The "Skinny" on Diet Soda

by Answer is Fitness on September 1, 2010      

Dieters and non-dieters alike choose diet sodas and other non-carbonated beverages as their beverage of choice.  The general thought is that in the decision of sugar vs no sugar, no sugar wins hands down.  It a no-brainer, right? Not so fast.  It is clearly not that simple. This blog post adds the subject of diet drinks to the other "Healthy Facts" that we list out on the website.

Almost all diet drinks contain NutraSweet (also called Aspartame) or the relatively new sugar substitute "Splenda". Both of these artificial sweeteners are questionable both when it comes to helping one loose weight and stay healthy. Although these artificial sugar substitutes are both FDA approved, independent studies show that the results of ingesting them (drinking them or eating them) over long periods of time can have adverse effects.

Headaches, fatigue, blindness, low immunity, and cancers are just a few of the common diagnoses that have been associated with the long-term cumulative intake of Aspartame. You should research this "guilt-free" substance for yourself to determine if it's something you want to take. Many people think that they are simply eating or drinking NutraSweet-laden foods for a short period of time during a dieting period. If so, the adverse effects wouldn't be SO negative and may seem worth it if it really helped you lose weight.

The bottom line question....can Diet Soda (or any drink with Aspartame or Splenda) help you lose weight? The research is divided. Many independent studies (those NOT funded by the same people who make and sell the diet drinks and the related ingredients) conclude that diet drinks do NOT help you lose weight. In fact, diet sodas and other foods and beverages with Splenda or Aspartame may actually cause you to Gain weight. Many studies conclude that because the artificial sugars are of a different chemical compound than sugar, your brain obviously won't recognize them as such.  You may taste the sweetness but your brain doesn't know that your sweet craving has been satisfied and you may crave sweets and thus consume more sugar than you otherwise might have.

A recent study at the University Of Texas showed that laboratory rats became addicted to aspartame like it was a drug. Even if they were technically full, they kept eating/drinking this solution as their brains were not telling them to stop.  They kept consuming a product, in quantity, that had zero chance of satisfying the brains natural call for substance.
 
So high consumption of both diet and sugar-based sodas is not a healthy life choice.  Neither will help you lose weight.  Neither offers much if anything at all by way of nutritional value.  Therefore, neither have any place as a high-consumption element of your diet.

Come join Answer Is Fitness free for 30 days, and during that time, drop the sodas and start anew with H2O.  Think of the possibilities in just 30 short days!

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