The Dark Truth About Diet Coke

[Diamond_Dog]

Donny’s favorite drink …..

(snip)

Despite its undeniable popularity, Diet Coke’s nutritional rap sheet remains a cause for concern. The popular drink has long ignited controversy among researchers, dietitians, and doctors who primarily take issue with its artificial sweetener aspartame. In late 2024, rumors even circulated of a Diet Coke ban, and while it was quickly debunked as just that (a rumor!), it's only revived this decades-long convo.

(snip)

Research also suggests that Diet Coke and other products with artificial sweeteners might be increasing your risk of dementia. "This is due to aspartame and sucralose disrupting neurotransmitter activity, which can affect brain function," Riley says.

Indeed, a 2017 study on the subject found that individuals who consumed diet sodas daily were three times as likely to suffer from dementia or a stroke compared to those that don't. Another study found similar evidence in 2019 after testing the different effects of sweeteners on behavior and neurotransmitters release in mice.

https://www.delish.com/food-news/a63785935/is-diet-coke-bad-for-you-aspartame/

[dem4decades]

1. If diet coke gives you dementia, I've got problems in my future.

When I worked I lived on that shit.

[alittlelark]

2. That stuff tastes so nasty I have no idea how people drink it

[live love laugh]

3. Trump guzzles it regularly. So that's good news.

[Diamond_Dog]

11. He needs to drink more.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. I have known for decades that all soft drinks

are genuinely terrible for you. Diet soft drinks, vastly worse.

I have no idea if anyone/any groups out there keep track of things like soft drinks, diet soft drinks, who drinks them, what happens when you drink that crap.

But I'd love to see that research.

[Diamond_Dog]

9. I can give you an anecdote.

My late cousin drank a 12-pack of Diet Coke (in cans) A DAY. He was really messed up health-wise. High blood sugar, high blood pressure, bad heart, very obese, and his mind wasn’t all there towards the end.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

13. It's anecdotal, but informative.

I've gone from sugar sodas to diet sodas, back to sugar, and about four decades ago, essentially NO soft drinks of any kind.

Dare I point out I am the healthiest person I know? I never get sick. Last cold was over a decade ago, last influenza (and brace yourself here) was in something like 1974. Maybe 1975.

And I absolutely mean it that I haven't had flu in well over 40 years.

Were everyone as healthy as I am, some 90% of doctors would have no patients. OBGYNs would still have work to do, but most medical personnel, not so much.

[Linda ladeewolf]

5. I find diet coke

To be almost addictive, I have to watch my sugar intake carefully right now, so I drink it, but I try not to overdo it. Those sweeteners are also addictive.

[Kilgore]

6. I have an excellent alternative

Soda water diluted with scotch!!

[Diamond_Dog]

7. Ya know, that actually sounds really good.....

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. I'm inclined to stick to gin & tonic,

mainly because I personally find scotch undrinkable. Sigh.

[Diamond_Dog]

10. I love a good gin and tonic too

[EverHopeful]

12. Or neat

Which is my preference 🙂

[marble falls]

14. Where can I send him a sixpack?

[Crunchy Frog]

15. I finally managed to get my mom off Diet Coke,

but sadly, she's already in the early stages of dementia.

[alina87]

16. diet coke popularity

It’s interesting how Diet Coke remains such a hot topic after all these years. The concerns about aspartame and brain health are definitely worth paying attention to, especially with studies linking artificial sweeteners to dementia. At the same time, millions drink it daily without immediate issues. Moderation seems like the best approach until more research gives us clearer answers.

[Lulu KC]

17. Interesting "hot topic"

Is your interest really in diet coke?

[JoseBalow]

18. Spammer