aspartame

[shoop99]

hey everyone, Im new here and just got diagnosed with type 1 on christmas eve of 05. I was just wondering is aspartame really bad for you? I drink maybe on average 2 to 3 diet sodas a day. I was wondering should i cut back to maybe 1 or is aspartame an urban legend?

[poodlebone]

hey everyone, Im new here and just got diagnosed with type 1 on christmas eve of 05. I was just wondering is aspartame really bad for you? I drink maybe on average 2 to 3 diet sodas a day. I was wondering should i cut back to maybe 1 or is aspartame an urban legend?

I've been drinking diet soda/tea/drinks with aspartame since I was diagnosed, 19 years ago. At one point I was drinking at least 2 liters of soda a day, plus some Crystal Light. I ignore all of the nuts who claim aspartame will kill you within days and urge you to switch to stevia. I like aspartame much better than Splenda/sucralose and plan to continue drinking it. I have cut back on diet soft drinks in favor of water, but it has nothing to do with aspartame worries.

[duck]

You'll get different opinions on this, basically because we are all...different. There are many alarmist websites out there, and most take a little truth and twist it.

Me personally, I put my aspartame addiction to the test last September and cut it out COMPLETELY from my diet for six months. I can't say it made me feel any better or worse. You'd probably have to do the same to determine if it has an adverse affect on you at all.

[shoop99]

I havent felt anything really. Im just looking out for the future. If drinking about 3 diet soft drinks a day would affect my health in the future. Or is that too little of aspertame not to even worry about it.

[duck]

I havent felt anything really. Im just looking out for the future. If drinking about 3 diet soft drinks a day would affect my health in the future. Or is that too little of aspertame not to even worry about it.

From what I have read, for most people, that is well within safe levels. I do personally have a friend, though, who can consume only one can of aspartame-laced soda and be laid up with a migraine all day. He claims aspartame is evil and should be removed from the market. I tell him Peanut Butter kills more people every year from allergic reactions, maybe we should ban JIFF and Peter Pan as well. My take is, if you had a problem with aspartame, you'd know by now. You can always experiment by removing it from your diet for a month or so.

[poodlebone]

From what I have read, for most people, that is well within safe levels. I do personally have a friend, though, who can consume only one can of aspartame-laced soda and be laid up with a migraine all day. He claims aspartame is evil and should be removed from the market. I tell him Peanut Butter kills more people every year from allergic reactions, maybe we should ban JIFF and Peter Pan as well. My take is, if you had a problem with aspartame, you'd know by now. You can always experiment by removing it from your diet for a month or so.

The same thing (headaches) used to happen to my sister when she drank diet soda, and then she realized it only happened if she drank it on an empty stomach. Now she drinks it with meals and as long as it's with food, or soon after eating, no headaches. I've seen other people mention headaches as well, so I guess it's a fairly common problem/side effect.

I tend to use more packets of aspartame now (for yogurt, cottage cheese, tea) than pre-sweetened drinks. I'm glad that I've never had any problems with it. I was amazed at how easily I switched to diet soda after being diagnoses, because I had been a major soda junkie before.

[DeusXM]

There's no medical evidence suggesting that aspartame causes cancer - both the medical research facilities of the United States and the European Union have concluded this.

I'd be much more concerned with the amount of caffeine in 3 soft drinks than the aspartame, to be honest.

[befni]

i would be more concerned about the GAS :reddy: from 3 soda's a day :laugh: :rofl:

[DeusXM]

You fart if you drink too many fizzy drinks? I just burp!

I'm definitely not sitting next to you in a cinema!

[befni]

gas is burping or farting as far as i know, there was no smiliey of some one burping... but no in answer to your question i burp, i am a lady anyway i don't fart!!!!

Will you sit next to me now?

[poodlebone]

gas is burping or farting as far as i know, there was no smiliey of some one burping... but no in answer to your question i burp, i am a lady anyway i don't fart!!!!

Will you sit next to me now?

Diet Coke gives me killer burps! It's got to be the gassiest soda out there, and it's the only cola flavor I drink. It doesn't make me fart - all of the fiber in my diet does that!

[shoop99]

I would have to say that diet dr pepper is the best tasting out of all the diet drinks. Pepsi one almost taste just like regular pepsi.

