I used to drink 2 or 3 cans of diet pepsi a day but when I started to eat clean 2 months ago , I quit drinking soda . instead of soda I drink fresh orange juice or water.My son always reminding me when we dining out to not order pepsi. - 11/26/2012   10:25:37 AM

At the start of my weight loss in 2010, I quit Diet Coke at doctors suggestion.
Hardest thing I did. I was very addicted. Stayed off for 8 months. gradually started a sip from one small bottle a week. Then a whole bottle, two, before long I was buying my favorite cans in the case and up to 3, 4 cans a day. I am trying to limit my use to one a day. But it's hard. I love Diet Coke. It's my only vice. - 10/15/2012   11:25:48 AM

I quit diet soda a month ago due to a health scare. I'm trying to avoid artificial sweetners, and artificial anything that I can. My lymph nodes on one side of my neck were removed due to inflammation that the Dr was quite sure was cancer but thankfully was not. I only drank 1 or 2 diet sodas a day. I'm struggling to replace that bubbly sweet flavor. I drink my water but I miss my soda so much. Sometimes I just need the flavor and have drank juice or an occassional regular soda. That's too many calories but I'm trying to change this craving. Flavored waters get you back to the artificial thing. The best substitutes I have found is lemon juice in water or to drink hot or cold tea. Natural tea in a can get's you back into the too many calories again as most are sweetend. The hard truth is that neither type of soda is any good for a person. "Occasional" unhealthy choices for me is a very slippery slope. I realize I need to accept that I need to give up unhealthy foods, forget about it, and move on to healthier choices. I'm just trying to eat cleaner. The choices you make do effect your health. You can try to fool yourself but your body will know the truth. - 10/14/2012   9:05:46 AM

After constantly hearing about how Diet Coke was killing me in 300 different ways, I gave it up for almost 2 months. The result: mega increase in number and intensity of migraines, zero weight loss, no "feeling better." I drink 1 Diet Coke most days, sometimes 2. I'm sure that if you drink a 12 pack per day, it's going to affect you negatively, but a moderate amount per week isn't going to do a thing. - 9/10/2012   5:56:24 PM

I try not to overdo it, but I drink Diet Coke because it tastes good. Would I restrict myself if I thought that Coke was tastier? Probably, because those calories could be going to steak, or lasagna, or any number of wonderful things. I have "quit" diet coke a couple of times, but it comes back into my life because it just tastes better than most. I know it's an unhealthy habit, but I'm fit, healthy, I don't drink or smoke... so -- as my doctor said -- one measly-little aspartame-filled vice is probably not the end of the world. - 9/7/2012   10:51:43 AM

I am off diet coke for over two weeks now...I love soda and switched to diet a few years ago to save the calories. Then I just had an aquaintance who got VERY ill---mysterious back pain, fever, recurring bladder infections, they just diagnosed here with aspertame poisoning---she was drinking any where from 2-5 cans of diet soda a day along with any other diet foods she may have been having---she had successfully lost over 60 pounds and used diet soda and sugar substitutes as an aide in doing so. I want to lose weight, but the reason I do is to be as healthy as I can be...I don't want to get sick on the way there!!! - 8/29/2012   1:59:23 PM

I am cutting diet soda down but i still drink at least one or two cans a day. But i don't feel like i need to eat more because of it but i do think that everything needs to be in moderation. - 8/28/2012   8:24:57 PM

I'm really not a diet soda drinker. I have been drinking tea and water. I'm trying to lover my sugar intake. I will share this article with a few friends. - 8/28/2012   5:10:15 PM

I think this is where hte "all things in moderation" comes into play. I think anybody who tells you to completely cut anything out of your diet is living in a fantasy world that people with only a mild-moderate amount of discipline cannot adhere to. I never got into Diet Sodas. Only time i drink Diet Coke is with my Captain. And at that point, there is a pretty sure bet my "diet" is going to go out the window for the night anyway. But I still allow myself 7-10 oz of regular coke everyday. That way I'm still getting my "fix" but i'm not going haynuts on calories or sugar. - 8/27/2012   10:48:12 AM

