<p>I’m down to 2 a day. Since I’m not a coffee drinker, I have one in the AM to jump start my day and a second one either with lunch or late afternoon.</p>
<p>Not sure I’m really addicted, but the headache (presumably from the absent caffeine) seems to have been the worst part. I like the taste and the convenience, but realize that 6 or 8 cans of soda every day can’t be a good thing, so I’ve weaned myself. Not even sure what is bad about them, but have decided to step back. Haven’t decided if my goal is none or if I’m OK with just 2.</p>
<p>I have been there. I am also not a coffee drinker and have lived in relatively hot climates and diet colas (Pepsi is my preference) is my drink of choice to rehydrate and get my caffeine.</p>
<p>Colas are bad for bone density and I have issues with that, so I have weaned myself a few times but I always slip back. I never had more than 3 a day, though. Now I am at 1 or 2 a day at most, but ideally I should have none.</p>
<p>I can get going with iced tea for periods of time, but I really like the fizz of the diet colas.</p>
<p>If you don’t have bone density issues, I would not worry about 2 a day at all.</p>
<p>Yeah, you’re addicted. I only drink one cup of coffee per day, and no sodas or any other source of caffeine, but I will get a headache if I try to go one day without.</p>
<p>You can google “dangers of soda” or something along those lines, and you can find all the latest dire warnings about them. Since I don’t drink soda, I personally never read those articles. As with all those kinds of warnings, however, you have to evaluate what they are based on. One small study does not a good conclusion make.</p>
<p>[My</a> Way News - Coffee buzz: Study finds java drinkers live longer](<a href=“HeadlineAlley”>HeadlineAlley)</p>
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<p>They’re planning to study soda too. Overall, coffee drinkers are an unhealthy lot–with many smokers among them. But when you control for those kinds of variables, they do live longer.</p>
<p>Only two Diet Cokes a day? I don’t know if I could stop at two.</p>
<p>I know that there are better things that I could have, but I don’t smoke, drink, or take drugs, and I get a lot of exercise. I’m allowing myself this vice.</p>
<p>I used to drink anywhere from 2 to 5 cans of pop a day, and when I stopped I lost ten pounds without making any other changes. I only drink one or two a week now… I find I don’t drink enough water otherwise anyway.</p>
<p>I gave up diet coke at the beginning of the year when I started dieting/ eating healthier. I would have a coke with lunch and found myself reaching for another mid afternoon. Hard on my stomach! Switched to diet green tea. Was hard for a couple of weeks, but now I don’t miss it.</p>
<p>Some people feel a lot healthier if they avoid artificial sweeteners. One of my kids gets headaches from NutraSweet (made with aspartame), which is the sweetener in Diet Pepsi. </p>
<p>If you have no health problems whatsoever, maybe this is not a valid consideration for you, though.</p>
<p>Sometimes it’s best to apply common sense to these questions although it’s not always scientifically accurate. I’m often skeptical of ‘studies’ that draw conclusions one way or the other since invariably there are other studies that reach the opposite conclusions.</p>
<p>Ingesting too much caffeine (ex: 6-7 cokes or coffees a day although a cup of coffee has a lot more caffeine than a soda) has readily noticeable adverse physical effects including on the heart and on the ability to sleep, headaches (which means it has an effect on the brain). From my common sense perspective, this can’t be good for you. </p>
<p>Ingesting too much sugar (6-7 non-diet sodas) is also clearly not good for you as it can result in weight gain, metabolic disturbances, issues with the teeth, etc.</p>
<p>Ingesting too much of the ‘diet sugar substitute’ may not be good either. There are lots of studies reaching various conclusions but who knows?</p>
<p>I think the bottom line, as always, is ‘moderation’. I also don’t drink coffee or tea (I’ve never had a cup of either one and can’t stand even the smell of coffee) but I like Diet Mt Dew. I know if I were to drink 5 or so in a day I’d really notice the caffeine effects so I don’t do that. I purposely limit myself to 2-3 per day. I don’t drink it for the caffeine but rather the taste. I actually called up the company once and asked if they had non-caffeinated diet Mt Dew and they said they did but it wasn’t sold in my state. I know they’re changing the variations of the product all the time so hopefully they’ll come out with a non caffeinated version for me someday.</p>
<p>I think the bottom line in addition to the moderation point is that if you notice many effects from drinking or ceasing to drink something - it’s an issue. I’m willing to go out on a limb and state 6-8 cans of diet coke a day is way too much.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the effect on bone density in females of cola drinks is uncontroverted. I did a lot of research because I wasn’t buying it. What is NOT clear is whether low or moderate consumption (1-2 colas a day) is truly bad.</p>
<p>I allow myself one regular Coke per day, in the morning. It’s my caffeine fix.</p>
<p>I love Coke; that’s all there is to it. I could drink 4-5 a day without thinking twice about it. And when I can find the Coke made with cane sugar - Nirvana. Such a much cleaner tast.</p>
<p>I drink tea (loose leaf) for the caffeine fix, and mostly seltzer otherwise. Never use any “diet” products, as I can’t stand artificial sweeteners, and I truly believe they are bad for you. OP, I would keep trying if I were you - 2 a day is still a lot. </p>
<p>We have been trying to get to a healthier place in terms of diet, so I have been really struggling with cutting back on certain things myself.</p>
<p>Of course, the wine continues to be an issue ;).</p>
<p>We have no soda in our house. Just some fruit juice (orange, grape, and V8), water (use Brita filter, no more bottled water), wine, and lots of beer. I stopped drinking caffeinated coffee cold turkey a few months ago because it was aggravating my heart. I was in a fog for 2 weeks, but then seemed ok. After 2 weeks in Italy drinking lots of cappuccino… I am in a fog again.</p>
<p>I crack the first one around 5:30am every weekday before I workout, the second as soon as I get settled on the train and the third when I get to the office. When I was in Africa last month, I didn’t have any and suffered no ill effects - got my caffeine fix from wonderful African tea. Makes the stuff you buy in the US taste like toilet water. </p>
<p>H gave up caffeine cold turkey a few years ago as he was getting headaches in the morning if he didn’t have any. He’s probably gained 15+ pounds since. </p>
<p>S1 is a soda addict, so I got him a SodaStream for Christmas.</p>
<p>Another Diet Coke junkie here. Actually, my real drug of choice is Tab, but its hard to find. Bone density fine so far. I like my caffeine cold, so I need a can to start my day. I’ve cut back to 2 cans a day. I buy the smaller (7.5 oz) cans now, so I’m only gulping 15 oz. day, down from 24 oz.</p>
<p>Diet Pepsi is my addiction. The amount of caffeine is DP is way less than coffee. I don’t have the stats right here, but 3-4 DP = 1 cup of coffee. So…I get really annoyed at those coffee people saying rude things to me at 8 a.m. as they are reaching for their 2nd…or
3rd cup.</p>
<p>I also don’t smoke, drink, or use drugs (except caffeine and I try to eat healthy. My bone density has been tested and is completely fine, so I’m ok with this. I have tried to cut back on late afternoon/evening drinking because it makes me go to the bathroom all night.</p>
and I try to eat healthy. My bone density has been tested and is completely fine, so I’m ok with this. I have tried to cut back on late afternoon/evening drinking because it makes me go to the bathroom all night.</p>