Impact of diet soda on the environment

[razz]

Thought that one might find this http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/geekquinox/ontario-grand-river-tests-highest-world-artificial-sweeteners-200300835.html interesting if you drink a lot of diet soda.

A few quotes:

A new study from Environment Canada and the University of Waterloo has revealed that as the Grand River meanders its way through southwestern Ontario towards Lake Erie, it accumulates enough artificial sweeteners along the way that the water it discharges into the lake every day is roughly the equivalent of between 80,000 and 190,000 cans of diet soda pop. According to the researchers, these "are the highest reported concentrations of these compounds in surface waters to date anywhere in the world."

These artificial sweeteners aren't coming as discharge from bottling plants, though. They're coming directly from the people who drink it...

Also, since we don't feed artificially-sweetened food to animals, it can show the difference between human waste and agricultural waste in the rivers and groundwater...

This study shows that since these chemicals persist in the water in high concentrations and for long distances away from the source, fish, plants and other organisms in the river experience long-term exposure. Given the concerns out there about what they might be doing to us, as we consume products made from them, an equal amount of concern should be shown for what these sweeteners might be doing after we're done with them.

[Tanglefoot]

That's an interesting item. It's a little scary what we're contributing to surface water, including pharmaceuticals. One more strike against diet soda. As if the connection to hardening of the arteries and MS-like symptoms weren't enough.

[Gregg]

Plus it tastes like crap.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Plus it tastes like crap.Agreed 100%. Rob

[catherine]

I agree with the tasting like crap. Can't stand any of the sugar substitutes.

[ApatheticNoMore]

It's garbage. Another one of those products that has no reason for even existing.

[creaker]

It's garbage. Another one of those products that has no reason for even existing.

I have to say I drank a fair amount of diet soda when I was younger, but I haven't in years. I may drink about a 6 pack of soda a year these days, and just about all of it is sugar, as opposed to HFCS - no artificial sweeteners. My downfall is ginger beer :-)

[Simply Divine]

I use stevia. It's not supposed to be that much better than sugar or artificial sweeteners, but I don't worry about if it can kill me.

[Tussiemussies]

I use stevia. It's not supposed to be that much better than sugar or artificial sweeteners, but I don't worry about if it can kill me.


Hi Simply, thought that pure Stevia is much better than any alternative? Did find out that the item Truvia that touts being made from stevia is really another sugar alcohol, very toxic to the body. Can you share what you know about stevia? Thanks! Chris

[Florence]

My DH had a serious Diet Coke habit until 6 weeks ago when he stopped cold turkey. He was pretty miserable for about 3 days but is over it now. Milk, water, and tea are his drinks of choice now--probably a lot healthier for him.

[mtnlaurel]

My DH had a serious Diet Coke habit until 6 weeks ago when he stopped cold turkey. He was pretty miserable for about 3 days but is over it now. Milk, water, and tea are his drinks of choice now--probably a lot healthier for him.

I gave it up for Advent this year and feel SOOOOOO much better.
Sweet Tooth decreased. Overeating down.
Am NOT going back.

It was a real problem for me.
It was the "fwwwhhht" sound of cracking open a can (leftover from my beer-hound days) that really kept me hooked and the whole replacement of diet coke for beer.
I have moved to tea and increased water intake - plan on keeping some sliced lemon in fridge when we get back from holiday travels to make things 'special & fancy'

Very, Very Grateful to have 3 weeks under my belt -- this is the longest I've ever gone without DC in about 25-30 yrs. ...
I think DietCoke came out in the 80s which coincided perfectly with my teen years - absolutely adored them from the beginning.

[JaneV2.0]

I wonder why this is considered an issue, considering the amount of pharmaceutical drugs and other toxic substances dumped into the water supply: hormones and antibiotics being the major offenders, but SSRIs and statins as well. If we can't cut these down at the source, maybe we had better develop more effective filtering.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=pharmaceuticals-in-the-water

ETA: Not to mention agricultural runoff, which can't be treated in a plant.

[Gardenarian]

This stuff should be banned; it's bad for everything.

[ctg492]

As I was driving through a state, not sure which one a couple weeks ago, I heard a hospital was removing all regular pops from the menu and machines. Diet pop was better was the reason. Confusing to me.

[Simply Divine]

Hi Simply, thought that pure Stevia is much better than any alternative? Did find out that the item Truvia that touts being made from stevia is really another sugar alcohol, very toxic to the body. Can you share what you know about stevia? Thanks! Chris
I most certainly know to read my labels and do my research. I never use Truvia.

[Elishi]

I think Diet Coke is as bad as normal coke. That stuff should really be illegal. It's not doing any good for anyone.