topic Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit in Wellness

Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

granddi — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 01:45:25 GMT

I am on day 4 of my mission to kick the Diet Coke habit. I have tried to quit cold turkey but by 9am the headache is just too much for me.

I have one in the morning and one in the afternoon and am doing pretty good since I can easily drink 5-6 per day. Not only is the caffeine bad but the sodium is just bad too.

I've been drinking watered down tea and watered down juices but they don't satisfy by thirst. Any suggestions from those have had success.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

lolakimono — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 01:53:18 GMT

How about some scare tactics?

7 Gross Side Effects Of Diet Soda

Wait 'til you hear what it’s really doing to you

By Mandy Oaklander

This August marks the 30th birthday of Diet Coke, and to celebrate we’re going to douse you with a bit of caramel-colored truth-telling: The beverage you probably feel pretty good about drinking—No calories! No sugar!—is anything but good for you.

Unfortunately, what seems like a healthier habit—hey, it’s not like you’re drinking a can of empty calories, right?—could actually be making you fat. In fact, a University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults found that even just one diet soda a day was linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that put you at risk for heart disease.

But people are still sipping the stuff, and in record numbers. Kids consume diet soda at more than double the rate of the last decade, according to research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Among adults, consumption has grown almost 25%.

Need the motivation to kick your soda habit for good? Put down the can, and check out the 7 Side Effects of Drinking Diet Soda.

Kidney Problems

Here’s something you didn’t know about your diet soda: It might be bad for your kidneys. In an 11-year-long Harvard Medical School study of more than 3,000 women, researchers found that diet cola is associated with a two-fold increased risk for kidney decline. Kidney function started declining when women drank more than two sodas a day. Even more interesting: Since kidney decline was not associated with sugar-sweetened sodas, researchers suspect that the diet sweeteners are responsible.

Messed-Up Metabolism

According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers’ eating habits is unclear. But is that one can really worth it?

Obesity

You read that right: Diet soda doesn’t help you lose weight after all. A University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%. Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body’s natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods, suggested an animal study from Purdue University. That means people who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it’s eating sugar, and you crave more.

A Terrible Hangover

Your first bad decision was ordering that Vodka Diet—and you may make the next one sooner than you thought. Cocktails made with diet soda get you drunker, faster, according to a study out of the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia. That’s because sugar-free mixers allow liquor to enter your bloodstream much quicker than those with sugar, leaving you with a bigger buzz.

Cell Damage

Diet sodas contain something many regular sodas don’t: mold inhibitors. They go by the names sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate, and they’re in nearly all diet sodas. But many regular sodas, such as Coke and Pepsi, don’t contain this preservative.

That’s bad news for diet drinkers. "These chemicals have the ability to cause severe damage to DNA in the mitochondria to the point that they totally inactivate it - they knock it out altogether,” Peter Piper, a professor of molecular biology and biotechnology at the University of Sheffield in the U.K., told a British newspaper in 1999. The preservative has also been linked to hives, asthma, and other allergic conditions, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Since then, some companies have phased out sodium benzoate. Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi have replaced it with another preservative, potassium benzoate. Both sodium and potassium benzoate were classified by the Food Commission in the UK as mild irritants to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.

Rotting Teeth

With a pH of 3.2, diet soda is very acidic. (As a point of reference, the pH of battery acid is 1. Water is 7.) The acid is what readily dissolves enamel, and just because a soda is diet doesn’t make it acid-light. Adults who drink three or more sodas a day have worse dental health, says a University of Michigan analysis of dental checkup data. Soda drinkers had far greater decay, more missing teeth, and more fillings.