[shoop99]

one more thing, dont you hate it when you order a diet soda at a restraunt and they give you regular. Sometimes i'll ask a friend to tell me because now i just cant tell the difference that much.

[poodlebone]

I would have to say that diet dr pepper is the best tasting out of all the diet drinks. Pepsi one almost taste just like regular pepsi.

Diet Dr Pepper is my favorite soda of all time. If I want a soda and can't find any Diet Dr Pepper at the deli by work, I get Diet Coke. I avoid all Pepsi products because I've never liked them. I also like Fresca and diet root beer & cream.

one more thing, dont you hate it when you order a diet soda at a restraunt and they give you regular. Sometimes i'll ask a friend to tell me because now i just cant tell the difference that much.

I don't like fountain sodas much so I'll usually just get water. I do ask for diet soda sometimes when I'm out but try to drink very little of it. I know some people actually use BG test strips to check if there's sugar in the soda. The old urine strips worked better but I think some meter strips will also work. I'm not willing to waste my strips to find out.

[Dewey]

I found a somewhat "alarmist" (but credible) website with info. on Aspartame, and the cites seem credible from what I read:

Nexus Mag - Aspartame (http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/aspartame.html)

Here is one quote from the article:
The exact mechanism of acute reactions to excess free glutamate and aspartate is currently being debated. As reported to the FDA, those reactions include:
Headaches/migraines, nausea, abdominal pains, fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain), sleep problems, vision problems, anxiety attacks, depression, and asthma/chest tightness.

As with anything that includes ingredients of chemical nature, you need to be careful & not take in too much. I'm not sure what an appropriate amount of sodas are for each day or person (as each of us is different), but I will say that it's Not wise to drink a six pack....How do I know? I got sick from doing that once. I drank an entire 6 pack of Diet Coke & it literally caused me to throw up & feel awful. I've heard friends tell how they had developed headaches &/or other side effects. I'm not trying to scare you, just giving you personal experiences & some info. I was able to find. Just be careful & take good care of you.

[2sweet4now]

You all are way too funny! :biggrin:

I happen to be one of those individuals who end up with a wicked headache, not quite a migrane, after drinking more than three diet drinks. Never noticed if the headaches happened when I hadn't eaten. I pretty much drink tons of water and ice tea w/ lemon and no sweetner! Splenda works for me on occassion as well.

[DeusXM]

Problems with aspartame tend to be allergic reactions, which can be pretty common. The other side of it is that there's a medical condition (I think it's called PKA) which means that some people are unable to process the aspartame once it enters their body, which also causes problems.

Incidentally, there's a very easy way to tell the difference between diet and regular soft drinks. Simply dip your fingers into the suspect drink and then let your hand dry. If your hand is very sticky, then you've got a regular soft drink in front of you.

Regular soft drinks will also make your teeth feel 'funny' and sticky too.

[scara]

I got caught with regular pop when I ordered diet a couple of times now, so if I can't tell the difference I just use the glucose meter on it...(based on someone on this forum telling me it would work) and if the reading is high then I know it's regular for sure.... bit of a pain to pull out the meter though....

oh yeah, Coke Zero all the way!! or Diet Dr. Pepper....

[duck]

Problems with aspartame tend to be allergic reactions, which can be pretty common. The other side of it is that there's a medical condition (I think it's called PKA) which means that some people are unable to process the aspartame once it enters their body, which also causes problems.

Incidentally, there's a very easy way to tell the difference between diet and regular soft drinks. Simply dip your fingers into the suspect drink and then let your hand dry. If your hand is very sticky, then you've got a regular soft drink in front of you.

Regular soft drinks will also make your teeth feel 'funny' and sticky too.

You can use your test strips as well to determine regular vs diet.

[Lex4153]

Diet Dr. Pepper is the best! Tastes nothing like diet. Mmmm.

I say, if you don't have any adverse reactions to aspartme, go for it in moderation. As diabetics we already deny ourselves so much. We deserve something.

[rzrbks]

but no in answer to your question i burp, i am a lady anyway i don't fart!!!!

Ladies don't fart, they "Poof"



Diet Dr. Pepper is the best! Tastes nothing like diet.

Shucks, everyone knows that Dr. Pepper has Prune Juice in it.