Active Health Concepts, Inc.

Here is an article from The Healthy Edge.

Diet Coke use to be my saving grace on my quest to stay thin and healthy. Seriously, it has no calories, it’s liquid and you get a buzz of energy!

What else could you ask for?

I was a faithful 1-2 cans a day user. I actually felt like it was my “treat” and that I “deserved it”. I looked forward to every sip.

Then I started this healthy stuff and I remember thinking, “I can do without the fast food and I can drink some more water, but I am not giving up my diet cokes.” Well, all good things come to an end and that included my diet cokes. Ignorance is truly bliss, but knowledge is power! So bring it on!

Let’s begin with some side effects of the caffeine which include headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, memory loss, anxiety, depression and increase in stress hormones. WHOA! I was experiencing about 90% of these. Now, for those of you patting yourself on the back because you drink caffeine free…don’t get too excited!

An eight year study at The University of Texas Health Science Center found that nearly all the obesity risk from soft drinks came from diet soda. The risk of becoming overweight or obese increased 36.5% for people drinking only a ½ a can a day and 54.5% for people consuming 1-2 cans a day. That’s not the results I want for something that is suppose to be a “diet”. What’s happening here is that our bodies get the sweet taste of a diet drink, but there are no calories. Your body is no dummy. Your body is geared up for the calories it needs, but nothing is delivered so your appetite (aka your sweet tooth) is stimulated and it wants some real food!! So that’s why I was coming home and eating everything in my house after sipping on diet cokes all day! Who knew?

Now, at this point in the research, I was thinking of cutting back to one a day. Then I found research on the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas and their side effects that included weight gain, menstrual problems (that was me), skin problems (me), yeast infections (me) and central nervous system difficulties (some people would say I was a bit off).

Oh, and the phosphoric acid and sodium in the diet sodas actually leech calcium from your body which can support the onset of osteoporosis. Did you know that the can manufacturers actually apply a special lining in the cans because the phosphoric acid can literally eat through the can? (And I was coating my stomach with this everyday?!) No wonder I had stomach issues.

I also have to briefly add this note as well. It doesn’t just matter what’s in your glass people, but what’s on your plate! Just because you are drinking a “diet” drink doesn’t mean that the food zeroes out as well! The number five combo meal super-sized with a diet soda isn’t going to spare much off your gut or rear. Sorry! Truth hurts.

So, after diving into the truth, I chose to not make diet soda a part of my lifestyle. The results were phenomenal! There are many choices I now make for my health and they all contribute to how I feel and look now, but I have to say that it is LIBERATING and EMPOWERING to have no desire to put that poison in my body. I have never looked back.

At one point I would still indulge once every 2-3 weeks, but it just doesn’t taste as good as I remember. I don’t crave it and I definitely don’t want it in my body reeking havoc! You can do it too! Just for a week or two to start! What have you got to lose except your bad attitude, crazy cravings, some weight, headaches and your lack of energy? Are you kidding me? Sign me up!

Weight control strategies that are both safe and effective are needed to reduce the rate of the current obesity epidemic. In a recent study, people incorporating fortified meal replacements were more likely to have adequate essential nutrient intakes compared to a group following a more traditional food group diet.

Dietary supplements and fortified meal replacements help ensure nutritional adequacy during energy-restricted diets for weight loss

Weight control strategies that are both safe and effective are needed to reduce the rate of the current obesity epidemic. A recent study compared the macronutrient and micronutrient levels in the foods chosen by women following two different weight reduction programs.

Ninety-six generally healthy overweight or obese women randomly placed into two treatment groups: Traditional Food Group (TFG) or a Meal Replacement Group (MRG). The MRG included the use of 1-2 meal replacement drinks or bars per day. Both groups aimed to restrict energy levels to approximately 1,300 calories per day.

After one year, weight loss was not significantly different between the groups, and both groups had macronutrient (Carbohydrate:Protein:Fat) ratios that were within the ranges recommended. Both groups experienced an improved dietary pattern with respect to decreased saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, with increased total servings/day of fruits and vegetables. However, the TFG had a significantly lower dietary intake of several vitamins and minerals compared to the MRG and was at greater risk for inadequate intake.

Although both groups successfully lost weight while improving overall dietary adequacy, the group incorporating fortified meal replacements tended to have a more adequate essential nutrient intake compared to the group following a more traditional food group diet. This study supports the need to incorporate fortified foods and/or dietary supplements while following an energy- restricted diet for weight loss.

Nutr J. 2007 Jun 25;6:12