5. Diet soda is a no-no when breastfeeding.
MYTH. Really, same answer as above but my personal feeling is: when you are trying to get that sweet baby to get a little shut-eye (so Mom and Dad can too), why push the envelope by consuming caffeine that passes straight through to Junior? Bring on the decaf iced tea!
6. Diet soda helps you lose weight.
MYTH. This actually falls in a gray zone but is in the neighborhood located much closer to myth-land. It is true that there are no (or very few) calories in diet soda and all things considered, if you reduced your calorie intake and increased your energy expenditure through exercise, a diet soda or two each day will not help or harm. And we do know that regular soda is full of empty calories and sugar so getting away from this stuff is a good idea. The issue here with diet soda is that recent studies suggest that the taste of it may actually trick our bodies into wanting the calories it has been "promised" by the sweet tasting beverage, thus essentially sabotaging our best laid plans.
7. Diet soda, in moderation, is probably just fine.
FACT. As with anything, moderation is the key. If you enjoy diet soda, go ahead and have one-just not every day/all day. Better choices when the thirst strikes: water and decaf iced tea (particularly green or white). If plain water bores you, try the sparkling kind or throw in some limes, lemons or other fruit for flavor.
