We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Are Zero Fizzy Drinks Healthy?

24567

Comments

  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,118 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    PlantMan wrote: »
    No. The sweeteners in them can be carcinogenic.

    There is no evidence to support this, and these things have been extensively tested.

    A good review of them all can be found here on this NHS page

    https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/are-sweeteners-safe/
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • As a side issue why do they not make Mars Bars etc with artificial sweetener ?
  • Toothsmith
    Toothsmith Posts: 10,118 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As a side issue why do they not make Mars Bars etc with artificial sweetener ?
    With drinks, the 'bulk' of the drink is water, and the sweetener is just there to sweeten.

    With confectionary, the 'bulk' of the item is the sugar, and how it cooks and reacts is what makes the product.

    You need a much lower mass of artificial sugar to get the same sweetness - so even if they reacted the same during the manufacture, a Mars Bar made of Saccharin or Aspartame would be awful. The laxitive effect of the artificial sweeteners would also make them into an absolute gastric bomb!!!! :eek:
    How to find a dentist.
    1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
    2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
    3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
    4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.
  • jbkmum
    jbkmum Posts: 294 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper
    They're not particularly healthy but water gives me heartburn and pepsi max cherry doesn't soooo I drink at least two cans of it a day to supplement my liquid intake
    £5000 left to pay on credit cards, down from 40k!!
  • Stoke
    Stoke Posts: 3,182 Forumite
    I once suggested to a doctor that if everyone stopped drinking fizzy pop she would be out of a job. She simply said 'Yes'.
    They're not healthy. They don't claim to be healthy. The marketing people have realised that there's a market for 'sugar free' so they make a sugar free one. It's that simple.

    If you asked the question in a slightly different way - 'What are my options for healthy drinks?' - do you really think fizzy pop of any variety would make the list??
    I reiterate that the market for sugar free is probably people losing weight like myself. Diet drinks helped me when i needed a sugar fix. Now I'm thinner, I'm trying to cut them down.

    Are sugar free cordials equally bad?
  • Fizzy drinks are terrible for your tooth enamel, even without the sugar.
  • GlasweJen
    GlasweJen Posts: 7,451 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    PlantMan wrote: »
    No. The sweeteners in them can be carcinogenic.

    As a general rule to stay healthy I like to ask the question - If I tried, could I make this myself in my kitchen? If the answer is no then the process it has gone through is almost definitely bad for my health.

    I haven't drank a fizzy drink for over a year (not including fizzy water).

    To get myself off of them, I switched to fizzy water. If you still want some sweetness, try half freshly squeezed orange juice and half fizzy water

    Aspartame is one of the most researched ingredients in the world and it's never been linked to autism, MS, cancer or any other ailment that Dr Facebook alleges it causes. If you want scientific research subscribe to a medical journal, if you want pseudoscience then stick to the daily mail.
  • 'Not causing cancer' doesn't equate to 'healthy'. Does it actually do you any good, or does it just not do you any harm?
    Why would you bother to eat something that doesn't actively do you good?
    No longer a spouse, or trailing, but MSE won't allow me to change my username...
  • No, they aren't healthy. However, there is at least one brand with nothing in it but ok stuff (other than if carbonation is an issue). I used to drink tons of these because SW have them as free, but cut them out (including fizzy water) 3.5 years ago & haven't missed them at all
  • Stoke
    Stoke Posts: 3,182 Forumite
    'Not causing cancer' doesn't equate to 'healthy'. Does it actually do you any good, or does it just not do you any harm?
    Why would you bother to eat something that doesn't actively do you good?

    Because it tastes nice, same as any other food/drink?
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 603.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.3K Life & Family
  • 261.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.