Diet coke and SCD
- Thread starter Troubled
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I often wondered about this myself when I was on a Paleo diet for the past year. I think, at least for Paleo/Primal dieters, it's a gray area (conflicting ideas) but the artificial sweeteners are discouraged. Not 100% sure about SCD since I've never been on that diet, but I hear it's similar to the Paleo diet. I love Coke Zero and I find it hard to give up. I asked my GI doctor about it and my GP and neither one said I had to give it up.
My daughter is one of the lucky ones who appears (after being in remission for 11 years without drugs) to have been "cured" by the SCD, which she was on for many years. And she learned to like diet soda, while on the diet. That stuff can't be healthy for you, though.
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It truly isn't, but the other options out there that are similar are expensive. I tried Blue Sky Zero and Zevia and didn't really like either one of them. Coke Zero tastes like regular Coke but I don't have to worry about all the sugar. The aspartame is not good, though, but my doctors have not said anything, so I guess it's OK for the time being...
I used to drink a lot of tea sweetened with only liquid stevia, but doesn't taste as good now. I really like Argo Tea's Hibiscus Tea Sangria, but they use pure cane sugar, so I don't drink it that often (plus, it's expensive and hard to find).
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I get this from all sides though, but the argument doesn't seem to have a basis on evidence, unless you're watching a non-science documentary produced by the Organic Trade Association or the Sugar Association of America.
Lets break it down, the ingredients of diet coke are:
Carbonated Water, Caramel Color, Aspartame, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Benzoate (to Protect Taste), Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Caffeine
Carbonated water is water injected with CO2.
Caramel color is found in many safely used products. The FDA classifies and regulates caramel color in Title 21 CFR § 73.85 as a safe color additive exempt from certification. REF: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=73.85
Aspartame has been deemed safe for human consumption by over 100 regulatory agencies in their respective countries, including the UK Food Standards Agency, the European Food Safety Authority and Health Canada. While anything can be over-injested (including water), FDA has set its ADI for aspartame at 50 mg/kg of body weight. This means, a 150 pound man would need to injest 3400 mg of pure aspertame in a single 24 hour period to exceed the safe daily limit; a can of diet coke contains 125 mg REF: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...FMj60pjKQ&sig2=kWD6h5h84Gzmd5aLE2qL6g&cad=rja and https://web.archive.org/web/20090212130028/http://cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/AspartameQandA .
Phosphoric acid is recognized as safe when used in accordance with good manufacturing practice, according to the FDA. Not only is some phosphorus necessary in your diet, a can of coke with phosphoric acid is well within safe limits. REF: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=182.1073
Potassium benzoate, a nontoxic preservative, http://www.inchem.org/documents/sids/sids/benzoates.pdf and http://www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_Chemical.jsp?Rec_Id=PC44064#Toxicity
The specific blend of natural flavors in all coke products are highly proprietary, but must all derive from the same FDA-approved list. Natural flavorsare the the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavor constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast. The FDA approved natural flavoring agents can be found blow and you'll recognize most of them as they can be found at your local natural food store. REF: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=101.22 The FDA approved list is at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=172.510
Citric acid is naturally found in citrus fruits like grapefruit, etc. Not at all harmful at the levels found in diet coke: REF http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng0855.html
Caffeine. We all know this one. If sensitive to caffeine, avoid it. Diet coke does seem to have quite low levels of caffeine (23-47 mg versus 330 in a typical starbucks coffee). REF https://cspinet.org/caffeine-chart
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yea these FDA decisions were based on old science, and we have become more advanced since then. aspartame and acesulfame k have been linked to developing diabetes through altering bacteria in the intestines. drink filtered irradiated(no pathogens) water or spring water instead.
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Lets see the evidence
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The American Diabetes Association actually recommends using low-calorie sweeteners in place of sugar to curb cravings and reduce sugar consumption.
http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fi...standing-carbohydrates/artificial-sweeteners/
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While the "Israeli researchers agree that it is far too soon to conclude that artificial sweeteners cause metabolic disorders," "the Israeli study suggests that artificial sweeteners enhance the populations of gut bacteria that are more efficient at pulling energy from our food and turning that energy into fat. In other words, artificial sweeteners may favor the growth of bacteria that make more calories available to us, calories that can then find their way to our hips, thighs and midriffs, says Peter Turnbaugh of the University of California, San Francisco, an expert on the interplay of bacteria and metabolism."
