I read something recently (I know,always a BAD thing to do) that aspartame, can be a trigger to RA. Now although I am not going to believe or discredit something immediately, I did notice that around the time that I started my symptoms, I decided to replace the sugar in my coffee with sweetener and I do drink Diet Coke. Not that it means anything. So, I am just curious......How many of you drink diet coke, or consume a sweetener of some kind regularly. I mean, if I am going to stop drinking my diet cokes, I am going to have proof.
There's more formaldehyde in a glass of fruit juice than there is in a diet coke.
I had RA before aspartame was in regular use...and I never touched diet stuff in those daysThere is stevia which is a great sweetner. Also, I use agave nectar in my coffee. Tastes like sugar, all natural with a low glycemic index. Both are a bit expensive, but worth it.RA is known to date back to ancient Greece. Don't think they had Diet Coke then!See, this is why I ask here. :) You just put it in perspective for me
[QUOTE=JasmineRain]There's more formaldehyde in a glass of fruit juice than there is in a diet coke.
[/QUOTE]
Wow! Really?
[QUOTE=schell]
[QUOTE=JasmineRain]There's more formaldehyde in a glass of fruit juice than there is in a diet coke.
[/QUOTE]
Wow! Really?
[/QUOTE]
Yep - as soon as the juice is formed it starts fermenting. Even if you pasteurize it... when it sits around for any length of time - you guessed it. As a result, there are trace amounts of formaldehyde and alcohol. Nothing your body can't handle.
I'm one of the few adults I know who does not use any fake sweetener, and I'm also one of the few people I know who has RA. I've got nothing against the stuff - I just don't like the taste and don't have a weight or blood sugar problem.
Like Jasmine, I do not care for the taste of artificial sweeteners and have never used them. I do not drink much soda, however recently I craved a Coke so badly that JasmineRain locked her stash away to protect it.
I have stopped drinking diet Coke and using artificial sweetners as I realized I had more pain when I used them, especially my back. This summer I started to drink diet Coke again and within a week my back was killing me. As soon as I stopped the pain went away. When I was diagnosed I was using Equal a lot and drinking diet Coke. I dont know, maybe there is a connection.I started out drinking Tab back in my college years and then progressed to diet coke. This was 20+ years before I was diagnosed. I don't think it has anything to do with my RA but then who knows. If it is just the formaldehyde thing then I don't think so because like Jasmine said formaldehyde is also in our fruit juices too. I drink tons of fruit juice probably more than diet coke.
I'm trying to cut down on artificial sweetners because my RD says it might be the cause of my stomach bloat. I drink diet green tea and eat alot of sugar free hard candies.
The first time I consumed a Diet Coke with Aspartame, I got a severe headache and had vision disturbances. The doctor said it was an allergic reaction and I haven't touched it since.
I gave up adding Splenda to my coffee @ onset, I kinda thought maybe it had something to do with it. I still eat Atkins products though... and I do enjoy a diet coke now and then, but mostly I drink water.