Is it possible to become addicted to Diet Coke?

[WindRavenX]

I gave up soda about a year ago due to that fact that it was 1) too sugary 2)made me gain weight 3)didn't help my acne. Lately, I had a Diet Coke and am now absolutly addicted to the stuff- I find myself drinking 1 can a day.
I've heard rumors from my other friends and around campus that they too found themselves addicted to Diet Coke. How bad is it for you? I mean, it can't be WORSE than the non-Diet coke, right?

[Emops]

1. ONE can a day?

Um, you're not addicted.

I might go through 2 two-liter bottles of Diet Coke in a day.

John Edwards is addicted to Diet Coke. Dubya is a Coke addict too, but in a different way.

[WindRavenX]

3. well, that's a LOT for me

I used to have one soda (non-diet) once a month, if that.
Now I'm drinking it, in diet form, once a day...that's a HUGE increase, non?

[tcfrogs]

5. Me too

Asked the Dr. about it too. I mostly drink the caffeine free now though. Dr. said there's no problem with it. Dentist doesn't agree. All that carbonation wears on the teeth. Oh well...

[yvr girl]

2. I know lots of people who live on the stuff

Years from now, we'll discover that the soda (pop) companies know of and purposely created their addictive qualities.

Rehab.

[ofrfxsk]

4. I used to drink 6 diet cokes a day.

Yes, it's addictive and it makes you hungrier. Dunno why. Just have some bottled water around at all times and skip the caffeine. Trust me.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

8. Diet Coke With Lime

Really.

Heroin would be so much more time-efficient - no trips to the fridge - but probably a lot more expensive.

It's great.

Just use a straw - cola drinks tend to stain teeth.

[Lorien]

11. Me too

down to 2 cans now. I keep trying to quit, but I'm just so tired without the stuff.

[ofrfxsk]

18. I'm serious

You will feel better if you take two days to get off the diet coke. Drink lots of water and a couple aspirin during the day. You won't need it to wake up after about 3 days and you'll feel a lot better. I've nothing to gain from telling you this so why not just try it?

[DS1]

32. me too, I used to drink the most between 10 am and 2 pm

I've got an enormous glass that fits 2 cans of diet coke and three ice cubes just perfect.

Got severe caffeine withdrawal headaches the first week after I stopped.

[The Great Escape]

6. Well, I'm Addicted To Diet Pepsi, Actually...

I think John Edwards is a big Diet Coke drinker.

[Floogeldy]

7. Don't drink that chemical conglomeration

Filtered water or tea.

[Roland99]

9. Remember that lawsuit filed several weeks ago against Nutrasweet??

I hope Rumsfeld burns in hell for it!

Rumsfeld was named CEO of Nutrasweet about the time Reagan was inaugurated. A few months later, after having been rejected by the FDA for 16 years, Nutrasweet suddenly gets FDA approval after Reagan appoints new people to the FDA.

[barb162]

10. I used to do about 6 cans a day too. Now about 2 cans a day

but more on hot summer days. Now I drink diet, caffeine free only and it can be coke, pepsi or RC and I really don't care which it is. I don't think I call two cans a day or so addiction and what you describe, I don't think that is anywhere near addiction.

[Ruffhowse]

12. I drink my Coke straight, no nutrasweet chemical concoction for me. 5-6

cans a day.

[IronLionZion]

13. just high fructose corn syrup right!

man, most Americans don't know how awesome it is to have cane sugar soda

[CityHall]

22. Got that right

It's impossible to find here. I used to love the Coke in glass bottles at the Mexican import taco/convenience store in Sunnyvale. I thought it was the bottles that made it tase better, before I heard about the cane sugar/corn syrup difference. The Coke people insist there isn't a taste difference - liars. The cane stuff tastes more intense, so you end up drinking less of it too.

[jonnyblitz]

14. i love diet coke. I can't drink regular coke.

nothing tastes better to me. sad isn't it. i know it must be pure poison.

[Roland99]

15. Racketeering (Rico)Charges filed Against NutraSweet,

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2004/9/emw159017.htm

A RACKETEER INFLUENCED & CORRUPT ORGANIZATIONS
As evidence, an explosive affidavit from a former translator for the G.D. Searle Co - the developer of aspartame - will be made public at a National Press Conference on Thursday, September 16 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, 1230 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814, phone [phone].

For 16 years, the FDA denied approval of aspartame because of compelling evidence of its contributing to brain tumors and other serious disabilities. Donald Rumsfeld, present Secretary of Defense in the Bush Administration, left President Ford's administration as Chief of Staff to become the CEO of aspartame producer G D Searle Co. in 1981. Shortly after, Rumsfeld became the CEO, and the day after President Reagan took office, aspartame was quickly approved by FDA Commissioner Arthur Hayes over the objections of the FDA's Public Board of Inquiry. Hayes had been recently appointed by the Reagan Administration. Shortly after aspartame's approval by the FDA, Hayes joined NutraSweet's public relations firm under a ten year contract at $1,000 a day.

