I quit drinking diet pop!

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For the longest time I've heard people saying how diet pop is bad for you, and all the chemical reactions it causes in your body - how it turns to formaldehyde, etc. I've read horrible things about what nutrasweet does to you. I blew it all off! I mean really - I sure as heck didn't need the extra calories of drinking REAL pop, and Lord knows I wasn't about to give up drinking pop for good.

Well, right now, we're just skimming by financially. No biggie - been there before, and we always make it! :-) But about a week ago, it dawned on me just how much money we were spending on pop each week! At least $10 - usually twice that - so between $750 and $1000 a year spent on pop! So I decided right there that I was going to quit, even if the rest of the family kept on drinking it.

I haven't had a pop in 5 days now. I can't tell you how much better I feel! I'm absolutely shocked! I have more energy, and I'm just flat happier! It's amazing to me. I never realized what it was doing to me. It was causing depression and fatigue. What I thought was something to wake me up and get me going in the morning, was dragging me down.

So, I'm steering clear of all artificial sweeteners now - and steering towards locally produced honey. :-) Life just keeps getting better and better!

-- Cheryl in KS (klingonbunny@planetkc.com), April 16, 2002

Answers

I'm 60, heart problems already had four bypasses, all are stopped up again, they are waiting as long as possible before they do it all over again, its been six years, diabetec, have double vision from either acorrding to the doctors either a brain turmor, stroke, or burst blood vessel in my brain. I have drank five cans of diet dew today and probably will have another before bed. I can't have most stuff because either the heart or blood sugar. The x wife said something about me drinking the diet stuff and so I asked my doctors, they agreed what the heck. I am not going to get out of here alive so I choose to enjoy somethings.

-- David in North Al. (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), April 16, 2002.

Good for you, Cheryl! We have always avoided the stuff.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 16, 2002.

You could still have some soda, Deit-rite has Splenda in it and it's not harmful. Also can get hot cocoa mix with Splenda. I buy Splenda in the powder form for cooking and add a little brown sugar to some recipes.

-- Jo in Central Wa. (countryjo16@hotmail.com), April 16, 2002.

Way to go Cheryl!!! Isn't it amazing the tings we do everyday and never realize how they adversely affect us until we stop? Dave used to drink alot of diet drinks, but after reading about the health problems, he finally got off them. We both usually have a regular coke during the day, but Dave would just as soon have ice tea. I have to have so much sugar in my tea, that I figured I might as well have a coke! :) Maybe I'll get inspired and get used to tea without sugar.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), April 17, 2002.

On drinking tea with no or little sugar: I have found that the flaovored teas help this a lot. I love blackberry or orange spice. they already taste kind of sweet, so you don't need much sugar.

Cheryl, Congratulations!! It certainly does save a lot of money!!! I know people who want to build houses, but think they can't afford it, yet if you add up the money they spend on pop alone, they could make a good start...

A few years ago, I made the decision not to put anything that isn't REAL basic food into my body. By eating less processed stuff, I do feel very energetic.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), April 17, 2002.



A little funny story: Since we have not been drinking hardly any pop, when we were at our neighbors last night and she offered the kids a pop, they were pretty happy to say YES!! Brady drank a little of his, then he came over to me, and said you know Mommy, this is so sweet, I think I am going to be sick... And I have told them, that if they eat all good food for a few months, then eat "junk" food it will taste bad to them, and I guess he realizes now that is true!!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), April 17, 2002.

Annie, there's been lots of studies about all the good things that are in black tea so I figure it kind of evens out. But I know what you mean! I forgot to add sugar one time and took a big ole sip of plain tea! I just couldn't believe that something that tastes SO good with sugar could taste that BAD without it!! YUCK!! Melissa's right about the flavored teas. Celestial Seasonings usually comes out with some flavor iced teas this time of year. Or maybe adding a sprig of mint or lemon balm would help?

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 17, 2002.

