Soda and Heart Health
Are you a soda drinker? If so, read on! There's a lot of confusion and controversy over a recent medical study, and picked up by newspapers and TV alike, linking soda - diet and regular - with an increase in risk factors for heart disease. To me, this is a prime example of reading the headlines, and not checking out the fine print.
Obesity-related illness is on the rise. One big way to save calories, and help avoid overweight to begin with, is to substitute that 150 calorie 12 ounce can for a sugar-free diet soda with practically no calories. Just making that substitution once a day will produce a 10 pound weight loss in a year.
This article compared soda drinking - and did not differentiate between diet soda and regular soda, and lumped them together. When making their comparisons for risk factors, they found that "soda drinking" was associated with more of these risk factors.
But who are the people they studied? 9000 middle aged Americans, including diabetics. Plus, two thirds of the US population is already overweight or obese. So, many of the group already had some health/weight problems, which would more likely contribute to the increase in risk factors, not the soda.
Plus, diabetics (already are at a higher risk for heart problems) would choose diet soda as a positive lifestyle change. In fact, when the results were recalculated with diabetics in the group excluded from the study, there was a much weaker association of soda and heart risk.
Another important factor: A diet soda is a natural choice for many overweight and obese people - many of whom have increased risk factors for heart health. With this in mind, comparing the "soda" link in this group just doesn't add up to me.
While diet soda has been criticized for a variety of reasons - none of which have been scientifically confirmed - it can have a role in weight management. Diet soda consumption should not be encouraged as the first choice of a non-calorie liquid (think water as the number one choice), as an alternative to regular soda, it's a calorie saver that can support a weight loss effort; and weight loss is a key factor in improving heart health.
What do you think about this recent report? Confused or enlightened?
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Comments
there are too many similar studies done on every subject you could possible think of including the risks of obesity.
I thought this was an interesting column. I did not read about the study linking soda and heart risk but I find it hard to believe. I personally don't drink soda but not because I'm afraid of a heart attack.
Well, I guess if it doesn't give you heart disease the aspartame it will get you. Or maybe the chlorine in Splenda and or the botulism I just threw out in the Castleberry's. Sooner or later they will get us.
I QUIT DRINKING SODA FOR SIX MONTHES AND LOST 75 POUNDS BUT STARTED DRINKING IT AGAIN AND IT ALL BACK.
I used to be a diet soda drinker and decided one day to quit to see if there would be any change in my weight. Nope! But, I don't have migrains anymore!!! What a relief. I am 2 1/2 years no sodas.
I think that I am truly addicted to soda, not just the caffine, but the actual soda. I've tried to quit and can go for a few days, but if I take one sip of a Pepsi, I'm doomed. I drink about 10 oz. of regular soda a day and I'm about 80 lbs. over weight. Connection? I think so.
I hardly ever touch soda, skim milk was my drink of choice. But as soon as I stopped drinking that (other than in cereal and coffee), and started drinking water, its helped my weight loss dramatically. But I still think soda, diet or not, is terrible for you, even one can a day.
One of the disclaimers I heard with this story, on one of the network morning shows, is that the whole soda thing was with people who might already be eating poorly. I eat natural foods, foods as close to as what God made them Soda is not natural. I used to have a diet cola a day before my pregnancy (I was a vegan pre-pregnancy and stuck with whole foods), but since, I have one maybe once a week. Ironically, though Diet Sierra Mist and Diet Hansen's Ginger Ale (which is natural, save for the Splenda) are what can help my heartburn.
I've read that cola can leech calcium from bones. Speaking of calcium, I also lost weight (unintentionally) when I completely cut dairy. So much for the commercial claims. My in-laws, including my husband, all drink high quantities of soda and they're all overweight with health problems. Coincidence? Maybe. But, why test it?
I'm very overweight, but it's not pop that did it. I find myself drinking more water, milk and juice these days but it's because pop often gives me heartburn.
I ate too much, and I wasn't active enough. When I did drink regular pop, I'm sure it didn't help. But I made my own risk factors.
Whatever happened to just being responsible and making overall good choices?
I stopped drinking diet soda 4 1/2 months ago because I felt I was addicted. I drank no other beverages. Now I drink water and green tea. I have lost 12 lbs and my body is better hydrated. My family is diabetic so diet soda was always in our home. Not anymore. Now bottled water is banned in our home and we drink from the tap.
I think soda is bad no whether it's regular or diet. I'm sure most people have heard about the study where a scientist put teeth inside different kinds of soda and watched the teeth disintigrate-you have a car battery which is corroded, use coke to clean it up. And people accually consume this stuff. I did grow up drinking soda as a kid, but I won't let my daughter have a drop of soda. She drinks 100% juice or water. She only gets milk once or twice a month and only maybe 4 ounces, she's also a vegitarian (trying to transition her and myself into raw vegan). What ever you can't pick off a tree or another plant, you shouldn't be consuming.
I don't mean to pretch but we wonder why we have cancer and heart problems and common colds. When I was raw vegan for three months (durring the fall and winter months) I never got even the sniffels. Eating more fruits and greens helps eliminate cravings for artificial sweets.
Green Smoothies:
4 fruits;pears,peaches,mangos,get creative-1handf greens;spinach
H2O & blend.enjoy
Green Smoothies
4 fruits; pears, peaches necterines, mangos, apples, any fruit you like
1 bunch/handful of greens; cilantro (1bunch), spinach (1 handful), dandilion (1/4 bunch), make sure it's somewhat sweet, there are many greens that look tasty but are so bitter consumed in a green smoothie that it's not good tasting at all.
Water; enough to blend without leaving chunks.
Blend and enjoy. Drink as a meal or drink throughout the day. You'll loose weight, your breath will smell better and feel fresher and your bones and teeth will thank you.
Never was a soda drinker. Water is my choice. Put a slice of lemon and ice cubes in it and you have a calorie free delicious tasting drink. Artifical sweetners make me nauseous.
Dr. Fernstrom is missing th
e point because she is only considering carbohydrate content. Soda is HIGHLY ACIDIC. It takes 250 ounces of water to neutralize the phosphoric acid in one 16 oz soda!!! The SAD (standard American diet), is also acidic, which is the primary causal factor in the cronic, low grade inflamation that leads to almost ALL of our "civilization" diseases. Like cardio vascular disease: Inflamation causing damage to the inside of our arteries is what makes cholesteral become pathological: it forms a "bandaid" over areas of damage, eventually building up. That's a simple explanation. Artificial sweeteners are POISONS. Aspartic acid and glutamic acid(MSG) cause BRAIN LESIONS. To Laura: You probably make low levels of hydrochloric acid. To test the theory, take a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar when you have heartburn and see if that helps. As usual, This study is looking at superficial issues, and the allopaths go along because they don't know any better.
I drink pepsi and thats all I drink about five 12oz cans a day maybe more and my weight gain is as you say about ten pounds a year at one time I weighted about 120 at 5ft. 6. now I'm at 200 pounds when I give up the soda for about 2 months I did lose about 25 pounds but I can't stay off them its like quiting smoking in fact I quit smoking a lot easier about 30 years ago and would like to give up soda for good . just can't seem to and even though of doing like the smokers and file a claim but I no it's my own fault I have to learn to cope with it myself and not blame the drink its self and how long have I been drinking them well about fifty years I can remember buying soda and hiding as a child every time I got a dime so it is a hard thing to give up maybe we need pepsi groups like aa ha ha.
This is to Kim, re being a vegan and not letting her daughter drink milk. My friend, who has never drank, smoked and has been a vegan her whole life, has been diagnosed with cancer, so your staement is not true...
Agreed with Tash. While they may be spared an increased risk of colon and stomach cancer, vegans are just as prone to other types of cancer as everyone else - it's not just what you eat, it's other factors like smoking, living in an area with unclean air, household products used, genetics, and the list goes on. And I'm saying this as a vegan.