I have decided to pass on diet drinks for my health, and to get through the trigger time of 4pm I mix seltzer water with MIO and that has helped me soo much! I get the fuul feeling of the carbonated water and am happy. Give it a try! - 8/26/2012   8:50:54 PM

I love my diet Pepsi or diet coke and I'm one who is NOT giving it up! I eat fairly healthy, exercise daily and am at a healthy weight. I'm 44 and it's my one vice I'm not willing to give up. I have 3 young kids and I personally think life is stressful....but enjoyable too! So it's like my "treat"! It has 0 calories so it's not hurting my calorie intake and it doesn't make me eat more. If anything, I think I eat less. If I get a large pop at McD's in the afternoon, it seems to fill me up when otherwise I might be looking around for an unhealthy snack (that has calories of course)! So this is one treat I am not stopping and I don't feel guilty about either. I do try and get my water intake in throughout the day as well though. - 8/25/2012   11:28:59 AM

I still drink an occasional diet soda, but I usually drink iced herb tea, unsweetened. It actually tastes much better than soda. - 5/10/2012   5:51:45 PM

For many years I drank 3-4 Diet Cokes a day. But as I am making changes in my life I'm limiting myself to one Diet Coke a week. We eat out for breakfast on Sunday and I enjoy my DC treat. I did notice that my craving for sugary items is much lower since giving up DC. I drink water and unsweet tea now. I'm sure that drive-thru by my house is wondering why they have so much DC in stock! - 5/10/2012   4:10:56 PM

I generally choose not to drink soda every day. I will avoid any soft drink with aspertame ( Pepsi, Coke, Dr Pepper/7UP brands) or sacharin (Tab soda). These brands seems to leave an aftertaste after drink them. RC/ Dite Rite offers a diet soda line with sucrolose which is tolerable to me. I will choose a small regular soft drink, juice, or water as preferable to any diet Pepsi, diet Coke, or diet Dr Pepper. - 2/17/2012   8:29:44 PM

I really enjoy diet Coke or Pepsi; however, because of I don't tolerate caffeine easily, I only drink them with lunch or dinner. If I drink w/o food, I get headaches so I don't. I do not feel I eat more when I drink DC or DP. Sparkling drinks are a great alternative. Lipton makes an excellent Sparkling Diet Tea Strawberry & Kiwi. Gives me the bubbly w/o the caffeine & I can drink whenever w/o a headache...& I don't overeat because of it. It's all a matter of will power. - 12/28/2011   8:21:04 PM

I don't understand the difference in drinking diet soda or the flavored waters or Crystal Light that are suggested in previous comments. They all contain artificial sweeteners, and is that not the problem? It seems that they would cause the same cravings as diet soda. I gave up caffeine back in the summer, and drank an occasional Sprite Zero, 2-3 per week. I really couldn't tell a difference. I am now drinking DC again but am ready to get back on my healthy eating plan and exercise, and I guess I will just drink water and unsweet tea. I have also seen conflicting views about caffeine. I'm confused. - 12/28/2011   6:02:52 PM

I dont like diet drinks as there is something in them that gives me a headache and coke pepsi etc give me the runs - 12/19/2011   9:10:36 AM

I just heard a recent study that says diet sodas can cause a stroke risk increase of 60%...no thanks. - 9/12/2011   3:49:52 PM

I never have any artificial sweeteners, they are so bad for you. I have raw sugar or raw honey if I need it. - 8/3/2011   12:28:54 PM

I have definitely noticed that when I drink soda, it causes me to crave...I drink DIET only! I know that when I don't want to crave, as much as I love soda, if I lay off, it will help me reduce cravings.
- 7/28/2011   12:32:07 PM

I do not find that diet soft drinks make me crave sweets. I use it to stop eating food. I do think it may affect fluid retention and perhaps your body's availability to absorb nutrients. I am trying to cut back, - 7/27/2011   12:02:33 PM

I keep reading how bad diet soda is (anything with artificial sweeteners for that matter), and wish I didn't drink it but I figure slow changes are better than nothing. I try to cut back, and eventually, I hope to kick the soda addiction entirely. - 7/26/2011   8:53:55 PM

I drink a few diet soft drinks per week. - 4/23/2011   6:09:48 AM

I don't drink any type of soda very often but I do prefer the taste of diet soda over regular soda. Once again this comes down to personal choice. The studies are out there for people to pay as much attention to them as they like. - 4/20/2011   9:44:27 AM

Have you ever looked at the chemicals that are in your tap water including sodium?? Chemicals are everywhere in our world. Regular coffee & tea have caffeine you can always find something, so it is moderation. If I drink a soda it is just one and I am not hungry for a long time after. I do make sure I drink 16-20 8oz glasses of water as well. - 4/19/2011   1:52:44 PM

If the idea of drinking water bores you, try ... fruit-flavored varieties on the market today.

