Diet Soda

[Witterquick]

I don't drink sodas. Sugary drinks leave a sticky aftertaste in my mouth that I dislike. Usually during very hot summer days, I might get a craving for cold sodas, then I'll take the sugar-free versions.

I would imagine though that people who drink sodas regularly prefer the diet versions because, it's unnecessary, non-nutritive calories anyway, so why not get the light options. That is, if they like both.

 

[Amaris]

For diabetics I'd recommend Zevia over diet sodas any day. It is sweetened with stevia which is natural, calorie-free, and increases insulin sensitivity, and so is beneficial especially to those who suffer from type 2 diabetes. It doesn't have any of the possible scary side effects of aspartame, and tastes much better. (Though the flavor can take some getting used to -- it doesn't taste like sugar.)

I use Stevia in my lemonade. It does taste good.

 

[Mr Silver]

Its got to be Diet Coke for me. I dont like regular Coke, its way too sweet and leaves my teeth feeling all funny, coated in sugar and my stomach feeling really crappy too.

 

[JoeZhang]

Diet soda's are an aquired taste. If you wish to save yourself the calories and sugar content then learning to like diet soda can save you many calories.

I heard that water is good for that as well.

 

[Naira]

I hadn't thought about diabetes (even though it runs in the family).

I notice that most people say they drink it because they like the taste better. That's understandable. The real-life friends I mostly had in mind when starting the thread drink it for fat-related issues though. That is what I cannot understand and that is why I said "one or two cans a week". I believe that if you drink a lot of coke each day, it doesn't matter which one you drink, it will find its way in you belly and thighs and so on...

 

[Kestra]

I think that the obvious answer is that they don't believe Diet Coke will cause them to gain weight because of the difference in calories. Once you understand that, the choice isn't confusing at all.

 

[Naira]

I understand that. What I don't understand is why they don't care to learn more about what they eat and drink. For example, diet sodas may be low at calories but they tend to increase cravings for sugar.

I realize that I am over-analyzing this. Most people don't really care to think much about what they eat and "less calories" seems to equal "no weight gain" for most... meh, whatever...

It's just that a diet coke next to a huge burger and fries is one of my pet peeves I guess.

 

[Mr Awe]

If I recall correctly, a (330ml) can of coca-cola is about 135kcal (or so it claims). Coca-cola light claims it is under 1kcal.

So what?

Isn't it rather obvious, it's to reduce calories. So, let's take a look at this. I doubt the typical person drinks only 330 ml at a time any more, it's probably more. But, we'll go with the 135 calories. So, it takes a 3500 to gain a pound. That works out to 26 cans. Some one who drinks slightly less than a can of soda a day could lose a pound a month simply by switching to diet, as long as they didn't consume more in compensation.

Assuming that you drink moderately (say one or two cans a week), the calories of regular coke are not that many.

If that's all you drink, you're right, it's not that many calories. But, I'm sure that the target market is for those that drink more.

Mr Awe

 

[Mr Awe]

I understand that. What I don't understand is why they don't care to learn more about what they eat and drink. For example, diet sodas may be low at calories but they tend to increase cravings for sugar.

I realize that I am over-analyzing this. Most people don't really care to think much about what they eat and "less calories" seems to equal "no weight gain" for most... meh, whatever...

It's just that a diet coke next to a huge burger and fries is one of my pet peeves I guess.

That sounds like a gross over generalization and a misinterpretation of cause and effect. That drinking diet soda *causes* people to develop a craving for sugar. I doubt there's scientific evidence for that.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if people who already have a sweet tooth would be drawn to diet soda for that reason. They like sweet tasting things so they eat things with sugar and diet soda, which tastes sweet.

Very different thing though. There's a correlation in both cases but the cause is different. (I've done a lot of scientific research so this issue is always in mind.)

Mr Awe

 

[Amaris]

I understand that. What I don't understand is why they don't care to learn more about what they eat and drink. For example, diet sodas may be low at calories but they tend to increase cravings for sugar.

I realize that I am over-analyzing this. Most people don't really care to think much about what they eat and "less calories" seems to equal "no weight gain" for most... meh, whatever...

It's just that a diet coke next to a huge burger and fries is one of my pet peeves I guess.

That sounds like a gross over generalization and a misinterpretation of cause and effect. That drinking diet soda *causes* people to develop a craving for sugar. I doubt there's scientific evidence for that.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if people who already have a sweet tooth would be drawn to diet soda for that reason. They like sweet tasting things so they eat things with sugar and diet soda, which tastes sweet.

Very different thing though. There's a correlation in both cases but the cause is different. (I've done a lot of scientific research so this issue is always in mind.)

Mr Awe

There seems to be, at least tentatively, a link between certain artificial sweeteners and an increased desire for sugar/sweet foods. [Link 1] [Link 2].

 

[Kestra]

I understand that. What I don't understand is why they don't care to learn more about what they eat and drink. For example, diet sodas may be low at calories but they tend to increase cravings for sugar.

I realize that I am over-analyzing this. Most people don't really care to think much about what they eat and "less calories" seems to equal "no weight gain" for most... meh, whatever...

It's just that a diet coke next to a huge burger and fries is one of my pet peeves I guess.

I guess I don't get why that bothers people so much. Just because you are willing to consume some high-caloric foods, you might as well consume them all? I make decisions about where I'm willing to cut corners, and I assume others do as well. I don't see anything inherently wrong with that.