Anyways, back on topic... I have recently banned soda from my lifestyle (and I was a diet drinker.) It doesn't magically make you lose weight, but your body feels better because you'll be substituting it with better things - in my case, water, soy milk, and naturally sweetened lemonade (not the Minute Maid crap.) While this is all well and true, it doesn't make this study any more valid. As the columnist said, the study was biased from the get-go, as such a high percentage of Americans are overweight, thus already at risk for heart problems. So don't think giving up soda is going to be a cure-all - but please, everything in moderation.
I have been a diet Pepsi drinker for years. I am not over weight, so my problem isn't calories, it's the sodium. For some reason I am salt sensitive and I bloat when I drink more than one can a day and I don't eat a lot of salty foods. My husband has drank regular Pepsi for years and was addicted to it. Recently, he cut down to one can a day and he has lost a lot of weight and he isn't taking high blood pressure medication any more. We like Pepsi like any one else does. We just have to drink it in moderation.
Eat meat and drink diet soda.
Kim. You should be ashamed of yourself. Young children are growing and need calcium and protein to help their muscles and bones properly grow. Chicken, fish and turkey are all good forms of protein that your body needs. Red meat should be eaten only occassionally. Why are you invoking such an extremist attitude? Let her drink non-fat milk if you have such a problem with it. Fanatical, exclusionary behavior on either side of the spectrum is not healthy. There is no medical reason for a young child to be a vegan. If you want that for yourself then fine. The answer is to allow your child to eat whole, healthy foods and to get regular exercise. It's really not that difficult! your daughter will rebel later on. You wait and see.
Who reading this article noticed that this doctor does not even acknowledge the existence of the man made artificial sweeteners in diet soda? The medical establishment is playing a big role in sowing doubt and controversy into diet soda consumption -just as big tobacco did decades ago- because the ailment of sick people is the grease that grind the gears of their industry. I have nothing against doctors, but when they dubiously and maliciously fail to do the right thing, I find it unforgivable.
I ALWAYS DRANK CAFFEINE FREE DIET MOUNTAIN DEW. I SWITCHED TO ICED TEA WITH EQUAL FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THE ONLY DIFFERENCES I NOTED WERE THE DIET SODA CAUSED MY STOMACH TO BLOAT BUT THE TEA HELPED IN THAT IT DID NOT GIVE ME THE SWEET TASTE THAT MAKES YOU CRAVE OTHER FOODS. SO THE TEA KEEPS ME FROM CRAVING OTHER FOODS.
BECKIE EVANS
I think it's a joke to even debate if soda is bad for you - of course it is. It's nothing but sugar, preservatives and chemicals. I rarely drink soda. I'm 38,had to proove I was over 30 to get my job (some say black dont crack - I'm african american) but I say healthy foods: plenty of veggies, plenty of fruits, whole grains, about a gallon of water a day, fast food once a month as a gift for good behavior, and plenty of excercise (gym,walking whenever I can)is what does it. I'm 5-11, 180, lean mean machine. The funny thing I find is people who want to loose wght only ever have excuses as why they don't. "Too Busy", "can't resist" are the most popular ones. One guy in my office over the past year had 2 heart attacks. NOW, he found the time to excecise - and NOW he can eat right and resist the fatty foods and soda. So I guess a brush with death is what it takes for most. If you want to loose wght - you can - PERIOD. Anything less is ONLY and excuse.
Most of the problems are caused by High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). The body can metabolize sugar a lot better then HFCS, we don't drink pop or anything else that contains it. Read the labels, google HFCS and you'll be surprised at what you'll find out. Most people think because it is made out of corn, it is natural, it is not by a long shot, but it is a heck of a lot cheaper than sugar. It is not allowed in Canada or Europe.
This morning I watched the Nutritionist Joy Bauer,"No refill please" and it was all about sugar, she never mentioned how bad HFCS was. I read the labels and refuse to buy anything that contains it. Another eye opener, check out all the artificial sweeteners, what they can do to your health, it will make you want to go back to sugar, in moderation of course. Thanks for letting me vent.
After giving up products with artifical sweeteners, my headaches stopped.
I like soda. I feel like I have to watch so many other things that this is one "guilty pleasure" I can have. I also really feel that if it's not one thing, it'll be another...! I think there's lots worse vices out there.
relith..Your ignorance is overwheming, its your mentality that makes the world a cesspool.
All drinks that contain processed sugars are not good for your body. Processed sugar is only one molecule away from being cocaine and has many of the same negative effects.
vivian, but it does have a ring of truth
Isnt there enough hate in the world? You cant even discuss soda consumption without bringing it in. Pathetic.
I think the article has some words of wisdom. Water really is the key. When I was diagnosed with diabetes 4 years ago I eliminated the soda and opted for tea with lemon or diet soda. Changing those white carbs to brown, also helped. I lost nearly 70 pounds in two years time from doing those things alone. Now, at 43 years of age, I've still some weight but can tell the difference in how I feel, my energy levels, and even my levels of happiness. Even carbonation in drinks isn't such a great thing to have. But having better health means a lot. We take it for granted until its gone.
First off, I think his comment was more than anything a means to prove a point that people can do what they want and nobody should be getting on others cases for what they do with their life. As far as post up their about neutralizing the acid in pop, why would you neutralize an acid with a neutral substance, of course its going to take an absurd amount of water to neutralize it. And also, cancer tends to be more environmental and genetic than dietary IMO because my entire extended family eats like crap and drinks pop constantly, yet nobody in my family has ever had cancer. Not one single case.
I drank diet soda since it came out even tho I have always been heavy.It's not the Holy Grail is is!. I quit diet soda because the aspertane was the only reason I could think of to be having leg cramps. Sure enough, no aspertane, no leg cramps....hope this helps out there somewhere....
No more diet drinks, diet green tea, etc. ASPARTAME! Brain fog is gone!! I feel so much better with just water.
"When I was raw vegan for three months (durring the fall and winter months) I never got even the sniffels."
wow, isnt that impressive? I eat red meat, chips and drink beer and I havent been sick in at least 6 months...does that mean my diet is better? My boss was a "vegan" for a long time as well, until the doctor told him he HAD to start eating meat. good luck with that diet.
Why would you put anything in your body that eats the acid buildup off of a car battery? (Coke, Pepsi, etc.)
Just to let everyone know, the pH of both Coke and Orange Juice are roughly the same.
Am a soda drinker - a DIET soda drinker. I don't think diet drinks add to obesity. in fact over the last year and a half I have lost 65 lbs. Diet soda has no calories, no fat, no sugar, no cholesterol. Artificial sweeteners, yes, but they do not contribute to obesity. I also drink "on the go" water flavorings. Againk no calories... Think about it. No calories, no weight gain....Am I correct?..
I have to say that after reading some of these posts I'm glad I'm not hooked on soda, in fact, I don't like soda at all and never did. Sometimes, I do have a problem refraining from sweets but soda is not one of them. I feel that soda is nothing more than liquid candy and the thought of drinking it with meals neauseates me. Why would someone put liquid candy into their body the same time they are trying to nourish their body with food? The only thing I drink is water, water, water..I drink it with my meals, I drink it when I'm thirsty, I drink it all day long while I'm at work. I do have coffee in the morning, and a couple of times a year I might have a glass of ice-tea without sugar, and an occaisonal glass of wine if I go out to dinner, but water is my drink of choice.
just so you know, the name..relith floda
is adolf hitler backwards.
Reltih, I'm praying for you. Everytime you take a sip of your rum n coke, sail away on your boat, help ruin the life of another teenage mom with your dollar bills, and bath in the sun unprotected. I love your soul and God loves it more.
signed
A colorED brotha who loves you despite of yourself.
