Can Diet Soda Make You Gain Weight?
As if keeping off the pounds wasn't already hard enough!
A new study from Purdue University has found that rats fed artificially sweetened yogurt were more likely to pack on the pounds than those that were fed yogurt sweetened with glucose. While it's true that foods and beverages containing aspartame, such as many diet sodas, are low in calories, they may also lead to overeating or less physical activity. When a sweet taste is not followed by a large number of calories, the body may get confused and consume far more calories than it needs or burn less energy than normal. Some specialists, however, aren't convinced these findings are scientifically sound and are dubious about drawing conclusions.
The study has nonetheless generated a great deal of conversation on our message boards. Many iVillagers, although aware of the controversy, are too attached to their daily diet cola fix to consider healthier alternatives like water and tea. Member dandm116 on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board says, "Diet Coke is like my booze!"
And she's hardly alone. Member mindyk1978 also active on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board adds that she drinks ... "diet caffeine free [soda]. I know there are mixed reviews about aspartame and carbonation, but I just don't know if I can kick it!"
Others on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board, however, are far more leery of artificial sweeteners. Member emilysmom2007 tries to avoid it. "I generally stay away from anything diet ... I just feel like the more 'natural' the foods you eat/drink, even real sugar, the healthier." Member lucifies2girls finds fake sugar just as unsettling. "I don't drink diet soda ... aspartame just seems so artificial to me."
Well, she's right about that; aspartame is definitely artificial!
Interestingly, member meghanmck of the Get Fit Moms board has no problem regularly drinking diet soda, but she doesn't think it's safe to let her kids have it. "I continue to drink my diet coke ... [but] I wouldn't give [artificial sweeteners] to my kids."
But some do take a much stronger stance against diet soda. Member catherinet on a GardenWeb discussion believes that all "... soda should be outlawed! OK, I'm not really serious, but I think it's a big health issue in this country. I also wouldn't substitute sugar-free sodas for the sugar ones, since I think sugar substitutes have their own set of problems."
No matter how you feel about aspartame and diet soda, it is important to know what you're putting in your body. What exactly are the ingredients in that can of Pepsi or that mug of root beer? Find out what's really lurking in your soft drink. Of course, once you know what you're drinking, you might want to get the lowdown on all those artificial sweeteners, too. Be sure and also check out what health expert Amy Hendel has to say about diet soda. And if you feel like going al naturale for a change, discover 10 simple ways you can cut back on sugar.
What do you think? Do you drink diet soda and use artificial sweeteners? If not, are there other, natural, sweeteners you prefer? Share your thoughts and ideas.
A new study from Purdue University has found that rats fed artificially sweetened yogurt were more likely to pack on the pounds than those that were fed yogurt sweetened with glucose. While it's true that foods and beverages containing aspartame, such as many diet sodas, are low in calories, they may also lead to overeating or less physical activity. When a sweet taste is not followed by a large number of calories, the body may get confused and consume far more calories than it needs or burn less energy than normal. Some specialists, however, aren't convinced these findings are scientifically sound and are dubious about drawing conclusions.
The study has nonetheless generated a great deal of conversation on our message boards. Many iVillagers, although aware of the controversy, are too attached to their daily diet cola fix to consider healthier alternatives like water and tea. Member dandm116 on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board says, "Diet Coke is like my booze!"
And she's hardly alone. Member mindyk1978 also active on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board adds that she drinks ... "diet caffeine free [soda]. I know there are mixed reviews about aspartame and carbonation, but I just don't know if I can kick it!"
Others on the Pregnancy & Parenting After IVF board, however, are far more leery of artificial sweeteners. Member emilysmom2007 tries to avoid it. "I generally stay away from anything diet ... I just feel like the more 'natural' the foods you eat/drink, even real sugar, the healthier." Member lucifies2girls finds fake sugar just as unsettling. "I don't drink diet soda ... aspartame just seems so artificial to me."
Well, she's right about that; aspartame is definitely artificial!
Interestingly, member meghanmck of the Get Fit Moms board has no problem regularly drinking diet soda, but she doesn't think it's safe to let her kids have it. "I continue to drink my diet coke ... [but] I wouldn't give [artificial sweeteners] to my kids."
