Ring, ring, I was calling my friend Julie to tell her the big news (anyone who knows me knows this is BIG news)- I am ending it with Diet Pepsi after 20 long years of ignorant bliss, I told her. I was met by a long pause of silence and then Julie said that she was not going to have anything to do with me for a few days (isn't it nice to have people around who know you so well!) because she knew I would be just horribly cranky and was I sure I really wanted to do this? Of course I don't want to give up my favorite vice for reasons such as I really, really, really love Diet Pepsi ( I would drink at least four 12 oz cans a day). What would I drink in the morning to get me going (I despise coffee-childhood issue that I will save for another time)? When I'm happy I want a Diet Pepsi, when I'm sad I want a Diet Pepsi, whenever I exist I want a Diet Pepsi. For years friends and foes have been telling me not to drink diet drinks because of the Aspartame, but like the person you may have dated who was just awful for you( but lots of fun -the wild one) and you just could not seem to shake for reasons that defied your logic, I have not wanted to stop drinking my diet sodas. Oh, I have tried and tried in the past but I was never serious about it until now. My dramatic change was brought about by a couple articles that I recently read and they really stuck with me (I will share that information below).I thought that my diet soda was not so bad because hey, it was my one vice. I don't smoke, drink alcohol (I did but in the best interest of society now abstain) or eat meat so I could have diet soda, right? AHHHHHH!!!! I just hate when I rationalize something and the entire time in my gut I know, just know I am full of it! So here I sit drinking a water feeling rather sorry for myself (my mother would be terribly upset with me b/c for 39 years she has been telling me to never feel sorry for myself because as her famous quote goes-"I cried because I had no shoes until I saw the man with no feet"). Okay, yes that does put a lot of things into perspective but I swear 39 years of that quote is enough (now my poor daughters have to hear it from ME) and true as it is I still want a Diet Pepsi even though some people have no water and I should be happy that I have water ( and I AM happy to have water but upset that something I like so much just doesn't feel right to have anymore). No more sulking-let's get on with it-my reasons for giving up the bad boy in my life, my diet soda!
WHY I WON'T DRINK DIET SODAS ANYMORE
*** Aspartame has been associated with a variety of UNPLEASANT SIDE EFFECTS such as gastrointestinal discomfort, headaches, and mood swings.
***TOXICITY FEARS-Aspartame has been approved by health and regulatory authorities in 100countries throughout the world.Despite this, many reputable scientists still have concerns that aspartame may cause a range of health problems. Most relate to the way it is broken down inside the body.When we eat aspartame, it is converted into methanol, formaldehyde and formic acid. Methanol can be toxic at very low levels, and there has been no extensive testing of the effects of chronic, long term exposure.The amount of methanol needed to cause acute toxicity varies widely from person to person.Chronic formaldehyde exposure, at very low doses, has been shown to cause immune system and neurological damage, as well as headaches, poor general health, permanent genetic damage, and a number of other serious problems. High levels of formic acid in the body can damage the retina, leading to blindness.. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1125
***A LINK TO SEIZURES?Among others, The Lancet medical journal has published reports of nine[ actually 3 ] cases of seizures linked to aspartame use. In an independent study of aspartame in children with epilepsy, it was shown that a single dose could provoke the sort of brain waves that cause seizures. One theory is that the epileptic seizures may be triggered by the effects of formaldehyde. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1125
***PARKINSON'S DISEASE, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER, AND LUPUS have all been rumored to be associated with Aspartame intake. http://www.rense.com/general21/parkinsonFox.htm-This is a really interesting article to support and back up these claims. I really recommend this article. It pretty much did it for me and I am a tough sell on this. I can rationalize anything if I really want to but this kind of made me say okay, that's it for me!
***Being the odd and suspicious sort I think there is some kind of CONSPIRACY THEORY/payoffs in the FDA for saying it is okay to have Aspartame (this is only my neurotic opinion).
SOLUTIONS TO GET OVER MY DIET PEPSI OBSESSION
*** DRINK BREWABLE ICED TEA, AND OTHER DRINKS (recipes below) and sweeten it with STEVIA (remarkable noncaloric herb, native to Paraguay, has been used as a sweetener in place of sugar and flavor enhancer for centuries and can be found in your local health food store in the supplement areas).
*** DRINK LOTS OF WATER
***FOCUS ON HOW MUCH BETTER I will feel/am feeling now that I am choosing to be healthier.
Super Stevia Recipes from "The Stevia Cookbook," copyright 1999 by Ray Sahelian and Donna Gates
LEMONADE
Yield: 10 8-ounce servings
2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice
8 cups water
2 teaspoons stevia liquid concentrate
ice cubes
lemon for garnish 1. Combine all of the ingredients in a pitcher and stir until well blended 2. Pour into ice-filled 10-ounce glasses, garnish with lemon slices, and serve
PINA COLADA SMOOTHIE
YIELD: TWO 8-OUNCE SERVINGS
1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple juice
1/3 cup plain yogurt, or kefir
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
1 teaspoon coconut flavoring
1/8 teaspoon white stevia powder, or to taste 1. Place all of the ingredients in a blender and whip on high speed for 30 seconds. 2. Serve immediately.
Best!
Heidi
Your thoughts and suggestions are very much appreciated.
13 comments:
Good luck on breaking your aspartame addiction! I am a big proponent of natural/organic foods whenever possible, and your post hit close to home for me. I just recently blogged about another class of sugar substitutes. You might enjoy reading it: .
Thanks, and welcome to EntreCard! I will definitely be back to check in on you.
Well my advice would be to think about and prepare for:
a) situations where you'll have easy access to diet pepsi (I'm assuming you are not keeping it in the house)
b) activities that would be hard to imagine doing WITHOUT diet pepsi (E.G. maybe it's watching TV)
and then you can anticipate them and make sure you always have a strategy and your alternative drink ready.
So it might mean telling friends before you come over that you've given up so could they please not offer you any? Or making sure if you buy takeaway for lunch that you bring an alternative drink with you.
Good luck!
I drink seltzer instead of any sodas and it seems to satisfy my 'fizzy' desires. I myself am trying to get off the artificial sweetener (Splenda) and readjust to real sugar. (I think the few extra calories outweigh the artificial hazards.)
Good Luck..the first day is usually the hardest!
I cannot stomach the taste of diet drinks.
know it is not the most healthiest stuff but we all need a vice... Right?
Regards,
Johnny
Just wanted to say too, that I'm really enjoying your blog. It's actually like the one I was trying to do myself, for loosing weight. But you do it so much better! Anyhoo, I'll be back to see the progress. Good luck again!
Diet Soda Makes You Fat
My fiance has lupus. I had also heard that aspartame could be to blame. After much study, I find several credible sources that seem to think otherwise. If I find the source, I will put it here in comments.
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