Tell me how awful Diet Coke is for me

[Toocrazy!!]

I’m addicted to Diet Coke. I’ve given it up a few times, but I keep coming back. Sometimes it upsets my stomach and I say, no more. But then the next morning,  I’m craving another one. I don’t drink coffee. And nothing else satisfies.

But I do really think I’d be better off without it. 

bonus points if you can show me giving it up will help me lose weight:) 

[KSera]

I was going to skip this because I’m not a Diet Coke drinker, but I kept seeing it with no responses so opened it and seeing the bonus points, I actually do have something for you. It’s been shown that drinking diet soft drinks is associated with weight gain (and other health problems). 
Turns Out, Diet Soda Is Even Worse for You Than We Thought

“Totally counterintuitive, yes—but, despite their zero-calorie content, our source suggests that diet soft drinks may actually cause obesity.

Some behavioral health research has demonstrated that artificially sweetened drinks can lead to over-consuming other foods and beverages, since fake sweetener can leave the brain unsatiated… thus, craving more treats.

Research has shown that diet pop may also lead to an increase in body mass index ("BMI"), and abdominal obesity. Plus, in one study, daily "diet" drinkers saw a nearly 70% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.”

Hope that helps 😁

[Laura Corin]

The gut microbiome is suspected of being important for many areas of health, and artificial sweeteners are meant to affect it 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6363527/

[MooCow]

My Dil is addicted to it as well. Watching this thread...

[fraidycat]

Only because you asked... 😁

There's nothing resembling real food or nutrition in that crap! That $£*+ is gonna wreck your kidneys and liver.
 

^^ The opinion that I generally only share with my close family & friends about diet drinks because I generally try not to spout my opinions about random strangers' food or beverage choices.

I remember reading some info years ago about how the fake sweetness can still trigger the body and brain to react as if it is actual sugar, which can trigger insulin dumps and possibly contribute to insulin resistance among other things. It was years ago and I'm unclear on the details, but the take-away for me was that artificial sweetener can create just as many problems as real sugar.

[Kassia]

I am absolutely addicted and have been for 40 years.  I drink an enormous amount of diet soda.  I just hope it isn't taking years off my life.  

[ktgrok]

Well, obviously you should give up diet coke...because Coke Zero is way better tasting. 

But you shouldn't start drinking it because there are shortages, and I'm struggling to find it. 

[Toocrazy!!]

5 minutes ago, ktgrok said:

Well, obviously you should give up diet coke...because Coke Zero is way better tasting. 

But you shouldn't start drinking it because there are shortages, and I'm struggling to find it. 

Yes, I have come over to that- especially at chick fil a where they serve it from the fountain. Best ever. Are you saying it’s better for me😂

[ktgrok]

2 minutes ago, Toocrazy!! said:

Yes, I have come over to that- especially at chick fil a where they serve it from the fountain. Best ever. Are you saying it’s better for me😂

No, just tastes better, lol. 

[ktgrok]

Also, if or when you stop, don't do it during a time of stress. Or when your family is stressed. I was a raging you know what the times I came off of it. Weeks after giving it up I still craved it. At this point, no one in my family wants to go through that, lol. Maybe next summer, when things are slower. 

[Katy]

I read about a study recently that said Diet soda is highly correlated to stroke risk.  They don’t know why. 

My doctor said that more than one can of any kind of soda per day can lead to osteoporosis. She said there was a 3 year old whose parents had been investigated for child abuse because she kept breaking bones.  Turned out the 3 year old had osteoporosis because she drank mountain dew in her bottles all day and was never given milk. 

[Selkie]

Aspartame has been linked to depression, irritability, and cognitive problems.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28198207/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5617129/

I promise you will feel so much better once you ditch pop. I was addicted for decades, first to Tab when I was a kid (thanks for buying that crap, Mom and Dad 🙄) and then Diet Dr. Pepper as an adult. Dh was hooked on Diet Mountain Dew. We both gave up sugar and artificial sweeteners in our 40s and only drink water, tea, and coffee now. 

It's hard to even describe how much better you feel when that crap is out of your system. Your tastebuds totally change and the craving for sweets and junk food goes away. Dh and I both lost 40 lbs and have kept it off (we're in our mid 50s now). We did a total diet overhaul at the same time and started eating whole food plant based.

Now, when I look at pop, it makes me feel queasy that I ever consumed all those chemicals. It is so unappealing, it may as well be battery acid. Plus, I could kick myself for all the money we spent on pop over the years. I'm sure it was thousands of dollars, and all for something that was terrible for our health.

