Official Food and Drink thread

[ExpendablesFan]

Well drinking diet soda might still be better for your weight than regular soda. But those studies suggest that not drinking diet soda is much better for your weight than drinking it. When I stopped drinking any soda I lost about 30 pounds. I gained some of that back before starting to drink diet soda only, lost nothing. Stopped drinking even diet soda and then again lost weight. Now if I can just quit my juice habit I'd be cut.

[Rev. Danny]

Does anyone here listen to Mike and Tom Eat Snacks?

One of my favorite podcasts.

[Amusing Pseudonym]

This is kind of junk science. They base it on statistics that diet soda drinkers put on weight, and not actual science that shows the artifical sweetner causes weight gain.

I thought the same thing: that study was all correlation no causation.    The article referenced there, though, mentions a second study that, while nowhere near as damning, at least tries to demonstrate a more direct, concrete effect:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627183944.htm

' One group of the mice ate chow to which both aspartame and corn oil were added; the other group ate chow with the corn oil added but not the aspartame. After three months on this high-fat diet, the mice in the aspartame group showed elevated fasting glucose levels but equal or diminished insulin levels, consistent with early declines in pancreatic beta-cell function. The difference in insulin levels between the groups was not statistically significant. Beta cells make insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar after a meal. Imbalance ultimately leads to diabetes.

"These results suggest that heavy aspartame exposure might potentially directly contribute to increased blood glucose levels, and thus contribute to the associations observed between diet soda consumption and the risk of diabetes in humans," Dr. Fernandes said. '

[Wolfe]

Diet soda is my big vice, so this stinks. I run a lot, pretty much every day, so I should be in tip-top shape, but my belly still has a remaining bit of softness that I can't seem to shake. That's probably the diet soda. I had thought it was consequence-free, at least where weight is concerned. I'm going to have to force myself over to stupid water, I guess.

[ExpendablesFan]

Diet soda is my big vice, so this stinks. I run a lot, pretty much every day, so I should be in tip-top shape, but my belly still has a remaining bit of softness that I can't seem to shake. That's probably the diet soda. I had thought it was consequence-free, at least where weight is concerned. I'm going to have to force myself over to stupid water, I guess.

Going water only sucks for a week or two but you eventually get used to it. It was the worst when eating cause I was so used to having something with taste to wash everything down but now it's fine. Or at least it was until I broke down and started buying Apple, Pineapple and Grapefruit juice from Trader Joes whenever I go. It seems so healthy but they are basically as sugary as regular soda.

[CrashlanderLOL]

I would like to see a blind taste test.  I'd bet most couldn't tell the difference between high-fructose corn syrup and sugar in soda.

You either have no tastebuds or... no head.

[Hayner]

Diet soda was a vice of mien for a long time, but I've all but cut it out.  Just drink a lot of water and tea to fill the vacancy.  It rocks.

[DerickA]

I loves water but I can't imagine only drinking that forever. Why would you do that to yourself?

[Dan]

Jordy mentioned my biggest issue with the water-only thing: meals. I like having something flavorful to wash food down with. Also I"m horribly addicted to coffee, so there's that too.

[Luke Erik]

A friend sent me an email containing a link to epic meal time. If you're a fan of "Dude, what would happen" this is the show for you.

I think it's awful, but the webisodes are very popular.

[DerickA]

I've gotten used to eating out and just getting water, but at home it does seems kind of disappointing. So there is no drink people can turn to? Milk is too fattening and tea will give you kidney stones and juices are too sugary and on and on an on?

[Wolfe]

I think home-brewed, unsweetened iced tea is relatively safe, but that's no kind of life.

[Steve B]

I think home-brewed, unsweetened iced tea is relatively safe, but that's no kind of life.

Green tea with lemon and honey

[Luke Erik]

I've gotten used to eating out and just getting water, but at home it does seems kind of disappointing. So there is no drink people can turn to? Milk is too fattening and tea will give you kidney stones and juices are too sugary and on and on an on?

I think this is the first time when I get to say YOU GUYS are weird. Seltzer water, wine, or a good glass of beer are great alternatives to soda. Speaking of, my boss's boss recently sent out an email with the subject titled "100 things that has F****** up Modern Business", and one item on the list was "Alcohol at lunch is no longer acceptable".  

[Wolfe]

Well, the issue is what won't make you gain weight, so beer wouldn't really be a viable alternative. Wine is healthy, but doesn't go with everything (or even most things) and isn't exactly refreshing. I guess seltzer water works, but if you're talking about the unflavored kind, I'd rather drink the water out of a rain gutter.