Diet soda- no good?

I know water is best, but I have 2 cans a diet pepsi a day- one for lunch and one for dinner. I don't want to be sabotaging myself if this is somehow going to slow down my weight loss or cause me to have sweet cravings. Does anyone know any facts about diet soda and it's effects on the body?? Thanks, Rachel

I would love to know the answer to that one also. I love my diet coke and have wondered if it's keeping me from losing also. Anyone know?

I also love Diet Pepsi. I have been addicted to it for years. When I first went on LA in March - I weaned myself off of the stuff not because they told me to but because I know for me it is definitely a food trigger - there is nothing that I love more than drinking a diet pepsi with lots of potato chips and onion dip!!

I try now to only have one occasionally to "treat" myself with a 100 calorie pack of Doritoes and I get my "fix".

I have been hearing quite a bit lately about diet sodas being bad. Some say they increase appetites. I too have cut way back. I only have an occaisional one as a treat. They also have alot of sodium. It's hard when your used to having several a day. I try to replace with water. I know it's not the same at all.

Here is some info pertaining to diet sodas:

http://www.womentowomen.com/nutritionandweightloss/dietsoda.aspx

http://tuberose.com/Aspartame.html

I found another good article from CBS news regarding diet soda:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/04/earlyshow/contributors/emilysenay/main2330142.shtml

I thought it was pretty interesting...

Thanks for those links with info. The women to women article was long, but had a lot of really great info to read. I am going to try to cut out the diet sodas with my meals. I just didn't know the info that it was working against me. I thought it was interesting in that article that for every one can of diet soda consumed, a person's risk of obsiety increased by 41%. Wow. Not to mention the other chemicals our body has to work on filtering out. I just always thought since it was 0 calories and I drink caffine free it was all fine. Doesn't appear to be so.

I'm just starting, but I think I personally would have trouble with this. I LOVE Cherry Cola Diet Rite. It's actually sodium free, so not too bad. It does have Splenda in it, which is one of the better sweetners, but still not the best probably. But even though I do drink alot of water, I don't think I could switch to just water alone.

I've never been a soda drinker, and avoid artificial sweetners like the plague, but water can be boring. I found a nice alternative is a really flavourful herbal tea. It has no caffine and I drink it when I feel like having a treat.

I have noticed that when I do drink a diet soda, i gain about .5 pound - probably the sodium causing me to retain water.

Some of you were talking about artificial sweeteners. If you want to stay away from them but to not have sugar, you can try an all natural, calorie free sweetener called stevia. Another good thing about stevia is that it contains fiber. We all need to have our fiber. If anyone has or will try it, let me know what you think. I like it in tea but not in coffee.

I have been using stevia now instead of sugar, thanks to the ladies who shared some good info on how splenda still causes insulin to be released into the bloodsteam as sugar does. Stevia doesn't have any affect on the gyclemic index (not sure if I am saying this the correct way.) I like the stevia just fine. I bought a box of packets for $5.99 at Meijer. There are either 50 or 100 packets, I can't remember which.

Stevia is a good, natural sweetner. I like it, but I noticed that if I use too much, it has a bitter taste. Other than that, it's great, because I have a bit of a sweet tooth!

you can also buy liquid stevia and you can buy it flavored too. I haven't tried the flavored ones yet but I do like flavored coffe so maybe I would like them.

I didn't know there were flavors! That's awesome! I'll have to look for those!

You can get them at Whole Foods or you can buy them online. I've seen them on Amazon.com for less money than on the stevia site. They are around $9 for (I think) 1oz. I have to get some too.

I have tried stevia, but I don't like it in my coffee or tea. I have heard that it's not good for men/boys to use though, as it can effect their fertility.

Although I don't drink any soda, I think diet soda could be okay if done in moderation. However, the main thing is to find out about ALL the ingredients that are in diet drinks. Stevia or splenda may be okay and also may contain fiber & other nutrients. But just keep in mind that sodas are processed beverages that contain a lot of other unnatural additives that the body don't need such as high fructose corn syrup, artificial coloring, artificial sweetners, etc. Those unnatural additives usually vastly outweight the good nutrients. So again, just remember to take a peek at all the ingredients.