"people can do what they want and nobody should be getting on others cases for what they do with their life"
This may be true for most things, but I think the health care crisis in this country should have everyone concerned about what their fellow insured are doing to take care of themselves. *I* may be in perfect health because I take care of myself and have great genes, but someone else, whose genes aren't as resilient as Kyle's, and eats horribly and doesn't exercise, causes the rest of us to pay higher premiums. Preventative measures can be taken to avoid serious, and costly, issues, and I think that we all have an interest in lowering our health care costs.
I drink sugar free diet soda as well, everyday, up to 4 12ounce cans sometimes a day. I also run and exercise daily and have no weight issues. If you drink soda and are overweight, I'm sure there are more important issues to focus on than simply your soda intake.
I have quit soda for 2 weeks now. I usually only drank about 1 can of coke per day (not diet), but my belly after having a baby and hitting 30 is becoming a little flabby. My mom's obgyn told her one day she had a "coke butt" (she's a big soda drinker), so I decided I needed to cut down. I am drinking A LOT of water and a glass of unsweeted iced tea a day. Sleeping better and have more energy. My goal is not to lose weight (don't need to), just tone up and be healthier. Have also started swimming again. To answer the question about diet soda drinkers- I don't think diet soda alone causes obesity, but I rarely see people achieve their ideal weight by switching to diet. Most overweight people are drinking diet soda and overeating and not exercising (I say MOST here). It takes a total lifestyle change and some major motivation to lose weight- and that includes healthier, smaller meals, lots of water, daily low fat dairy, and exercise. Starting out small with the exercise helps.
My mother-in-law drank Diet Coke like it was going out of style. Atleast 3-4 glasses a day. She had severe migrain headaches and pain in her joints. When she stopped drinking Diet Sodas her headaches have stopped and her knee pain is gone. Even though Diet soda is better for you the aspertame isn't. If you are going to drink diet sodas find the ones that are made with Splenda.(Diet Rite is one) One thing that is making me really think about giving soda up is I read an article about coke and it's "other" uses.(Clean battery/clean toilet/cleans blood off of road ways-trucks that carry the coke syrup have to be labled-HIGHLY CORROSIVE!!!!!)But I think the worst one was someone put a piece of red meat in a container and poured in a 12oz. can of coke and left it for 3 days and when they came back the meat was being dissolved...................GROSS
I like soda pop
the other day I filled my bath tub up with mr pibb, coke, sprite, root beer and even some of the pespi got naked and got in! drank after I was done soaking, anyway I had the big stomach ake after that
I lost 25 pounds from Oct to May and kept it off since with exercise and the lack of diet and regular soda except for maybe one diet a month. I have hit a wall and can't lose anymore. Any hints to help me continue losing rather than maintaining? No ignorant bigots need reply.
Mike, the same thing actually happened to me, except I drink diet soda more regularly than you. I lost 25 lbs and have not dropped any more weight, and its been over a year. I also wish I knew what else I could do.
I was a D.Soda drinker for years. But in the recent year have noticed drastic health problems. Legs ached,Stomach bloated,Waking up with swollen eyes, and hands,and feet. Felt like my brain was even swollen. In the back of my mind was thinking its the soda. I finally quit the soda all together its now on 4 months. I have no more of those symptoms and I am actually loosing weight. I am feeling Great.
I wanted to see if it was actually the soda so i tried it last week. One soda.. Sure enough woke up the next day with swollen eyes,legs,hands. And my head feeling swollen,and had a terrible headache.
The Government is never going to come out and tell you these products are bad for your health. They say they cant be proven.. I think there is many of us out there that can say otherwise.
Soda is extremely bad for human consumption. I am the result of ASPARTAME side effects. I just wanted to share with you all.
I use to drink at least 2 liters of mountain dew a day. I stopped and I lost 15 lbs. Soda is the devil!
Ummm..HELLO? Humans are meant to be omnivores, not herbavores. Those tree-hugging hippees that think they are so smart by being "vegans" are just harming themselves. To push that assanine idea on your children is even worse. Put down the joint, throw away your tie-dye shirts and Jerry Garcia posters and have a steak- cooked medium rare. On second thought, climb back into your VW Microbus, put on a Scooby doo cartoon for your kid...and waste your life away. That will leave more meat for my kids to eat and live long healthy lives.
I have drank soda all my life and went off of it for over a month drinkin water,and the sprite zero and there was a noticeable difference in my weight without no effort cuz I go from 105-115 period and have never been over weight but after readin the comments you guys have left I'm goin bac off of soda for all the right reasons this time. Thanx
We sure do have a bunch of characters posting here. I read the article iwth interest and realize that when given a limited of text space, an author is limited on the expansion of the thread. On the flip side, I felt the article actually PROMOTING soda drinking. Yes, we are the most obese Nation of peoples in the world. We also comsume over 75% of all sodas consumes worldwide. Yes we have the highest incidence of Osteoporosis in the world. Yes that Phosphorus leeches the calcium right out of our bones! Yes, There is a connection to obesity and therefore heart disease and Diabetes, Osteoporosis, Migraines and addiction. I too want to gallop into the end of my life saying "Whew, what a ride". But I also want to be able to hold onto the reigns tightly and enjoy the ride when I do it! Carbonated ANYTHING with phosphorus, sugars, syrup, artificial sweeteners, etc just don't fit in my picture! I pray to be stronger than... and have dominion over... A CAN OF SODA... and recognize those who market poisons.
I love soda. Mixing orange and coke otherwise known as the old "OK" brand soda formula was to be my favorite. I will admit when I was in my 10-14 age I would have 4-6 cans a day. I ballooned up to 225 lbs which was embarrasing as a young teen. I was depressed, and when I decided to take action on my weight led on by soda, I became violently ill. Insomnia, vomiting, night sweats, shaking, loss of appetite ect. It was devastating I felt like dying. Even since losing the weight to 170 lbs when I was in high school, I still drank maybe 1/2 to a can per day on average. Even today I can't resist the occasional pepsi or sunkist. There is nothing that I feel will allow me to break away from soda. I am bounded to it's taste and texture of bubbles popping in my mouth, so wonderful. Lastly, when I was younger I had more dental issues when I was at 5 cans per day. Now I rarely see a cavity and or other issues that may occur due to the extreme amount of sugar in soda.
i dont drink pop at all, i haven't for the last 10 years, i was told by my dentist, that is what caused my cavity, because i always brush,....i drink water, with the sugar free, calorie free, flavor packets.
as far as the lady who wont give her child meat or milk...what are you doing to your child? my little brother drinks milk everyday...and because of that when he hurt himself in football last year he didnt break a bone...and his doctor said his milk drinking is the reason why!
and for the stupid racist....you live in the year 2007...hopefully you will grow up and get with the times
I used to drink 6-8 regular Pepsis per day. About 1 year ago I switched to diet pops (I still drink about 6 per day). I lost 20 pounds, maybee the aspartane or whatever in the diet soda is doing harm to me too but I am loosing weight. I do have another suggesion for you mike and james. I have worked away from home for the past 4 years and am always eating on the run. I always ate fast food like arby's and BK stuff like that, I started eating subways low fat subs 4 times a week, its still fast food, they taste great, I feel better after eating than I did before and I tacked on another 13 pounds to my weight loss in the last 4 months.
Diet Soda is just as bad as regular soda. Infact, the splenda used in diet sodas affect the human body to the same extreme as regular sugar does. SO when you drink a diet soda, you can think of it as a regular soft drink.
My Kid's use to say the darndest things on SODA. I tell you what I would give them a can and it was like watching forrest gump speed read.
I drink sodas regular & diet, I think they are bad for you especially the regular but if you eat right lean meats, green veggies, etc. and thats your only guilty pleasure then I say "why not".