Aspartame/NutraSweet was the product of the G. D. Searle Co. In January 1977, the FDA wrote a 33 page letter to U.S. Justice Department Attorney Sam Skinner: "We request that your office convene a Grand Jury investigation into apparent violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act." Skinner allowed the Statute of Limitations to run.


Click to see video: Rumsfeld/Aspartame
http://www.soundandfury.tv/Pages/Rumsfeld.html

[clover]

16. yes. it's probable

although it remains supported by anecdotal evidence only, diet coke is addictive, and diet pepsi more so. the artificial sweetening ingredient was designed originally as a treatment for acid reflux disorder--heartburn--but proved to have too many side-effects to pass muster as a drug, so it was approved as a food additive instead, owing to lower standards for foods. there is reliable evidence that artificial sweeteners "fool" the body into behaving as if the drinker were consuming sugar: to the body, sweet is sweet, and it responds accordingly, leading to spiking blood sugar readings, and in some cases, adult onset diabetes. some evidence also suggests that consumers of artificial sweeteners gain weight at a rate and amount far above those who drink unsweetened beverages. advice: run a detailed search on the net re: artificial sweeteners and try iced lemon balm tea--cheap and plentiful, you can even grow it yourself--to detox and to fight the cravings for diet coke. even lipton tea is preferable, especially if you dig caffeine.

[WindRavenX]

17. oh great

I'm a big caffine junkie...like a pot of coffee a day....
And with all the water I drink, I seriously piss like a racehorse all the damn time....

[clover]

19. replace the one diet coke w/ one cup of coffee (nt)

[Droopy]

20. You think you're addicted?

I drink a 2-liter a day of Diet Coke.

[Chichiri]

21. It does have caffeine in it.

So that's a yes, then. My girlfriend knows everything. :D

[GalleryGod]

23. yes

:beer: :beer: :beer:

[davsand]

24. I used to drink a 2 liter bottle per day.

Then I developed this strange muscle spasm in the side of my face.

I'd had this same thing happen one time before and the Doc sent me in for an MRI and visit to the neurologist. The only ideas they had were to inject Botulism toxin into my face to deaden the nerves...

I had acupuncture done and it left with three treatments.

I also had just recently begun drinking Diet Coke again after not drinking it for a couple of years while I was pregnant and nursing my daughter. At the time, I never connected the two.

This time, I saw a man I know who does Asian body work (acupressure is part of it.) I walked in there with a bottle of Diet Coke in my hand. He took one look at that and told me that he was pretty sure THAT was a lot of my problem. He suggested I take one week off the Diet Coke and see if it got better.

I figured he was full of beans but decided to give it a shot. By day three the spasm were better. On day five I was fine and had a Diet Coke with my lunch--and by nighttime the spasms were back!!!

I do not drink or eat anything with Nutrasweet after coming to that realization. I have fewer headaches and more energy too!

YMMV.

Laura

[otohara]

25. Toxic Brown Liquid

drinking Coke, Pepsi supports big American corporation w/ could care less about the enviornment and a host of other things - and it's bad for your health.

Let me repeat, it's bad for your health - no nutritional value, nada, nothing - chemicals, sugar or artifical sweetners. It's shit in a can.

[SmileyBoy]

26. I just gave up sugar pop, and I'm now hooked on Diet Coke too.

Although I'm talking about two 20-ounce bottles a day.

[joeybee12]

27. The question is: How can you NOT become addicted to Diet Coke?

Caffeine is very addictive.

If I could only drink one can a day, I'd be thrilled!

[qnr]

30. Easy, lots of sources of caffeine, and Diet Coke (and plain

old Coke) taste like battery acid.

Edit: deleted misapplied apostrohe

[Zuni]

28. I am a major diet coke addict

I drink it non stop throughout the day.

[sugarcookie]

29. I can see myself

getting addicted to the new Cherry Vanilla diet Dr. Pepper. I went through a 12 pack in 2 days. Diet Vanilla Pepsi was my carbonated drink of choice until now.

[Deja Q]

31. If it has caffeine in it, or aspertame in it, then YES. It also

Aspertame IS addictive.

I recently reduced and stopped my intake of any product containing that cancer causing filth. It also promotes fatigue.

Caffeine could be as well, but I don't recall.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

33. No, but I gotta tell ya...

Diet Cherry Coke is soooo good...
But you also need to try Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. Great stuff. Addict worthy.
Duckie