"Diet" Soda Pop

kroger7
kroger7 Posts: 124 Member
edited September 19 in Food and Nutrition
Ok....so I know that diet pop can't be good for you, but since it is 0 calories I have found myself stopping at the McDonald's drive-thru and getting a Coke Zero as a pick-me-up instead of getting a latte at the coffee shop. I know it can't be healthy, but has anyone looked into what's so bad about it??


This is in part for me, to give me a reason to by-pass the drive-thru, and for my sister-in-law, who drinks gallons of diet pepsi and won't listen to me that it's not healthy, because... I have no explanations!! Help?:drinker: Thanks!
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Replies

  • pange
    pange Posts: 82
    2 things:

    1. It's not proven to cause cancer, but the sugar substitutes they use are linked to cancer in lab rats.
    2. It supposedly makes you hungier. Apparently, when people drink diet soda, they eat more than usual because it puts their bodies into eat mode but doesn't give it any calories.
  • 9726172000
    9726172000 Posts: 428
    Carbonated water
    Colour (150d) - aka "Sulphite Ammonia Caramel"
    Food acid 338 - aka "Phosphoric Acid" (Also used for rust removal!)
    Food acid 331 - aka "Sodium Citrates" (Also used in photography and as an anticoagulant of blood stored for transfusion!)
    Flavour
    Sweetener 951 - aka "Asapartame" (According to the US FDA, "the [National Cancer Institute] currently is studying aspartame and other dietary factors as part of a larger study of adult brain cancer." You might want to wait for the results before you drink it. Also, avoid this one if you're moody!)
    Sweetener 950 - aka "Acesulfame Potassium" (Looking for reasons to avoid this sweetener? Look no further...)
    Preservative 211 - aka "Sodium Benzoate" (Undiluted this stuff isn't too bad... Just don't let it touch your skin!)
    Caffeine
  • llywyn
    llywyn Posts: 315
    Where soda is bad is because you are taking in artificial sweeteners that do not assist in removing the negative chemicals from you body to make it work more efficiently. From a mechanical standpoint, if you are trying to get the right amount of fluid to help your body function and to remove the sodium and other toxins form foods, throwing bad stuff back in is not helping you.

    I have had this argument with my significant other SEVERAL times as I :heart: diet drinks and do not have the side affects he does to artificial sweeteners, and totally agree with you that every bit counts ( a zero is a zero, right?).

    Sometimes you have to be human and take it one step at a time, and if replacing a latte with a soda is your treat, just do your body a favor and make sure to drink all your water as well.

    My .02 lbs.
  • Shanta1983
    Shanta1983 Posts: 1,228 Member
    oh wow I started drinking coke zero and pepsi one Im not drinking that no more:grumble: back to the gtea water and crystal light it iz thanks for the info
  • BrendaLee
    BrendaLee Posts: 4,463 Member
    Google "aspartame", and read some of the stuff that pops up. It'll knock your socks off. Even if there's only a chance that a percentage of the horrible things you read about artificial sweetners is true, is it really worth the risk when you could have a refreshing glass of water or a nice cup of green tea? I just did some Googling, and I'm finished with my occasional bottle of diet coke. It's just not worth it for something that is so unnecessary in my diet.
  • pcbta
    pcbta Posts: 227
    a lot of the stuff on aspartame on the internet is from one woman who is a bit of a crack-pot. just be wary of where you get your info. NOT saying diet pop is a healthy choice, but I choose it when I want the sweet, but not the extra cals. I read a book that said you actually don't get much that is bad out of aspartame...you get much worse just from breathing in air....
    It's worth researching however.

    Cindy:heart:
  • bwilton77
    bwilton77 Posts: 93 Member
    My doctor said that if I was going to drink diet soda or use sweetener to use splenda. It's better for you than the other sweeteners and to be honest it does tastse better. Coke make a diet coke with splenda so you still have caffine but if you just like the taste try Diet Rite Zero. It has no caffine, no sodium, and is made with splenda. I'm not fond of the regular dite rite but I do like the cherry cola they have.
  • Shanta1983
    Shanta1983 Posts: 1,228 Member
    a lot of the stuff on aspartame on the internet is from one woman who is a bit of a crack-pot. just be wary of where you get your info. NOT saying diet pop is a healthy choice, but I choose it when I want the sweet, but not the extra cals. I read a book that said you actually don't get much that is bad out of aspartame...you get much worse just from breathing in air....
    It's worth researching however.