OK FIRST OF ALL, dieting alone without exercise is pointless. You can lose water weight and muscle mass by dieting or being an extremist like vegans but that as said before is more dangerous. Fine go ahead eat those leaves that have no nutritional value, by 50 you will look worse than a rasin. Its hard to even read a sentance with the word vegan in it because its so dangerous. I think being a drug addict is better than being a vegan, atleast you have fun during the process.
My kids like to dump soda out on eachother!
The majority of people that drink diet soda ARE HUGE! Diet soda actually makes you feel hungry after consuming it, it causes cancer and is full of formaldehyde and other poison. Just say no to that crap instead of making reasons why it is ok. Want to lose weight? I lost 2 inches off waist and 2 inches off hips...read Eating Right for Your Blood Type, change what foods and drinks you put in your body. It works and with excercising it is multiplied.
You all smell like hotdogs. How can I live my life without my diet coke and Marlboro reds? I mean its just not the same sitting here on my floral pattern sofa watching Jerry Springer in my terriclothe robe and bunny slippers. I enjoy my soda, it helps the bon bons go down better. Ooo, hold on, their fighting on TV again, Hit that B!#@$! Ok, back to my point- Rap music tells me I must buy soda and conform with "The Man's" big plan, so let's be good slaves and do as we are told :)Oh and I want to shout out to all my girls, HOLLA!
I am white,blue-eyed and fair-skinned but feel all colours are beautiful and equal. Racists of any colour are ugly and/or sick inside.
My weight has climbed a lot during menopause, so if I drink soft drinks, it's diet drinks. My fav. beverage is tap water with ice.
I really disagree with putting a growing child on a vegan diet. It's a form of abuse IMO, just as filling them with only macaroni and cheese, weiners, hamburgers, fries and soda drinks is. Unintentional abuse, but still abuse IMO.
Extremes are NOT healthy, and when that child grows up and can make her own choices, she WILL rebel. I know an extremely anorexic woman whose two daughters ate lots of cheeseburgers, chocolate cake, etc. as soon as they were out of range of her watchful eye.
To the poster about formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is part of aspartames chemical breakdown caused by heat, but poses absolutely no risk in diet soda. Not to mention, you will have 5 times the amount of methanol (the chemical in the breakdown chain before formaldehyde) in a glass of tomato juice than in diet soda. And to the poster who said that artificial sweeteners are one molecule away from cocaine, that is irrelevant. The difference between water and hydrogen gas is only one molecule too, except one is a necessity to survive and the other is highly explosive.
Baking soda will eat corrosion from a car battery too, but we all eat it. Moderation people
Leave me alone - I'll drink my regular Pepsi. Why don't they study the long range effects of aspartame??? I remember all the rats who died from Cyclamates.
Errr me hardees. Me dont like sodas. I's say nothin like a good splash of seawater from Davy Jones locker. Er there seawater has all the goodies you need to survive. Plus if yer lucky, yous might catch a fancy vittle bonus in them there. So stop wasting all ye hard earned booty on bottled water, and take yer empty milk jugs down to yer beach and fill em full. Ahoy and down with bringing back 8 track tapes!
Common sense really isn't it? One health factor overlooked however, is that consumption of regular or diet soda does take a nasty toll on ones teeth.
Also Connie needs to stop reading check-out aisle filth - diet soda maked you hungry and is poison?!! one word - Library.
One thing I am sure of - the schools today are failing - none of you can spell or punctuate!
I enjoyed reading everyones comments on this. Kids should not be feed just juice and soda that should be a given. Dumb parent there. I was surpized to only read only one person metioned dentists. And It seems like a dentist can tell if you are a soda drinker before even asking. It will ruin teeth and put on weight. It seems as if you all agree on that. However Diet sodas do have lots of salts in them and what does to much salt do? It retains water! and only makes you more thirsty therefore WANTING another soda later. WATER PEOPLE WATER!! thats what our bodies want and need!! For all of you who compalian about not stopping why don't you cut your soda drinking in half one soda for one water each day! see if it makes you feel better even. Gotta go drink my WATER now have fun you all.
I started reading this in hopes of learning something and instead have been highly entertained. Some of you people are very amusing.........and many are misinformed. Keep up the good work!
To Kim - The calories in soda are from sugar. Juice has just as much sugar as soda. You child should be drinking less juice and more milk.
Sodas should be thought of as something that you have, once in a while, a treat. Not only do the non-diet sodas have ALOT of sugar both diet and non-diet play havoc on bones. It will be interesting to see the bone density studies of today's teenage population in about 40-50 years.
I agree with Pat, too many of you are misinformed.
Anyone happen to see the episode of Mythbusters where they tested the myths of soda? They were all busted, the tooth didn't dissolve, grease removal didn't work. The steak was somewhat tenderized but the soda did work well to shine chrome. Moral of the story, don't believe everything you read in your email.
Yes, Wendy, as you can see, a little knowledge can be very dangerous. For example, feeding children a vegan diet. Shame on you! Enjoy life people. We are all going to die!!!!
Wow... That's child abuse to not give a child milk.
It's got calcium and loaded with vitamins.
What kind of idiot are you?
Where is the necessary protein in this growing child's diet? Of all the stupid posts I have read here, this one bothers me the most.
As far as the diet soda being full of salt and making you thirstier doesnt hold a lot of truth, at least for the diet soda I drink. From the label I am looking at right now, it contains 50mg of salt, or 2% of my daily value. Thats like a few grains. Only 49 more cans until I get my recommended daily allowance!
I'm sitting here drinking my Coca Cola Classic reading the bulletins. They are hillarious. I agree w/everyone who says life is too short. There are allot worse things than drinking soda I do not eat meat, smoke, or do any form of drugs so if this Coke is my one guilty pleasure I'm going for it. I wiegh 105 lbs at 5'2. I drink 3 to 4 cans of coke a day sometimes I mix it up with a little iced tea! I love it! It cracks me up when people talk about coke eating away at a car battery......if you threw the acid from your stomache straight onto the sidewalk it would burn a whole straight to China! Lol. We should lighten up soda hasn't killed anyone.
Good for you Mary!!! I really must stop reading these posts. People's stupidy is starting to get to me. They spout their bits of wisdom as if they are fact..........and many of them are not fact. They need to read something other than their forwarded emails. Read factual articles on subjects......and read more than one.
LOL... most of these were just funny.... some however, were informative. I watched the Myth Busters Show.. Yes "soda" is bad for your teeth but if you make bad choices ANYTHING can be bad for you!! SO to all of you the haters and all... I would suggest that you do what is right for yourselves and not worry about anyone else. If you are happy with yourself then great. If not then get off your ass and do something besides typing on your computer. Soon it will be the computer that is the reason we are all overweight.....lol I look at it this way, if God wanted us all to be size 2 we would be, but guess what we are NOT. The world is made up of MANY MNAY different sizes shapes and colors you should be happy with what you are if not change it... don't blame something.. it was YOU that picked it up in the first place.
As for the people loosing weight, everyone hits a platue after being on a "diet" for a while.. you have to change what you are doing AGAIN to get more results....
Good Luck to you all.
My Remarks were only to help maybe other people being effected by ASPARTAME. As i was.
I dont feel i am being ignorant with the effects D.Soda has had on me.. Not sure how vegan was brought up on the debate of Soda???
Why is everyone ripping on vegans? I'm not a vegan myself, but I know enough that vegetable proteins are far superior to animal proteins if you're aiming for overall health.
Eating together foods from the legume family such as lentils and millets plus carbohydrates from whole wheat sources create a whole protein complete with all the essential amino acids found in meat. It is also possible to get all the important nutrients of pasteurized milk from sources like taking a walk out in the sun (vitamin D) and eating sprouts and broccoli(calcium). Plus, vegetables and fruits tend to keep the body pH alkaline so your calcium stays in your bones instead of being used to neutralize pH of the bloodstream.
