Does drinking diet soda cause you to gain or maintain weight?

Question

I drink diet soda to curb my cravings of sweets but I sometimes worry that it could unknowingly be hendering instead of helping. I mean just because it has zero cals, zero carbs and zero sugars does that really mean anything? I know it has some sodium in it but its not a horrible amount.
I do drink water....all the time in fact, flavored and just good ol bottled water. I never drink coffee or iced tea. I reach for diet soda when Im craving something particularly naughty so maybe one can a day....sometimes none.
I would just like to hear everyones thoughts on this.
Intelligent answers are appreciated!
Thanks! :)

Answer 1

Soda whether regular or diet is still unhealthy, particularly when you realize that sodium a major component of salt, even if it is a small amount will just make you more thirsty. Diet drinks touted as zero calorie, zero carbs, and zero sugars are misleading because they are using chemical compounds similar to natural compounds like the sugars found in fruits. Artificial sweeteners provide a false sense of security that we are doing good things to our body. I'm glad that you are drinking a lot of water - but try to drink good old tap water once in a while it includes fluoride to fight cavities. Bottled versions do not have the added benefit.

Answer 2

Diet soda will not cause you to gain weight. Some maintain that the sodium in it is bad, but it won't cause you harm, it'll do what eating/drinking too much sodium will do to you, which, I think, is high blood pressure, that sort of thing. Not weight gain.

However, I heard somewhere that another study showed that the artificial sweetener put in diet sodas makes you crave other sweets more. I don't know who did this study or whether it was actually true. I used to drink only regular soda because I didn't like diet, but I switched over about a year and a half ago. I now drink about one diet soda a day, sometimes none, but usually one. I don't find that my sweet cravings have increased any more (possibly are even less ... because the real sugar in regular soda would burn off really fast and leave me feeling like I needed more of that quick energy).

So, everyone will tell you something different, but in my experience it has been better for me, just because it does cut a few calories and it gets rid of that sugar high that regular soda always caused. But if you want a professional opinion, I would try talking to a nutritionist or something.

Edit: Sorry, after reading posts that came up as I was writing mine, I have to address this.

Well, first of all, the study discussed was the one I was thinking of. As I said, supposedly this is true, but I've found that my sweet cravings go down. That could be partially because I finished school and so stress from juggling everything went down, but besides fruits I rarely have more than a small amount of sweet food.

Secondly - yes, diet soda contains aspartame, which is a carcinogen. But you have basically have to drink a full twelve cans a day to see the effects in your lifetime. If you're going to worry about that, you might as well consider staying inside twenty four hours a day, because being in the sunlight is much more likely to give you cancer. If you really are concerned about this, though, there is another option -- Coca Cola now makes a diet version using Splenda, which has a chemical structure very similar to that of glucose but which cannot be metabolized, which makes it calorie-free and a lot safer.

Answer 3

There was actually a study released in 2005 that showed that diet soda plays a big part in weight GAIN. People who drink diet sodas are more likely to gain weight than lose it--according to this study. One of the theories is that you think you are tricking your body by drinking a calorie free drink. However, it is sweet and your body is wondering where these calories are. It is expecting them. So, to make up for the fact that there are none it craves even more. Basically, diet soda makes you crave more sweets.

My issue with diet soda is that is very unhealthy. It is all chemical and full of carcinogens. You might as well have a carton a day cigarette habit if you're going to drink diet soda. The chemicals in diet soda are very dangerous to the body. I cannot understand why anyone would drink them. The big culprit is aspartame. Do some web research and you'll find all kinds of interesting things on aspartame. Did you know they believe it causes weight gain on hips and thighs? They also think it contributes to depression because it decreases the brains levels of serotonin.

One dietician said that her patients actually lost a lot of weight just by giving up diet soda!! That should tell you something.

You'd be better off giving into your sweet cravings by having a small piece of chocolate or whatever. Moderation is the key and avoiding dangerous chemicals helps!

Answer 4

If you drink lots of water you should be okay. High sodium can cause you to retain water, and an ingredient called Aspartame isn't very good for you either, it's a type of artificial sweetener.

There are diet sodas called Diet Rite that do not contain Aspartame and are still really good.

Answer 5

NO YOU WILL NOT GAIN WEIGHT I HAVE DIABETES AND THE DOCTOR SAID THAT IT IS PERFECTLY FINE. ALL IT IS, IS CARBONATED WATER WITH SOME SUGAR FREE ARTIFICIAL FLAVORING, AND A LITTLE BIT OF SODIUM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK ALL IT CONTAINS IS A FEW GRAMS OF SALT. BUT THERE ARE SOME DAMAGES IT COULD STILL DO TO YOUR BODY. LIKE OVER TIME THE ACID WILL EAT YOUR INSIDES AND THAT IS NOT GOOD IF I SHOULD SAY SO. BUT ONE 20 OZ BOTTLE OR 32 OZ CUP FROM THE GAS STATION A DAY WONT HURT YOU. TRY DRINKING SODAS THAT SAY ZERO ON THEM LIKE COKE ZERO OR SPRITE ZERO. HOPE THIS HELPS. BYE

Answer 6

Honestly everytime I use to grab a diet soda it never quenchs my thirst leading me to drink more and also it tend to make me hungry rather than curb my hunger. One the nutrional side of things soda is the worst thing you could drink health wise because it hold no type of nutrients, nor does it properly hydrate you. Try to do away with soda turn toward natural juices if you need that blast of flavor V8 Spash is a good health choice. Just my thoughts for a healthier life =)

Answer 7

Weight Watchers will tell you that diet soda has a lot of sodium in it, which can make you swell and isn't all that good for you. However, they encourage you to drink those if you absolutely have to have soda. I do not like diet soda, so I just dring diet sprite as it is the only one I can tolerate the taste.

Answer 8

Diet soda contains less to no sugar. They use aspartame, an artificial sweetener which I find is too sweet for me. I am a diabetic and should drink it, but can't. It may well help stop weight gain but I find regular pop tastes better.

Answer 9

Most diets will advise that you stay of sodas (including 'diet' sodas) until you reach you "goal" weight. Then drink in moderation...just like everything else you put in your body.

Answer 10

Diet soda contains a sweetener, most likely Aspartame or Splenda. Both cause brain cancer. If you want tumors in your brain, keep drinking it.