These are full of Splenda or other sweetners so what is the difference with diet soda?
I know a lot of folks like Splenda, but I can not tolerate the taste and aftertaste. So I avoid any drinks with Splenda. So want me to stop drinking Diet Coke-make it
with Splenda.
I drink it instead of snacking on a sugar snack-it helps me eat less junk food-call it my one vice. I have cut back, and switch to decaf tea or herbal tea in the evenings. - 4/19/2011   1:29:53 PM

Say it ain't so. Just went I go over my code red addiction and turn to diet pepsi here comes this blog. But I have upped my water intake so hopefully I'm not doing to much damage. - 4/13/2011   5:19:02 PM

Just like everything else in life, MODERATION is key! Diet soda, regular soda, fatty foods... If you drink ONE diet soda once in a while, the effects will be minimal, but if that is all the liquid you consume, you will probably run into some problems. Its important to stay hydrated, and soda does the opposite, but if you want one, have one... not five. - 3/6/2011   4:35:59 PM

I've been drinking diet soda all my life. Same with my parents. I actually find the opposite of what this article is trying to say - I drink soda at night when I know I should stop snacking on food, because it keeps me from eating more. I've switched to caffeine-free and I only drink about a can a day (if that), but since it doesn't interfere with my eating habits, I'll never give it up completely. - 2/15/2011   10:57:04 AM

What I found for me is that eating low fat items (processed) I want more they do not satisfy my craving. So I choose to eat regular food but less of it. - 1/27/2011   2:11:07 PM

I can take or leave sodas. I drink a lot of coffee and water. When I drink soda, if possible I mix 1/2 and 1/2 reg and diet. Dont use a lot of artifical sweetners (mostly light yougart). My choice of sweetner is honey. I don't know whats ok, good, or the best choice. - 1/25/2011   10:17:20 PM

Almost everything I buy is fat free or sugar free and because of this sugar substitutes are in everything I eat...even the yogurt I'm eating right now.
I wouldn't say it makes me want to eat more; though I buy these lower calorie options so I can eat more while still staying in my calorie ranges (because I know I'm going to want to eat a lot whether or not it's sugar free).

I drink lots of water everyday, but I love Diet Coke. It is a weakness. Some times, if I feel like overeating a lot or feel a binge coming on, I will run out and drink a ton of Diet Coke, because the carbonation really makes me feel full.

I can't tell if diet soft drinks are bad or not. If it has anything to do with artificial sweeteners, what about the risks associated with all the low-cal, sugar free food out there? - 1/25/2011   2:45:22 PM

It drives me crazy when I hear people talk about "not enough scientific evidence" when it comes to proving whether we should be eating a particular food (or non food). There are some people who will never be satisfied with ANY study regarding something they like to eat or drink (or smoke or whatever....!) Look how long it took for studies to finally PROVE how bad smoking is for everyone, that it will DEFINITELY kill you. Over 50 years? Long long before that there were studies that "hinted" at the fact, people dying all over the place, but the almightly tobacco companies fought and fought to keep the public addicted and unaware so that they could help us with their wonderful product? NO WAY! If we stopped smoking they wouldn't make any $$$$. What is the difference between diet coke manufacturers and tobacco companies? Does Pepsi Co. want us to have more friends and a better life? No. Does Pepsi Co. know there are studies out there showing a problem with too much sugar intake, and a "potential" problem with artificial sweeteners and other ingredients? Yes. Are they doing anything about it? No. Bottom line: if your body doesn't recognize what you put in it then there are potential problems....your body wasn't meant to ingest chemicals not just every day but EVER. Don't sit back and wait for some huge company that doesn't have your interests at heart to dictate what you should be eating and drinking. Give them the middle finger and take care of yourself!!!! We all know deep down how bad this junk is for us, and it's hard to reverse the brainwashing we've all been through over the years, but it can be done and BY GOD IT FEELS SO GOOD!!!!!! - 1/25/2011   11:24:27 AM

