Does diet soda make you fat?

[snousle]

It's one of those things I've suspected for a long time, but hadn't found any evidence one way or the other. But it might be true.

I just don't get artificial sweeteners. True, I'm one of those weird people that likes broccoli more than chocolate. But tricking the body in that way just seems like a bad idea all around.

Comments

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

do a little more reading, the "facts" are not all all clear.

[jawnbc]

There is no trend in research in this area with respect to humans. There is evidence that the reasons people consume artificial sweeteners does somewhat predict weight gain. Simply put, those who elect to drink the artificial sweetener tend not to: those who feel compelled to do so because of a health crisis like obesity or diabetes.

There are a couple of phenomena, but perhaps the most significant one is calorie swapping. Often people who switch to diet pop will incrementally add calories in other areas of their diet. So from a weight loss perspective it can be problematic and ineffective strategy. On its own.

But there are other huge benefits for those (like me) who swap 2-3 large Cokes for 1-2 regular diet Cokes. Triglycerides and cholesterol will usually drop dramatically. And that greatly reduces risk of heart disease.

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

I hear you there. My boss was often seen with a coke in his hand. After the layoffs and we were working at our next jobs together, he was dedicated to water and tea and had lost easily 80 pounds!

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

"I'm one of those weird people that likes broccoli more than chocolate."

Gaaah! Nothing's ever gotten across to me exactly how different our palates are more directly or succinctly than this statement.

I don't know that I'd literally starve before I ate broccoli, but it would have to be darned close. Now that I think about it - I have to admit I probably would eat the broccoli before I'd eat any Dead Animal Carcass... but sheer desperation would be the only reason you'd find it on my menu.

[fingertrouble.livejournal.com]

Thing is, it's always better to not drink anything sweet or 'fake sweet' at all.

The addiction to sugar is also a mental one, as well as physical.

Interestingly compared to the US sodas are never as big here as say tea or coffee.

I like some sweet things but lost my sweet tooth years ago, will only drink coke rarely with alcohol, I do have sugar in tea but I prefer real chocolate to fake sweet chocolate, really. Quality over quantity, which is why I don't eat chocolate bars anymore...can't afford them anyway.

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

I have started to find that I don't enjoy the carbonation found in most diet sodas. Full-sugared sodas are too sweet. So I will tend to drink tea. But it depends on the tea as to whether I doctor it. Most of the time I can drink it un-altered, but in cases where I don't like the flavor, adding in Splenda perks it right up. Or, as malamute_daddy puts it, Frank-N-Sugar.

[barbarian-rat.livejournal.com]

...likes broccoli more than chocolate

Although I like broccoli a lot, nothing beats chocolate for me.

I have never like artificial sweeteners, including Splenda. They all have a weird aftertaste.

[danthered.livejournal.com]

I am no vegetarian, and have no inclination to try to be one. But if for some reason I were forced, tempura broccoli would make it a lot easier and more agreeable.

And then there's romanesco broccoflower, which is not only magically delicious, but also contains fractals. Eating fractal food makes you smarter; that's a scientific fact.