The American Psychiatric Association doesn’t recognize addictions to caffeine, artificial sweeteners, or diet soda—but plenty of people have tried, and failed, to give up these substances.
What is so addictive about Diet Coke?
If you find yourself addicted to diet soda, it may be the caffeine you are craving. Withdrawals from caffeine often cause headaches, mood swings, and tiredness.
What happens if I drink Diet Coke everyday?
Drinking a reasonable amount of diet soda a day, such as a can or two, isn’t likely to hurt you. The artificial sweeteners and other chemicals currently used in diet soda are safe for most people, and there’s no credible evidence that these ingredients cause cancer.
Can you get withdrawal symptoms from Diet Coke?
Several negative side effects are associated with soda dependency, and they can manifest themselves when you aren’t able to access any soda or have chosen to quit — especially if you quit cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms include irritability, fatigue, headaches, and even feelings of depression ( 21 , 22 ).
Can a person be addicted to Diet Coke? – Related Questions
How long does it take to get over a diet Coke addiction?
It may take 7 to 10 days to stop craving diet soda, Teitelbaum says, depending on how well you’re addressing the root cause. And if you still indulge occasionally, that’s OK, too. “The bottom line is really to drink sodas of any kind in moderation,” Sandon says.
What are the side effects of drinking too much diet Coke?
8 Potential Side Effects of Consuming Too Much Diet Soda
- Could disrupt gut health.
- Erodes tooth enamel.
- May cause headaches.
- Could decrease bone density.
- May affect heart health.
- Might be associated with sugar cravings.
- Might be related to weight gain.
- May be linked to type 2 diabetes.
Can you get withdrawal symptoms from soda?
Withdrawal: You may experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and difficulty concentrating, or physical symptoms such as headaches and tremors, if you’re unable to satisfy your soda cravings.
What do soda withdrawals feel like?
If you have developed a dependence on caffeine, an abrupt cutback can cause withdrawal symptoms that may include: Headaches. Tiredness. Difficulty concentrating.
Can aspartame cause withdrawal symptoms?
Consuming large amounts of aspartame may also lead to addiction. There are numerous accounts of aspartame consumers experiencing violent and prolonged withdrawal reactions– the hallmark of addiction- when they removed it from their diet.
What happens to your body when you cut out soda?
“When you give up soda, your body will become more hydrated and you’ll have less inflammation. By substituting out water and other healthy drinks instead of soda, you increase your metabolism, improve your cardiac health, and you may even lose some weight!”
What happens when you quit diet Coke?
Your mind seems sharper and migraines go away. You have heard that diet soda withdrawal can cause migraines. Cutting out diet soda will cut down on the headaches and you will think much more clearly. The chemicals found in artificial sweetener alter the brain chemicals, the brain’s reward system, and nerve signals.
Will my stomach shrink if I stop drinking soda?
Are you looking for a way to lose abdominal fat? Patrick Friedli, MD, the medical director of Munson’s Healthy Weight Center, may have one of the simplest ways to shed a few pounds: Eliminate sugary beverages from your diet. Yes, that means you should quit drinking pop.
Is soda damage reversible?
In it, the researchers from The University of Iowa determined that regular aerobic exercise can effectively offset the blood vessel damage that occurs after drinking sugary soft drinks.
How do you kick a diet Coke habit?
If you are looking to cut down your diet soda intake for any reason, make it easier on yourself by following these five tips:
- Move slowly.
- Find an alternative.
- Get more sleep.
- Announce your intention.
- Give yourself a break.
Is diet Coke linked to dementia?
The participants who consumed at least one artificially-sweetened beverage a day were almost three times as likely to either have a dementia or a stroke compared to their counterparts who drank less than one of those beverages a week.
Does diet Coke affect memory?
Aspartame overstimulates neurotransmitters.
This may sound like a good thing, but in excessive amounts it overstimulates it, turning it into a potent neurotoxin that damages neurons, causes cell death, and is associated with a host of issues including memory problems and dementia.
Can diet Coke affect your mood?
A common artificial soft drink sweetener, aspartame, has been directly linked to depression. With diet drinks you won’t experience the energy/post-sugar crash, but diet soda can still get you depressed, perhaps even more than regular soda can.
Does diet Coke affect dopamine?
Moreover, high levels of aspartame increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, and change levels of dopamine and other catecholamines.
Does diet Coke release dopamine?
According to a study published in The Scientist, “Cravings for more coke are explained by the release of two neurotransmitters in the brain, dopamine and glutamate. Caffeine and aspartame increases dopamine levels as shown in various studies.