 

[Mr Awe]

I understand that. What I don't understand is why they don't care to learn more about what they eat and drink. For example, diet sodas may be low at calories but they tend to increase cravings for sugar.

I realize that I am over-analyzing this. Most people don't really care to think much about what they eat and "less calories" seems to equal "no weight gain" for most... meh, whatever...

It's just that a diet coke next to a huge burger and fries is one of my pet peeves I guess.

That sounds like a gross over generalization and a misinterpretation of cause and effect. That drinking diet soda *causes* people to develop a craving for sugar. I doubt there's scientific evidence for that.

However, I wouldn't be surprised if people who already have a sweet tooth would be drawn to diet soda for that reason. They like sweet tasting things so they eat things with sugar and diet soda, which tastes sweet.

Very different thing though. There's a correlation in both cases but the cause is different. (I've done a lot of scientific research so this issue is always in mind.)

Mr Awe

There seems to be, at least tentatively, a link between certain artificial sweeteners and an increased desire for sugar/sweet foods. [Link 1] [Link 2].

These articles say what I said in my post. I can buy that there is a link (a correlation) between driking diet soda and having a sweet tooth. But, that doesn't mean that diet soda causes sugar cravings. It may be the opposite. People who really like sweet things will also drink more diet soda because it tastes sweet. Or, people who like sweet things tend to be overweight and overweight people are more likely to turn to diet soda.

Also, in terms of the weight gain issue, again, there is no causal link between diet soda and gaining weight. In fact, given what we know about metabolism, that doesn't even seem to be possible. However, it may well be that those who are overweight are more likely to turn to diet soda.

These are not controlled studies. There is, right now, no evidence that drinking diet soda will cause people to crave sugar or to gain weight. These things do seem to be correlated but the causal arrow could be pointing either way.

In the end, it's probably best to remember this quote from the WSJ article.

a zero-calorie beverage can't undo the damage of an unhealthful diet.

I'm not involved with any of these industries but I am highly involved with research and statistics. Understanding the strength and weaknesses of different studies is my job.

Mr Awe

 

[RoJoHen]

Also, in terms of the weight gain issue, again, there is no causal link between diet soda and gaining weight. In fact, given what we know about metabolism, that doesn't even seem to be possible. However, it may well be that those who are overweight are more likely to turn to diet soda.

It is my experience working in the restaurant industry that people who drink diet soda tend to go through many more refills than people drinking regular soda. So while the diet soda itself isn't causing the weight gain, the fact that they're drinking 4 or 5 of them in one sitting probably is.

 

[Mr Awe]

^ A zero calorie drink won't cause them to gain weight no matter how many they have! Personally, I suspect that there are activities that tend to go with those who drink a lot of diet sodas that may cause them to gain weight. But, really, if the drinks don't have any calories it cannot cause them to gain weight.

And, again, maybe they were already overweight and decided to switch to diet? You don't really know.

Mr Awe

 

[RoJoHen]

^ A zero calorie drink won't cause them to gain weight no matter how many they have! Personally, I suspect that there are activities that tend to go with those who drink a lot of diet sodas that may cause them to gain weight. But, really, if the drinks don't have any calories it cannot cause them to gain weight.

You're right. Not sure what I was thinking.

It must be all the ranch dressing they put on everything.

 

[DimesDan]

Hello all,

I was reading the Coca-cola thread and I was quite surprised that many people only drink diet sodas. Why is that?

Well I haven't taken part in that thread I will comment now though. I drink Pepsi Max alot and other diet/zero drinks because of the low sugar content because I am Type One Diabetic and I should really be careful about these things.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

For diabetics I'd recommend Zevia over diet sodas any day. It is sweetened with stevia which is natural, calorie-free, and increases insulin sensitivity, and so is beneficial especially to those who suffer from type 2 diabetes. It doesn't have any of the possible scary side effects of aspartame, and tastes much better. (Though the flavor can take some getting used to -- it doesn't taste like sugar.)

I saw that stuff in Whole Foods for the first time the other day. Pretty expensive though. Over $5 for a six pack.

 

[thestrangequark]

^I guess I drink soda so rarely that I didn't even think about the price. I probably buy only one 6 pack a year.

I've read that Coke is now working on a line of stevia sweetened products, but I haven't heard anything about it in awhile, so I don't know if that's so.

 

[Naira]

I doubt the typical person drinks only 330 ml at a time any more, it's probably more.

Actually, re-reading the other coke thread, I think this is why I am puzzled. Generally, at least. I personally know only one friend who drinks sodas more than that (maybe a can every day), but it seems that there are a lot of people that consume much larger quantities...

 

[C_Miller]

I tend to choose diet because drinking your calories is perhaps the worst use of calories you can do. Soda is a liquid and will not contribute to filling you up at all. The burger and fries will. I mean, shouldn't the goal of ingesting calories be to fulfill yourself? A liquid can't really do that.

I've seen studies that the most important part of dieting is limiting your calories (along with exercising). Whether you get your calories through salads, fruits, fish, and other things or McDonalds every day, it will have the same effect in terms of weight loss (until the saturated fats get you). So you have to make the most of you caloric intake and drinking soda is probably the worst way you can use the calories you're allowed.