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traineo Community / Diet & Nutrition Tips / So what's the deal with aspartame?
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noonie
traineo Regular
Posts: 44
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 05:25


Is it okay to drink those diet sodas or is it more harmful?

I'm so confused.
Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 06:05


Honestly, I've read so much one way and the other I just play it safe and stick with water. One of the best "rules" I've read for dieting and fitness is "Don't drink your calories" and after sticking to the water thing (with an occasional gatorade after an especially good workout), I don't even want to drink anything else anymore.

I opened a can of coke at work a few weeks ago and literally had 2 sips before I didn't want to drink anymore: it was just too sweet and heavy.
Angela Tukuafu
traineo Newbie
Posts: 2
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 06:24


All soda is bad for you... Including diet. The biggest thing is that there is research now that shows that food with fake sugar of any kind still triggers your body the same way regular sugar does. Your brain thinks you are drinking something with sugar.

Check out this website on WebMD... http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20050613/drink-more -diet-soda-gain-more-weight

My philosophy is try to get as close to fresh as possible. If there are more than a couple of ingredients that I can't read then it is no good.

I myself am still struggling with an addiction to soda. I am finding that I am kinda like Clifford with not wanting to drink it (at least not the 6 pack a day like previous) the more healthy I eat. My thing is the carbonation. If this is the part of soda that you miss try H20 sparkling, non-sweet water. It takes some getting used to but now I love the stuff.

Good Luck!!
noonie
traineo Regular
Posts: 44
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 07:22


Thanks Clifford and Angela!!

I'll keep that in mind.

That article really opened my eyes. I'm going to stick with the good old H20.
Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 07:40


H2O is the way to go, definitely. Every weight loss tip article I've read has always emphasized the importance of drinking lots of water while trying to lose weight; there's plenty of information as to why out there so I won't dive into it, but if nothing else, you know there's nothing really bad in good ol' water

Good luck getting into your "bikini body" by the summer, I've got kind of a similar goal except I'm not sure I'll ever really look good in a 2 piece... I'll stick to board shorts ;)
Minu ~
The Master
Posts: 2592
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 09:29 - Edited by: Minu


I usually drink between 1-1.5L of H20 a day and lately, I've been getting into making infusions with various herbs and roots. Just last week I did a nice one with ginger root and lemongrass. No need for sugar or sweetener in the preparation and I just love that spicy heat and the well-being after.

Makes me feel witchy too, heheh...
Dean Grimshawe
Fitness Guru
Posts: 1182
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 12:08


I'm not so worried about the calories, though very concerned about the link with aspartame and cancer. It is now a known carcinogen, and for that reason I would prefer to fill my drink with sugar than artificial sweetener. (I don't, in case you're worried that I'm advocating this as a good idea).
Brandon B.
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 78
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 16:08 - Edited by: spaggard


I gave up pop altogether back in High School. I didn't really have a reason to do it, it was one of those I wonder if I can tries. I've drank less than a can in the last 5 years. It's so gross and too sweet now. I don't crave it anymore, but I still love love love the smell of pepsi. Do you think they make candles with the pepsi scent? I'm going to have to look that up. That would be awesome.

Dang, ask and you shall receive...Pop Scented Candles
Splint Chesthair
Fitness Guru
Posts: 471
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 16:31


Here's the thing. Nothing is either "bad" or "good" it's how we use them that makes it so. If you drink a can of regular Coke a couple of times a month, there's nothing wrong with that. If you drink 12 of them every day, you have a problem.

Same thing with artifical sweeteners. Is aspartame going to kill you because you drink a few diet sodas every months. Probably not. But if you're drinking half a case every day (as some people do) it's hard to say what that sort of ingestion is doing to your body.

So don't substitute soda, diet or regular, for water, which is what you should be drinking mostly.
Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 17:13


Everything is OK in moderation. You'll feel better drinking water though.


Splint Chesthair
Fitness Guru
Posts: 471
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 18:23


Yeah, I'd rather enjoy 1-2 tablespoons of honey than use artificial sweeteners.
Matt A.
Fitness Guru
Posts: 254
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 18:28 - Edited by: vashts121


Michelle, read this article

I did my aspartame experiment because my family was addicted to diet soda. After researching the effects of aspartame, I strongly believed the artificial sweetener might one day lead to their illness and even early death.



The rat developed a mammary tumor when on aspartame.
Splint Chesthair
Fitness Guru
Posts: 471
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 18:43


I've seen that website and I must say it does make be feel better about not using artificial sweeteners but I still don't believe it's 100% conclusive.