Much of the Western diet is leaves a highly acidic ash in the body so it's no surprise osteoporosis is on the rise.
The vegan thing was brought up by Kim. I will never dispute the personal effects of anything on anybody. Wheat products bother me, but I'm not going to tell people that wheat is bad for them and not to eat it. So to say that NOBODY should eat sugar or aspertame is silly. So, if it dosn't bother you, have a ball!
It is a debate on Soda thats why i brought up the effects on myself. I never said for you all to stop doing whatever makes you happy. Just to inform certain person's with simular ailments.
If we were discussing wheat I would think we would want to hear it in case someone else had the same problems and they didnt link it..
God Bless
Kyle, you do know that formaldehyde, which you are touting as harmless in diet soda, is found in cigarettes and embalming fluid, correct? In a philosophical sense, yes, we are all dying, but having a nihilistic devil-may-care attitude won't help you achieve anything. Anyway, I'm going with Glady's advice. You all go on being slaves to the big man's plan and conform, conform, conform.
Yes, and God Bless you too, Kelli. You are missing the point.
I dont drink the name brand sodas like Coke or Pepsi. I buy the store brand sodas because they are healthier. They have less caffeine and sugar.
Never missing the point of something causing harm to my self. Yes many things are helping us die much faster than we like.
But if i can touch one person who has gone through the similuar effects of D.Soda than it was all worthwhile. Maybe some day you may see the point i made.
Thank you
I gained excessive weight after steroids for 6 months boy that's fun. Eat everything. I decided to drink diet coke after two weeks I was having horrid headaches, swollen hands, joint pains. My boss who is a pharmist said get off the diet stuff danger danger will robinson I did and everything went away. Sodium is always huge in diet foods. Check the label this causes issues with blood pressure. Aspertaine is known to be a cancer causing agent and also a mind altering drug check it our do a search engine on it. Also my husband is a coke cola addict and the dentist issue is not valid. My husband is 45 years of age has not the first cavity you know why he chews the ice and cleans his teeth with water and brushes them. The mother who denies here child of milk needs to think again does your pedetrician agree I doubt it and if she does get another. I raised 7 kids and one hated it I had to supplement her diet with calcium and protein after she broke her ankle playing soccer which should of never happened. Blame is on me
Dr. Fernstrom should be a little more careful with her advice.
She states that "[o]besity-related illness is on the rise. One big way to save calories, and help avoid overweight [sic] to begin with, is to substitute that 150 calorie 12 ounce can for a sugar-free diet soda with practically no calories."
There are important weight management concerns that are raised by the drinking of diet soda. Specifically it is theorized that the sweet taste of diet soda can cause you to crave actual sugar, leading to an increased caloric intake. Diet soda could even cause an insulin spike which leads to a slower metabloism. While the Doctor is right to say these theories are not scientifically confirmed, they are scientifically based and deserve some mention in her article.
Dr. Fernstorm is right about one thing, water is your best bet if you're serious about your health and weight loss. After all, if something seems to good to be true (0 calories, and all the taste...), it very well may be.
I totally agree with you Marrie.
Thanks for the information.
The enemy here is portion control, and High-Fructose Corn Syrup is its henchman. We drink sodas like they haven't any calories at all, because they don't trigger any sensation of fullness in our bodies. HFCS screws with our bodies because it carries calories but doesn't trigger the right insulin response or a feeling of fullness. If our sodas were made with REAL SUGAR, we'd probably drink less of it, enjoy it more, and eat less along with it.
But that's not going to happen while we have these ridiculous tarriffs on sugar imports. The US pays about 3x the world price for sugar, did you know that? No wonder our food is filled with HFCS! What we need to do is get the cost of real sugar down, and discourage the food industry from using corn syrup - corn should be dedicated more to fuel production anyway, these days!
I got Kelli's point and I sent it on to my friend who has simillar problems, sometimes it is worth posting your situation... or something you may have gone through. It is the other things on here I don't agree with....
I am 34 years old, I have drank sodas as long as I can remember. My mother put the fear of "aspartame kills" into my mind and I stopped drinking diet sodas and went back to regular sodas. I put on 10lbs in 2 weeks, my thighs started to get dimply and I started getting back fat. Regular sodas also made me tired, lethargic and cranky. I am now back on diet soda and I drink 1 maybe 2 a day and then drink water the rest of the day (except for the occasional fruit punch or alcoholic beverage). And I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day. But I also work out 3 times a week, I don't eat fried foods or a lot of sweets or salty food. I still want a 7-11 Big Gulp Coke every once in a while and I get it. Again people, MODERATION!!!!!
Alias, I am well aware of the effects of exposure to Formaldehyde and its use in embalming fluid and cigarettes, as well as plywood adhesives and many building materials. The point, which you clearly missed, was that with the slight chance that it could be present in a diet soda, it would never reach levels that could present any danger. I do drink diet soda, but I realize that it is most likely still unhealthy. I was simply stating this to prove a point and not let other people be misinformed. And please dont attack us for our beliefs calling us corporate conformist while you walk around with an egotistical, superior and rebellious attitude and pretend that corporate america is always out to get you. You are just as bad as those hardcore corporate conformists.
If you check the ingredients, the second one next to water is HFCS. I guess if you don't care.... It is linked to obesity and diabetes.
Thank you Lora, I do hope your friend gets better from whatever is causing her health problems. I know i feel 100% better removing the soda's. BUT there isnt a day i dont battle wanting one.. To me they are highly addicting.
Thank you Cindy, you are the only one seeing the light!!!!
People just don't get it. They think High Fructose Corn Syrup is the same as Corn Syrup. They couldn't be more wrong.
30 mins of good exercise a day cures all of that.
Kyle, the point you are missing is that it's not a slight chance anymore if the soda is stored for a long time or in high temperatures,(prerequisites easily met during packaging, shipping, storage) both of which breaks aspartame down into toxic end products such as formaldehyde and formic acid.
And I am not attacking corporate conformists. They're the reason that makes the economy run. But you can go on living pretending corporate america is looking out for your best interest. Good day to you.
WHAT?
For anyone concerned about their health - I highly recommend "Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About" by Kevin Trudeau - He claims "it is all about the money" and backs it up with facts. Your health is your own responsibility, do not trust medical doctors, pill pushers, or anybody, or any business that is just trying to make money.
I drink 2-3 sodas a day and i'm about 30 pounds UNDERweight.
Want an easy solution?
DON'T DRINK SODA.
Silly fat people.
No need for name calling, but it really is that easy, if you have any willpower. You do not NEED sodas. They do nothing good for you.
OK, the good Dr. didn't have enough space to say everything she needed to say, that's the big problem with this article!
It should have gone like this: Water is much better for you than any form of soda, but if you are drinking regular soda, try switching to diet and see if it improves your health/weight/blood sugar, etc. And treat soda of any kind like a dessert - for special occasions, not the mainstay of your diet!
And, for those who don't believe you can grown strong bones on just plant foods: Have you ever looked at a cow's bones? Humans were designed to be _able_ to be omnivores; not to _have_ to be omnivores.
Your body was designed by nature to consume natural food and drinks - not man made artificial sweeteners. Have you not read all of the problems people have had eliminated by eliminating their toxic sweeteners?
If we were to stop eating and drinking everything they say are bad for us, what would be left?? Studies can be manupulated to say what ever the group who sponsored the study wants it to say. I say, eat, drink, and be merry for soon we all will die.
Alias, I understand that given how diet soda is handled, the aspartame could break down, but its still not enough to be dangerous. The problem with diet soda is that it still puts foreign chemicals into the body which is never a good thing. Of course this is bad for your body, I'm just suggesting that cancer may be a bit of a stretch. I know from my own experience that even when I stop drinking diet soda I feel better. At least its not as bad as regular soda which with one or two cans, gives me stomach pains so strong I can barely move.