But some do take a much stronger stance against diet soda. Member catherinet on a GardenWeb discussion believes that all "... soda should be outlawed! OK, I'm not really serious, but I think it's a big health issue in this country. I also wouldn't substitute sugar-free sodas for the sugar ones, since I think sugar substitutes have their own set of problems."
No matter how you feel about aspartame and diet soda, it is important to know what you're putting in your body. What exactly are the ingredients in that can of Pepsi or that mug of root beer? Find out what's really lurking in your soft drink. Of course, once you know what you're drinking, you might want to get the lowdown on all those artificial sweeteners, too. Be sure and also check out what health expert Amy Hendel has to say about diet soda. And if you feel like going al naturale for a change, discover 10 simple ways you can cut back on sugar.
What do you think? Do you drink diet soda and use artificial sweeteners? If not, are there other, natural, sweeteners you prefer? Share your thoughts and ideas.
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I don't know if I agree with all of this. I do believe that overdoing it on artificial sweeteners is not good for you. I also am sick and tired of these types of things being announced to the public without doing many tests and re-tests of the same experiment. It is the same thing with the whole butter vs. margarine debacle. One day butter is bad and margarine is better and the next day, vice versa. Everything in moderation is what I believe. I don't think you should completely avoid foods if you love them. Just don't overdo it!!
I completely agree with the anti-diet soda crowd. I personally have lost 5 pounds in the last three weeks with NO change in my diet or exercise routine EXCEPT for cutting out the diet soda.
I hope that research can prove that there are very harmful effects of diet soda, but until then we should rely on common sense. There is no way something as artificial as aspartame can possibly be good for you!
Read the book "Skinny Bitch" as she talks about soda as 'liquid Satan'.
It's a wonderfully smack-in-the-face, straight up attitude about how to get in shape, and healthy. Very informative and eye-opening.
I am so happy this study came out. I would love for scientists to intergrate this study with women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome. More and more women are becoming diagnosed with PCOS, which leads me to believe that there has to be a reason other than obesity. I have PCOS and ever since reading books a few months to avoid soft drinks and food that have artifical ingredients in it, I have lost weight in combo with exercise---and I'm not depriving myself at all. I eat mostly organic when I can. Since I have a hormonal problem, why would I want to eat foods that may mess with it even more? I think the long term effects from artifical, unnatural foods are starting come out with the obesity epidemic. Plus, women and young girls of today are dealing with more hormonal and infertility issues than our mothers and grandmothers.
My friend has been drinking a two liter of diet pop every single day for as long as I've known him and he is not over wight. I've known him for a long time. He does it because he is diabetic, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot get him to drink water.
Dont get confused, everyhing that tastes sweet from fruit to diet coke does the same thing that a candy bar does-it raises your blood sugar level. to find out which ones to love, and which fruits to shove, go to www.getfitwithjnl.com and download this incredible program!
www.getfitnowwithjnl.com HELPED ME LOSE over 22 pounds in 4 weeks, and I look and feel incredible. I now have super sleek and sexy muscle tone, a tiny little waste and my cellulite is gone.
I am getting ready for a spring cruise and I cant wait to wear my bikini.
I urge all of you to visit WWW. GET FIT WITH JNL. COM
and get on this super easy weight loss program.
www.getfitwithjnl.com also lays out what to eat for 28 days.
Try it out, and see how well your body responds.
I started drinking diet colas (pepsi, coke) about 3 years ago. My weight never dropped but went higher. 2 years ago, I started having Migraines. After a year, I finally found out that aspartame was causing them for me. I stopped drinking diet pepsi/coke and anything with aspartame, sucralose, sweet & low... I have been able to use splenda and want to mention that if you reallly want your diet soda, try Diet Rite Colas (no calories, caffeine, sodium or carbs). There are a few different flavors too.
I'm not a fan of fizzy drinks, so somehow I've safeguarded myself against the diet soda debates. But don't even try to separate me from my Equal and coffee combo in the morning. I love my aspartame hot and in a mug. Something about that irony under current gives my black coffee the perfect flavor. I'd be devastated to find my calorie-free drink is actually laced with some cancer-causing powder that I administered to myself. But I'm the type of girl to ride my bike without a helmet. I laugh at danger.
