Lately it seems I’ve been getting in more arguments regarding this whole Coke issue.  I spent my early childhood being like every other kid drinking numerous gallons of Coke, Iced Tea, and any other can of pop I could get my hands on.  Things probably wouldnt have changed had it not been for my sister who had me totally re-look my overall health. About 3-4 years ago I started to take a serious look at my health and my overall diet for that matter.  Had I not someone probably would be rolling me out of bed with a shovel to this day because I consumed anything and everything that was unhealthy.

Now by no means am I the ideal specimen for healthy living (perhaps if I could quit drinking that may change but what can I say it’s this guys kryptonite) but I feel I have a good grasp on what I should and shouldn’t be consuming and it was brought to my attention that there are a lot of people that still truly believe that drinking diet coke is a suitable replacement for coke when dieting.

Over the past couple months of attending bars alike I’ve gotten into debates with friends regarding the overall “health” stature of Diet Coke.  People truly believe that drinking alcohol and diet soda is a healthier alternative, some have even went as far to tell me that I’m wrong and they know more because they went to/or are in University.

But why is Diet Coke so bad?  Well for starters and probably the most important fact is its chalk full of Aspartame.   What is Aspartame you’re saying?  Aspartame (aka NutraSweet) is a dangerous chemical food additive. The dangers of aspartame poisoning have been a well-guarded secret since the 1980s and the research and history of aspartame is conclusive as a cause of illness and toxic reactions in the human body. Studies continue as it’s a wide debate but Aspartame has been linked to over 92 diseases and illnesses, some such as brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma. One has to wonder why there has been no mention of this?

Well…

The multi-billion dollar aspartame industry would like you believe that “aspartame kills” is an “urban legend” and that you’d have to drink 100 cans of diet soda a day to be harmed by aspartame. This is just simply not true. Their main claim is that the 3 components of aspartame are found in many natural foods and are therefore safe. This is kind of like saying carbon monoxide is safe because all it contains is carbon & oxygen, the same components of carbon dioxide.

Methanol (wood alcohol), which makes up 10% of aspartame and is highly toxic (adult minimum lethal dose is 2 teaspoons), is also found in some fruits & vegetables like tomatoes. However, methanol is never found in natural foods without ethanol & pectin, its “antidotes” if you will. Ethanol & pectin prevent methanol from being metabolized into formaldehyde (embalming fluid) & formic acid (same chemical as fire ant venom), both deadly toxins. An ethanol drip is even the standard emergency room treatment for methanol poisoning. Aspartame contains no ethanol or pectin, therefore the methanol is converted to formaldehyde and formic acid.

Phenylalanine and aspartic acid, the other 2 components of aspartame, are amino acids found in natural foods but always as part of long chains of many different amino acids to form complex protein molecules that take humans 12 hours to gradually break down & assimilate. According to doctors, when consumed by themselves these 2 amino acids require no digestion and quickly enter the brain & central nervous system at abnormally high levels, overstimulating brain cells to death and causing many other health problems.

Since my decision to stop drinking soda my overall health and mood has increased dramatically.  A couple of years ago I was sitting at a hefty 230 pounds and lost 20 pounds alone from cutting coke and other sugars from my diet without exercising. The myth people believe is that switching to Diet Soda will help you lose weight because it contains less sugar, which is nothing further from the truth.  

I’m not telling anyone to stop drinking Diet Coke, hell its a free country and you’re entitled to do whatever you would like, but this is for all those who have argued with me over the past year about how Diet Coke is a healthy choice and for all the people I know who drink liters and liters a day. Coke should be treated like a dessert, not a vitamin.

Dont believe me?  Stop drinking soda for six months and then tell me after how much better you feel.

Walks
www.hotstickybun.com