A spoonful of (artificial) sugars The artificial sweetener, aspartame, has been linked to everything from chronic migraines to, ironically, increased likelihood of obesity. The FDA (as well as other international health organizations) continues to approve the use of aspartame in soft drinks, but is something that is made from chemicals actually safe? Paula says that we can assume so—at least for now. "[Aspartame] is the most widely used artificial sweetener in the country," the nutritionist says. "Studies on aspartame are primarily rat-based and we don't do large, epidemiological-based studies on humans, but the FDA has approved it and classified it as a food additive or food ingredient." This means that the sweetener is not only used in our favorite red-capped bottles, but also in yogurts, canned-fruits, and other low-calorie products. "There are about 180 mg of aspartame in a bottle of soda, but we're not just getting it from soda," Paula emphasizes. "12 oz. each day is probably okay, but I am concerned about young women's health and about the large volume of artificially-sweetened products [that they consume]. Aspartame is said to be safe for now, but it is being introduced into our food supply in doses more frequently and consistently than in any other generation." The reasons why college women seem to down these products is as confounding as it may be worrisome. An article published by the
Vancouver Sun gave a rundown of the various artificial sweeteners that have cropped up over the years. Manufactured sugars such as NutraSweet and Equal are often promoted in weight loss campaigns, but there is very little proof which suggests that ordering a Diet Coke is any better than getting the real deal. "No studies have shown that diet soda encourages weight loss," Paula avers. "It doesn't promote weight gain either, but there is an interesting psychology behind drinking diet soft drinks." The nutritionist reveals that people who drink diet beverages often lure themselves into thinking that they are eating more healthfully than they actually are. Diners may feel like they deserve a reward or leeway for snubbing regular soda and, as a result, become more likely to go for less nutritious meals. After all, a Big Mac and fries, a few extra swirls of fro-yo, or another helping of dessert don't seem quite as bad if you're making up for it by drinking "diet" soda. Our reliance on diet products to make us feel better about the rest of our nutritional decisions may explain why only 2 out of 11 college women in the HC survey responded that they believed drinking diet soda helped them to lessen their sugar intake, but continued to drink up anyway. "[It doesn't help] at all," replied one Diet Dr. Pepper devotee who, in an effort to stop drinking diet soda, once forced herself to stop stocking the beverage in her apartment. "I go through phases," the student replied. "I stop drinking it for a few months, then decide I want to start again." It seems like kicking the diet soda habit isn't an easy one and that, at the very least, lessening our intake is far more realistic than going cold turkey. Another one bites the dust Therese Borchard, the Associate Editor of the psychology-based blog, World of Psychology, lamented the loss of diet soda in her own life. Borchard wrote that for someone who abstains from drinking alcohol and who is now "back to [her] boring sparkling water and lime," Diet Coke was a nice option at cocktail parties. Foregoing diet soda seems to be just as difficult for college women who might be neglecting good old-fashioned water and dairy products, but still want a bit of bubbly in their lives. Paula advocates that people who despair at the prospect of abandoning diet soda just start by getting creative. "Look at how much you're taking in and try to reduce it," she says. "Maybe if you have two bottles of diet soda, you try to go down to one. Sometimes what works for clients I work with is mixing. If you get a plain drink—maybe a juice that you like—and then fill it halfway with soda water, you reduce the concentration of artificial sweeteners." A few HC survey respondents used similar tactics. One student became a fan of plain seltzer or seltzer mixed with other drinks, while another now swears by flavored waters. "I ask clients to think about the taste of aspartame," the nutritionist says. "Once they identify that fake taste, they may not like it." Another anonymous collegietteä agreed that taking a diet soda break can help to break the spell. "After giving it up for Lent, I realized that I never really like the taste. Now I only drink it once in a while when I get a craving." "But coffee?" she continued. "That's a different story!" Sources "Diet Soda Addiction? How to Get Off the Can", The Huffington Post "Low-cal sweeteners feed a $1.5-billion industry", Vancouver Sun "Join Diet Coke and Wear Red for Women's Heart Health", Fitsugar.com "Daily diet soda tied to higher risk for stroke, heart attack, MSNBC.com "Is it healthy to drink diet soft drinks? The answer is fizzy", USAToday.com "Diet soda and heart, stroke risk: A link doesn't prove cause and effect", Los Angeles Times "Diet Coke Wins Battle in Cola Wars", WSJ.com Images DietSodas, The Epoch Times (David McNew, Getty Images) HeartTruth, Fit Sugar
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