Q: I just read the article "The Trouble with Diet Soda" and am wondering if flavored water with carbonization would cause the same effects?
Hi Debbie,
I've lived with Type 1 diabetes and Celiac disease for 11+ years. I'm also a record-holding powerlifting and cognitive health and chronic illness coach at my site: http://living-in-progress.com.
Diet soda and the article you probably read was more around the dangers of artificial sweeteners -- not the carbonation -- and the flavored waters you're asking about also have artificial sweeteners in them.
The only "flavored" drink that doesn't have real sugar or fake sugar in it, is flavored seltzer. The seemingly safest artificial sweetener is now "Stevia."
I recently vowed to eliminated fake sugars from my body after further research. Here's my own article on the dangers of most artificial sweeteners.
I hope this is helpful!
-Ginger
hey there! Thanks. I wrote in the article that Stevia is the safe artificial sweetener!
Just because something is from a plant doesn't always means it's safe though....opium, marajuana, etc.
well, this is an area of interest to me- the trade off between health or performance and harm- so i would like to know your opinion, as ill presume you are an 'all natural' competitor (are there 2 categories in powerlifting- natural and anything goes?)- how do you feel about performance enhancement and where do you draw the line?- i am ambivalent about it- on the one hand, it's harmful to children, so as role models, it's a no-brainer to regulate the competition to keep it clean- on the other hand, there is something inspiring about pushing the envelope in competition by performance enhancement, even tho as you point out it may harm the athlete- it might be worth the tradeoff to perform a spectacular feat now, but then suffer later (alzado is the poster child here)- it reminds me of the tale of icarus- he flew to the sun, but died when the wings burned up- it's supposed to be a tale about restraint in pushing the limit, but it still is spectacular that he made it, 'cheating' or no
Ooooh, hot topic! I am "all natural." In powerlifting and other similar sports, we refer to it as "drug-tested" or "non-drug-tested." I have to pee in a cup at all of my meets!
At the same time, I've definitely been around several people who use steroids and other anabolic enhancements, and while I'd like to say that I think everyone should be allowed to make their own decision, when I see a person cross that line, it changes them and it's not in a good way.
They suddenly get results SO MUCH easier, so much more quickly, and they get addicted to that quick-fix, and the quick change in a appearance. Also, people don't talk about this much, but all of those drugs give you a great "buzz" similar to a stimulant drug, and people get really hooked on that too. You have more energy, you're not as hungry, etc. etc.
My feeling is that the hard work, the real way, the natural way, is what pays off.
-Ginger
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yo Ginger- stevia grows on a tree and so is perfectly natural