    Cindy:heart:

    Its to many negativity about it I read Im good, Im staying away from it, I had my last one today, thats why I didnt want to started in the first place..so itz nothing for me to stop drinking it
  • bcblondie
    bcblondie Posts: 1
    oh wow I started drinking coke zero and pepsi one Im not drinking that no more:grumble: back to the gtea water and crystal light it iz thanks for the info

    crystal light has artificial sweeteners too!
  • Shanta1983
    Shanta1983 Posts: 1,228 Member
    oh wow I started drinking coke zero and pepsi one Im not drinking that no more:grumble: back to the gtea water and crystal light it iz thanks for the info

    crystal light has artificial sweeteners too!

    oh wow damn well no more crystal light either just green tea and water :noway:
  • kroger7
    kroger7 Posts: 124 Member
    My doctor said that if I was going to drink diet soda or use sweetener to use splenda. It's better for you than the other sweeteners and to be honest it does tastse better. Coke make a diet coke with splenda so you still have caffine but if you just like the taste try Diet Rite Zero. It has no caffine, no sodium, and is made with splenda. I'm not fond of the regular dite rite but I do like the cherry cola they have.

    do they make that in Canada? Diet Coke with Splenda sounds awesome but I have never seen it :grumble:
  • rlberg55
    rlberg55 Posts: 7 Member
    All soda has lots of phosphates in it, diet or not, which has been proven to increase your risk of osteoporosis because it leeches out the calcium from your bones. One soda every week or two is not going to make your bones brittle immediately, but drinking them every day is really bad for you.

    Just google something like "health effects of soda" and you will see that it is not just the artificial sweeteners to be worried about.
  • bwilton77
    bwilton77 Posts: 93 Member
    try asking your local grocery store if they carry it or know somewhere close that does sometimes it's something they have to order for you. the can is silver with a yellow swirl line up the sides. Good luck it is yummy.
  • BrendaLee
    BrendaLee Posts: 4,463 Member
    All soda has lots of phosphates in it, diet or not, which has been proven to increase your risk of osteoporosis because it leeches out the calcium from your bones. One soda every week or two is not going to make your bones brittle immediately, but drinking them every day is really bad for you.

    Just google something like "health effects of soda" and you will see that it is not just the artificial sweeteners to be worried about.

    They're just not worth it to have in your diet. They have no health benefits, and too many potential risks to make them a sensible choice of beverage. This is coming from a girl who was a complete soda addict a month ago. :drinker:
  • thumper44
    thumper44 Posts: 1,464 Member
    I saw this article on MSN the other day. Since this thread is somewhat relevant, I thought it would be a good place.

    Sewage treatment plants fail to remove artificial sweeteners completely from waste water
    http://www.wateronline.com/article.mvc/New-Test-Detects-Artificial-Sweetener-Traces-0001
  • Fieldsy
    Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
    just drink it in moderation if you enjoy it

    I love diet soda
  • acrylicrocks
    acrylicrocks Posts: 33
    I am addicted to Coke Zero. You could pump that stuff right into my brain. I don't drink it that often and there are somethings that go best with a glass of soda. Like the perfect slice of pizza! :love:

    Besides with all the horrible things that we are subjected to, so what about sweeteners.
  • BrendaLee
    BrendaLee Posts: 4,463 Member
    Besides with all the horrible things that we are subjected to, so what about sweeteners.

    With all the horrible things we are exposed to, why ADD artificial sweetners to it. :tongue:

    I always loved soda with pizza though.
  • ColinQ
    ColinQ Posts: 76
    I really hate the taste of artificial sweeteners so i have cut out coke and other fizzy drinks altogether. I prefer orange juice anyway, but that shows as containing a lot of sugar even though it is fruit sugar.:grumble: :ohwell:
  • Fieldsy
    Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
    I really hate the taste of artificial sweeteners so i have cut out coke and other fizzy drinks altogether. I prefer orange juice anyway, but that shows as containing a lot of sugar even though it is fruit sugar.:grumble: :ohwell:

    You really don't have to give up anything....just keep it in moderation and you will be okay
  • bethrs
    bethrs Posts: 664 Member
    I guess my two cents is that everything in life is a cost-benefit analysis. What are the pros and cons?

