Is Coffee and/or Diet Soda ok to eat?

I don't think a couple of cups of coffee hurt much but I personally would avoid any sodas.

Soda, in general, is bad for your body (yes sadly even diet!). I drank diet pepsi/coke for years and finally quit about a year ago and I'm much better for it. See: http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/22630/the-truth-about-diet-soda/

I think that coffee is probably okay as long as you aren't putting sugar/creamer in it. Or at least not a lot of it. Since starting the p90x I have cut out coffee too since I like a lot of creamer in it. I am not a health expert!!! But I do think that black coffee would be okay.

eat fruit to get energy in the morning. I eat a cup of grapes every morning, and they do more for me than diet soda ever could.

Sometimes you just get dreadfully sick of water. Some people don't want to drink coffee in the middle of the day or at night, so they drink diet pop. Anything wrong with a few per week?

coffee (without sugar) is ok, diet soda not.
drink tea, lemonade, freshly squeezed juice...

Diet sodas actually contribute to weight gain.

I drank coffee daily and the occasional diet coke throughout my first 90 days. Yes diet sodas have aspartame which is considered a neurotoxin. I did not gain any weight from drinking diet sodas!

Diet soda is high in sodium. I think Diet Rite doesn't have any sodium or caffeine though.

How about Tab? ewwwwwwwwwww

The toxicity level found in soads, especially diet, are astounding. I did quite a few studies on the effects of aspartame (an artificial sweetener found in most diet sodas).

Caffeine isn't the best for you either due to not only the dehydration of the body, but also the spikes and trofts in energy/insulin- or affects your natural control over your blood sugar level.

Both toxins and irregular BSLs can hugely affect your weight loss. You will find, after training for a while that your sleep patterns improve and your NRG levels improve, therefore, you will be able to cut out coffee / energy drinks etc.

A lot of it just comes down to breaking habits and re-teaching yourself...

I'm not saying you don't have to stop drinking it, just throwing some facts out there
but, imho, if you want the best results, then abolishing diest sdas and caffeine isn't a massive deal... Or, is it?

Ex,

The forum would appreciate you posting some of the data published in medical journals that supports some of your points. In particular, the data on aspartame and caffeine would be helpful. Also, you might want to define "BSL" and what specific "toxins" you mention. Additionally, a definition of "NRG" will help avoid amibguity and help the rest of the forum.

The data should be prospective and empiric and come from peer-reviewed journals.

Any links would be great!

Kevin

Kevin,

Easily done. However, being 3am in Sydney and getting ready for the beginning of day 1 of P90X, the links will have to wait.
Although, I can automatically direct you to Kevin Trudeau's(?) book "Natural Cures They Don't Want You To Know About", which links healthy, natural eating to the decrease of life-threatening diseases. (Even P90X nutrition guide explains the link between bad food, and bad moods. Coincidence?)
If, in the meantime, people are interested this topic then there is an abundance of studies out there to be reviewed, but I will overtimer find the links and studies for all

Also BSL = Blood Sugar Levels.

NRG = Energy

Ex,

I'd be concerned about information coming from Kevin Trudeau. A WebMD column states..."The author, without medical or nutritional credentials, is a controversial and very successful businessman who has made a career from hawking natural "cures" via infomercials and books. He preys on the fears of consumers, giving them someone to blame for their overweight or obese conditions.

It is noteworthy that Trudeau has had numerous interactions with the law, including fines and a larceny conviction. Currently, the Federal Trade Commission restricts his right to use infomercials, which have misled consumers in the past.

In October 2007, the Federal Trade Commission charged the marketers of The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About with misrepresenting its contents in infomercials..."

Here's the link to that article: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/weight-loss-cure-dont-want-you-to-know

Caveat emptor!

Kevin

Ahhh, well there you go.

On my lunch break now, so not a heck of amount of time.

OK, so Mr. Trudeau was a terrible example, although, regardless of who he is and what he has done, the book can definitely open your eyes a little bit about the power of eating healthily.
However, I have never seen his infomercials or read anything on this. Australia is a long way away haha. Unfortunately, though, he is a salesman, as to is almost everybody! You believe in something, you go out and sell it. Tony Horton is a salesman- (At least his products are worth purchasing though)

http://tc.engr.wisc.edu/uer/uer98/author2/index.html
"anecdotal evidence has suggested that aspartame causes other health problems, including headaches, gas, confusion, and brain tumors [Roberts, 1990; Olney and others, 1996]."

In general, yes, aspartame is "safe" according to Food Governing bodies such as FDA. But, you just have to look at the above statement to choose for yourself whether or no it is 'healthy' to consume. I don't know about you, but I don't have those effects from eating fruit, vegetable, meat etc.