We drink no pop at our home & no caffine----so we make our own herb tea-----we enjoy it much more & the other tastes bad to us now----

We grow our own herbs---& we dry them & then brew them & then put it on ice in the summer with a sprig of mint---we really enjoy it----

No chemicals & no caffine----& no sugar----all natural!!!!! Once we changed we can't enjoy any thing else now!!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), April 17, 2002.


Sonda, would you share what herbs you use for an iced tea blends? Approximate quantities would be helpful, too. Thanks!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 17, 2002.

Hoot posted this site at CF, and this article caught my eye. there are a lot of interesting articles on the main site too. Thought some of you might be interested in this.

http://www.rense.com/general21/parkinsonFox.htm

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), April 18, 2002.



Thank you, Melissa. I've been looking for something like this. I'm printing it out and going to take it to my neighbor who has Parkinson's. I suspect that he uses artificial sweetners because his mother-in-law, who lives with them, has diabetes.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 18, 2002.

Bren-----We use all of our mints----spearmints---wintergreens--- chamomile---etc/etc/et/etc/------

I dry it in bunches----& then remove the leaves----

It depends if I'm makeing a cup of hot tea or 8 oz glass of iced tea-- --& I like mine not as strong as some people do---

I guess you need to go by trail & error---

I use our electric coffee pot to brew it in---I put a coffee filter in the container--then where you would put the coffee---I put my herbs--just experiment---for how ever strong you want it--- & how many cups or glasses you are makeing---

I brew the herbs----turn off the warmer---& then I pour the brewed herbs over ice & add a spring of mint---

Depends on how strong you like your tea---

You can use any of your mints---etc/etc/etc/--& you can mix or match--

If I'm makeing 8 cups of herb tea out of dryed mint----I put about a 1/4 a cup of dryed leaves & stems---in the basket/ or coffee filter--- lots of people don't keep the stems of their dryed herbs---when they dry them--they just thow them away----but if you break them up & also add leaves-they make great tea!!

You can mix your different dryed herbs together to maks all sorts of different teas---- I have over 30 kinds of mint----they all make great tea!!!!

I'm not a cook that measures exact when I cook --you know waht looks good & tastes good----so just try & see what you like & how stron you like your tea---etc/---

Also if you brew it & it doesn't look strong enough----run the brew back through the herbs in the pot again----

Enjoy----I hope I helped!!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), April 18, 2002.


Yes, that helps, Sonda. Have you used fresh herbs in this way, too?

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), April 18, 2002.

Good for you Cheryl!

The candy bars made with splendra warn not to have too much at a time, it can cause the runs.

Tea is a cancer preventative and according to some doctors the caffeine amount isn't significant enough, the benefits outweigh it.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), April 19, 2002.


Bren------have not tried fresh herbs----as I figured it would just cook them----I don't know----I always dry them first---

We don't do caffine as I am hipper enough with out caffine!!!!! ha!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), April 20, 2002.



Regarding tea: black tea (and green tea which is black tea when its harvested younger) is noted for its healthful and antioxidant properties. Try a bit of stevia (sweetening herb) or chicolin in your tea rather than sugar and you can still enjoy all its healthful benefits without the sacrifice. A lot of people won't drink tea because they feel its higher in caffiene..which it is!..than coffee. Pound for pound, tea is higher in caffiene in its dry form, but when you consider you use lots lesss tea to make more beverage it ends up being a beverage lower in caffeine and with healthful benefits. I still drink diet Coke. Maybe a couple of small bottles a week. I know its bad for me and everytime I drink it I wonder what its going to end up doing to my body..but its so damn gooood. With my weight I dare not switch back to real pop. Another alternative I am using is club soda or mineral water for that fizzy drink instead of pop. Its especially nice after a meal.

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), April 21, 2002.

Have any of you out there tried Honey Sweet? I have some and like it but just wondering if anyone else is familiar with it.

-- Trisha-MN (coldguinea@netscape.net), April 25, 2002.

I drink diet pop and I like it! What's the harm?

-- Jerid A. Jacks (cman@yahoo.com), June 18, 2002.

In addition to the link Melissa posted above, a simple search on aspartame (Nutrisweet) will easily answer your question, Jerid.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), June 18, 2002.

