Diet Drinks - Good or Not?

When we refer to diet drinks, people mostly think of Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Sprite et al. But it's more than that - anything that says 0% sugar or no sugar means it's using sweeteners to replace the sugar. (Why not read our article all about the sweeteners including Aspartame and Saccharin!)

But Don't Diet Drinks Have Less Sugar?

Yes, they do contain significantly less calories than other more sugary beverages that undoubtedly have much higher levels of calories and sugar. However, there are two schools of thought regarding the consumption of diet drinks as opposed to their sugary counterparts.

On the one hand, the advantages and benefits of drinking large quantities of low calorie liquids are obvious. You can gain your daily requirements for liquid intake without compromising your diet plan or waistline. On the other hand, diet drinks contain such ingredients as aspartame and other artificial sweeteners, phosphoric acid phenylalanine, acesulfame K and caffeine.

What About the Caffeine?

As stated above, caffeine is often found in diet drinks. Concerns relating to the content of caffeine within such beverages include the effect of addiction on your neurological system and on the kidneys.

Caffeine is a diuretic and causes the body to dehydrate. This is one reason, according to some, why you tend to consume such high quantities of such liquids without satisfying your thirst.

Thirst Vs Hunger

A related issue to this involves the confusion regarding the differences between thirst and hunger which can directly cause over indulgence. Some people will tend to eat more food when in reality all they crave is liquid hydration.

Artificial sweeteners in beverages make the neurological pathways respond to a sweet taste by priming the hepatic organ intake a new supply of sucrose. When none arrives, the liver delivers hunger pangs. This can actually cause the body to gain weight as you tend to feel more hungry as a result of this process of convincing your liver that you have consumed inadequate quantities of sustenance.

Is There Any Nutritional Gain in 'Diet'?

These liquids do not posses any nutritional value. Sodium is the only ingredient that presents little if any benefits to your health. Water, pure fruit juices or diluted juices are the best forms of beverages that provide the liquids your body needs without compromising your calorie intake.

Interestingly enough, there are higher levels of phenylalanine in regular foods than those found in liquids of this nature. Although some drinks contain perhaps 100mg of this ingredient, an egg has 300mg while a glass of milk has 500mg.