Reproductive Issues

Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. That’s a lot of risk taking for one can of pop.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

skittles — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 02:01:29 GMT

I realized that what I craved about my Diet Cokes was the carbonization. (thankfully I didn't have any caffeine withdrawal issues). So, I started drinking La Croix type sparkling waters....0 calories...very low sodium. I also 'treat' myself to a diet drink that doesn't taste like a diet Coke. I don't know if you've noticed that there is a 'harsh' taste with the Diet Cokes...but weirdly, I will crave that every now and then. Between the sparkling water (and you can get it flavored and no sweetener) and my Diet Barq's (little caffeine) I've been able to kick the Diet coke habit. Oh, and when I'm home, I try to drink more water (I like ice...so being home it's easier to do).

I know I'm still 'treating' myself with the fake sugar drink...but it's just one every now and then so I do feel better! Probably could get myself off of that too, but I'm ok with it right now!

Good luck!!!

OH...and other board members, please don't tell me that my La Croix is a problem!! I love that stuff!!!

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

gazelle77 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 02:06:14 GMT

I use to drink about a six pack of diet rite cola a day. Now instead I brew a big vat of decafe herb tea, enough to last two days. I drink it iced or hot, depending how I feel. I sweeten it with the herb stevia. I have been drinking the herb tea for 10 months now and do not miss my soda at all!

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

daisyk — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 02:36:10 GMT

granddi, you are not alone in your pursuit to kick the habit. I have a bad diet coke habit myself so I appreciate any tips noted here. I find I really dig the carbonation-I like the "bite", so I need to try some more of the bubbly waters, I don't like club soda at all. Will experiment with teas too as an alternate. I do drink water, but sometimes you need some flavor and for me some bubbles. Good luck!

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

Slainte — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 03:08:28 GMT

I made the switch from diet soda to Polar and LaCroix, but I also like the Kroger store brand of lemon/lime carbonated water.

What you might try is cutting back gradually by watering down the diet coke with carbonated water over a period of a week, a little more water to coke ratio every day. Stopping cold turkey can be hard.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

CinNC — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 03:21:15 GMT

Isn't this a nasty addiction? I've been off/on diet coke for years. I find that when I'm ""off"" that I crave sweets less and sleep better - extremely sensitive to caffeine. I was going to try to water it down w/club soda at some point. I usually have one 16 oz bottle a day - lots less than what I used to drink.

Good luck everyone!

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

aprilskies — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 03:28:44 GMT

Cut back even further slowly. Have half of one in the morning and half in the afternoon. It will help with the headaches. Get some carbonated water. Great for a carbonation fix. I am now trying to cut back myself but with coffee. I love coffee, I just have too much of it. I have to do it slowly. I am trying to drink more tea. Sometimes just want a hot cup of something. Good luck.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

Rock_chick — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 03:31:02 GMT

I have quit before and most often cut down to one a day, but eventually I get sick and just want that carbonation again. So I need to once again wean myself off it. I've never gotten the headache though - and I drink the regular kind.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

Nancy Drew — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 04:18:30 GMT

I miss the fizz so I used the waters out there with carbonation to kick my DC habit.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

hckynut — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 05:11:27 GMT

I've had successes quitting a whole lot of things in my life connected to eating/drinking/smoking/non-exercising and I could go on and on. I also have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian since the mid 1970's.

For me the easiest way was "cold turkey" as "quit a little here quit a little there" did nothing to help me completely quit. Was it easy? No, but I didn't have headaches or any physical reactions to all of the things I quit completely. The only challenge for me was a major mental challenge, and mental challenges can make a person sick.

That is about all I can tell you as far as what "you should do", but I do wish you complete success in your endeavor. Your body will certainly appreciate it.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

chattycathi — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 05:15:38 GMT

I have not had a diet soda in 1 yr! I was a 6 pk a day of diet pepsi girl and Tab before that since 1974! Once I turned 50 the weight just started piling on and I couldn't do a thing about it. Last April I cut out all diet foods and drinks, most processed foods...I'm still working on that. I have had severe fibromyalgia for 20 yrs and I feel so much better eating clean. When I get the urge for a fizzy drink I use my SodaStream and add just a touch of fresh fruit juice...strawberry, watermelon, blueberry, orange and that satisfies my craving in a healthy way!

