Diet Soda??? Your thoughts?

I have stopped drinking soda for good about 10 years ago. I used to drink about a can of diet Pepsi 4-5 days a week. It was my treat and I liked it! I have never experienced negative affects of it...But, I stopped drinking it after I came across the study showing some pretty nasty effects of artificial sweeteners used in these drinks...It's terrible for your kidneys..and some studies show it could impact your weight loss efforts:
http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/4-health-side-effects-of-diet-soda.html

Not peer reviewed study. It's an article.


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

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198517/?tool=pubmed
Here's a review article which address the controversy of the health effects of artificial sweeteners. It does not deny that there are some health effects, but scientific studies have been produced that support both sides of the story.

Aspartame

it is completely broken down by the body to its components - the amino acids, aspartic acid, phenylalanine and a small amount of ethanol.[17–19] These components are found in much greater amounts in common foods, such as meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables, and are used in the body in the same way whether they come from aspartame or common foods.

Double-blind trials have been carried out with aspartame at Duke University and in one of the best-designed of these studies, the effects of a single large dose of aspartame in people who had claimed to be sensitive to the substance was investigated. The results showed no difference in headache frequency, blood pressure, or blood histamine concentrations (a measure of the allergenic potential) between the experimental and control groups.

Further experiments show that aspartame is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than a placebo.[30] The three breakdown products of aspartame are all toxic in high doses.

it is possible that doses of the sweetener that cause a sufficient increase in brain phenylalanine might increase seizure frequency among susceptible humans, or might allow seizures to occur in people who are vulnerable but without prior episodes.[31] On the other hand, human studies disprove it. It was shown that there was no difference between the results for aspartame and those for the placebo.

I could go on, but I'm just going to say my general impression here is that if you are sensitive to artificial sweeteners, it's most likely because you are sensitive to the chemicals they are broken down into. Any food that contains these chemicals in high concentrations would produce a similar effect.

No matter what the science says, do whatever you please. Drink it or don't, it's your choice.

See, now you're getting a little ridiculous. Of course everything is made up of all the elements - any 6th grader can tell you that. Arsenic and Mercury are also on the table of elements, but I don't see people reccomending you drink THEM by the liter.

People need to educate themselves on what is being put into our bodies, that's all I'm saying. Smokers have been ignoring the health warnings associated with smoking for decades, some vegetarians stopped eating meat because they didn't want to consume the hormones and whatnot that ends up in our meat supply, and the Organic movement is stronger than ever because people don't want pesticides and other chemicals on the food they eat. If you do the research and say "meh - I'm cool with that" then do whatever you want.

Research from Peer Reviewed Clinical studies (Mayo clinic, American Cancer society to name a couple) have shown that some of the "correlation" evidence spouted by many a "natural" organization is flawed and incorrect.


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'm confused - to which part of comments are you referring? I wasn't stating scientific fact or causation anywhere in this post - just opinions of people in those three communities.

I have one a week maybe...but since I cut them out everyday...and just drink water...i lose faster...

All the Best

Joe

See, now you're getting a little ridiculous. Of course everything is made up of all the elements - any 6th grader can tell you that. Arsenic and Mercury are also on the table of elements, but I don't see people reccomending you drink THEM by the liter.

People need to educate themselves on what is being put into our bodies, that's all I'm saying. Smokers have been ignoring the health warnings associated with smoking for decades, some vegetarians stopped eating meat because they didn't want to consume the hormones and whatnot that ends up in our meat supply, and the Organic movement is stronger than ever because people don't want pesticides and other chemicals on the food they eat. If you do the research and say "meh - I'm cool with that" then do whatever you want.

Research from Peer Reviewed Clinical studies (Mayo clinic, American Cancer society to name a couple) have shown that some of the "correlation" evidence spouted by many a "natural" organization is flawed and incorrect.


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'm confused - to which part of comments are you referring? I wasn't stating scientific fact or causation anywhere in this post - just opinions of people in those three communities.

I agree with eating organic.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198517/?tool=pubmed
Here's a review article which address the controversy of the health effects of artificial sweeteners. It does not deny that there are some health effects, but scientific studies have been produced that support both sides of the story.

Aspartame

it is completely broken down by the body to its components - the amino acids, aspartic acid, phenylalanine and a small amount of ethanol.[17–19] These components are found in much greater amounts in common foods, such as meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables, and are used in the body in the same way whether they come from aspartame or common foods.

Double-blind trials have been carried out with aspartame at Duke University and in one of the best-designed of these studies, the effects of a single large dose of aspartame in people who had claimed to be sensitive to the substance was investigated. The results showed no difference in headache frequency, blood pressure, or blood histamine concentrations (a measure of the allergenic potential) between the experimental and control groups.

Further experiments show that aspartame is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than a placebo.[30] The three breakdown products of aspartame are all toxic in high doses.

it is possible that doses of the sweetener that cause a sufficient increase in brain phenylalanine might increase seizure frequency among susceptible humans, or might allow seizures to occur in people who are vulnerable but without prior episodes.[31] On the other hand, human studies disprove it. It was shown that there was no difference between the results for aspartame and those for the placebo.