Well planned vegan diets are just as healthy and well balanced as well planned omnivores diets and may in fact be healthier. They are safe for people of all ages as long as they are balanced right and supplements are taken.
"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."
"Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence."
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm
People should stop bashing that which they do not understand and do a little research before going off on "vegans are idiots" rants.
You're right - living long and healthy lives just isn't for everybody - enjoy your poisons for the short unhealthy time you can.
I love when fatalists dispense advice, love it.
May I also add:
"Vegetarian diets offer a number of nutritional benefits, including lower levels of saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein as well as higher levels of carbohydrates, fiber, magnesium, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and phytochemicals. Vegetarians have been reported to have lower body mass indices than nonvegetarians, as well as lower rates of death from ischemic heart disease; vegetarians also show lower blood cholesterol levels; lower blood pressure; and lower rates of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer."
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_933_ENU_HTML.htm
Previous comment aimed towards Jerri.
I like boogers...
Considering that diet soda's have nearly no calories in them, I find it exceptionally hard to believe that they are the reason that people pack on weight and are the cause of much of these maladies.
It's all genetics people, and we are going to have to fix some of these genetic problems that are not even recognized as problems soon!
I will, once again, try to make this point.......I applaud everyone out there that has indentified a food issue and did something about it. I was recently chastised for comparing one food issue to another........but I digress. I just wish people would stop making these broad sweeping statements; telling us that their way is best. We all must define the best diet for ourselves....be it diet soda, vegetarian diet, etc. The thing I am really happy to see, is that there is a lot of interest in the subject. From interest comes knowledge. But just remember, we all pick our own poison. None of us is doing this perfectly.
I drink too much regular Coke, but I drank Coke Zero instead for 2 weeks and lost NO weight. Since I quit rationing my intake my molars have started splintering. Ouch! When I was a kid at summer camp I lost a "baby tooth". I put it into a bottle with 1/2" of Pepsi and it dissolved in 15 minutes! Honestly!I've only used Pepsi on the battery acid and it works fast! Drinking Pepsi bloats me BADLY. When I get a headache (unless from sinus)I drink a Coke and the caffeine cures it!
I drink Coke, but I don't use coke (cocaine).
Would Perrier water with a slice of lime be good for me? The carbonation is natural.Plain water is TOO boring, and in some nearby cities the high mineral content causes brown lines across the teeth!
I do drink low fat milk at breakfast and take vitamins. I don't smoke, seldome drink but can't exercise outdoors(pollen allergies). Any suggestions from anyone?
I'm wondering how most of you think you can make a comment when you can't even spell? Maybe you should go back to school and learn how to spell. Leave The pop drinkers alone. It is their free will to do what they please.
By the way, i love my diet pepsi.
Get a filter on that tap and use the water to brew some green tea.
Oh people!!! It doesn't work on battery acid - it works on battery corrision. And so does baking soda!!! It's the first choice of most backyard mechanics. We eat baking soda in most of our baked goods. Please!!!! A lot of things in your panty will eat away at battery corrision. And so will your stomach acid, but you need that to digest your food.
This is not like having a discussion with our friends. We choose our friends based on age and intellect. That's not a choice given here.
The reporter who wrote this article seems to be employed by the soda industry. Whether or not diet vs. regular poses less of a risk concerning heart problems, the facts remain: drinking soda of any kind rots your teeth, contributes to heart problems, contributes to obesity, and gives you a sugar high followed by a crash! Just put a filter on your water faucet and drink!
Let's take a good look at our lives. Do we do EVERYTHING right? No, I don't think so. Pick your poison. For a responsible adult to drink sodas in moderation is the least of our worries. Is water better for us? Yes, of course it is. No one will deny that. Personally, I like the carbonation. Some say that carbonation is bad for us. That elminiates Perrier and the like. I don't have many vices in life. I'm not giving it all up.
To the people who don't understand the point of a vegan diet:
Meat doesn't digest in your digestive systems, it decomposes. So it sits there for three or four days rotting in your small intestine. All dairy products produce fat cells and mucus. Every human is lactose intolerant, except for human milk. Cow's milk is for baby cows. Unless you eat organic food, you are eating chemicals and cloned synthetic foods. Do you want your babies to get colds? the flu? become morbidly obese? Keep feeding them chemically and genetically altered meat, cheese, and refined sugar. Wake up, America!
I'm a diet soda drinker and have been for about 20 years. I have regular visits to the dentist and have found that my teeth aren't in tip top shape as they used to be. I have also been diagnosed with osteoporosis. I now have been prescribed Boniva by my doctor for it. I'm not sure if bone loss is due to my diet soda intake, but I'm thinking I'd better start drinking more water and say goodbye to my diet sodas just in case. By the way Kathleen, I was thinking the same thing about our public schools. I'm worried for our childrens educational futures.
Wow! I can't believe that anyone actually believes that drinking cow's milk is healthy. Seriously, why would need to drink milk at all beyond infancy? Not to mention drink it from another species. Even Dr. Spock changed his view on drinking milk as he grew older.
As for soda, that also, is a no-brainer. It's like liquid Satan, and the diet stuff is even worse. Drink water, drink naturally sweetened fruit juice, and leave cow's milk for baby cows.
I am a meat eater but I don't see any reason why a vegan diet can't also be a healthy diet. You just have to know what you're doing. I know several people who were raised vegan and are quite healthy. Give Kim a break. There's no reason to judge people you know nothing about.
CraigO, stop sharing your conspiracy theory of the food industry and doctors collaborating to keep people perpetually sick in order to make more profit. It can't possibly be true!!
I understand that a lot of consumers get confused by various studies when it's difficult to try to educate yourself about proper nutrition and keep up with so much information that's out there. And secondly, knowing which sources to trust would be a tedious task. To put it bluntly, our nutritional confusion is killing us. I'm a clinical dietitian...I'm always being asked about what diet works best, how should I lose weight, etc. Oddly, enough, no one ever asks me how should one eat to best benefit my body. I mean, isn't that the whole purpose of eating? I was recently introduced to a book that details the most comprehen-sive study of nutrition ever conducted. I highly suggest any one and every one to read it. It will change how you think about what you put into your body. This study, or rather studies, took place over 27 years and were well-funded by the NIH, American Cancer Society, etc. The results are shocking. Those of you who want to continue reading, I'll have to post again, running out of charac
Continuing from 1st post: Low "animal" protein diets completely inhibited the initiation of cancer in spite of the subject having high levels of carcinogen in the system. And if cancer was initiated, low animal protein diets dramatically blocked subsequent cancer growth. In fact, dietary animal protein proved to be so powerful in its effect that they could turn on and off cancer growth simply by changing the level of animal protein consumed. WOW! Interested? You ought to be. Guess which protein consis-tently and strongly promoted cancer? Casein, which is 87% of cow's milk protein, promoted all stages of the cancer process. What type of protein did NOT promote cancer, even at high intake levels? Plant, including wheat and soy. As I started reading this, it began to challenge and then shatter some of my most cherished assumptions. 1 in 13 Americans now has diabetes, a ratio which keeps rising. Diabetes in 30-somthings has increased 70% in less than 10 years.
Thank you Foodchic. Please keep writing!
Continuation: Obesity has doubled in the past 30 years. But heart disease is the biggest killer, 1 in 3 Americans will die from it. 60 million Americans currently suffer from some form of heart disease, and the most recent finding is that it can be prevented and reversed by a healthy diet. Americans need to know the truth; although many of us think we're well-informed on nutrition, we're not. We tend to follow one faddish diet after another, and wanting quick fixes. Well, sorry for the soapbox, but I feel so strongly about what this book says that I feel compelled to let people know. What you do with it is your business. We owe it to ourselves to constantly strive to seek the truth. Don't settle; it's your life. Make it the best that you can. Day after day I see these patients here in the hospital wishing they had 2nd/3rd chances. Most are too far developed with diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. I see them suffer;die most every day; to think that what you eat could give life. It's profound.
