fact that they like to drink diet sodas.
    Opinion is fine, but posting a "study" of correlation and stating it as the cause is false information. It's like saying mowing lawns is the cause of allergies. The flying grass may make more people sneeze, but it's not the actual cause.

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

    I don't agree that the study is giving false information. And, you can make correlation to anything and state it as fact if you try hard enough. The medical industry does it all the time in promoting prescription medication that isn't necessary.

    However, by reading this thread, I would lean to the debate that diet sodas have an addictive affect. Which shows through all the hostility to others on here when told that it is bad for you. Heck, I could say cocaine isn't bad for you since I've lost weight on it. I'm only using this as a point. I don't really use drugs. Just saying that when trying to defend an addiction, people will use any means necessary to prove a point.

    Also, there is a lot of money being made on diet sodas. So, you have to believe that the "industry" is going to do their best to debunk any study that may cause harm to their bottom line.

    Talk about a straw man argument. So people that look at studies, and study the evidence, decide it's fine in moderation because there isn't a single study that actually shows diet sodas actually causing any health issues, and spend their time in this thread correcting misinformation are just junkies that are addicted to soda? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. I drink diet soda because it helps with my weight loss. I gave it up for 2 months, and nothing changed. I didn't feel any different, I didn't lose any more weight, I just drank twice as much green tea. So now I still occasionally drink diet sodas, particularly when I go out to restaurants.

    I love the misquotes in this thread. I didn't call anyone a "junkie". People are addicted to coffee and aren't junkies. I made a reference to the thinking that you need something in your life and make excuses as to why it isn't harming you.

    I have a good friend who says he can't stop drinking diet sodas because when he does he gets headaches. He knows that isn't the best choice but would prefer to not have the headaches.

    And, I've tried to be considerate of everyone in my debate and not be rude, but that seems to not be the case for everyone else. So, I will say this. You're thinking that diet soda is helping in your weight loss is ridiculous. I'm happy for you for accomplishing your goals, but it's not the diet soda.
  • Raf702
    Raf702 Posts: 196 Member
    So I want to hear your thoughts on diet drinks. I hear they are horrible for you and actually can cause you to gain weight. Yet, I don't smoke or anything and feel that I should be allowed a vice. I don't go overboard with them, maybe 3 or 4 a week, but if they are really sabotaging my efforts then I need to cut them out.

    Harm from drinking Diet drinks is negligible. Besides artificial ingredients, etc. They do contain a certain amount of sodium, which of course affects water retention. For me when I drink diet soda, I tend to get and feel bloated from the carbonation. Besides that, I don't suffer from any side effects. Zero weight gain, zero thirst, etc.

    If you drink it in moderation and balance it out with water throughout the day. I would not worry nor lose any sleep over this topic.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    I don't agree that the study is giving false information. And, you can make correlation to anything and state it as fact if you try hard enough. The medical industry does it all the time in promoting prescription medication that isn't necessary.

    However, by reading this thread, I would lean to the debate that diet sodas have an addictive affect. Which shows through all the hostility to others on here when told that it is bad for you. Heck, I could say cocaine isn't bad for you since I've lost weight on it. I'm only using this as a point. I don't really use drugs. Just saying that when trying to defend an addiction, people will use any means necessary to prove a point.

    Also, there is a lot of money being made on diet sodas. So, you have to believe that the "industry" is going to do their best to debunk any study that may cause harm to their bottom line.
    I won't debate that it's not addicting. I know it is for some and like I said I use it as my "sweet" craving crusher. However there are peer reviewed clinical studies that have nothing to do with the industry. Mayo Clinic and American Cancer society to name just 2. If they are "corrupted" then everything being told by anyone is probably a flat out lie?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
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    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    Diet soft drinks tend to have a lot of hidden sodium which can cause you to retain fluids. Also you have a constant (to a degree) sweet access so your pallet doesn't acclimate to a less sweet diet. I am guilty of drinking them myself but I am very conscious of drinking a lot of water to flush out extra sodium.
    How's it hidden? It's on the label. If you're balanced with water intake, then the sodium shouldn't be an issue. Sounds like you are.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
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    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
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  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    Diet soda has aspartame in it. Aspartame breaks down in your body into formaldehyde (which is the stuff scientists use to preserve dead things).
    So does eating fruit.
    Aspartame is also sweet which your body interprets as sugar. So your brain prepares itself for the instant energy it thinks it's going to receive. When it doesn't, it crashes and forces you to seek out other sweet foods which can cause you to binge.
    Not proven.
    I personally steer clear of diet soda. I don't really like soda but when I do decide to have a glass, it's a treat. Soda should be treated as an occasional thing, the same you would do with chocolate cake or some other treat.

    As an alternative- you can drink sparkling water! It comes in various flavors and it has the word 'sparkling' in it which makes it sound pretty cool.
    And doesn't sparkling water have artificial flavoring and sweetener too?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    And, I've tried to be considerate of everyone in my debate and not be rude, but that seems to not be the case for everyone else. So, I will say this. You're thinking that diet soda is helping in your weight loss is ridiculous. I'm happy for you for accomplishing your goals, but it's not the diet soda.
    Gotta disagree. How is it ridiculous if it gives the caffeine boost some like and they actual enjoy drinking something with sweetness in it with no calories? Besides water, there really isn't anything you can drink that is devoid of calories if you want something "sweet" tasting like artificially sweetened drinks and soda.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ShapeUpSidney
    ShapeUpSidney Posts: 1,092 Member


    Also, there is a lot of money being made on diet sodas. So, you have to believe that the "industry" is going to do their best to debunk any study that may cause harm to their bottom line.

    It's not really difficult to debunk a weight gain study that ISNT CONTROLLED FOR DIET

    The reality is that people who refrain from drinking soda, or diet soda, or both are the same people that tend to make healthier diet choices overall. For this reason alone, you cannot prove that diet cola causes weight gain.

    Correlation does not equal causation. I've been in the biotech industry since 2001. I spent years at the bench, and now I specialize in computational modelling, statistics, and configuring custom software applications to do this for PhD scientists at the world's largest biotech firm. I don't even like diet soda and refuse to drink it. But that doesn't mean I won't critically analyze journal articles when I read them. The study itself isn't bad science. The bad part is how journalist / the media extrapolate things from the study that really arent true and then print them, to the mass confusion of lay people, like yourself.
  • chicago_dad
    chicago_dad Posts: 357
    http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/10/28/can-diet-coke-make-you-fat/
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/10/28/can-diet-coke-make-you-fat/
    Correlation isn't real evidence. But again it's a going to be a choice of whether or not you think it's okay with you.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,990 Member
    double post
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