Fizzy drinks

[Spencerskates]

How much do you all drink? How bad are they for you *really*?

I’d say I probably have between one and two cans a day. Either Coke Zero, Fanta zero or full fat Coke.

I’ve been reading more about the effects of fizzy drinks on your body and I’m going to try and reduce my intake - I’m struggling to get pregnant and wondering if this is why (don’t drink or smoke, exercise four times a week, fairly balanced diet, no medical issues, healthy weight).

Have any of you cut out/down fizzy drinks and found positive results? How did you do it?

 

[mcfeez]

I drink probably 1 fizzy drink a week (zero sugar lemonade) and thats usually only in hot weather when I want hydration and something sweet. I dont enjoy fizzy drinks that much and mostly just drink water (or coffee in the morning).

I can't imagine there would be a downside to switching out coke for something like water - lots of people are not drinking enough water. I know lots of people who cut out fizzy drinks and do see weight loss if you consider that a positive!

(I won't touch on the pregnancy stuff because I have zero knowledge of that and wouldnt want to offer advice where I have no idea)

 

[Heyguysswipeup]

I work in health promotion and have a background in nutrition. Tbh... if someone was to tell me that diet drinks are bad then my response is always that people drink alcohol/smoke/eat foods with pesticides/don’t meet exercise recommendations most of the time so to start spouting insults about how sweeteners are bad is pretty rich. (Not you of course). There are pros and cons to anything that you eat or drink or do. There isn’t enough evidence on sweeteners to make sweeping statements. Perhaps if you wanted to go down the more ‘natural’ route you could consider using stevia or truvia as these are plant based.

drinking more water than fizzy will be much better for you in terms of hydration/headaches/body functioning etc. I advise my patients to first swap from full sugar fizzy to diet then try and reduce that and drink more water.

in terms of pregnancy, I don’t think there is enough/much evidence to show a relationship between fertility and fizzy consumption. It’s always worth trying out (process of elimination) but as far as literature goes I think it’s quite limited. Fingers crossed for you

 

[Raininvain]

I cant see fizzy drinks affecting fertility really. I used to work with a woman who must have been over 30 stones and she drank a 3L bottle of full sugar coke a day and used to have a lot of McDonalds meals. She had a few children.
I know for a fact they are not good for your teeth, all that acidity causes tooth decay. I'd cut down a bit if I were you and have water with a dash of low sugar cordial in it. Its miles more thirst quenching than pop.
It might not be you that has a fertility problem it could be your partner who has a problem. If you are worried then I'd go to the G.P for some tests, both of you.X

 

[coconochanel]

Not many prob one can a week I drink mainly water with the odd cup of tea/coffee.

 

[Hello Kitty]

I don't really drink them anymore but I could easily drink 2 litres in a day, obviously not everyday but if a bottle was in the house I would drink it. I mainly just drink water now and the odd can every month or so.

 

[Kim Mild]

I hardly ever drink fizzy pop , I've probably only had about a small glass in the last year. There's no health reason for it, I just don't like the furry mouth feeling I get.
However, I do quite like the Fentimans fizzy drinks , but they are too expensive to have often .

 

[Tui]

I drink mostly water and cordial at the moment, although do have a tonic water a couple of times a week. I try not to buy big 2L bottles of fizzy pop and I’ll rather just buy a can or a small bottle when I fancy it

 

[SamBamford]

My neighbour drinks nothing but coke. If she doesn't she will get shakes and headaches. She does try to cut down but holding down a job and kids she finds it hard to cope with the withdrawal symptoms. She limits the kids to how much per day they can have and rewards them for not drinking it. As an aside, she has brilliant teeth which I presumed the sugar would have had a detrimental effect on.

 

[LLJ]

I drink mainly water (around 4 litres a day) but love a cold can of Diet Coke every now and again! I think they’re fine in moderation but my opinion is 2 a day is quite a lot. Try 1 a day, then 1 every other and so on? X

 

[Shivers]

I’ve quite a bad addiction to Diet Coke. I could easily drink 4-5 cans a day. I don’t even particularly like the taste of it but I get such bad headaches without it. I’m positive it has added to my weight issues. It masks hunger so I would have a can of it over something to eat if I’m busy (been particularly bad for this since having a baby) and definitely makes me want sweet stuff.

I’ve gone cold turkey a few times before and honestly for a good 3-4 days I would have horrific withdrawal symptoms. Being so busy now I don’t know if I could do it.

 

[JD-Morgan]

I drink diet fizzy juice daily and have for a number of years

Usually coke zero or diet irn bru

I do sometimes have a break and swap to diluting but I do get headaches for up to a week

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

Far too much. More than 2 cans of Pepsi (original) a day. I do worry about the long term health implications diabetes is a huge worry! I’m sure it’s the reason I struggle to lose weight as I don’t necessarily eat a lot most days but a can of Pepsi has like 140cal.

I am working on swapping to flavoured water as I hate plain water. The sugar free Volvic watermelon flavour is delicious. It’s hard though as it’s such a habit to just grab a cold can out the fridge. Occasionally I switch to Pepsi max which I like but it’s not the same.

Why must everything that brings me joy in life be bad for me!!!!!

 

[Warrend]

Hardly any. Maybe one can of Pepsi or a cream soda once a year. I don't buy it so it's never in the house.

An ex of mine used to drink diet coke like it was water. Never without a 2 litre bottle to glug all day.

 

[prinnygrace]

I drink 1 can a day, either Pepsi max or Diet Coke. Tried to cut it out but I just end up craving it after a couple of days.

 

[Lumpfish]

I drink one a day Pepsi Max or Full Fat Coke. I have tried to quit so many times or even reduce but I can’t do it. I don’t even enjoy it once I’ve opened the can it’s just a craving!

 

[bookwormbex]

You've all just made me realise I probably have a fizzy drink problem

 

[Nugget11]

You've all just made me realise I probably have a fizzy drink problem

I feel the same I literally fuel myself with Diet Coke, easily 4-5 cans a day. I do drink loads of water too though and the way I see it is that diet has to be better than full fat

 

[Spencerskates]

Thank you for all of the replies, it’s been ace reading the full range of them! Honestly, those of you who just drink water...
I do drink a lot of water to be fair, and obviously don’t count a fizzy drink as a ‘drink’ in terms of tracking my water intake, but I’m going to try and slowly cut it down a bit.


I find that I drink more fizzy drinks when I either have a takeaway or eat out, does anyone else have other suggestions that are better than fizzy drinks but not water? I feel like if I’m treating myself with food, I don’t want to just drink water! I don’t really drink, and wouldn’t have a glass of wine with a meal.

 

[Heyguysswipeup]

Thank you for all of the replies, it’s been ace reading the full range of them! Honestly, those of you who just drink water...
I do drink a lot of water to be fair, and obviously don’t count a fizzy drink as a ‘drink’ in terms of tracking my water intake, but I’m going to try and slowly cut it down a bit.


I find that I drink more fizzy drinks when I either have a takeaway or eat out, does anyone else have other suggestions that are better than fizzy drinks but not water? I feel like if I’m treating myself with food, I don’t want to just drink water! I don’t really drink, and wouldn’t have a glass of wine with a meal.

How about adding no added sugar squash to carbonated water?