aspertain

I used to believe it was really bad for you. Only because I was listening to what other people were telling me. I decided to do the research myself and found that A LOT of what people were saying were really just opinions. I switched to diet soda months ago. I have never heard of aspartam slowing down your metabolism. Some people say it causes them to crave sweets but I find that having a drink of my diet soda helps when I want something sweet.

This came out today: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatthis/3-shocking-soda-facts
Again, I wouldn't take it to heart but just beaware of what you're eating.

It has been linked to cancer, but so hasn't everything else in this world. I use artificial sweeteners in my coffee, and a few of the things I eat on a regular basis are "sugar free," which is code for contains aspartame, of something of that nature.

That being said, I still don't drink soda. A few years ago, before I started to even try to lose the extra weight I had left over from pregnancy, I cut out soda and began drinking water, with hopes that I would get my skin back to normal. (After pregnancy I had some issues with acne.) Anyways, with no other changes, I lost about 5 pounds. Half was probably actual weight and the other half was probably water weight (even diet soda has lot's of sodium), but 5 pounds is 5 pounds. Now whenever I'm in "diet mode," my soda intake is strictly limited. Only as a treat, maybe, if I go out to dinner.


EDIT***

Want to add, I only drank DIET soda, Diet Coke to be exact. Guess that's sort of an important piece to my story... Lol.

medical school has not scared me away from aspartame - I have heard tales of neurotoxicity and cancer, but nothing that convinced me

I definitely think that aspartame is less harmful then all the sugar in a normal soda - so if drinking a diet soda keeps you from drinking a regular soda then i think its beneficial

http://www.aspartame.org/aspartame_myths.html

Of course the aspartame website is going to say it's safe. Here are the articles from Dr. Mercola who says it's very unsafe:

http://search.mercola.com/search/Pages/results.aspx?k=aspartame

I guess it's a matter of who you believe. Personally I try to avoid it. I know it gave my mother in law headaches which went away when she quit consuming it.

I figured someone would say that. There are other sites and actual studies done. The site you posted looks like someone who is trying to make money selling their book. Also looks like it's just a blog with his own opinions.

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/

This provides a very comprehensive list of studies on aspartame. Someone posted it on MFP another discussion about it.

I have no medical advice for you here. But I find pop in general makes me feel bloated. Last year I gave up Mt. Dew for lent and never went back. I found Lipton's Diet Green tea citrus flavor has been a great substitute! I don't feel bloated, and my stomach used to have this ulcer like ache that has seriously improved! I lost 18 pounds! ( was in a car wreck a few months back so can't exercise right now and have been eating badly due to xmas so I;ve gained a few back)

my opinion...that stuff isn't natural. unnatural stuff that we eat has to have some affect on weight gain, hence the rise in obesity with the influx of this type of food over the past 50 years.

I'm a little confused by that. Are you talking about aspartame or other additives? I find it hard to believe that artificial sweeteners are a major cause for obesity.

"Psychologists at Purdue University's Ingestive Behavior Research Center reported that relative to rats that ate yogurt sweetened with glucose (a simple sugar with 15 calories/teaspoon, the same as table sugar), rats given yogurt sweetened with zero-calorie saccharin later consumed more calories, gained more weight, put on more body fat, and didn't make up for it by cutting back later, all at levels of statistical significance."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080210183902.htm

"Psychologists at Purdue University's Ingestive Behavior Research Center reported that relative to rats that ate yogurt sweetened with glucose (a simple sugar with 15 calories/teaspoon, the same as table sugar), rats given yogurt sweetened with zero-calorie saccharin later consumed more calories, gained more weight, put on more body fat, and didn't make up for it by cutting back later, all at levels of statistical significance."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080210183902.htm

Interesting, but that does not necessarily correlate to how humans respond. I'll have to see if I can dig them up on pubmed again, but there are human studies showing that hunger and weight gain are not increased due to the use of artificial sweeteners.

* EDIT *
Found a couple of them, but not the main one I was looking for:

sucralose - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22153513
aspartame - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22252107

I recall reading that the American Pilots Association require their pilots not to consume aspartame due to it's ability to cause black outs in some individuals. Lots of great links that everyone has added :-)

I stay away from any and all artificial sweetners, I'd rather just have regular sugar in moderation.......

Your diary indicates very differently. ETA: unless you ,mean the literal sweeteners, like splenda in your coffee.

Some people say this, others say that...it's all about who you want to believe. Sure, some say it is linked to cancer, but so is nearly everything on this planet. On the other hand, many many people unknowingly have an allergy to aspartame, which usually shows signs like IBS and Restless Leg Syndrome. If you are prone to digestive problems and leg pain, try cutting the diet soda and see if you notice a difference. Personally, I stay away from the stuff since I have many food allergies and a weak stomach. I haven't had an ounce of pop in over a year, so I thought I was good, until I sadly discovered aspartame in my Lipton green tea. That was a sad day, but it forced me to find something better, like good ole water and my new addiction, La Croix.

buy tea bags and brew it at home..no aspartame there just natural tea leaves. add some natural honey if you need it to be sweetened

Some people say this, others say that...it's all about who you want to believe. Sure, some say it is linked to cancer, but so is nearly everything on this planet. On the other hand, many many people unknowingly have an allergy to aspartame, which usually shows signs like IBS and Restless Leg Syndrome. If you are prone to digestive problems and leg pain, try cutting the diet soda and see if you notice a difference. Personally, I stay away from the stuff since I have many food allergies and a weak stomach. I haven't had an ounce of pop in over a year, so I thought I was good, until I sadly discovered aspartame in my Lipton green tea. That was a sad day, but it forced me to find something better, like good ole water and my new addiction, La Croix.

buy tea bags and brew it at home..no aspartame there just natural tea leaves. add some natural honey if you need it to be sweetened

Thanks for the advice, but it's really not that big of a deal anymore. I tried brewing it from natural tea leaves, but I didn't like the taste and I can't stand hot/warm drinks (I also have a strange aversion to ice...) Tea is dehydrating anyway, so I might as well just drink the water