I drink water about 75% of the time. I may have a DC two or three times a week. Instead of DC, I'll drink tea to change things up a bit. Overall I do pretty good in this area but have work to do in other areas. Ugh - always something! - 1/25/2011   2:30:32 AM

I have been a Diet Coke drinker all my life. However, now that I am eating healthier, I am trying to drink more water. So...I let myself have as much DC as I want, but ONLY after drinking all my water for the day. That way, I really taste it and enjoy it as a treat. Besides, after 8 glasses of water, I usually don't want any coke! - 1/24/2011   10:14:04 AM

Have really cut back to 1 or 2 per day .... drink water most all day ... used to drink 4 or 5 a day .... water is definitely healthier above and beyond other drinks. - 1/22/2011   10:19:46 AM

I quit drinking soda (here in Minnesota we call it pop) over 6 years ago. I was having a lot of trouble with tooth sensitivity and that's when I learned how bad soda is for your teeth. Then I read something about how diet soda can change it's chemical composition when it gets too warm, such as leaving it in the trunk of your car when it's hot out. Some ingredient in the diet soda actually can cause poisoning when it gets over-heated. Quitting wasn't easy, the headaches and cravings, but I'm so glad I did it! I don't miss it at all. - 1/22/2011   8:46:51 AM

I rarely drink soda. I don't feel that sugar subsitutes are healthy. I also feel that soda of any kind is hard on my teeth and bones. Water, herb tea are my standby. I will have a couple of cups of coffee in the morning. - 1/22/2011   12:08:27 AM

I was addicted to diet coke and am now down to about one a week, and sometimes not that. An occassional glass of diet coke won't hurt much in my opinion, but I do believe that the artificial sweeteners in it will and so many other "diet" foods does. I try to keep it to stevia for my tea and coffee and that's about it. - 1/21/2011   6:06:09 PM

I am working on drinking fewer Diet Cokes and more water. I just don't like the taste of plain water, and most of the flavored waters that I've found also have aspartame in them. I do make iced tea with a little bit of real sugar (about 3 tbsp in 3 quarts of water) and a healthy bit of Splenda (I'm from the south, we like our tea sweet!). On the days that I drink a lot of Diet Coke, the scale doesn't budge even if everything else is the same (calories, exercise, etc.). The days that I drink mostly water, I'll lose weight if everything else is the same. So I'm trying to limit myself to only one 12 oz can per day.

However, while I realize that aspartame is clearly affecting my body somehow, I think we need to be very careful to realize that correlation is not causation. There might be a link between Diet Coke and metabolic syndrome, but there is no solid evidence to date that drinking soda causes these problems. Anecdotes are fine but they do not constitute scientific evidence. For example, I always seem to get stuck at traffic lights when I'm running late. In reality, I'm probably not stopped at lights any more when I'm late than when I'm on time, but because I'm frantically watching the little clock in my car while stuck at the light, I notice it far more than when I'm just rocking out to 80's music at a light.

Everyone's body chemistry is different. Eating seafood is encouraged for most people since it's so healthy, but it makes me terribly ill since I'm allergic to it. That doesn't make seafood bad for everyone, just those with an allergy. I'm sure there are people with an allergy to aspartame who shouldn't drink it (and those with PKU should definitely not drink it!) but that's not to say that it can't be a part of a balanced diet for those whom is doesn't adversely affect.

