[Ian]

Zero Calorie Diet Sodas: Good Or Bad For Weight Loss?

Calorie-free diet sodas, like Diet Coke™, Diet Pepsi™ or Diet-7 Up™ seem very good for weight loss or maintenance, compared to their sugar-saturated counterparts. For example, just a cup of orange juice contains a whopping 110 calories. That’s a big hit for anyone who is counting calories and matching them up with cardiovascular exercise to help burn fat.

In spite of the dangers of aspartame, sugar-free sodas are obviously quite popular across the country. I myself used to drink as many as ten each day while at work, ignoring the potential health problems I would face after consuming such large amounts of those controversial ingredients; caffeine and artificial sweeteners (like aspartame).

How does Caffeine Affect My Body?

Most of the worries about the caffeine content in diet sodas is centered on the eventual dependence by the brain and kidneys. In three words; caffeine is addictive. Caffeine is classified as a diuretic substance, meaning that it naturally causes dehydration. That explains why we aren’t really satisfied in terms of quenching thirst; even after a few cans of the drink. In addition to this, it has been said that sodas containing caffeine may causes you to gain weight over time. Why? The confusion of hunger and thirst signals may cause you to overeat. I noticed this back when I downed a few cans a day. I was very attracted to carbs in the form of chips and snack crackers.

How Do Artificial Sweeteners Affect My Body?

Independent studies have shown that the sweet taste of diet sodas causes your brain to send signals to your liver, telling it to prepare to process sugar. Then when no sugar enters the liver, you are signaled to eat more through hunger sensations. This can obviously cause overeating.

Best Diet Drinks

Water is still the most effective and safe diet drink. Instead of dehydrating your body, it actually quenches your thirst. Because water contains 0 calories, and has some good effects on your metabolism and mood, it’s a great friend to have in your quest for weight loss or maintenance.

Questions & comments are welcome. :smt045

[Cyn]

I gave up soda on New Years eve. I didnt really do it for any reason in particular--mainly just to see if I could. I dont miss it at all. The best thing for me is that when I did drink diet soda I didnt drink enough water. Now I get plenty of water each day. The artificial sweetners harming me never really entered my mind--of course I have been damaging and neglecting my body for years so why would it? Hopefully now I am getting better about that.

[Ian]

That's an excellent, large step - giving up sodas. I feel the same way:
Since I gave them up, I haven't missed them. They just made me feel
really tired, bloated, and irritable. Plus, they were the main contributors
to making me fat!

I quit drinking diet sodas, on the other hand, because of the dangers
and the dehydration. I've heard that aspartame can also cause cancer,
and I definitely am not up for cancer.

[NeedtoLose]

I cannot totally give up pop. I switched from regular pop to sugar free and I do not have more than 1 a day. Many days I totally go without, but not always.

Someone told me though that pop is especially bad for women. I was told that 1 can of pop depletes a woman of all of the calcium in her body. :???:

[jennifer_2999]

I was just wondering if any of you guys have ever heard of people loosing 10 lbs in a month just b/cuz they gave up sodas? And also I really need a friend right now to to support me and for me to support with this whole weight loss thing, if anyone is interested please email me!
jennifer_2999@yahoo.com :goodman:

[maymay]

My mom took a nutrition class last fall. In her class they put a bolt in a can of soda. It took 9 days for the bolt to dissengrate. Just think your putting that stuff in your body. When I was in high school I drank probably about 3-5 cans of mountain dew a day. I had joined weight watchers in January by April I had lost about 40 pounds, mostly because I stopped drinking so much soda. Now it's either tea or water.

[zoey]

Hi Jennifer. My mother gave up her Coca-Cola once and in one month she lost about 25 pounds. Before you get to excited about that, she was drinking the equivalent of about a 12-pack every day and she suffered from severe withdrawl symptoms because of the caffeine levels. Doctor said she should have done it gradually, because about 2 months later she was right back on them. I noticed you are from San Antonio. I live about 25 miles South

[lovebliss]

I have to say that I love soda. I did give up any kind of regular soda. I have only one a day during dinner and if I had enough caffeine in one day I will get caffeine free diet coke. My mom told me that she read in an article that diet soda can slow down your weigh loss so I will try to do without for the next few weeks see how I feel.