Diet Coke Addict Tells His Dark Story

Diet Coke Addiction...It's No Laughing Matter!

There is a dark side of me that I have kept hidden from the rest of the world. For years I was a Diet Coke addict. I used to rationalize that it kept me from drinking regular Coke. Who would have known how deep into the rabbit hole I would plunge (yeah…I know this is a misuse of the phrase from the Matrix…go with it).

It All Started With a "Big Gulp" from 7-Eleven.

I was filling my gas tank and purchased a 32 oz Big Gulp of Diet Coke. I think it was 89 cents if memory serves correctly. With tax it was less than a buck! Every morning after that I started to get a Big Gulp on the way to work. It was way cheaper than Starbucks, it woke me up and didn't give me "stinky" breath. I was hooked!

My Supplier (7-Eleven) Really Got Me on the Diet Soda Train With Refillable Cups!

Big Gulps were basically a gateway drug for the harder stuff…Super Big Gulps and Refillable Super Big Gulps! I forget the price, but I bought one of these cups immediately. I believe I could get a 44oz refill for the same price as my 32 ounce Big Gulp. Plus 32 ounces wasn't satisfying me anymore!

This Wild Diet Coke Train Ride Went on for Over Two Years!

Towards the end I would get one liter bottles from "AM PM". I switched suppliers because 7-Eleven started to get greedy with me. AM PM also had a deal where you could get two one liter plastic bottles of Diet Coke for 2 Dollars! After a while I liked drinking it straight from the bottle, because I didn't want any ice to water down the flavor. That is when I knew I reached "Rock Bottom"!

My Diet Coke Detox…Actually Not Very Tough!

I finally gave up drinking large amounts of diet coke and replaced it with Green Tea and water. I never felt bad while drinking Diet Coke and I never had a problem burning body fat or anything like that…It just can't be good to have a large amount of chemicals in your body each day.

So Why Did I Share Some of My Life Struggles With You?

I mean I really wanted to explore the health and fitness consequences of drinking diet soda. At this point I have to admit, I don't really know the health consequences. I have probably consumed enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool, so maybe I should look into this!

I'm Not an Expert on Diet Soda Health Risks, So I am Going to Post Different Links Below With A Sentence Or Two

1) American Beverage Association: An article that clears up a misconception of a recent study. They say that there is NO link between diet sodas and heart disease.

2) The Stanford Daily: They say that there really isn't much of a risk for the artificial sweeteners, like people used to think. They do emphasize that it could effect bone density over a long period of time, so women in particular should not consume too much.

3) Google Answers : Quote "There seems to be a lingering perception that non-nutritive sweeteners are bad for you. But research hasn’t shown any significant health concerns. In 1977, the FDA proposed a ban on saccharin because of a suspected link to cancer in rats. It turned out that the research was flawed. There’s no credible evidence that saccharin or other non-nutritive sweeteners cause cancer."

4) Fox News: This article highlights a flawed study showing that people who drink diet sodas gain more weight. When probed the researcher said it wasn't because of the diet soda…it was that people thought they could eat more because they were drinking diet soda.

5) The Black Table: This has to be my favorite link to Diet Coke. It tells the history of how it started in 1982 with a $100 million dollar ad campaign. There is a neat story called "The Cult of Diet Coke"…I guess I was a member at one time!

6) Wikipedia: Like most of the subjects on this site, this one goes deep into diet soda and the history of the artificial sweeteners, etc.

7) MSNBC: This highlights the original recent study that linked Diet Soda to heart disease and diabetes. What they eventually prove that it isn't the diet soda, it is what diet soda drinkers normally eat…sweets, fattening foods, etc. So diet soda doesn't actually cause heart disease or diabetes.

8) Mt Sinai Hospital: An interesting study showing that your intestines have taste receptors…and if something tastes sweet, even if it's artificial sweeteners, your body will act as if sugar is present and react accordingly. This article was forwarded by "C"…a reader and contributor to Fitness Black Book.

9) Gentle Dental Care: This article is amazing. It shows if you drink something that causes the PH levels in your mouth to drop, the enamel in your teeth begin to wear away! It compares Water (the best), a bunch of popular drinks, and Battery Acid (not good for you teeth at all…LOL). Another stellar article forwarded to me by "C"!

To Be Honest…Diet Coke Doesn't Look That Bad After All!

Just drink it in moderation and you should be fine!

Go to My Controversial Fitness Blog, "Fitness Black Book", By Clicking one of My Recent Posts Below!

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