I am 15 years old. Most all kids my age drink regular pop and I know it's not healthy because of the high sugar content but I do drink diet pop and when I got used to it I couldn't stand regular pop anymore and I probably drink too much diet. I never knew that there was any harm in it except I've heard not to drink it if it has saccarin which is cancer causing and that Aspartame is possibly cancer causing but it's an unknown. I probably should drink less diet pop and drink herbal beverages. The Sobe (lizard drinks) with herbs are really good but most have a high amount of sugar unless you can find them in "lean" which are rare. I also like Snapples herbal drinks like "Diet Air" and "Diet Ice." What do you guys think about these? I do also like Green Tea which both Sobe and Snapple make and it has a lot of herbs in it. I just don't like all that sugar. I would like to try and experiment with getting a nice flavor herbal tea without sugar. My step-dad always made this tea that was 90% sugar!!! YUCK! My Mom drinks it just to make him happy and she had to have 6 cavities filled too! I would never drink that crap! She even calls it "Spouse Tea!" It should be called "Rotten Teeth Tea!" Anyways, I know Diet Rite and Diet RC are better for you than most diet pops and I would like to find out more.

Thanks, Matt

-- Matt Barber (tropical@qconline.com), June 28, 2002.


I have what *I* call. . . .residual BRAIN DAMAGE from diet drinks! ! This is NO joke. I have been known to stop customers in grocery stores and ask them to NOT buy drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners. One in particular made by a very powerful corporation, whom I'm told has been quite sucessful at keeping the braying naysayers at bay. Profit margins ya know!

I am a soda pop addict. Dr. Pepper. It is now, and always has been my drink of choice. When I stopped smoking 10 years ago, the HARDEST thing I had ever done was switch to diet sodas, and flavored water diet drinks, almost all of them sweetened with Aspertame. It was truly harder than stopping chain smoking after 33 years. But I did it, and was sucking down those diet drinks the same way I sucked down the sugared ones.

One day while on the road listening to talk radio, there was a program pertaining to Aspertame, and it's side effects. I thought on it, and then forgot it. But some of those symptoms mirrored things going on with me but which I attributed to "stress".

Again, some time after that, I came across some literature on the negative effects of Aspertame. ( Kharma or good luck or a higher power sending me hints). My symptoms had continued, and I was taking more notice, and was more aware.

I was having panic attacks, and horrible anxiety, which I had never experienced before. I would wake in the night, unable to breathe, sit up in bed, get up and walk around, take deep breaths, take my pulse, fearful to lie back down. After an hour or so, the symptoms would ease, and I'd go back to bed.

I couldn't remember a darn thing. I could walk in the door, put my keys on the table, and five minutes later be in a panic worrying about my keys, or trying to find them. Couldn't remember where I placed items, or if I closed gates, or fed properly, or. . . .on and on.

The memory loss was the most disturbing. I attributed most of my success in life to a near photographic memory, and to have everyone making fun of my "forgetfulness" was actually painful.

I read comments on the web about Aspertame. I began to pay attention, and decided to try my own experiment, and simply stop the drinks to see what would happen.

On the THIRD day, the physical effects were both stunning and frightening. I literally had the physical sensation of having windshield wipers inside of my head clearing away a fog. It was so intense and dramatic, like nothing I'd ever experienced. Scary.

Over a short period of time the anxiety/panic attacks abated, my memory began to clear, but to this day, I've not been able to get back to "normal", and it ANGERS me. Other physical symptoms disappeared as well for the most part.

I BEG anyone using, in quantity, anything sweetened by artificial means, to STOP. NOW! ! There seems to be considerable research that it may also be the root cause of the tremendous increase in brain cancers and even altzheimers.

I KNOW what the stuff did TO me.

I decided I'd rather gain a few pounds, enjoy my addiction, and die, hopefully, with a BRAIN! ! And I keep praying I quit in time!

-- Granny Hen (cluckin along@cs.com), June 28, 2002.


I have read that Splendra is just as bad as Aspartame. Anyone have any facts on this?

