[casey16]

I’m a full-time college student who has a lot of experience with needing an extra boost for late night studying. I’m also health conscious and very physically active, although I do have my bad habits like the rest, with one being my love for diet sodas.

I know the negative affects of artificial sweeteners, but I also figured that because diet sodas contain zero calories, they were more beneficial to my body than regular sodas. Because let’s be honest, regular sodas are the epitome of ingesting empty calories—200 or so calories per can with no nutrients or minerals, just sugar and caffeine.

However, I am a consistent follower of a local doctor who specializes in integrative medicine, Dr. Julie Chen of MakingHealthyEZ, and she talks about this topic on her website.

What I, personally, found the most interesting (and it makes a lot of sense) is the fact that the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas dull our body’s ability to fully comprehend the impact of sweet taste, and they cause us to crave and consume more sweet foods as a result. Artificial sweeteners really throw our bodies through a loop!

Ultimately, I stopped drinking diet sodas and took Dr. Julie Chen’s advice of drinking green tea for caffeine, which doesn’t give me the jitters! Also, if I’m craving something sweet or fruity, I add fresh berries in a glass of water. While, at first, it was a bummer kicking my habit, I do feel better that I did, and I encourage others to try to cut out diet sodas as well!

[Nick Goodall]

I'd agree on the diet sodas, the aspartame is pickling you on the inside as far as I'm aware (it turns into something called formaldehyde)! :S

But just a question, is it necessary for you to find a substitute? I'm not sure about you, but for me, but college is at the sacrifice of my healthy lifestyle, and if it doesn't work so be it. Maybe it's personal, but my health is more important to me than a slip of paper with an A grade or a distinction, so that comes first.. :3

[supmjay]

Diet soda is such a scam. You're right it does make you more addicted to food and I've read certain chemicals in it actually make you gain MORE weight!

[harryackerman]

Yes, It just a new term. Diet and regular both are same, and both are harmful for health.

[Shane Moy]

Good discussion about the chemical destructiveness of sodas. There is also a more sinister side to sodas that doesnt get talked about as often, and that is the physical characteristics of the sodas.

If you were told that the pH of most sodas is around 2.5 would that mean much to you? Probably not. But what if i told you that because the pH scale is logarithmic, a liquid with a pH of 2.5 is 10x more acidic than a pH 3.5 solution. And therefore its 100 times more acidic than a 4.5. How many times more acidic does this make soda compared to pH 7 neutral water? The answer is 50 thousand time more acidic. And people are drinking this every day!

Another destructive physical characteristic of soda is its huge ORP. Oxidation - Reduction potential is a measure of the oxidation strength. Sodas are typically +400 mV. This oxidation of the body contributes to premature aging and eventually a decrease in the efficiency of cells and organs.

[shaunculrich]

This really is a great discussion! I gave up regular soda 20 years ago. I used to drink diet soda, but after seeing too many of my loved ones, who live on diet soda, have increasing numbers of health conditions, including cancer, I gave them up.

Water infused with fruit, green tea, nut-based milks (almond, hazelnut, etc) ... all such better options.

As a mother of two young children, I am able to easily keep that poison away from him. I see, on the horizon, the challenge of keeping that out of their hands when they go to school, friends homes, etc.... I can only do my best to be an example to them and those around me.

[matthewebbert]

Yes it has lots of effects on human health...

[simideff]

I think first of all th problem is its creating acid in stomack.