 

 

 

[Corraleno]

https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2017/march/diet-soda

1. causes weight gain

2. linked to type 2 diabetes

3. increased risk of heart problems including congestive heart failure, heart disease, and/or heart attacks

4. 50% higher risk of stroke

[PeterPan]

First the ugly part. My mother was addicted to Diet Coke for over 3 decades and she has some early dementia going on. As a child, it was very hard to watch her on/off headache/withdrawal cycles.

Now the good part. You could, like many problems in life, solve this with cruising. 😁 Carnival has gone Pepsi, so you'd be without your pop and be replacing it with lots of great walking.

So take a spa cabin for 2-3 weeks, cruise, take massages to get you through the withdrawal headaches, and when you come back you'll be a new woman. 

[Kassia]

24 minutes ago, Selkie said:

 

Plus, I could kick myself for all the money we spent on pop over the years. I'm sure it was thousands of dollars, and all for something that was terrible for our health.

 

 

 

I feel so guilty about this.  I  drink enormous amounts of diet soda and diet iced tea.  I don't even want to estimate how much I've spent in my lifetime for something so bad for me.  

[Toocrazy!!]

You all are pretty convincing. I gave up Diet Coke years ago and did lose a bunch of weight. I remember someone asking me what I was doing to lose the weight and I said- gave up Diet Coke. I don’t remember what else I was doing for my health at the time, but it all seemed inconsequential to not drinking Diet Coke any more. 
Had unsweetened tea for lunch today. That’s one day✅

[Noreen Claire]

2 hours ago, ktgrok said:

Well, obviously you should give up diet coke...because Coke Zero is way better tasting. 

Oh, nope! They changed it recently and it's just terrible now. I switched back to diet coke (and continue to try to give it up completely....)

[KSera]

2 hours ago, ktgrok said:

Also, if or when you stop, don't do it during a time of stress. Or when your family is stressed. I was a raging you know what the times I came off of it. Weeks after giving it up I still craved it. At this point, no one in my family wants to go through that, lol. Maybe next summer, when things are slower. 

I’m guessing it’s the caffeine withdrawal? Would it work to first replace it with caffeine free full sugar coke to get through the caffeine withdrawal first and then drop it, or to replace it with caffeinated coffee so you can get through the coke habit without having caffeine withdrawal  at the same time? Then you could deal with the caffeine issue next? (This was meant for OP, but I suppose could apply for you as well.)

[Kassia]

11 minutes ago, Noreen Claire said:

Oh, nope! They changed it recently and it's just terrible now. I switched back to diet coke (and continue to try to give it up completely....)

I love it all - I just love the combination of carbonation/flavor.  Years ago, I did switch to flavored seltzer water, then went to artificially sweetened flavored seltzer water, and then right back to diet soda.  I feel very dependent on it and would have a tough time giving it up now.  😞  

[Pawz4me]

I'm not addicted (truly), but I do love me some fizz at least once a day. Several years ago I switched from diet Pepsi to diet ginger ale. IIRC I switched because--for some reason I've now forgotten--diet Pepsi was in short supply for awhile. I don't know if the lighter colored sodas are any healthier or not. I can't stand full sugar sodas. They're way, way too sweet for me.

[mellifera33]

Have you sampled a few sparkling waters to see if that scratches the same itch? I find that Bubly and Waterloo have much more flavor than Lacroix and are more likely to trick my brain into thinking I’m having a treat. 

[regentrude]

15 minutes ago, Pawz4me said:

but I do love me some fizz at least once a day.

Sparkling water?

you can add natural flavorings. If you use a sodastream, you can control the degree of carbonation.

[Miss Tick]

I remember reading that artificial sweeteners disrupt your body's natural calorie counting, including products that actually use sugar. So in my own simplistic terms, your body naturally does some form of calorie counting to help decide when you are full. When people consume artificial sweeteners their body quickly realizes that the taste made them think a bunch of calories were coming, but the other body systems never confirmed receiving those calories. So then, sadly, it distrusts the sweetness message from any food, causing more weight gain.

Here is an article that explains this. "When you substitute artificial sweetener for real sugar, however, the body learns it can no longer use its sense of taste to gauge calories. So, the body may be fooled into thinking a product sweetened with sugar has no calories and, therefore, people overeat."

[gardenmom5]

If you want to skip over the whole history thing - skip to about 8:25.

 

And about the stimulation of insulin production . . leads to insulin resistance.

