[Ski]

#1071985

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this question ~ I just did a quick search and found a post from November with lots of responses, you may want to take a look.

Here is a cut-and-pasted version of my response at that time:

As far as I know, there are no reputable studies to connect aspartame (NutraSweet) with any kind of diseases, though the suggestions are on the internet LIKE CRAZY. That said, I drank Diet Coke to the exclusion of any other drink for years (yes, I hate to admit it, years) before I was diagnosed with Graves’. It could have been the caffeine, or it could have been aspartame, or it could have been the exclusion of healthy drinks for all that time, but I think it may have served as some type of physical trigger, or perhaps it made me vulnerable.

Now, once you’ve got Graves’ ~ do you stop drinking the Diet Coke, or, if it has done damage, is the damage done already? Hard to say. There are no reputable studies that it causes specific harm, but what good does it do? Now that I don’t drink it any more, I can barely tolerate it, it’s like drinking a can of chemicals. It’s definitely better to be providing your body with some type of nutrient, or if not, just flushing it with plain water. I can’t see much good coming from sucking down a can full of stuff you can’t even pronounce. Just my two cents.

[cathycnm]

#1071986

We were just studying the low cal sweetners in pharmacology. There were no real links to disease except for saccrine and cancer in animals. When those studies came out – my mom (a dietitian) was very upset with the press because for many diabetics this was healthier than sugar. And the amount they fed the rats was like the equivalent of 10 pounds a day of sugar.

There are many new choices in low cal sweetners in the forefront – it would not surprise me to see the colas change at some point – once we know more about these. Many are closer is structure to sugar itself.

Caffeine – on the other hand – has been linked to some physical illnesses. And who knows – maybe it is the combo of the two that is the culprit. I have 1/2 diet coke or so a day – try to stay below that. The caffeine and my sleep do not mix but I prefer non-sugar sweetners due to some tendency toward low blood sugar that spike and plummets after a regular soda. Cathy

[mamabear]

#1071987

I thought this might be a good bit of info for Cathy just in case it ever comes up.

I have only drank diet soda on the very very rare occasion. I’m 35 so many 20 times in my life. I have graves although in remission.

I would like to say that I use to eat sugar cubes as snacks for years. Yes i know shame on me but I was a hyper girl and I always drank soda and ate sugar. Our great grandmother we called fat nana(it was a term of endearment, we loved her so), she was the sugar fairy and that is how we got started. We also added a lot of salt to our food as well. I drink soda still but not as much and I don’t eat extra salt to my food unless it calls for it.

[ely2009]

#1019492

Anyone have any opinions/knowledge/facts about the link between aspartame and graves? It’s come up in some of the reading I’ve been doing.

I was a Diet Coke drinker for years – I always wondered if the specualtion that it wasn’t good for you was true. Of course I kept drinking it. Other than that, we have been pretty healthy eaters since my children were born.

I stopped caffeine and aspartame when I was feeling SO BAD at the beginning of the year, but before my diagnosis. I figured that I already felt HORRIBLE so that was the time to give those things up!

Just curious.

Emily

[DianneW]

#1071988

Just my two cents worth: I’m something of a health nut, and don’t consume aspartame, though everything I’ve read about it that’s reputable indicates that it’s harmless. It’s composed of chemicals that really shouldn’t bother anyone. Most of what you read on the internet about it is scientifically impossible, which anyone who had taken basic college chemistry would understand. Still, I prefer plain water.

No matter how careful we are with what we consume, we’re exposed to horribly toxic chemicals daily that we aren’t even aware of: in our food, in the air, from our carpets, furniture, dishes, and clothing. Most of it, if we only knew, would make aspartame look like mother’s milk.

[cathycnm]

#1071989

Mamabear – Funny on the cubes.

Dianne and all – Last summer, when my endo had me on the low iodine diet, I started reading lables because things like some types of soy had iodine. I had gone with the less expensive sugar free ice tea and drink mixes. WOW – I read the lable and said "I can’t believe I thought this was better than diet pepsi?" I switched to lipten brand then – it uses splenda and does not have the dyes. It is the only low calorie sweetner actually derived from sucrose. I am not sure if it makes me feel different. But I feel like it is a healthier choice. I never cared for water – though I do drink more now. With the diuretic for my osteoporosis (calcium levels), I have upped my fluids a lot this year. I feel good about the healthier choice even though it costs a bit more. Cathy

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