"This is not like having a discussion with our friends. We choose our friends based on age and intellect. That's not a choice given here."
I like boogers.
To the "Anonymous" grammar police:
"By the way, i love my diet pepsi." You forgot to capitalize the "I".
Don't point out others flaws if you have them in your own comments.
my co-worker is a chain smoker and a chain coke drinker..seriously..she drinks about 8-10 cokes a day..imagine how her insides must look!!
Food chic,
What is the name of the book? Thanks.
I left here hours ago. Went for a walk on the beach. I come back and this has gotten even weirder. CraigO needs more info. Perhaps he doesn't understand the digestive system. Let's get back to the soda vs. water debate. It's so.........stimulating. Roberto, thanks for the quote. I'm sure they will tell you that boogers are better for you than meat or soda. And maybe they are.
Educate yourself with the right information from the right resources. You must know who conducted the research, who paid them to do the research and who profits from their findings. Drug companies are marketing scam artists. Mass food and drink suppliers are only in it for the profit. Your health is not their concern. By law, corporations are required to do one and only one thing - make a profit.
Relith, your comment is evil, "shoot a brotha!" You are no better than the terrorist who cannot see past their hate
and view Americans as infidels, the same way you view Blacks and Hispanics. Shame on you, this forum is about soda and you had to include your message of hate. With your lifestyle sooner or later A.I.D.S will find you and the world will sigh relief that one less hatred bearing soul is gone.
I am overweight, because of a birth defect that makes it almost impossible for me to exercise, so basically I have to starve myself to loose weight, but about 2 years ago I gave up soda of anykind and I lost about 10lbs right away, then a few months ago I started drinking my "diet soda" again and gained the 10lbs back; my doctor saw no reason for this and actually said that the diet soda s/not have any effect on my weight lose; anyway I'm back on water with only an occasional diet soda and my weight is down a little bit already, so I think there might be something to the whole soda thing.
Donna - Nothing like first hand, common sense personal observation of cause and affect.
Watch the movie/documentary "Super Size Me".
I quit pop about 5 weeks ago. Before, I was drinking anywhere from 5-6 cans a day at least. The first two weeks were very hard for me to quit. I could not sleep and was having headaches all the time. Things have mellowed out and I am feeling a lot better. Drinking so much soda didn't effect my weight (5' 11" - 165 lbs) because I am very active. I will say, though, that since quitting pop, I feel so much better. I have switched over to basically only drinking water. I also watch the foods I eat. I don't over-do the healthy eating, but just try to not take in any "junk food". Basically, I think that your overall health-weight is not effected by one single aspect, such as pop, but by your lifestyle in general.
Also, haven't read all of the posts, but has anyone mentioned money? As a teenager, $3-4 a day does have a big impact on my wallet. That arguement always comes up when concerning quitting smoking; the cost. Just a thought...
Foodchic, what was the name of that book?! im dying to know!
I would like to tell all of you that I am 68-years-old, and never had much milk as a child-my folks didn't buy it for some reason, and now my Dr asked me if I drank milk when younger, because my bones are really thin, and I am in danger of breaking them easily-when I got married at 17 and did grocery shopping I bought milk and drank a lot of it even now- and so my point is when I became old enough to take care of myself, it was too late. so parents out there-take heed.its your responsibility to do everything you can to raise your child to be healthy and do everything you can to see to it that they are raised to thier full potential- you had them-so take good care of them.
irisn
to kim, trying to force your daughter to become a vegan is a little extreme. just because you feel that you can'teat anything that doesnt come from a plant doesnt mean you should force it on other people. my son and i both drink soda frequently and neither of us have ever had any weight or weight-related health problems at all. some people have slow metabolisms or are naturally inclined to gain weight, and others aren't; not everybody needs to stay away from soda. grow some balls.
"yeah, if you don't eat meat at all,you become a pussy" - eric cartman--Fun With Veal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fun_with_Veal
to kim, trying to force your daughter to become a vegan is a little extreme. just because you feel that you can'teat anything that doesnt come from a plant doesnt mean you should force it on other people. my son and i both drink soda frequently and neither of us have ever had any weight or weight-related health problems at all. some people have slow metabolisms or are naturally inclined to gain weight, and others aren't; not everybody needs to stay away from soda. grow some balls.
"yeah, if you don't eat meat at all,you become a pussy" - eric cartman--Fun With Veal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fun_with_Veal
My husband is addicted to Coke...so unhealthy (needless to say, he's overweight and has heart problems) But, well, what can I say, I'm tired of pestering him. Coke is evil. I call it Devil's Water. A good name for it, don't you think? Pass it along, people.
female, daily(2-4)24oz diet pepsi drinker, 13-yrs sober, just past 51-yr mark, working on pesky 10lbs, more challenging now - So, I read Dr. Christiane Northrup's book "The Wisdom of Menopause", an excellent book for women @ mid-life!!She notes that aspartame is an excitotoxin, which causes our nerve cells to overfire - in suseptable people, it leads to death of the brain cells. This is a reason Aspartame is associated with multiple-sclerosis-like syndrome in some women.The aspartame in diet colas seems to cause the worst problems. She then goes on to list two dozen neurological symptoms. These go away if you stop drinking diet colas with aspartame! So, am I willing to play roulette with my diet pepsi to see if I might be 'susceptible' woman to all those symtoms to cause misery? Maybe just a little longer but the mid-life changes and re-wiring have already begun and I'm powerless to stop it. This significant life passage sho' ain't for sissies!!! whew... just have got to roll with it...
Definition: DPS
Heavy person walks into a restaurant. Inquires about the diet plate. Request two of them. And a Diet Soda.
DPS--Diet Plate Syndrome
Just finished two barbequed hotdogs and a half glass of orange pop. I could not eat worse than that and I need better health because of MS. I have to stay at parents and eat what they do. Someday I will eat only fresh food minus the processing. I have a class of pop everyother day. The pop in the fridge right now is not diet and I felt better today but can not say that diet pops make me feel worse. I will experiment the effects the next time diet pop is in the fridge.
Diet sodas have been called the "new crack" because they are so addicting. Diet sodas will actually make you gain weight as well as make you depressed. Because of the artificial sweeteners used, such as aspartame, they are also giving you a variety of medical symptoms. If you want a soda, ideally, get an organic soda from your health food store. Or if you must indulge, drink a regular soda. If you were to stop drinking all diet sodas and replace them with regular soda, you would in fact lose weight. The idea that diet sodas have fewer calories, thus are good for weight control, is a lie. The exact opposite is true. Remember, all carbonated drinks block calcium absorption.
hehehe..
Carbonated beverages can cause severe leg cramps.
To Brooks, I do not think that not giving your child milk is child abuse!!! I do think that it is child abuse when you give milk to a child that has been Homogenized. Homogenization makes the dairy products scar the arteries in your body and is a leading cause of heart disease. Organic raw, unpasteurized, unhomogenized milk, cheese and dairy products are incredibly healthy. What kind of milk are you giving to your child?
ya ya and too many eggs were bad for you I have met some really elderly healthy farmers .....everything in moderation why deprive yourself you only live once
Thats right you only live once. Why do you want to end your life short?
I used to drink pop and it made me more thirsty, sick and fat.
Now I drink magnetic water and the Power of Three.
I feel great now.
I warn people about drinking pop, and as they ignor me and continue to drink it, I witness their health decline and their waists expand.
Our bodies are mostly water, but we want to fill up on junk food and everything but pure, filtered water.
Media MEGA-Mogul Sumner Redstone's anti-aging secret...MONAVIE ACAI BLEND. No more soda for him...