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

bowlicious — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 05:24:47 GMT

I quit drinking caffeine free diet pepsi in December. I at least didn't have the headaches from the lack of caffeine. I now drink a very small amount of reg pepsi. I get a small glass and drink about 3-4 oz at a time. I then drink water for the rest of the day. It works for me without adding a lot of calories. I think the benefits have been I am less achey and I sleep better at night. Diet drinks taste terrible to me now. I wish you luck. You can do it.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

bells4me — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 05:27:46 GMT

I always drank original Coca Cola, but only one a day. I could never drink the diet sodas. I broke the habit by drinking Crystal Light pink lemonade. Now I have discovered Sparkling Ice. It replaces the fizz you crave.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

Bird — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 05:39:14 GMT

Fortunately I didn't have a diet cola addiction, but I did have a strong coffee addiction and I know what those withdrawal headaches are like. I juice fast regularly, and it was my first juice fast that I decided the headaches were too much for me.

I decided (and this worked for me) to only have one small cup of coffee in the morning during my juice fast. Only one, and I bought it at a store, so it wasn't in the house. This actually worked for me, with minimal headache in the afternoon. I decided to continue the one-small-coffee-per-day after the fast ended. Subsequent juice fasts I reduced that cup to 2/3 cup, then 1/2 cup. After about a year and a half I just decided to quit all of it, and I had only a hint of that terrible headache.

Well that worked for me with coffee. During that time I treated it, psychologically, like a drug, rather than a drink I enjoyed. Somehow it worked. - Bird

P.S. If you go cold turkey you shouldn't be at all miserable on the 5th day.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 05:42:34 GMT

Only you can judge what you can handle, but for goodness sakes, don't torture yourself. There is a caffeine free version of diet coke ..... but maybe you need to wean yourself off gradually. I wouldn't do it cold turkey .... but good luck to you!

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

phoenixbrd — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 05:48:22 GMT

Try Zevia....you can get it at Whole Foods.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

beach-mom — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 06:12:00 GMT

When I was first pregnant, my doctor told me NO caffeine. I drank a lot of diet coke during the day, well, at night too! I did go cold turkey. For someone like me, who gets migraines, it wasn't easy. The doctor told me to take Tylenol and I'd feel better after a few days. It was rough for the first two days, and then I was OK headache wise. But I still craved the taste! I'm not a fan of Sprite at all. He told me to try root beer that wasn't caffeinated, so that's pretty much what I drank.

Now I drink caffeine-free DC. DH refuses to drink any diet drinks. He drinks water, but once in a while will have a regular Coke. I try not to drink as much as I used to, but it's hard. It's probably my biggest "addiction."

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

MidNight — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 07:07:02 GMT

Good for you for giving it up!.....So you dont feel deprived you may want to try this.......We drink Trador Joes sparkling blue water with citrus flavor and i add Now foods Lemon stevia.You only use a few drops of stevia so the bottle last awhile....This is SO good its like a soda without the calories and harmful effects of sugar.I get the Now foods stevia at Amazon or I Herb.com..They also make a fruit punch one Vanilla,hazelnut which i use in my coffee...My DD and grandkids are all drinking this now.Stevia is actually good for you btw.

Re: Determined to break the (Diet Coke) caffeine habit

Sunnycorle — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 15:50:45 GMT

On 4/17/2014 CindyinNC said:
Isn't this a nasty addiction? I've been off/on diet coke for years. I find that when I'm ""off"" that I crave sweets less and sleep better - extremely sensitive to caffeine. I was going to try to water it down w/club soda at some point. I usually have one 16 oz bottle a day - lots less than what I used to drink.

Good luck everyone!

Me too sister! On and Off with more on than off. Right now I am drinking about 4 a day and trying to do water the rest of the day. Will go down to 1 or 2 soon. I just love it so much and I know its bad for me.