Well, so much for the "soda is bad" theory...LOL

[LonnieFisher]

I don't trust anything the USFDA says. They are out to line their own pockets, and not protect the American population, in my researched opinion.

[emeraldknight47]

Just had to chime in here. I enjoy the occasional soft drink, but I don't make a constant diet of them. As other folks on this thread have stated, ANYTHING in excess is bad while EVERYTHING in moderation is good. The key word: moderation. Judge how much of anything you're intaking and adjust accordingly to intake other things to balance whatever you're overdoing on and then you'll eventually find that you're NOT overdoing so much on the one thing. Life is balance and until you find that balance, you're always walking a potential tightrope.

Just as an aside, and this will stay with me for the rest of my natural life, when it's your time to go, it doesn't matter how healthily you've taken care of your body, you're gonna go. My example for this: the father of one of the first girls I dated was a beat cop and was also a little bit of a health nut. He jogged every morning, went to the police gymnasium at least three times a week and, while he enjoyed the periodic beer and pizza, was very aware of what he ate and drank. One morning, after a jog and a workout session at the gym, he was showering and dropped dead of a massive coronary in the shower. They tried to resuscitate him for 15 minutes, but they never could get him back. He was 46---five years younger than I am now. When your name comes up in the Lord's book, it's the kind of reservation you're not going to get out of...

[Brazoo]

Teemu - I'm not trying to offend you, but I strongly disagree with a lot of what you said. You seem like a bright guy, and I don't think you're crazy, because I think it's very sensible to be concerned about the things you're discussing, but I think your nutritional education is too focused on research with a particular point-of-view.

All M.D.s study nutrition as part of their training - claiming they don't is just not correct. Just ask a doctor you know.

Everything we understand about nutrition comes from science and medicine - not from "holistic" practitioners. Carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and calories are understood via medical science, and frankly without it "holistic" practitioners would not even know the words "acid", "alkaline" or "toxins" to discuss these things incorrectly.

Cancer: I really hope nobody seriously considers your opinions on the topic of cancer too seriously, because I think you're saying some very dangerous things. To address just one of the claims quickly: cancer can not have ONE cause or cure, because cancer is not ONE disease. There are lots of different disease that we commonly refer to as cancer and there are tons of different factors.

Toxins: Toxicity is based on exposure and/or quantity of consumption, so it's usually a red flag when someone says something is "toxic" without more details. For example, in high quantities oxygen and water are toxic to the human body. You're consuming methanol and formaldehyde if you eat almost ANY food. Grapes, pears and apples contain lots a formaldehyde - just off the top of my head. They're in almost everything, because they're organic chemicals. Our bodies make these chemicals as well - it's just a natural part of the metabolic process. So, yeah, they're "toxic" - but there are absolutely acceptable (and unavoidable) levels of consumption.

Aspartame: (as pmwasson correctly pointed out) is one of the most widely studied food additives in science. It's been thoroughly considered safe in anything up to incredibly abnormal quantities of consumption. Having said that, I personally can't stand the taste.

I'm not in for a long debate because I'm very busy with work, and from experiences with similar discussions I've had I know it's unlikely that I'm able to change your mind at all. Plus, I'm already familiar with some of the resources you mentioned, so I'm not likely to move on my position either - but if you have any specific point you want to discuss further I'll gladly try to get back!

(Sincerely - I really hope there's no offense taken. Even though you and I both disagree about issues we take very seriously I'm not trying to fight or make enemies.)

[VintageMike]

I have mostly dropped regular soda, basically two a week and that's it. I do consume a mix of various diet drinks otherwise and speaking only for myself, have had no ill effects. If nothing else reducing intake of regular soda will help anyone lose weight just due to the calories involved. Beyond that I find opinions of both ends of the spectrum too extreme. Like everything the truth lies somewhere in between as far as I'm concerned and common sense should prevail, not the latest and greatest article which is almost guaranteed to to be reversed to a few years time.

[Mego Magyar]

I drink a ginger ale each night with dinner, love Oreos, don't wear a seatbelt and have been known to occasionally run with scissors.
Live fast, die young and leave a beautiful corpse 😀

[Hector]

Aside from Coke Zero...my other fave drink is G2, that's low sugar Gatorade...we buy it by the boatloads.

I also drink lots of plain good ol water...mostly tap...since Northern California tap water is delicious (I've tried tap water from other states, holy cow, most are disgusting, lol). I personally think bottled water is a scam (especially in my area)...a waste of money...that's unless your tap water is disgusting...then you have no choice. I suppose those giant Alahambra filtered water thingies would be a good option.

[Hector]

...oh...and of course...beer...lol.

[Hector]

...and once in a blue moon...tequila...burp...ah...ha...

[emeraldknight47]

So you put your tequila in your Blue Moon, Hector? Interesting concoction...!

[Hector]

You silly wabbit, lol.

[johnmiic]

I don't care what you people say! Bigfoot is real!!!

Damn, wrong thread.

[Hector]

[Bionicfanboy66]

Doctors have also been back and forth with coffee, too. Moderation is the spice of life. Too much of anything isn't good for a person.

[TomStrong]

I mixed in lime juice in seltzer water in a feeble attempt to make myself a soft drink and it was pretty good. I had a sip of my kids coke later and man you just don't realize how sweet they are. But you know there is nothing on this earth as good as coca cola. I know they're bad for you so I try to limit myself. (Only had one today during 18 holes of golf!). Been drinking water tonight out of my yeti stainless mug.

That's a tangent! If you don't have a Yeti tumbler and are a coffee drinker you are missing out!! It keeps coffee hot. I also put ice water in it to keep by the bed at night and there's always still ice in it when I get up! Totally awesome.

[Hector]

I love ice cold Perrier...straight from the bottle...and like you...add a twist of fresh lemon or lime...delicious and refreshing.

And fresh lemon/lime juice e works best...as I don't care for the already flavored lemon/lime Perriers...fresh rules.

Also mineral/seltzer water on the rocks...or crushed ice...yum...