Edited October 11, 2021 by gardenmom5

[PeterPan]

I know it's not carbonation, but have you thought about meeting that sensory need with something else equally strong but maybe a different direction?

https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Peace-Ginger-Candy-Pack/dp/B0779PY9KC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=B8383DT6L0JT&dchild=1&keywords=prince+of+peace+ginger+chew&qid=1633984500&sprefix=prince+of+peace+%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-3  These ginger chews are pretty strong to some people. Not too unhealthy, and one or two a day could do the trick. Nuts, you could have one every time you would have had your pop. 

Also cinnamon candies, cinnamon xylitol gum, etc. could work.

[Toocrazy!!]

So, I have a couple times when the craving hits- usually in the morning, first thing. I could substitute a few drinks of real Coke. It’s not something I over do generally, I might be able to get away with just a bit. I do like flavored seltzers, but I haven’t found one I love. I’ll try the brands above. 
Certain foods need a Diet Coke, but then again, I shouldn’t be eating those foods either. 
Every once in awhile I find a great unsweet green tea that I love. 
I really just don’t like to drink a lot of water. And when I’m thirsty, I just love a big fountain Diet Coke. Or Coke Zero. Depending on the drive through😀

[EKS]

When I gave up Diet Coke, I started by replacing it with the caffeine free kind.  Then I replaced that with seltzer water.

I didn't notice anything different after I stopped drinking it.

Edited October 11, 2021 by EKS

[PeterPan]

39 minutes ago, Toocrazy!! said:

Certain foods need a Diet Coke

Is something wrong with your digestion?

Yeah, drive throughs are dangerous. 

40 minutes ago, Toocrazy!! said:

I really just don’t like to drink a lot of water.

Maybe you need a snazzy cup with a sipper top that you like and some ice, some pizzazz.

[Laura Corin]

42 minutes ago, Toocrazy!! said:

So, I have a couple times when the craving hits- usually in the morning, first thing. I could substitute a few drinks of real Coke. It’s not something I over do generally, I might be able to get away with just a bit. I do like flavored seltzers, but I haven’t found one I love. I’ll try the brands above. 

I crush fresh mint into a bottle with a quarter of a squeezed lime, then fill the bottle up from my Soda Stream. 

[mathnerd]

Try plain sparkling water for a day to see if you can get used to it. If not, you can crush some berries or mint or cucumber in a glass and fill it with plain sparkling water to flavor it and try. I hate carbonated drinks, but have learned to like sparkling water over the last year because I use that as an appetite suppressant to stop me from snacking.

[Longtime Lurker]

I love everything about Diet Coke - the slightly bitter taste, the caffeine, the carbonation... That said, I cut my consumption down to one can a day (sometimes two on weekends) a few years ago with bone health in mind. I drink even less in cold weather. If you aren't able to give it up entirely, can you limit it? Or reduce it gradually?

[footballmom]

I had a full on love affair for Diet Coke for a couple of years.  I also had some low level anxiety that started to ramp up.  I decided to eat more clean and cut out Diet Coke.   Night and day difference with mental health! 

[Toocrazy!!]

2 hours ago, Longtime Lurker said:

I love everything about Diet Coke - the slightly bitter taste, the caffeine, the carbonation... That said, I cut my consumption down to one can a day (sometimes two on weekends) a few years ago with bone health in mind. I drink even less in cold weather. If you aren't able to give it up entirely, can you limit it? Or reduce it gradually?

This is me. I love everything about it. And I can’t decide if I should give it up or not. 
I drink one big fountain Diet Coke or Coke Zero most every day. That is usually ok. If I have more than that, my stomach is instantly sick. That makes me think I should just be done with it. 

[HSmomof2]

3 hours ago, Longtime Lurker said:

I love everything about Diet Coke - the slightly bitter taste, the caffeine, the carbonation... That said, I cut my consumption down to one can a day (sometimes two on weekends) a few years ago with bone health in mind. I drink even less in cold weather. If you aren't able to give it up entirely, can you limit it? Or reduce it gradually?

This is what I’ve done too…..reduced it a lot rather than giving it up completely. Thinking I couldn’t have it anymore only made me want it more. I only have it about twice per week now, and I feel fine about that. 

[KSera]

Doesn't all that soda drinking have a really bad effect on your teeth? I have the worst luck with my teeth and get cavities depite meticulous brushing after meals and snacks, flossing, and no soda drinking. In the once in a blue moon (twice a year?) that I have a soda, I feel like I can't get to the bathroom to brush my teeth fast enough after due to feeling like it's eating my teeth every second it's on there. Do all the soda drinkers here not have that problem with their teeth?