Especially if it's part of my addictive morning routine.
i personally believe that if one takes any food/drink in moderation there is nothing wrong with that.this tendency of researchers saying this tomorrow that wont really take us anyway.i guez people have ru n short of what to reseach on.i believe there is no food that is completely bad for taking(well except for if its poisonous)provided you take that in small quantities and not over doing it.so,i dont think there is anything wrong with drinking a can of soda once in a while.i read an article that said 100%juice from the shops is not the best rather settle for freshly home made juice coz some shelve juices have hidden calories!now you see how controversial its becoming.my advice is take food in moderation and dont indulge to stay in shape!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm a Catholic, and for lent, some people give up something you are attached to, for the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, to mirror Christ's fasting for 40 days.
In any case, I'm giving up diet soda. I usually have it at the office, or when I'm out to lunch, but I have not had any since Ash Wednesday... I think I can make it to Easter! And hopefully, lose a few pounds in the process!
A year ago I would have disagreed with the study, but today is different. I have been suffering from a nasty itchy rash on my neck for about two years. Nothing helped, creams, ointments, aloe vera, etc. My kinesiologist (a sort of chiropractor) noticed it and asked if I was still drinking diet cokes and suggested I lay off them for a month to see what happens. Well, at first the rash stopped being so itchy, and then a month or two it started to slowly disappear. Unconvinced I started up on diet coke again and within a week the rash was back. So I had to give it up completely or spend the rest of my life scratching my neck. I too noticed the loss of the belly bloat a month later and a few pounds I hadn't been able to lose. I'm a believer!
Well, to use opposite logic based on these findings, if the body mistakes the sweet taste for real sugar, then why doesn't it in turn burn more calories thinking it was real sugar? That sounds like a logical reaction to me. I don't agree with their conclusions, although, I DO agree that too much of anything is not good for you, including diet sodas. Balance is the key.
I started drinking diet pop (with Nutrasweet/Aspartame), about 25-30 years ago. I drank one can on my afternoon break at 2 PM everyday, and would get an intense headache about 2:30 PM. After a couple weeks, I went to my doctor and was told to stop drinking Aspartame. He told me that it was approved by the government before being tested the mandatory five years.
Within the past 10 years, I am finding many friends who have Lupus, Arthritis, and Brain cancer, which I have been told, are side-affects from Aspartame consumption.
Please stop now! Give it up before it messes up your life!
I think this study is BS!!!!!!!!
Both my younger brother and my brother in law were extremely obese and since they loved sodas so much they switched to diet sodas. These days they still keep drinking large amounts of diet sodas and they have lost over 100 pounds. So, this is just like with soy and butter and everything else that is supposed to be good or bad and then the contrary is said again.
I have always heard this rumor but didn't understand why it was so. But I do believe it to be true. I am a diabetic so I have been hooked on Sprite Zero and Diet Coke for a long time. Recently I went 2 months not drinking either and switching to Diet Lipton Raspberry White Tea and in those 2 months I dropped 20 pounds. As soon as I went back to the diet soda I slowly put on a few pounds. So I have switched back to the tea.
I'm a Catholic, and for lent, some people give up something you are attached to, for the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday, to mirror Christ's fasting for 40 days.
In any case, I'm giving up diet soda. I usually have it at the office, or when I'm out to lunch, but I have not had any since Ash Wednesday... I think I can make it to Easter! And hopefully, lose a few pounds in the process!
When I stop drinking diet soda the pounds started falling off. I was nearly living on them,2 liters a day . I had a headache that nearly blew my head off for 2 weeks though. I then cut out fried foods and desserts. I am now 150 from 240. It took me 6 months . I feel great and look great too. I am 60 years old and feel better than when I was 30.
I'm supporting all the comments, there's alway a vice verser in most cases. Oh!!!! this is the good one not this all cuz it's not from the same producer any ways, it all depends on us. some pple'boby burn them calories and some just accumulates them. i for one i can't do two soda's a week and i try to work out two to three times a week. Our body needs some caffeine and every thing seem to be artificial if we are not shopping from maybe trade Joe or whole food...you name it. for my part, i'll rather be moderate on any thing i put my hands on. thnaks for giving me the chance to express my view point