Diet Soda: Is it more than just empty calories?

[hrg217]

Is diet soda worse than just empty calories, or is something like alcohol where it slows down metabolizing fat? Ive also heard things where it makes you crave sweetness (from the sugary taste) but Im not really worried about that? Does it depend on the sweetener used?

Sry if this question has been asked a million times before, but Ive heard so many different things Id just like some clear answers

[Lucky4143]

Considering Diet soda generally dosn't have calories-there are no calories to be emptyed...if that makes sense.

Does it lead to cravings-not for me at least (drinking a diet coke right now actually haha) but they are not good for you, and i limit myself to a couple a month if any at all a month.

[RealMenDeadLift]

Considering Diet soda generally dosn't have calories-there are no calories to be emptyed...if that makes sense.

Does it lead to cravings-not for me at least (drinking a diet coke right now actually haha) but they are not good for you, and i limit myself to a couple a month if any at all a month.

Other than being bad for your teeth, how are they bad?

[iliketojuggle]

Other than being bad for your teeth, how are they bad?

cancer

[getgot211]

cancer

hahahahahah

no but seriously...how are they bad?

[Flyin Ryan]

hahahahahah

no but seriously...how are they bad?

Really, they're not.

I drink it daily. I'm still here. <_<

[hrg217]

I feel a bit foolish right now for the empty calorie comment in the question, but I guess the question I am getting at is how/why is diet soda bad for you? Is it just the generic dont eat a lot of chemicals, or is it something more like it causes an insulin spike?

[Flyin Ryan]

I feel a bit foolish right now for the empty calorie comment in the question, but I guess the question I am getting at is how/why is diet soda bad for you? Is it just the generic dont eat a lot of chemicals, or is it something more like it causes an insulin spike?

In my eyes, it's more of an overall health thing rather than a body composition thing. I can't imagine it having any effect on your body comp. whatsoever. However, many people feel it's bad for your overall health.

Basically, it boils down to what you wanna believe and what you want to achieve. If you're a "health freak", I wouldn't suggest drinking anything other than water.

[gcballer]

aspartame=poison......look it up

[wrestler446]

Personally, I rarely drink soda, but when I do, it's always diet. I don't think it will make you crave sweetness unless you drink it alone, in which case it doesn't even taste good. I'd say its fine a few times a week, just don't go overboard. Water is much better for you regardless of whether or not it affects your metabolism.

[TheWaffleIron]

aspartame=poison......look it up

The toxicity of aspartame is dose-dependent.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...&postcount=343

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17828671

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15510910

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2802896

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2644789

[getgot211]

ignorance=bliss...look it up

[DennisR1977]

aspartame=poison......look it up

Do you even know what aspartame is? It's 2 amino acids put together, that happen to taste sweet. Guess what those 2 amino acids are in? Just about all animal based protein, so guess you better stop eating protein, or you mite get cancer!

[Msaki75]

Diet coke is better than regular coke, just drink it. I havent drank pop in over a year but im ignorant, in the end will you be able to tell a difference in your body composition? no. Maybe overall health but just be modest with your intake.

[EaS2010]

why not just eliminate soda all together? diet soda is just a poor excuse for not quitting sweet drinks completely.

[Alluminum]

why not just eliminate soda all together? diet soda is just a poor excuse for not quitting sweet drinks completely.

If you like something, and theres a version of it that doesn't hurt your bodybuilding goals, why not take advantage and enjoy it?

You say "poor excuse" as if a person isn't dedicated if they drink anything but water.

[Drop_Dead]

Really, they're not.

I drink it daily. I'm still here. <_<

I have no opinion on pop (soda) but seriously that is the most flawed logic ever.


People could say i smoke cigarettes daily. I'm still here. or I drink alcohol daily. I'm still here.

But we all know they are bad for you.

[aussieangie]

I avoid diet soda all together as its not necessary to have.

[Shane1308]

Im drinking a diet dr pepper right now. feels good.

[fitpro1]

Drink water!

[Flyin Ryan]

I have no opinion on pop (soda) but seriously that is the most flawed logic ever.

People could say i smoke cigarettes daily. I'm still here. or I drink alcohol daily. I'm still here.

But we all know they are bad for you.

If I genuinely felt that way, then yes, it would be extremely flawed.
I keep forgetting how well sarcasm transfers over the internet.

[determined4000]

FYI
your whey probably uses sweetner too

[Drop_Dead]

If I genuinely felt that way, then yes, it would be extremely flawed.
I keep forgetting how well sarcasm transfers over the internet.

LOL

yea i have that problem as well.

[spicyprice]

My understanding is insulin reacts to fake sugar just like it does real sugar.... the insulin spike is the problem with sugary drinks. So with diet sodas, your body still spits out insulin but there is no extra glucose to be taken into the cells.. leading to sugary cravings.

Splenda GI= 60
sugar GI= 70
Stevia=0

Up to you if you are worried about it or not.

[RealMenDeadLift]

I avoid diet soda all together as its not necessary to have.

Just because something isn't necessary doesn't mean you cant enjoy it.

[RichL1982]

Now really....Is there any PROBLEM with diet soda? Honestly??? I will drink a diet soda or sweetened water with my lunches or dinners every day or other day, and I follow it with a big glass of water...

Just drink the stuff if you want it. I would just stay away or "WATCH" your intake with the real stuff....

[MsMightyMau5]

Just because something isn't necessary doesn't mean you cant enjoy it.

this^ I already gave up alot of foods b/c they don't mesh with being in shape, my diet soda is staying

[KublaiKhan]

Other than being bad for your teeth [...]

For the record, aspartame does not promote cavities like sugar does. So it's not particularly bad for your teeth.

But regarding the general tenor of this thread: wow, I've never seen such a dense concentration of broscience in one place.

"Diet soda is bad."
"Well, why is it bad?"
"It just is, brah. It has, like, chemicals and stuff. And it causes cancer and lupus and earthquakes."

I drink lots of it (or I used to, at least - Crystal Light is my current vice, but it uses aspartame as well). I've both cut and bulked successfully. The most visible effect of diet soda is that allows me to control my cravings by filling my stomach without adding calories.

[doctapeppa]

But regarding the general tenor of this thread: wow, I've never seen such a dense concentration of broscience in one place.

Seriously? Click the back button on your browser and then click on any text you see in bold. BAM! Bro-Science galore.

[Leon2006]

Is diet soda worse than just empty calories, or is something like alcohol where it slows down metabolizing fat? Ive also heard things where it makes you crave sweetness (from the sugary taste) but Im not really worried about that? Does it depend on the sweetener used?

Sry if this question has been asked a million times before, but Ive heard so many different things Id just like some clear answers

Look at it this way, I will make it more simple than it seems. Basically your body doesn't know how to breakdown the foreign chemical (aspartame) so instead it eventually gets added on to those lovely fat deposits, aka making you fatter. A nutritionist and cardiologist told me this so I know for sure this isn't broscience BS.