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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To stop drinking diet coke - sweeteners

91 replies

Alwaysasking · 27/12/2012 12:25

Or am I totally over-reacting? I have anxious dispositions so not sure if this is justified but I drink about 3-4 diet cokes a week, I love the stuff but am worried about the sweeteners and their link to cancer. AIBU?

OP posts:
TraineeBabyCatcher · 27/12/2012 13:06

I frequently do a 2 litre bottle on my own in the evening. Normally when doing uni work.
Tbh id sooner think I was doing that than drinking the same in wine, or smoking.

Op if its 3-4 cans I wouldn't worry, if it was 3-4 bottles a week then I might think more about it (though the only sleep I would lose would be as a result of the caffine not worry).

TheCatIsEatingIt · 27/12/2012 13:07

All sorts of things disagree with some people, but that doesn't mean they're generally unsafe. If you feel better without it, don't drink it.

IWishIWasSheRa · 27/12/2012 13:08

Shit I drink 2 litres a day Shock

QueenofNightmares · 27/12/2012 13:27

I get awful migraines from Aspartame, I was staying with my Nan at one point and drinking her perfectly clear water figuring its flavoured water must be safe 3 days later the migraines started and I soon realised the bloody water had it in. I'm sure its been proven safe by various tests but my body does not like or accept it and I don't like the agony it leaves me in so I won't touch it now. I prefer to listen to my body,

peachypips · 27/12/2012 13:29

Disgusting chemically stuff whether it causes cancer or not. Switch to water!

Theicingontop · 27/12/2012 13:30

I avoid aspartame, I check every label. It's not an overreaction, it really isn't good for you at all.

CajaDeLaMemoria · 27/12/2012 13:36

Is Pepsi Max as bad?

I live on the stuff. Water doesn't react well with my body (amazes doctors but has been tested time and time again), and I don't enjoy squash/tea/coffee.

Pepsi Max is the only thing I drink. I get through maybe a litre and a bit a day, some days 2 litres if I'm very thirsty.

I have tried weaning myself off it before but I get dehydrated...if I can't drink something I like, I tend to drink nothing at all.

I do drink it through a straw, and I brush my teeth several times a day. I try to limit myself...

JingleBel · 27/12/2012 13:36

I gave up dc it was hard. Three days of severe headaches. I went cold turkey. Been nearly a year now I wouldn't touch the stuff but I was drinking 4 cans a day. You have nothing to worry about if its only 3 a week.

wildirishrose · 27/12/2012 13:37

Its an artificial product, we are not meant to have it

Also

Many people use artificial sweeteners to cut their caloric intake, but the very opposite effect can occur. New research shows that artificial sweeteners stimulate taste receptors that sense sweetness in both the esophagus and stomach. Anticipating energy, the pancreas releases insulin, an important hormone for accumulating body fat. At the same time, chemicals are sent to the brain?s satiety center, which becomes confused as to whether or not the body is actually receiving calories. The result? You feel even hungrier and less full, which can lead to weight gain.

SmileyPenguin · 27/12/2012 13:38

Yanbu. I used to be addicted to the stuff, but gave up when pregnant. If I even taste it now, its disgusting to me, tastes of chemicals.

I do like Sainsbury sugar free squash and fizzy drinks though, none of them contain aspartame :)

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 13:40

I drink loads of the stuff, no way am I giving it up, its one of my few bad habits

Everything fun/nice in life is illegal, immoral or bad for you :)

You only drink 3-4 bottles a week, I really wouldnt worry about it.

Theicingontop · 27/12/2012 13:42

Same, smileypenguin. Had to kick my habit when I was pregnant. It's very difficult and the withdrawel is fierce. It does taste of chemicals now to me.

Did you guys know that Robinsons full-sugar squash has it in? I was shocked.

BunFagFreddie · 27/12/2012 13:42

YANBU, even if there's no scientific proof, you're entitled to your opinion, you can think what you like and choose what you want to eat and drink!

Fwiw, we don't have artificial sweeteners in our house, and we know plenty of people who have the same opinion.

As for so called experts claiming it's safe - fuck you science, I don't want your crappy made up foods.

CatPussRoastingOnAnOpenFire · 27/12/2012 13:43

Pepsi Max and Coke Zero are just diet Coke/Pepsi repackaged to make them more appealing to men!

ReindeerHooves · 27/12/2012 13:43

3 or 4 a week?! I drink that in a day! I'm horribly addicted and have been for years. I get withdrawal symptoms - headaches, cravings, anxiety - if I haven't had any for about 24 hours.

For me, I'm not too bothered about the potential issues with aspartame etc although I know it's not great to put so much artificial crap into your body, I just hate the hold it has on me. I've tried to give up no end of times and never last more than a couple of days, possibly because it's just so easy to tell myself that there are far worse things I could be doing - I successfully gave up smoking many years ago for eg and would never go back apart from the twice yearly lapse when out on the piss.

I've had two 500ml bottles today Blush

I need to stop, it's expensive as much as anything. DH is as bad and between us we must spend £20 / week on the goddam stuff.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 13:45

Reindeer - at work I always have 2 500 (sometimes 600) ml bottles per day.

Home bargains do the 500 ml ones for 39p!

ReindeerHooves · 27/12/2012 13:45

OMFG that's a THOUSAND POUNDS A YEAR!

Jesus wept.

ReindeerHooves · 27/12/2012 13:47

I know Betty Grin

Staff shop at work sells ice cold cans at 40p a throw. I drink minimum of two during my 9.30 - 5 day.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 27/12/2012 13:48

Cans are too small for me...I need the bottles :)

Enjoying one right now!!!

OTTMummA · 27/12/2012 13:52

I stopped having coke cold turkey this year, on day 2 I went white as a sheet and threw up, i was so sick i couldn't believe it.
After day 5 i felt better and haven't touched it since.
I think that was more to do with the caffeine than anything else in it though.

FanjoTimeMammariesAndWine · 27/12/2012 14:03

Allergictoironing - sounds like you are allergic to it, rather than it being intrinsically evil

BunFagFreddie · 27/12/2012 14:08

OTT, quitting caffeine is harsh. Well done. Xmas Smile

Willdoitinaminute · 27/12/2012 14:12

I think if you are drinking more than 3 cans a day I'd be more worried about your teeth than whether it causes any other health problems.

Snowkey · 27/12/2012 14:20

I gave up when try to conceive and that was it, have the occasional fizzy drink - maybe once a month at most. The jury may be out on whether they are safe or not but they don't do your body or your wallet much good.

Allergictoironing · 27/12/2012 14:24

Fanjo more an intolerance than allergy to it, I don't have a histamine reaction. But there's an awful lot of people who have similar issues with aspartame plus others who get bad joint ache (not typical food allergy or intolerance symptom) yet it's "sold" to us as healthier than sugar as a sweetener. It can be physically addictive too as though with some people the headaches they get are from the caffeine withdrawal, there are people who used non-caffeine diet drinks who got the same withdrawal symptoms on giving up aspartame - that in itself should be a warning sign.

Willdoitinaminute they are talking about diet coke, so the tooth rotting element of sugar isn't involved at all.