Read it on CNN Money:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/23/news/newsmakers/100172390.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007082408?cnn=yes
This is just common sense
The most entertaining posting goes to 'Pat' dated August 15: "A lot of things in your panty will eat away at battery corrision." OHMY!!!!!!! I refuse to touch that statement with a 10 ft pole.. (pun intended) ROFLMAO
i thought the information was very insightful. I found out many things i didnt know.... i dont think its a bad idea to have a couple sodas every once in a while.. do u???
I have been taking monavie as directed for a week and a half and have omitted soda from my diet altogether without intending to do so. My coffee intake is also down, and my water intake is up. Maybe there is another way--a healthier way. I have also lost six pounds! Do I need soda? Is diet soda a disappointing substitute?
www.mymonavie.com/lenae
I found out, totally by accident, that aspartame(phenylalanine) is poison. I was not a soda drinker at all. I tasted Sprite Zero last year-Work was extremely stressful.I began drinking more and more of it, thinking"It has no calories and it sure tastes good" Actually, I felt it had some addicting quality.I stopped drinking it.I didn't want a gut.My feet had swollen up for no reason (I'm 41,not overweight - workout,eat lean white meat, etc.) to the point where I had to wear flip-flops, but I didn't think it was Sprite Zero. My feet went down the day after I stopped. This was after drinking the sodas for about 7 months.After a month Without, I had about 3 sodas..Now, I had been having severe leg cramps all year, but didn't connect them to the soda.They had STOPPED! I drank those 3 sodas and had cramps that evening that made me cry.Also,one foot began to swell. Other symptoms over the 7 months-FORGETTING WHERE I WAS(3 times)-SCARY!I looked online & QUIT ASAP, ALL SYMPTOMS have been GONE since then (3 mo. ago)
I stopped drinking soda 2 weeks ago. I am sticking to water and iced tea. No weight loss yet, but I feel 110% better. I find that if you don't have soda in your house, you won't drink it!
I drank soda for 6 mo. and gained about 17 to 20 pounds extra. This was with intense workouts. However, I quit and lost it all. Now I look like a closed umbrella, I sleep in an oven, my hair is falling out, and I have extreme groin pains every day. I am just going to start liking it like Olive Oil. Im on this weight loss thing like Oprah on a piece of ham. I would give anything to have Hillary Clintons makeup artist. Does anyone have access to that information? Thanks!
ALL I KNOW IS, I DRINK SODA (PEPSI) LIKE ITS GOING OUT OF STYLE.. IM ABOUT 115IBS, PRETTY SKINNY BUT MY STOMACH LOOKS LIKE IM PREGNANT, I GUESS ITS THE SODA, I HAVE MIGRAINES, I WAKE UP WITH MY EYES SWOLLEN, RED AND THEY HURT.. I HAD TO TAKE OUT 5 TEATH AND IM ONLY 21 BECAUSE I DRANK SO MUCH SODA THEY GOT TO BAD TO FIX. I TRY TO STOP, ITS HARD, ITS ADDICTING.. ITS MY ONLY "RELIEVER". BUT AFTER READING THESE COMMENTS I THINK IM MOTIVATED ENOUGH... LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!
Soda is not the problem. Blame your problems on other things then your self is all that its good for. If you gain wait from soda then so what lose it anything will make you gain wait if you sit around all day talking on blogs. there is nothing un healthy about soad as there is nothing healty about it as well. Do all the studys you want but were it lies is in your head. people are to weakminded to understand that they are in the wrong. Souds like you people are going to sue the Soda compines for make you fat... if you have roting teath its becouse you dont brush them not becouse u drink soda. you can eat and drink anything you want if u banlce it the right way. Go to a gym or just go out side. Stop counting how muhc fat is on a serving size. Kids have a fast matabluzem not becouse there yong but beacouse of what they do. obeast kids are not eating evil foods that make them big that are in a lack of exersize. Point then fringer at everyhting it doesn't change the answer.Food is not bad for you but Lazynes is bad.
You say lazyness is bad? What about the lazyness to spellcheck? I have a headache.
I think we need to also consider that not everyone is able to just stop drinking soda. Diet may just be an okay temporarily solution. I mean, I do agree that its man-made..and it hasn't been enough long enough for us to have a clear understanding of any long-term effects. Of course soy, milk, water, pure juice, and other natural liquids are better solutions.
@ Gregg's comment about red meat: We really shouldn't have extremist attitudes towards any one in particular in regards to our food choices. We also shouldn't imply that we HAVE to eat red meat. All these food choices lifestyle choices are subject to ethical/moral/political debates. Its subjective and its not our place to say who's lifestyle choices are wrong, until it gets to the point that it is physically harmful, and psychological to some extent.
i think it wasnt good because there was too much coments posted on this site...
This thing was not what I was looking for. I AM DOING A RESEARCH PAPER AND I NEED RESEARCH!!!!!!!! NOT A BUNCH OF BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!! OH! AND! I! DONT! EVEN! DRINK! SODA!
There is nothing wrong with a soda or two occasionally. There hasn't been anything to conclude that a soda is bad for you. I don't believe that sugar or salt is bad it's just the amounts that are being consumed. I'm tired of the hype about all the good and bad foods. All foods are good. Moderation is the key. If people would stop being a gluten, obesity would not be an epidemic. Our kids are porkers because some of them eat too much and don't exercise. You have to control what you eat and noone is taking responsibility for there own actions. You can't blame a fast food industry for you being overweight. It's all nonsense. I have people telling me to give up sodas. Yeah right! We've been drinking sodas for decades an nothing was ever said about it then until obesity became an issue. As long as I'm steadily losing weight, I will have a soda or tow or three. Besides, the difference between a diet soda and a regular soda is the "sugar". Diet sodas with artificial sweeteners are really bad for you. Do a study on that.
stupid people
I quit drinking soda about 6 months ago and switched to only water. There has been no weight loss that I can see, and I have not changed my other habits at all. What I have noticed is that I feel better! My mood is calmer and I just feel better. If you want to go after the real terrorists, go after the companies who produce un-natural, bad for your foods at very low prices and which are easily accessible in just about every nook and cranny of our country (and fast becoming accessible to the entire world). I believe McDonalds (and the companies like it) has done damage to more people in the world then any dictator or evil government regime that have ever existed. Screw hanging Saddam Hussein, they should have hung Ronald McDonald. After recently traveling outside the US for the first time, I have realized that we (Americans) are killing each other not with guns, but with food and drink. While I am an advocate of capitalism, there needs to be more regulations because people care more about profits then each other.
I just posted above. Here is something scary about soda. Back when I was in high school I had a job at an aging movie theatre. I think the place was about 20 years old when I worked there. I wish I would have taken pictures of the floors. CEMENT floors that had been eaten away by years of people spilling their sodas on the floor. It is absolutely horrendous to think that soda can eat through cement, even with people cleaning and maintaining that cement on a daily basis. Now relate your stomach to those cement floors. We have things in our stomach that keep us alive by cleaning out what's not good for us. But if we "spill" soda into our system every day, eventually it is going to ruin your insides, even if you take immaculate care of your body.
I am so confused , i dont know what is good or bad for you anymore.
I am currently on a metabolism research study diet. You are supposed to eat within an hr of waking up, then every 5 hrs. No sugar is allowed , no caffiene is allowed. I have lost some weight but its been hard. I sit at work and watch the people I work with stuff themselves with high caloric food. They drink soda, they are All overweight. On the other hand my other job is in Boulder CO which probably has the most healthy people in the USA and none not one of them dring soda, and they are skinny. Its not just that they dont drink soda but they exercize and watch what they eat. Its a lifestyle and thats all there is to it.
I completely agree with this article. Soda is not as great as everyone thinks if you check out the fine print. It can cause many health problems.</