I've been a proud diet coke drinker for over a decade. And I was just that, proud. Proud that I didn't drink the regular coke. Proud that I found something to outsmart my body and not consume calories, but taste good in the mean time. Pride oozing out of that silver can. Diet coke was my idol.
However, the more I read, the more I began to question my choices. Sometimes the truth comes at ya, and you just don't want to listen... so you justify, rationalize, and just plain lie to yourself to make it go away... This was me for the last 2 years or so. I knew Diet Coke wasn't good for me, but it was calorie-free. It wasn't REAL coke.
I would keep Diet Coke stocked in our fridge for years, but about 8 months ago, when we really made big changes, I knew Diet coke would have to go. Ian and I made a deal that we would only have Diet Coke when we went on dates with each other... (eliminating it from our shopping list) Date Night would happen every week (yay!) or less frequently and we would also sneak a few diet cokes on the side, here or there.
But sometimes, it takes a while for something to sink in. Sometimes the truth has to marinade in your head for a while before you realize the implications. This is my diet coke story. Sure I knew it was bad, but why? Why so bad? Why is aspartame (Diet Coke's "sugar" replacement) the #1 chemical in all of food and drink to avoid (according to Dr. Mercola)?
The chemical cocktail in these drinks is frightening to say the least. When you actually look at the ingredients one by one, you realize that drinking a Diet Coke is no longer a simple "water alternative" for "healthy people." It is the latest LIE propagated by the companies that profit the most from the sales of Diet Coke!
Remember Monsanto? I've posted about them before (and they are the "bad guys" in many food documentaries, and for good reason). They are the ones behind the technology of the Genetically modified seeds (Seeds that are genetically altered with a bacteria to withstand unlimited amounts of pesticides and will kill any bug who tries to eat it). They are the ones behind the rBGH cow hormone given to cows to stimulate growth hormone and milk production ... {Dangers of rBGH HERE}
They are also behind aspartame. When I found that out... it was so not surprising, it was surprising! Another chemical Monsanto has created that is highly controversial and yet is only yielding scary symptoms in the humans that consume it!
People, diet coke containing aspartame (or most anything that is "sugar free" or "low fat" or "low carb") is dangerous. And, I did some digging and realized that the studies that show aspartames safety are funded by companies like Monsanto *if not Monsanto itself!). AND... so many former Monsanto lawyers and executives now sit at the helm of the USDA, FDA, and EPA. Hence, it legal use in the USA still today.
So... that would be like the umpires being paid by the home team to make the home team win... no matter who or what gets in the way... and, all newspapers and articles written about the legitimacy of the "win" being paid to skew the info in such a way that it looks legitimate. I cry foul. (hah!)
The specific ingredients in Diet Coke that are scary:
Dangers of Aspartame: HERE - for peets sake, it turns into formaldehyde in your body after you consume it!
Dangers of Caramel Color: HERE
Dangers of Phosporic Acid: HERE
Dangers of Natural Flavors: HERE
Dangers of Phenylalanine: HERE
Ingredients of regular coke:
Ingredients in diet coke:
phenylalanine
Ingredients in diet cherry coke:
For a visual explanation, watch this! : Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World Documentary to watch for free .. HERE
Some proven side effects from consumption of diet sodas:
Infertility (some doctors even call Diet Coke "instant birth control"- if male or female consume)
And THIS list is from the FDA itself!:
- Headaches/migraines
- Nausea
- Abdominal pains
- Fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain)
- Sleep problems
- Vision problems
- Anxiety attacks
- Depression
- Asthma/chest tightness.
More exhaustive list of side effects can be found HERE
Not happy things... So, opt for water, lemon, cucumber or berry homemade flavored water, making your own fruit juice, raw milk or again, just drink water.
So for now, I've given it up completely. No more diet coke for me. I've been convinced by the evidence and I was ready to make the dive off the cliff.
Personal note::: I consumed diet coke daily while pregnant with my two kids. This sickens me. To the point, where I really just can't even let my mind go there. If I do get pregnant again (which we would like to, maybe soon :), my diet and lifestyle will have been drastically different than my two previous pregnancies. The Lord is totally in control, but we are praying that the changes we have made will have a positive impact on future pregnancies, Lord willingly, resulting in shorter NICU stays, or if He wills, a full term pregnancy. Part of my journey to health was because of my two preemies (30 weeks and 33 weeks - both healthy and amazing miracles today :)... so avoiding diet coke (and aspartame) now and if the Lord wills me to be pregnant, will be one of my highest priorities, diet wise.
And, I'm sorry if these food posts offend you... Really, it is not my intention. People are more important than food. I know that. I love people who drink Diet Coke, but as for me, I choose, now, to say, no thank you. And, this blog is an outlet for me to share what I have been learning... whether is it foodie, Bible stuff, or just pictures of my kids... :)
No comments:
Post a Comment