Also, you cannot take everything that is said by Food Governing bodies to be the written law. They are still a 'business' much like McDonals, NIKE, or the corner store down the road. When it comes down to it, profit is all they hear. Including the FDA and other Governing Bodies. Come on, cigarettes are legal, but are they good for you? Nope! They advertise the side effects of smoking because it's a known fact that it CAN cause cancer and kill, amongst a number of other downsides.

I suppose it comes down to this: The choice is YOURS!!! If one is looking to change their lifestyle, and I mean REALLY change their lifestyle, then eating fresh, natural resources would be priority, right? Taking in artificial ANYTHING can never be good for a human body that was designed to only take it natural foods.
Does that mean I am 100% pure and healthy? HELL NO! It's next to impossible to find fruit and veg that hasn't been sprayed with 3 different kinds of poisons. But at least I choose and limit the amount of artificial crap that enters through my mouth. If it means choosing water over normal or diet soda, then so be it? Who's really losing out in the end?
Not me, thats for sure! I'm drinking a free product and not running major risks of headaches, nausea or brain tumors. Barr the fluoride found in water now!!!


As for the OP's original question. Diet coke 'make' you put on more calories because aspartame (the sweetener) does not contain calories, therefore less than its other full strength brothers and sisters.

As far as Mr. Trudeau is concerned, I'd agree. And I believe that there are better references that can help "open your eyes" as to the need to eat in a more healthy way. The P90X Nutrition Guide is actually a very well-done book in its own right.

The United States Food and Drug Administration is a body that oversees the safety and distribution of foods and drugs. I have a couple of physician-friends who work there. They look closely at evidence-based clinical trials to determine if foods and drugs are safe. They do NOT make much money, and would gladly serve in the private sector if personal profit were their primary motive. They concern themselves with the safety of foods and medications for over 300 million Americans. I don't always agree with them, but their desire to keep our food and medical supplies safe are never in question. Since all insurance companies strongly urge that treatments prescribed by physicians are FDA-approved, and since they are disinclined to pay for treatments that are not, most physicians feel obligated to follow the recommendations of the FDA in their prescribing practices.

Many non-traditional, alternative, and herbal remedies have not been adequately studied to determine their benefit. Thus, the FDA takes a hands-off approach, since the products are listed as "food supplements" and not as drugs. In certain cases, those products have been known to cause harm or death. It seems to me that the nutraceutical industry would consider prospective randomized clinical trials to be in their best interest, especially if they believe in what they promote. That way, all of us can benefit from them.

Aspartame has been suggested as a risk factor for brain tumors, but the evidence is inconclusive at present to assign a risk (Risk factors for brain tumors; Michaud, D, Batchelor T; Up To Date Online 17:2 2009).

Your comment about profit was interesting...I was unaware that capitalism is a crime or that we were considering that an issue for a P90X forum. I'd simply asked for data and I'm thankful that you provided some.

In 1900, when Americans were largely an agricultural-based, organic farming country, the average American male lived to the age of 43. In 2009, when two thirds of Americans are overweight and nearly one third are obese, the average male lives to the age of 74. So, on balance, I'd say we're doing pretty good.

I'd also say that we can do better...that's why we're all here! Common sense seems the best route. To each his own!

Kevin

I stumbled across this on yahoo a few days ago
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931116,00.html?xid=rss-health

An interesting and recommended quick read. Basically points out that each artificial sweetener has been tested hundreds of times and there has yet to be found a link to any negative long-term side-effects. It unfortunately does not touch on BSLs or NRG.

Diet soda will not impede your results. I have seen someones transformation first hand and he drank diet soda on a daily basis. He was not doing p90x but he did get pretty ripped.

jsk, you gotta be careful when you try to make that argument.

You can drink whatever you want, but I guarantee the results will be different if you drink diet coke on a regular basis vs if you only drink water.

No one can know how much of a difference that will be (because you do one or the other and everybody is different), but I think we all can agree that coke (diet or not) isn't as healthy as water.

The first 2 weeks of the diet were pretty rough for me. I used to be a big coke drinker. I used to drink several a day. Now (week 5), I don't even crave them. I am proud to say I haven't had a coke since I started P90X.

I would advise you stop drinking soda of any kind. Your energy will not be a problem because you are working out and eating healthy every day. Just give it a try for a few weeks and see how it treats you.

"DRINK YOUR WATER PEOPLE!!"

I tried a regular Mtn Dew Code Red (my most favorite pop) for the first time since I started P90X. Besides almost totally screwing up my nutrition for the day, it tasted sweeter than I ever remember. ALmost too sweet! But it tastes so good when it hits the lips. Oh wait, that's beer lol It kind of made me sick, though, like the first time I ate fast food after basic training. I gave the rest of the 12-pack away.

I drink tons of diet soda... I'm getting great results so far. I try to drink 2x the amount of water than I do soday though. I probably average around 44-52oz of diet soda per day. I try to drink over a gallon of water a day though.