[Kassia]

1 hour ago, KSera said:

Doesn't all that soda drinking have a really bad effect on your teeth? I have the worst luck with my teeth and get cavities depite meticulous brushing after meals and snacks, flossing, and no soda drinking. In the once in a blue moon (twice a year?) that I have a soda, I feel like I can't get to the bathroom to brush my teeth fast enough after due to feeling like it's eating my teeth every second it's on there. Do all the soda drinkers here not have that problem with their teeth?

I used to but now I haven't had any problems with my teeth for years and I drink diet soda 24/7 (I have insomnia and even drink it during the night).  

I did start using Sensodyne ProEnamel and don't know if that helps - if the "ProEnamel" protects my teeth.  

Hope I didn't just jinx myself.  If my teeth were falling apart, I'd definitely cut back but so far, so good.  

[Longtime Lurker]

21 hours ago, Toocrazy!! said:

This is me. I love everything about it. And I can’t decide if I should give it up or not. 
I drink one big fountain Diet Coke or Coke Zero most every day. That is usually ok. If I have more than that, my stomach is instantly sick. That makes me think I should just be done with it. 

Could you switch to one small one each day? Or try to skip a couple of days each week? It would definitely be good to reduce it for long term bone health.

[Toocrazy!!]

I had 4 ounces of real coke today and unsweet tea for my big drink. I’ll take that as another win😀

7 minutes ago, Longtime Lurker said:

Could you switch to one small one each day? Or try to skip a couple of days each week? It would definitely be good to reduce it for long term bone health.

 

[Jaybee]

I really enjoy Diet Coke and Coke Zero. I buy caffeine free when I can. I am trying to cut it out. I didn't buy any (eta: in the grocery store) last week, but I have had it a couple of times at a restaurant. I have a hard time cutting it out. But I do want to.

What about stevia? I put it in my tea in the mornings. Some say it's fine, but I think I have read that it does the same thing, as in prepping your body for the sugar surge. I think I'm not going to buy any once I run out. I do like my tea sweet, but when I don't have it, I eventually get used to it.

Edited October 13, 2021 by Jaybee

[Longtime Lurker]

1 hour ago, Toocrazy!! said:

I had 4 ounces of real coke today and unsweet tea for my big drink. I’ll take that as another win😀

 

Progress!

[Mom_to3]

I used to be a huge diet coke drinker for decades. Up to 5 cans/day in my worst periods (except during my pregnancies, when I cut down significantly). I couldn't get up without drinking a diet coke for breakfast.

I stopped drinking for health reasons and haven't had one in, I don't know, 1.5 years? Blood pressure/heart, teeth, and a big one for middle-aged women in perimenopause - osteoporosis. I also lost almost 20% in weight in the same time period, but I suspect that was more related to covid-related diet changes (though who knows - if that's what it takes to convince you!). I hate to think about what my decades long addiction might have done to my health.

If I can quit, anybody can! I do drink sparkling water. I don't miss it at all!

[theelfqueen]

On 10/11/2021 at 7:10 PM, Longtime Lurker said:

I love everything about Diet Coke - the slightly bitter taste, the caffeine, the carbonation... That said, I cut my consumption down to one can a day (sometimes two on weekends) a few years ago with bone health in mind. I drink even less in cold weather. If you aren't able to give it up entirely, can you limit it? Or reduce it gradually?

I buy the little 1/2 cans. They are a good amount for me most of the time but I definitely grab a fountain drink sometimes....  I dont drink it everyday and I don't have withdrawal  sometimes I just stop for weeks... without even realizing it  (I do also drink tea milk no sugar,  with breakfast most days, so that might be the caffeine I need or maybe I just don't respond to caffeine that way due to brain chemistry differences... never given it much thought. )  I should probably cut it before I go to the UK because their Diet Coke is WRONG. 

[Longtime Lurker]

3 hours ago, theelfqueen said:

I buy the little 1/2 cans. They are a good amount for me most of the time but I definitely grab a fountain drink sometimes....  I dont drink it everyday and I don't have withdrawal  sometimes I just stop for weeks... without even realizing it  (I do also drink tea milk no sugar,  with breakfast most days, so that might be the caffeine I need or maybe I just don't respond to caffeine that way due to brain chemistry differences... never given it much thought. )  I should probably cut it before I go to the UK because their Diet Coke is WRONG. 

This is a good idea for reducing consumption. Automatic portion control 🙂