Is Diet Soda bad for you??

I love soda, but used to drink so much of it that I decided to give it up.  I stopped drinking soda for 8 months, then when I had my first sip, it was so sweet I couldn't drink it.  But I still like the carbonation, so I drink diet soda (plus it is 0 cals). 

Is diet soda bad for you?  It has no calories, but I still feel like I could be missing something...

If I am really craving soda (which is pretty rare) I will drink diet because it has no calories. But I have actually read a magazine article that says that diet soda is more likely to make you fat than regular. I really can't remember all the specifics but that information alone is enough  to make me want to avoid drinking soda regularly.  Besides I also heard that there is something about soda that seeps calcium from your bones and makes them brittle. I'd consider it one of those things that won't hurt you if it is in moderation. If you do want to try a good diet soda you should try the peach fresca. It has a pretty good flavor to it/

Diet Soda isn't necessarily bad for you..

BUT A) Caffeine can be. Caffeine is a diuretic and makes you pee. You need to make sure to drink extra water on days you drink caffeinated soda.

B) Some of the artificial sweetners may not be good for you. There's been alot of debate on some of them.

In truth, I still drink diet soda myself, occasionally, but water is still the better choice :)

I think there's some research that supports the idea that sweet makes your body react with insulin, whether it's caloric sweet or not.

hkellick is right about the caffeine. I've also heard carbonation has a diuretic effect.

I drink diet because my husband is diabetic. I prefer not to drink caffeinated beverages, even though I love diet Coke. It makes me off-balance, if not jittery. Better to keep things clean.

hav you tried carbonated water if it is the fizz you like and maybe just add no added sugar squas(as we call it in the uk) or fresh juice,then you  r still getting the fizz without the cals
catherine

I think of it this way - soda is mostly water.  Then they add chemical sweeteners, chemical colors, chemical flavors and chemical preservatives.

Why don't we just drink water and not all those chemicals?  If you want a fizzy drink or need some flavor once in a while, try putting a couple teaspoons of frozen fruit juice in a glass of cold seltzer.  No calories, no chemicals, just fizzy, sweet water.

Thanks for all the info!  Maybe I can ween myself off my diet soda addiction (I really drink it every day) and start drinking flavored seltzer.

Sounds like carbonation is safe but caffeine is bad for the bones, which surprised me.

Medical College of Wisconsin Healthlink

When I really miss the carbonation, I combine carbonated water (try sparkling water, or club soda) with fruit juice. It has the sparkley taste, not nearly as much sugar (though even though it is natural it isnt' sugar free) and it actually has some vitamins.

I haven't had soda since January. I can't do diet because artificial sweetners give me migraines.

also many believe that they may cause some people to eat more, because when your body tastes sweet it expects sugar. If it doesn't get it, it wants it.

I love diet Pepsi. So much that I actually can't stand the taste of any regular sodas anymore. One thing I have heard is that diet sodas have something in them addictive, and I BELIEVE it. I've limited myself to one tall glass a day.

I totally agree!! Once you start you can't stop.... Sometimes I definately CRAVE Diet Coke!  I drink diet pepsi too, but i think it tastes like there is more artificial sweetener in it.  It makes my mouth dry.

Aspartame is the sweetener in diet sodas, and yes, it is addictive.

i've also read the article that says that Diet soda can actually make you fatter because you're body thinks it SHOULD be getting calories from the sweet, so it makes you hungrier. also, my amazing nutritionist says its a no go.

Yes I read some articles about the artificial sweeteners throwing off the body's natural craving for sweets and can cause the drinker to eat more sweet food. Wow I didn't know Aspartame is truly addictive! There should be a warning... I've tried to give up diet pop (for most of the reasons listed above!) but it never works, and i'm drinking one right now :(

diet sodas also have sodium, which makes you bloated and dehydrates you if you get too much.

Like many have suggested I would try regular water or sparkling water with flavor.  Watch out of juices because they can be packed full of sugar and cals.  Too much sugar makes it hard to loose and tone up especially in the tummy area.

Also, a trainer I had who was an olympic runner would drink diet soda (not when he was training) and as soon as he quite he was able to really see the tone in his abs due to the lack of sodium and bloating.

If you can't stand the taste of water, you could try those crystal light to-go packets.  I have heard good things about those.

Cutting the soda from your regular eating habits helps you lose lots of weight....well it helped me lose lots of weight. i use to drink 1-2 cans a day then i had to stop to go to camp because its too dangerous for us to excerice so much and drink soda. i came back a week later and i couldnt help but notice all the weight i had lost from my face. but as soon as i started drinking them again my weight came back. i turns out that my body holds onto the sodium and makes me bloat so it actually makes me look bigger than i actually am. so my advice is cut the soda out completely. i read through the replys and my favorite is the seltzer because that is what i am craving.

My mom introduced me to club soda with a lime wedge (or lemon) in it.  0 calories and tastes pretty good!

My 2 cents. Flavored water from Walmart is only 50 cents for a 33 oz bottle and comes in many flavors.  I use to drink 5-10 soda's a day and now have one every now and then only.  I think cutting the soda helped me lose almost forty pounds this year.

Phosphates in soda are really bad for your bones.  They leach out the calcium.  So you need to make sure that if you continue to drink sodas- diet or regular- you get enough calcium!  Caffeine has the same effect but not nearly as much of an effect as phosphates. 

I don't think every type of soda has phosphates, but I know that colas do.

Wow that is amazing jm. 

It's not the phosphates/phosphoric acid that is bad for the bones.  It is the caffeine.  Read the link to Medical College of Wisconsin above.