Health

Diamond_Dog

(37,036 posts) Fri Feb 28, 2025, 10:37 PM Feb 28

The Dark Truth About Diet Coke

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/

19 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

The Dark Truth About Diet Coke (Original Post) Diamond_Dog Feb 28 OP

If diet coke gives you dementia, I've got problems in my future. dem4decades Feb 28 #1

That stuff tastes so nasty I have no idea how people drink it alittlelark Feb 28 #2

Trump guzzles it regularly. So that's good news. live love laugh Feb 28 #3

He needs to drink more. Diamond_Dog Feb 28 #11

I have known for decades that all soft drinks PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 28 #4

I can give you an anecdote. Diamond_Dog Feb 28 #9

It's anecdotal, but informative. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 28 #13

I find diet coke Linda ladeewolf Feb 28 #5

I have an excellent alternative Kilgore Feb 28 #6

Ya know, that actually sounds really good..... Diamond_Dog Feb 28 #7

I'm inclined to stick to gin & tonic, PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 28 #8

I love a good gin and tonic too Diamond_Dog Feb 28 #10

Or neat EverHopeful Feb 28 #12

Where can I send him a sixpack? marble falls Mar 1 #14

I finally managed to get my mom off Diet Coke, Crunchy Frog Mar 1 #15

diet coke popularity alina87 Mar 4 #16

Interesting "hot topic" Lulu KC Mar 4 #17

Spammer JoseBalow Mar 4 #18

Post removed Post removed Apr 22 #19

dem4decades

(12,784 posts)

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

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 10:43 PM

Feb 28

When I worked I lived on that shit.

alittlelark

(18,987 posts)

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

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 10:58 PM

Feb 28

live love laugh

(15,337 posts)

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

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:10 PM

Feb 28

Diamond_Dog

(37,036 posts)

11. He needs to drink more.

Reply to live love laugh (Reply #3)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:31 PM

Feb 28

PoindexterOglethorpe

(27,860 posts)

4. I have known for decades that all soft drinks

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:12 PM

Feb 28

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

(37,036 posts)

9. I can give you an anecdote.

Reply to PoindexterOglethorpe (Reply #4)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:29 PM

Feb 28

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

(27,860 posts)

13. It's anecdotal, but informative.

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Reply #9)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:47 PM

Feb 28

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

(900 posts)

5. I find diet coke

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:19 PM

Feb 28

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

(1,818 posts)

6. I have an excellent alternative

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:22 PM

Feb 28

Soda water diluted with scotch!!

Diamond_Dog

(37,036 posts)

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

Reply to Kilgore (Reply #6)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:25 PM

Feb 28

PoindexterOglethorpe

(27,860 posts)

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

Reply to Kilgore (Reply #6)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:29 PM

Feb 28

mainly because I personally find scotch undrinkable. Sigh.

Diamond_Dog

(37,036 posts)

10. I love a good gin and tonic too

Reply to PoindexterOglethorpe (Reply #8)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:30 PM

Feb 28

EverHopeful

(506 posts)

12. Or neat

Reply to Kilgore (Reply #6)

Fri Feb 28, 2025, 11:33 PM

Feb 28

Which is my preference 🙂

marble falls

(65,508 posts)

14. Where can I send him a sixpack?

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Sat Mar 1, 2025, 12:40 AM

Mar 1

Crunchy Frog

(27,592 posts)

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

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Sat Mar 1, 2025, 06:10 AM

Mar 1

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

alina87

(1 post)

16. diet coke popularity

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Tue Mar 4, 2025, 05:18 AM

Mar 4

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

(8,108 posts)

17. Interesting "hot topic"

Reply to alina87 (Reply #16)

Tue Mar 4, 2025, 01:08 PM

Mar 4

Is your interest really in diet coke?

JoseBalow

(7,501 posts)

18. Spammer

Reply to Lulu KC (Reply #17)

Tue Mar 4, 2025, 04:10 PM

Mar 4

Response to Diamond_Dog (Original post)

Name removed Message auto-removed

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