-- Cindy Gallamore (cgallamore@barrow.k12.ga.us), July 08, 2002.

In addition to all the toxicity issues connected with artificial sweeteners, the most ironic thing is that THEY MAKE YOU FATTER!!! Sugar is bad enough, but the chemical sweeteners are worse. The only benefit they impart is to the pocketbooks of their manufacturers.

from mercola.com:

"The major selling point of aspartame is as a diet aid, and it has been demonstrated that the use of this product actually causes people to consume more food. Normally, when a significant quantity of carbohydrate are comsumed, serotonin levels rise in the brain. This is manifested as a relaxed feeling after a meal. When aspartame is ingested with carbohydrates, such as having a sandwich with a diet drink, aspartame causes the brain to cease production of serotonin, meaning that the feeling of having had enough never materializes. You then eat more foods, many containing aspartame, and the cycle continues. "

aspartame and weight loss

aspartame makes you fatter!

As to Splenda (sucralose), here's (IMO) just another way to make money by selling an entirely unnecessary and probably harmful product to the public.

sucralose toxicity

potenti al dangers of sucralose

If you need help retraining your taste buds away from their pleasure dependence on sweetness, here is something that worked for me as far as soft drinks go. Try diluting them, just a bit at first, then gradually to include more water. When you just cannot live without that coke and you're away from home, buy a fountain drink at a convenience store and add your own water. Or let most of the ice melt before you drink it. It takes an amazingly short time for your tongue to become acclimated to a dislike of very sweet tastes.........unfortunately the reverse is also true, so you have to be vigilant.

If its made in a factory, we probably shouldnt eat it! :)

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), July 08, 2002.


Since I posted here last time I've been trying to cut back on diet pop containing aspartame. Some days I would drink about 5 or 6 cans a day and not knowing that it was harmful or anything and now I'm down to drinking just two cans with meals. I haven't noticed a lot of difference. Maybe I won't since I'm just 15. I do think from now on just to buy diet rite or diet rc which contain no Aspartame. I like the herbal drinks from snapple and sobe but most of them contain a lot of sugar unless you get the 'diet' ones' which probably have aspartame. i don't want to have bad teeth and i don't want to have all these effects from the Aspartame too. I think it's good for me to only have a few cans a day. I think it's impossible for me to quit altogether. I know it would be more healthier but I know I'd be so miserable! i love food and i love good good food but i have to watch what I eat. I'm trying to eat healthier food because I think i'm too overweight. i've been drinking diet pop reguarly for over a year. I had my Grandma make a big piture of sun tea and it was really good, no sugar added! Is it supposed to prevent cancer? She thinks that the herbal drinks aren't good for you but I say that they are.

Matt

-- Matt Barber (tropical@qcoline.com), July 26, 2002.


As mentioned above, Diet Rite does use splenda (sucralose) and you should be able to drink that without problems. I've written 4 cookbooks over 11 years, using splenda, and my family and I are undoubtably the largest consumers of Splenda in the world (having used it over a decade in poistively HUGE quantities, as it was released here in Canada in 1991, long before it was in the USA), with no obvious ill effects. My children were 7 and 4 when they started using Splenda, and are now 18 and 15. We were 34 and 33 and are now 46 and 45. While I am going to stop short of strongly endorsing the absolute safety of Splenda (But really, I cannot even do that for SALT or SUGAR or FLOUR) I must remind people that we have probably consumed more Splenda already than most people would consume in an entire lifetime. The fact that they altered the sugar molecule by adding a chlorine atom does not mean it must be bad, after all, table salt is one part sodium, and one part chlorine, and its nescessary to sustain life, actually, while arsenic is quite natural, not made in a factory - BUT quite deadly!

Check out Splenda / Sucralose Information & Cookbooks for more information.

-- Jennifer Eloff (abuse@nospam.com), November 01, 2002.


Lots of people are switching from nutrisweet to Splenda and they don't realize that Splenda at normal consumption levels has been shown to do damage to your liver.

-- Thomas Keyes (tmmk1981@hotmail.com), September 08, 2004.

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