I could go on, but I'm just going to say my general impression here is that if you are sensitive to artificial sweeteners, it's most likely because you are sensitive to the chemicals they are broken down into. Any food that contains these chemicals in high concentrations would produce a similar effect.

No matter what the science says, do whatever you please. Drink it or don't, it's your choice.

That's actually really interesting. The only flaws I see are:

1) not all allergies trigger a histamine reponse. I'm extremely allergic to cigarette smoke and when I saw an allergy specialist they put me on Singulair (an asthma medication) because it is a leukatrine inhibitor and tobacco smoke triggers a leukatrine response in my body. I'm not syaing that the research isn't valid but from the clips you posted they didn't cover all the angles.

2) they did a single large dose of aspartame... they didn't do a long-term small-dose study. It's possible that aspartame is similar to a multi-vitamin where you ingest way more than your body "needs", so it flushes out a lot of it in your urine and doesn't get absorbed at all.


Where did you find that study? I'd be interested to read the rest.

Agree with christibear.....for me it is just about eating clean so if i'm thirsty i will stick to the water but it's up to you if you want to drink it. It's our body and if you wanted to drink it go for it personally I don't like the idea of most diet products just a personal preference I prefer making everything myself and buying local farm fresh produce, that is not saying that my way of life is the right way or the wrong way. I think everyone is getting worked up about defending their opinion rather than just excepting the fact that we all have the freedom to make our own choice and what works for one person may not work for another. I say if you want to drink it and your comfortable with the vast amount of information out there that is both for and against it than go for it, it's your body and you are the only one that knows whether it is affecting your weight loss or not.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198517/?tool=pubmed
Here's a review article which address the controversy of the health effects of artificial sweeteners. It does not deny that there are some health effects, but scientific studies have been produced that support both sides of the story.

Aspartame

it is completely broken down by the body to its components - the amino acids, aspartic acid, phenylalanine and a small amount of ethanol.[17–19] These components are found in much greater amounts in common foods, such as meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables, and are used in the body in the same way whether they come from aspartame or common foods.

Double-blind trials have been carried out with aspartame at Duke University and in one of the best-designed of these studies, the effects of a single large dose of aspartame in people who had claimed to be sensitive to the substance was investigated. The results showed no difference in headache frequency, blood pressure, or blood histamine concentrations (a measure of the allergenic potential) between the experimental and control groups.

Further experiments show that aspartame is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than a placebo.[30] The three breakdown products of aspartame are all toxic in high doses.

it is possible that doses of the sweetener that cause a sufficient increase in brain phenylalanine might increase seizure frequency among susceptible humans, or might allow seizures to occur in people who are vulnerable but without prior episodes.[31] On the other hand, human studies disprove it. It was shown that there was no difference between the results for aspartame and those for the placebo.

I could go on, but I'm just going to say my general impression here is that if you are sensitive to artificial sweeteners, it's most likely because you are sensitive to the chemicals they are broken down into. Any food that contains these chemicals in high concentrations would produce a similar effect.

No matter what the science says, do whatever you please. Drink it or don't, it's your choice.

That's actually really interesting. The only flaws I see are:

1) not all allergies trigger a histamine reponse. I'm extremely allergic to cigarette smoke and when I saw an allergy specialist they put me on Singulair (an asthma medication) because it is a leukatrine inhibitor and tobacco smoke triggers a leukatrine response in my body. I'm not syaing that the research isn't valid but from the clips you posted they didn't cover all the angles.

2) they did a single large dose of aspartame... they didn't do a long-term small-dose study. It's possible that aspartame is similar to a multi-vitamin where you ingest way more than your body "needs", so it flushes out a lot of it in your urine and doesn't get absorbed at all.


Where did you find that study? I'd be interested to read the rest.

Aspartame is broken down to aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and the body uses both amino acids just as they would from any other amino acid source, so I don't think multiple small doses over time would have negative or built up effects, otherwise the same thing would happen for people eating protein. I'm pretty sure that's why the study went with large single doses.

Aspertame is bad stuff.
I love my teeth so no soda.
I love my pancreas so no soda.
I love not having heartburn so no soda.
I love my muscles so I love water and tea and coffee.

But!

Anything in moderation shouldnt kill you.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/403162-are-diet-colas-bad-for-you/
http://aspartame.mercola.com/
http://tc.engr.wisc.edu/UER/uer98/author2/content.html <---this hits on how aspartame turns to methanol in the blood stream.

Yummy coke huh?

Stop with the scare mongering. Methanol, really? The average human being normally creates about 600mg of methanol a day as part of normal metabolism (it's actually a normal component of human breath.) Also, most fruits and vegetables have more methanol in them than diet soda.

Lol! I dont drink the crap because I dont like heartburn!
Water is my guilty pleasure! Mixed with tea its better!