Even though the above results are merely suggestive, I have been using artificial sweeteners for my entire life and have no issues with an abnormally low metabolism; I've remained a steady 6' and 160 lbs my entire adult life. Anecdotally, I'd suggest that had I drank a naturally sweetened beverage each time over a zero-calorie sweetened, I'd be heavier. Therefore, I remain unconvinced. Thanks for sharing, though!
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there's more evidence for other negative affects from these substances other then just fat storage, I'm not sure why you would even want to strongly defend something made in a lab like this and not be skeptical of its safety. you've been drinking this stuff for years and your perfectly healthy? consider this, you are on this site and we are the most unhealthy people there are with autoimmune diseases. guess what, I drank this stuff too and alot of it for years right before I was diagnosed with crohn's i don't think it directly caused crohn's but it just makes you wonder. I think the antibiotics I took caused crohn's and that mainly because there are 4 studies that suggest this and many severe problems happened days after the antibiotics I took.
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I have had autoimmune disorders my entire life, including Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and my brother had Henoch-Schönlein purpura. No evidence exists for a connection between diet coke and either of the above, including Crohn's, but genetics is a proven risk factor.
In any case, I do not want to discourage you to ask questions and wonder. I suggest only that you avoid yielding to assumptive superstition. In absence of any evidence, such thinking leads to proven untruths such as "cracking knuckles gives arthritis", "chocolate leads to acne", or "excessively combing your hair leads to hair loss".
Again, feel free to argue against Diet Coke, but do so with some evidence.
Furthermore, don't be scared of a substance made in a lab. Naturally-occurring substances were summarily synthesized in the lab of nature. Because a compound is created via human intervention is not in itself indicative of danger. The list of and applications for completely safe but chemically synthesized compounds are quite extensive, with a great benefit to everyone.
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"Diet and sports soft drinks
Update to 2004 edition from Elaine:
Diet soft drinks are permitted occasionally. Those sweetened with aspartame or Nutri-Sweet may sometimes contain lactose and should be avoided if possible. However, if this is the only type available, one per week is permitted. Diet soft drinks sweetened with saccharin need not be limited to only one a week: 2-3 weekly would be permissible.
DO NOT USE DIET SOFT DRINKS SWEETENED WITH ANY OTHER SWEETENER
- some can aggravate intestinal problems to a great extent. Bottled water without any additive is permissible but those which have been marketed as "sport drinks," or have added fiber, vitamins, or minerals should be avoided."
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/detail/diet-and-sports-soft-drinks/
That's ONE per week, Enjoy
Update to 2004 edition from Elaine:
Diet soft drinks are permitted occasionally. Those sweetened with aspartame or Nutri-Sweet may sometimes contain lactose and should be avoided if possible. However, if this is the only type available, one per week is permitted. Diet soft drinks sweetened with saccharin need not be limited to only one a week: 2-3 weekly would be permissible.
DO NOT USE DIET SOFT DRINKS SWEETENED WITH ANY OTHER SWEETENER
- some can aggravate intestinal problems to a great extent. Bottled water without any additive is permissible but those which have been marketed as "sport drinks," or have added fiber, vitamins, or minerals should be avoided."
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/knowledge_base/detail/diet-and-sports-soft-drinks/
That's ONE per week, Enjoy
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So can club soda or any carbonated liquid. Diet Coke is better than regular coke, because the sugar in regular coke leaves a sticky residue.
I like to drink weakened juice. Like 25% real, organic juice and 75% water. I learned to do this to avoid so many calories because I've always hated the taste of diet soda. Rarely, I will have a regular cola, but not coke or pepsi, more the natural type. Maybe a couple a month? We don't keep soda pop in the house.
And I still remember when cans of diet soda used to say, "has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.."
And I still remember when cans of diet soda used to say, "has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals.."
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It's an acid, much like apple cider vinegar people love to tout as an all purpose cleaner and cure-all, I'm not saying either of these things are healthy or unhealthy, just that it's a result of its chemical properties.
I'd prefer to avoid artificial sweeteners until we have a better understanding of the gut microbiome and its effects on it.
