The first few sips of that soda were delicious and innocent and then a couple more sips turned into a couple more and then to me covertly running in the gas station to grab a Diet Pepsi and run out before being noticed (by who I have not quite figured out). Then I started telling my friends that I was only having an occasional diet soda (lies, all lies) as they looked at me suspiciously. Oh no, what has happened to Health Nut Wannabe Mom? Don't worry, I still eat my fruits and vegetables, have chocolate in moderation (unless under extreme duress which is a given I think), drink my 8 glasses of water and am a vegetarian (trying to be vegan). Well, I have given my confession and now I am on the rocky road to diet soda recovery once again.
Just in case you missed my post on why I gave up the ever delicious yet dangerous diet soda habit, I am posting the dangers of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners.
Diet Soda Dangers
*** Aspartame has been associated with a variety of UNPLEASANT SIDE EFFECTS such as gastrointestinal discomfort, headaches, and mood swings (hmm, that could cover the mood swings my husband complains about).
***TOXICITY FEARS-Aspartame has been approved by health and regulatory authorities in 100 countries 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. More here.
***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 (yes formaldehyde from aspartame in the diet soda). More here.
***PARKINSON'S DISEASE, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER, AND LUPUS have all been rumored to be associated with Aspartame intake. Here is a really interesting article to support and back up these claims. I really recommend this piece if you want to delve deeper. 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).
So, hopefully after having reread this post I will give it up for good. Are you addicted to diet soda, chocolate, anything?
45 comments:
peace,
mike
The sad thing is, I suspect you are right.
Guess I should just stick with coffee, yeah?
The Natural State Hawg
btw, you have been awarded
http://liz.mommyslittlecorner.com/2008/07/brillante-award.html
see yah ;)
Is diet soda safe? I always thought that it contained Aspartame ...
I think you would probably be better going the full way and having something with sugar, on the whole it probably is safer.
My weakness is honey especially the blossom honey by Rowse - the thin variety is yummy poured and the thick variety is just like toffee - mmmmm ... think I'll have a spoonful right now. lol ... now see what you have done you have brought out the tiger in me!!!!
Be careful.
It is hard I try and stay away from pop too but I am just not able to put the pop down at times...on a brighter note I do drink a ton of water...life is about balance right..now were is the bathroom seems like I live in there
As they say, the first step in recovery is admitting that you have a problem.
At least you understand that diet sodas are detrimental to your health and well being.
BTW:The info on Aspartame is great.
It may be a rocky road but things will smooth out quickly.
This is one of the things I like most about blogging.
You have thousands of accountability partners to reach out to at a moments notice.
We are all behind you and wish you much success.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. :D
When you feel like a methanol hit--as in the poisonous alcohol... in aspartame, check this out.
http://myaspartameexperiment.com
Thanks for letting me post.
They do the right thing (for corporate giants) and they get a big pot of gold. Gary Null wrote about this years ago concerning the AMA and various pharamceutical companies.
But there are rare occasions I have relapses too when I visit someone and they offer me something to eat for a snack or meal and the accompanying drink is a soda. Not unless I was able to tell beforehand that I cannot take a soda. I think, it's not just the formaldehyde in aspartame but the carbonic acid in sodas that causes seizures (suspicious and odd sort, too). = )
See you in the party's new domain!!! Ciao mama health nut =) easy on the soda.....
Interesting info on the effects on epilepsy. My foster kid is epileptic and I was trying to get her to convert to diet pop since she's a high-fructose corn syrup Dr. Pepper junkie. Maybe it's not a good move, eh?
me? luckily I'm a water and unsweetened tea drinker, but also a RABID chocoholic! Foam at the mouth and everything!
I guess I'll never figure out this line of reasoning...
"I'll have the biggest hamburger you've got, with extra cheese, large order of fries, a shake or whatever, and a diet soda on the side, PLEASE."
Tom
P.S. Since we're sharing diet weaknesses I think cheese is the big one for me. I find it really hard to hold back on the cheese and want to cover whatever I eat in the stuff.
I have a friend who used to work with aspartame products-- not even the rats will touch it, he said. He advised me to never eat it. The stuff smells horrible in its raw form, until they do something to make it smell more palatable.
Weight Loss Blog
HALF A MILLION DOLLARS!! (Of course your results will vary depending on more realistic returns in your portfolio and will probably be less than the
fictitious returns I just made up.)
On a more serious note I haven't
had any carbonated beverages for over 15 years and haven't had
chocolate in 21 years. That's no joke! It can be done... Further proof of my weirdness.
I am addicted to regular soda. I like the taste and it satisfies my sweet tooth. I'm just trying to cut back and trying to drink more water also. I will never completely give it up. Unless they quit making it. It is my treat and I deserve it, I tell myself. Heidi, you look great, healthy and I think it is ok to have something you like, every once in a while. They should take it off the shelves, if it is not safe to drink. I'm not saying it is ok to drink stuff, that is bad for us either. Maybe try something else to drink, that has a taste that you like, besides diet soda. Be happy! :-)
I think at my age if you are doing most things right, it's just not that worth it to feel guilt about the rest.
I hear that there are 2 brands of sodas made with Stevia - I think Hanson's is one.
Has anyone tried that?
Blessings!
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