In order for this to be true you have to believe the following:

1. That the FDA and various scholarly research institutions have either failed in their experimental set-ups to find the same results -or-
2. That they did find the same results and were all paid by Aspartame manufacturers to cover it up.

#1 seems doubtful and if #2 is true then we're all screwed anyway because it would be just as easy to pay the government to add an odorless, colorless undetectable substance to any food or water supply for any nefarious reason.

Also, I've had several pet rats before and all but one came down with weird skin conditions and eye discharges. I've never seen tumors like that though.
Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 18:45


It would be nearly impossible to ingest the megadoses of aspartame that led to cancer in rodents.
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
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 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 18:59


To put these numbers into perspective, the aspartame received by my rats daily, was equivalent to two-thirds the aspartame contained in 8-oz of diet soda.


My masters degree is in mathematics.


I put that second paragraph/sentence in there just for entertainment value.

All right.... so a 1lb male rat had the equivalent of 2/3 of 2/3 (8oz out of 12oz) of a soda. I weigh 259lbs. So, the equivalent for me (in oz) would be .667 * 8 * 259 = 1381.33oz, which is equivalent to 115.1 cans of soda. per day.

oh, and...

Two years, eight months (about 138 weeks, where one month = about 4.3 weeks); until the spontaneous death of the animals.


Average life span of a pet rat: 2-3 years.... hmmm...

and one more...

I found most of the observable symptoms occurred during the last third of the rat’s life-span, illuminating the information that the adverse effects of aspartame are cumulative.


so... Let's say my life span is 75 years (i'm both unlucky and have lived the first 30 years of my life rather, say, poorly). That means 50 years of aspartame water... 50 (years) * 365 (days/year) * 115.1 (cans/day) = 2,100,575 cans of soda. That damn well better kill me...

Now, I'm not recommending dusting your every meal with Nutrasweet, I'm just trying to point out how accurate these studies really are. I would limit the amount of artificial things I put into my body for sure, but a couple/few packets in my coffee, 5-10 times/week - I think I'll be fine (at least until I'm 237 years old).
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 19:00


Want to stop your soda habit? Tell me how much those 2.1Million cans would cost


Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 19:08


If you found them on special at $2.50 per 12 pack, it would run you $437,619.79, or about $24 per day.


Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 19:11 - Edited by: nicholman


Now let's consider what 115 daily soda-sized doses of caffeine will do to you....
Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 19:17 - Edited by: fauxvirgo


Wait, here's a thought... why not buy the pure aspartame in a bottle and CHUG IT? Boy, I bet that's delicious. What a way to satisfy a sweet tooth! haha
Angie H
Fitness Guru
Posts: 718
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 19:19


On another note, I did read an article a couple of years back about how soldiers in the middle east were getting MS-type symptoms that they traced to diet sodas. Something about being stored in the extreme heat caused a rapid conversion of aspartame to formaldehyde if I remember correctly. However, I haven't been able to find that article online again.
Dave Nicholson
The Master
Posts: 2094
Post History
 # Posted: 15 Feb 2008 19:22


Yes, that was the case... I believe this is what spurned the joke that artificial sweeteners are only harmful at high temperatures - right around body temp.
noonie
traineo Regular
Posts: 44
Post History
 # Posted: 17 Feb 2008 10:00


Thanks everybody for your advice. I've been drinking more water for the past couple of days and I feel different already. I used to rarely drink any water. I think I see it in my skin as well.

water gets boring at times. How are those flavored waters?
Clifford Chinn
Fitness Guru
Posts: 470
Post History
 # Posted: 17 Feb 2008 23:17


Flavored waters are usually so watered down that I don't even see the point in paying for it really; the ones that have a lot of flavor are usually so loaded up with this type of stuff that I just avoid them. The only thing I really do is squeeze some fresh lemon, lime or orange juice into glass of water.

I definitely noticed a difference in my skin since switching to water; I have eczema on my neck and back and it's all but disappeared now with no ointment/lotion treatment... just water.
Cindy N
Fitness Guru
Posts: 733
Post History
 # Posted: 18 Feb 2008 01:54


Bacon will also cause cancer if you eat enough of them on a daily basis. Same with mushrooms.

With that said, there are plenty of other reasons to stick to water. Just like with food, I think it's best to keep my liquids as close to natural as possible.
Tara C
traineo Regular
Posts: 60
Post History
 # Posted: 18 Feb 2008 06:25


Information like this about aspartame makes me glad I am incredi allergic to it.
Danielle Vetter
traineo Newbie
Posts: 4
Post History
 # Posted: 19 Feb 2008 01:55


aspertame is also an ingredient in chewing gum. all chemicals are bad for you. stay away and you'll be good to go



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