Okay, I'll turn off the professor and research in me now. :-) - 1/21/2011   4:26:47 PM

I drink one glass a day it could be worse - 1/21/2011   3:21:42 PM

I thought I was addicted to caffeine because I was drinking a 24 pack of diet coke a day. I decided to switch to coffee and get off the diet coke. I noticed that I started buying sugar free popsicles and wasn't drinking the coffee. I was sucking on a box a day. What do sugar free popsicles and diet coke have in common? Aspertame. So I took Aspertame out of my diet completely. The first month was rough but once that cleared up, I did so much better. I didn't crave the diet coke or popsicles. When I do crave diet coke, I look at the products I ate that day. Aspertame hides in strange places and I sometimes find it in foods I wouldn't expect to find it. I think it is the Aspertame that is addictive. - 1/19/2011   7:56:26 AM

BIGDCF,

THis is puzzling. I understand the difference between causality and correlation, and you agree with the person extracting the study here that this was correlation only. However, I'm not seeing any explanation for the correlation. Apparently, the relationship is not mediated by calories, etc. , but without the source (something which should be posted with this information, esp. since the writers here sometimes appear to misrepresent the study), we can't tell what the investigations suggest as a potential mechanism. Just because it's not calories doesn't mean it's not through something else. Once again, readers leave either without enough facts (as I was) or reach conclusions based on their experience. - 10/31/2010   4:12:35 PM

I tried switching from regular to diet soda but I totally hate the taste, so it was really easy for me to give up. I drink at least my 64oz of water everyday and then sometimes I might have a tea w/ splenda. - 8/24/2010   9:22:23 PM

There is no evidence that drinking diet soda increases the desire for sweets or the intake of calories. A recent study in Diabetes Care that linked diet soda to metabolic syndrome - linked, not caused - stated "participants randomly assigned to dietary regimens that include artificially sweetened foods and beverages do not gain more weight or consume more energy compared with those randomly assigned to sugar-sweetened food/beverage regimens . (Diabetes Care 32:688–694, 2009). Other studies show that diet soda drinkers overall have a better diet, buy better groceries. While water may be the ultimate neutral beverage, diet sodas are not evil. It may be easier to consume more of them because of the taste, but there is no harm related to the sweeteners or their use. Even the highest consumer is unlikely to reach the Acceptable Daily Intake which for most artificial sweeteners is roughly 20 12 oz cans or 97 packets. Even if you do, that figure has a 10x safety factor added in. The caffeine is another subject and in very large amounts can cause problems. But some caffeine consumption has been linked to reduced development of Type 2 diabetes. So even caffeine is not the always evil substance it was once thought to be. Moderation is good in all things - but for those of you who enjoy diet soda, I don't think you need to worry. - 8/24/2010   11:07:57 AM

I'm weening myself off of diet pepsi now but some of the flavored waters that they suggest switching to also have artifical sweeteners. Best bet is water! - 8/19/2010   12:53:12 PM

I used to drink a half gallon to gallon of Diet Pepsi a day! Sometimes a gallon and a half!!! I used to make the excuse "I work two jobs, I need the caffiene." I had a friend who was convinced that diet soda caused tumors in her breasts and she convinced me to give it up. I was on the water bandwagon for about 2 or 3 years. Then I let Diet Dr. Pepper slip back into my life, but recently have decided to break the habit again. Here's to drinking water! - 8/19/2010   8:39:32 AM

I used to drink a half gallon to gallon of Diet Pepsi a day! Sometimes a gallon and a half!!! I used to make the excuse "I work two jobs, I need the caffiene." I had a friend who was convinced that diet soda caused tumors in her breasts and she convinced me to give it up. I was on the water bandwagon for about 2 or 3 years. Then I let Diet Dr. Pepper slip back into my life, but recently have decided to break the habit again. Here's to drinking water! - 8/19/2010   8:39:25 AM

I have been drinking water now for almost a year, and the last time I had a diet Pepsi/Coke it did not taste right and ended up pouring it out. I will drink tea, but like it plain no sweet tea, and have become very aware of the dangers of artificial sweetener, which is another reason to not drink diet sodas or diet drinks of any kind. - 8/17/2010   3:42:23 PM

One of the things that I did when I lost weight a few years ago was switched from regular soda to diet, and I strongly believe that was one of the biggest contributing factors to the weight coming off...I've never experienced the cravings for sweets that this article mentions, and never noticed any changes in my appetite. But, I also drink lots of water, and try to limit my diet coke to 2 or 3 a day.

Having said that, I have been reading a lot of things lately about aspartame that make me want to eliminate it from my diet. My grocery store brand diet cola has splenda instead of aspartame, so I've been drinking that instead! - 8/17/2010   3:02:00 PM