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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell you about my experience with fizzy drinks?

34 replies

Junction6 · 20/01/2026 07:52

At the start of the year I decided to make some changes, one of which was stopping drinking fizzy drinks. This was primarily motivated by them being bad for dental health, but also that I’d read they’re awful for gut biome. I always drank diet versions, so calories weren’t an issue.

I’d also started to recognise something almost akin to addiction - if I didn’t have any for a little while, I’d almost start to crave it, and the craving would go away with the first mouthful. It was the only thing I’d drink, aside from tea and coffee. I rarely drank water.

Anyway, it might be completely unrelated but I’m so much less bloated (unsurprisingly) but also much more regular. After years of swerving between the runs and constipation, and everything in between, I’m going regularly and normally. I just feel generally better.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

OP posts:
MissCooCooMcgoo · 20/01/2026 08:01

If you pump crap in, you get crap out.

Would have thought that was obvious

2026NewTricks · 20/01/2026 08:03

How much were you drinking?

Turmerictea · 20/01/2026 08:03

Well done!
Im trying very hard to cut down with a view to quit - i know when I don't drink diet cola I feel better. How did you do it?

socks1107 · 20/01/2026 08:05

Yes I gave up cola twelve months ago and drank huel the fizzy one until November when I cut that out. I don’t want them at all now and it’s been great for my bloating and my purse. My parents always had fizzy drinks in and they were always available to drink so I’m really pleased this is a habit I’ve managed to curb.
my constipation however is worse so I’m planning a trip to Holland and Barrett later today to see what I can take daly to help

Bbq1 · 20/01/2026 08:07

I drank 4 cans of diet coke per day for quite a long time about 11 years ago. Couldn't tell you the last time I had it since I quit but I only drink the very, very occasional can nowadays.

leaflikebrew · 20/01/2026 08:08

Following this thread with interest as my 20 year old DD has bowel issues and not sure how much fizzy drinks she has.

LowdermilkPark · 20/01/2026 08:13

I definitely have an addiction to Pepsi max. I drink at least 2 per day.

My dentists always congratulates me on the condition of my teeth though, and I don’t have any bloating or gut issues.

hellotojason · 20/01/2026 08:13

I've massively cut down too, noticed it would increase headaches and generally feeling a bit fuzzy. As others said not surprising as full of crap. I do like a fizzy drink though so have a soda stream to make sparkling water and drink it with a nice cordial like Belvoir or on its own, much nicer but feels a bit more special than a glass of still drink ☺️

Dannexe · 20/01/2026 08:23

I started drinking diet coke when on Maternity leave and drank 4-5 cans a day for 17 years. At one point I upped it to include 2 cans of red bull.
I stopped last July. I replaced my first drink of the day with a collagen drink followed by one cup of coffee and the rest is replaced by water.
i don’t feel that much different but I know it will have made a difference to my body. The key was a new routine for that first drink of the day. Drinking two hot drinks close together also means I’m more hydrated early on so don’t reach for the easy option.

BertieBotts · 20/01/2026 08:24

Interesting, DH mainly drinks diet pepsi and his stomach is always bothering him. I'll suggest trying to cut them out temporarily.

UnimatrixZeroOne · 20/01/2026 08:31

MissCooCooMcgoo · 20/01/2026 08:01

If you pump crap in, you get crap out.

Would have thought that was obvious

What a bitchy reply! 🙄

MissCooCooMcgoo · 20/01/2026 08:35

UnimatrixZeroOne · 20/01/2026 08:31

What a bitchy reply! 🙄

But it's true. You pump crap in you get crap out.

It's very very easy to keep yourself healthy.

CoffeePlse · 20/01/2026 08:37

Former Pepsi Max addict here. I think some people find it hard to understand how addictive it can be, and it's not about the caffeine. I drink coffee but still crave the Pepsi most days!

beezlebubnicky · 20/01/2026 08:39

I don't find it an issue, no, and there's not compelling scientific evidence for what you're saying.

Anyone saying that they're addictive, that's the caffeinated ones. I have a decaf Pepsi Max most days, but sometimes I don't have them or don't have them for a few weeks. No difference.

BobbieTables · 20/01/2026 08:39

MissCooCooMcgoo · 20/01/2026 08:01

If you pump crap in, you get crap out.

Would have thought that was obvious

Whatever you put in you get crap out haha 🤣
Sorry, couldn't resist.

Junction6 · 20/01/2026 08:39

Thanks all. I was drinking the equivalent of 2-4 cans per day, and very little else besides tea or coffee. I think I was chronically dehydrated. I haven’t quite got to the point where I’m drinking enough water but getting there.

In terms of how I did it, I just stopped. The first two weeks were tricky but that seems to have broken the habit.

Like I say, it may all be coincidental, but thought it might be of interest.

OP posts:
oscalo · 20/01/2026 08:43

I'll have to put something else in my vodka now after reading this. 😊😊😊

magikarpediem · 20/01/2026 08:45

Artificial sweeteners are known to cause stomach issues and upsets to the microbiome so I’m not surprised you feel better! I also love fizzy drinks, but despise artificial sweeteners so limit to one a day of something like cawstons or dalstons or squash with fizzy water and it does the trick!

willitevergetwarm · 20/01/2026 08:53

oscalo · 20/01/2026 08:43

I'll have to put something else in my vodka now after reading this. 😊😊😊

I switched to vodka, lime and sparkling water when I gave up pepsi. Very refreshing and still getting the water intake required imo 😂😂😂

PShelp · 20/01/2026 08:55

Swapped my diet coke addiction for a soda stream, now chug fizzy tap water all day! Noticed a huge difference mainly with my skin

oscalo · 20/01/2026 09:01

willitevergetwarm · 20/01/2026 08:53

I switched to vodka, lime and sparkling water when I gave up pepsi. Very refreshing and still getting the water intake required imo 😂😂😂

Ah I was joking, I don't drink alcohol at all (and I polish my halo regularly ha ha).

My go to drink is plain tap water with apple and blackberry cordial. It's on the go at my desk all day. Probably not the best, but not the worst either I suppose!

KoalaBlue1 · 20/01/2026 09:05

Diet drinks are full of replacement sugars. Aspartame is one and long term use affects the brain.

zingally · 20/01/2026 10:16

I never got a taste for fizzy drinks growing up. I just can't stand the fizzy sensation. My sister can't either.
My dad used to have the large bottles of caffeine free coke when we were growing up. Perhaps a bottle a week. But my sister and I were never interested in drinking it because of the yucky sensation!

That being said, I know I have a bit of an addiction to coffee.
I've always had a rule that I don't have it very first thing in the morning. I don't need it to get out of bed. I have it once I get to work.
But if I go a day or two without it, for whatever reason, I start to get headaches.

Morepositivemum · 20/01/2026 10:19

I used to drink a fair bit of sprite and I found when I drank that or fizzy orange I had bloating, was irritable. I not have one can of coke at the weekend and all is easier, have lost weight, less irritable, drinking water more, skin better

ShortColdandGrey · 20/01/2026 10:27

I have IBS and very rarely drink fizzy juice as I have noticed it is a trigger to the condition. This year I am going to cut it our completely. I loved the winter Irn Bru they brought out last year and lived to regret it 😂

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