    For some a diet soda pro is that it's not a regular soda or a fat and sugar filled coffee product. Maybe the cons are the artificial sweeteners, or the monetary cost, or whatever it is for you. And maybe the pros outweigh the cons, and that's okay.

    For me, a diet soda con is that it doesn't provide me personally with anything that I need. It's not nutritious, it's not physically hydrating and I struggle to drink my water, I don't need to drink anything that's not water. So for me, and me personally, the cons outweigh the pros.

    It sounded like the original post was looking for some reasons to avoid the soda, and I think the thread has presented some. If you keep it up in moderation, cool beans. If you ditch it after your own cost-benefit analysis, yay you.
  • XFitMojoMom
    XFitMojoMom Posts: 3,255 Member
    I cannot stand the taste of splenda and it doubles me over in cramps.

    I used sugar twin in my coffee, but then went over to organic cane sugar. I didn't like the taste either so now I drink it sugar free. LOL..

    Can't win... but I too love diet coke and coke zero, but I just don't "keep it" so that way I don't drink it!
  • paulamma1
    paulamma1 Posts: 544 Member
    ........ there are somethings that go best with a glass of soda.

    Like that bottle of JD you're holding!!!!

    :flowerforyou:
  • Fieldsy
    Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
    ........ there are somethings that go best with a glass of soda.

    Like that bottle of JD you're holding!!!!

    :flowerforyou:

    x2
  • July24Lioness
    July24Lioness Posts: 2,399 Member
    My doctor said that if I was going to drink diet soda or use sweetener to use splenda. It's better for you than the other sweeteners and to be honest it does tastse better. Coke make a diet coke with splenda so you still have caffine but if you just like the taste try Diet Rite Zero. It has no caffine, no sodium, and is made with splenda. I'm not fond of the regular dite rite but I do like the cherry cola they have.

    Wow, I am shocked to hear a Dr say this..............

    Every Dr I know says to stay as far away from Splenda as possible. It is bleached sugar from what I have been reading.

    I stay away from all Artificial Sweetners (AS). I use Stevia and sometimes a bit of raw honey or agave nectar.

    I like my tea and coffee plain, so I don't have to worry about sweetners for too much anyway.

    I just can't get my hubby to give up splenda, so I still have to buy it. I am taking baby steps with him, baby steps.
  • FireMonkey
    FireMonkey Posts: 500 Member
    a lot of the stuff on aspartame on the internet is from one woman who is a bit of a crack-pot. just be wary of where you get your info.
    Cindy:heart:

    Thanks for the info - I tried to find evidence-based scientific information on aspartame the other day and you're right - most of the stuff on the internet is ridiculous. Check out the FDA or Health Canada.

    Totally agree that diet pop is not a substitute for healthier choices, but as a treat and in moderation I don't see any harm in it. Just keep in mind that caffeine is an appetite stimulant - I've got to restrict my caffeine for health reasons and have noticed a big difference in being able to stick to my calorie limit. :drinker:
  • July24Lioness
    July24Lioness Posts: 2,399 Member
    http://www.321recipes.com/aspartame.html

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

    http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/34040.php

    http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/dangers.htm
  • Fieldsy
    Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
    okay, and alcohol destroys your liver, cigarettes give you cancer, fatty foods gives you a heart attack, now there saying too much fish is bad for mercury


    too much of anything isn't good.....moderation is totally fine
  • July24Lioness
    July24Lioness Posts: 2,399 Member
    okay, and alcohol destroys your liver, cigarettes give you cancer, fatty foods gives you a heart attack, now there saying too much fish is bad for mercury


    too much of anything isn't good.....moderation is totally fine

    There is no need to be snarky. I personally don't believe in the moderation is totally fine. But to each his own.

    The poster above me mentioned that they could not find scientific evidence that artificial sweetners are bad. They are highly toxic and just as addictive as sugar or drugs.

    Actually fatty foods don't give you a heart attack. There are plenty of studies to the contrary on that one. There is even a forum that I recently posted on that gives plenty of information about how eating a moderate fat diet is actually good for you.
  • memaw66
    memaw66 Posts: 2,558 Member
    Lucky for me I don't like soda, diet or not.


    Memaw
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