Diet Sodas: Are They Bad for You?

I probably go through 7-9 Diet Cokes a day. When I'm writing or taking notes, those things tend to empty themselves in seconds. The combination of caffeine and that semi thirst-quenching metallic taste (seriously) is a killer. Both my girlfriend and I go through a box a day, and when we take in libations at home, rum and Diet Coke is usually at the top of the list.

I do drink a lot of water and eat pretty well, but you can never drink too much water with those things. I don't drink coffee (do drink hot tea, drink tons of unsweetened iced tea) anymore because of a some ulcers I developed staying up all night during my NBAtalk.com days, and Diet Coke just kind of took over.

What's funny is that I didn't drink any pop at all in high school, nor through my first year of college. And yet, the summer after my first year I pulled a cold Diet Coke out of the fridge after playing basketball for a few hours, and I was hooked. All through the next year my breakfast consisted of Diet Coke and granola bars, and I've been throwing them down ever since.

No huge issues that I can think of. If I go 2-3 days without a Diet Coke, I can get a headache -- but that's a 50/50 thing. I can go two or three days without them and not feel a thing. Problem is, even if I don't feel a thing, I KNOW I haven't had a DC. There are times where I've gone, "hmm, 2-4-6, I haven't had a drink in almost three weeks now. Didn't notice." No issues. But I definitely notice not having Diet Cokes.

I've had acid reflux issues since I was a kid, issues resulting from a surgery I had when I was a couple of days old, so it's always something I've had to deal with even when I was eating celary and water all day. I still get the reflux today because of the Diet Coke, and my insistence on involving Tabasco in at least two of my meals per day (again, seriously). It's just something that I'm OK living with.

I'm not exactly a spring chicken, but at 25, I still worry that sometimes my body is handling the Diet Cokes ok but will fall off the cliff later. Not sure right now. If anyone else on the 7-9 level is on their death bed, lemme know. I want to know when to tone it down to, y'know, 7-8 a day.

 

i used to drink 4 to 5 coke zeros everyday until i stopped about a month ago. the first week without it was horrible. i had bad headaches every day, and i never ever get headaches.

 

Carbonated drinks contain a lot water so they keep you hydrated. The calories and caffeine are what is bad, that is why I drink a lot of diet decaf stuff. I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as junk food.

 

I just heard that the latest study says that aspertame isn't cancer causing. Diet sodas with caffeine will dehydrate you if you don't drink enough water, they are not good for your teeth either.

That being said, there is plenty that could be worse for you. They don't have sugar, no carbs, etc. Depending on the day I will drink between 0-5 cans a day.

My schedule is pretty crazy, and it dpends on what I am doing and what I am eating.

If I go to the movie, and get some popcorn, I sure as hell won't have popcorn and water. If I order a pizza it only makes sense to have a soda with it. I actually drink coke zero these days, unless I can find Diet RC. Diet RC is my favorite.

 

Drink Diet Coke with Splenda. IT's the best soda ever, imo...

 

In terms of volume consumed, you guys are all a bunch of rookies.

I drink at least 3 two liter bottles of Diet Coke per day.

Very true. The pH of Coke is in the range of 3.4. The Phosphoric acid is horrible bad for the teeth and the phosphorus that it is turned into can be bad as well.

 

I drink anywhere from 2-6 Diet Cokes, or Diet DP's a day. No issues so far. I did have a major reaction to Splenda a couple of years ago that landed me in the hospital a couple times with severe chest pains. I was on Atkins and was using many Splenda products and did not realize what was causing my issue until I started researching the variables in my life at the time I started having the pains. I don't feel like searching, but I believe I made a thread about it back when it happened.

 

all those chemicals mixed together can't be good

 

That's crazy, I think a max out at 2 two liter bottles.

 

I drink lots and lots of Diet Coke and other diet sodas - 2-3 cans a day plus a good deal of fountain drinks. I've been doing it most of my life and I don't think it's hurt anything. I feel weird if I go without it. If it does cause problems, I will be the human guinea pig for you.

It is bad for your teeth, though; I can't resist mentioning that it's more the carbonic acid (a natural byproduct of carbonating a drink) than the phosphoric acid. (just using that chemistry background for something, since it's not going to be my primary career anymore)

I don't even care if they are bad for you. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. At all. I don't want people trying to mess with my diet as well.

 

Just drink water...that's the best advice I can give you. If you drink it just for the carbonation and sugary taste, then that is easy to get over. Water is the best thing for you. Especially fluoridated water (i.e tap water) for your teeth.

 

by the way I am a DDS, and longterm soda drinking does demineralize your enamel.

The worst thing you could do is drink soda and brush your teeth immediately afterwards. You should drink a tall glass of warm water or milk first if you must immediately brush your teeth.

...Like I said before, the best thing you can do is drink tap water (most bottled waters have no fluoride).

 

Same here. I have been drinking diet coke / pepsi for almost 18 years. I drink about 4-5 cans daily. I feel OK, but I don't endorse this. I recommend drinking water in between drinking sodas. The main thing you need to worry about soda is the sodium & caffeine content. The more sodium you consume the more your blood pressure can increase. Not good if you have a familial history of stroke, heart disease, or diabetes.

 

never posted a picture before. hope it works.

 

I drink one Dr. P a day and that's about it. And to think my girlfriend still gets on to me about drinking that, she'd probably have a heart attack if she read some of your stories.

 

you call it "pop". in texas we call sodas "cokes". you must be from the midwest? i have alot of family in iowa and they all call it pop too!

i dont drink diet sodas at all. i had cut out soda all together and fell off the wagon a couple weeks ago and my face started to break out big time. i cut it out a few days ago and the old face cleared right back up.

 

Yeah I think its the caffeine that's dyhdrating peole and not the sweeteners since caffeine is a diuretic.

I'm surprised that you can drink so much diet Coke but not tea because of ulcers. Isn't coke more acidic than tea?

They call it that in MN too. I can't stand how quaint it sounds. I've comprimised and just say "soda" after hearing "Sorry, we don't have Coke but Pepsi." too many times.

I occassionally drink diet sodas, usually about a 22-32 cup when its warm or I'm working on my house a day and I'm surprised that some of you can drink more than a six pack a day. Doesn't all that carbonation and sugar get to you? I just feel bloated after drinking more than two in a short time span and usually like my sodas with ice to even water them down a bit if I'm drinking alot.

 

Any soda is bad for you.



The End.

 

health risks aside, i don't get the diet coke thing, they taste artificial. i mean, i like junk food and cokes every now and then but sheesh, how can you taste whole foods when your palate is fixated on something so synthetic. an example that really confuses me is the inordinate amount of people who have soft drinks with sushi and sashimi.