Diet Pepsi dropping aspartame = consumers being heard

Pepsi announced last week that it was dropping aspartame from its Diet Pepsi, a victory for consumers who fear aspartame even though government regulators and soft drink makers say its safe.

Love every sip? Not lately, consumers have been shunning diet sodas, worried about aspartame and other sweeteners used. So Diet Pepsi is switching to Splenda.

Food and beverage companies are in business to make money, not to harm or kill people as some critics seem to think. The manufacturers will make anything they think people will buy in massive quantities. So the way to get them to stop making things you consider unhealthy is to stop buying them, which is pretty much what has been happening with diet sodas in recent years.

Splenda will be the new sweetener in Diet Pepsi. Will that switch reverse the slide in diet soda sales? I’m guessing no, people seem to fear all sweeteners these days, from sugar on down. Stevia is one new darling, several sodas are already out sweetened with that. I’ve written about a brand I tried with Stevia, you can read about it on this link.

Give it some time and I’m sure someone will find something bad to say about it too. We are simply in an era of vast distrust of all processed foods.
John

April 27, 2015 0

Zevia asks: why not try again? Ok, I will

I posted recently about trying Zevia, a Stevia-sweetened soda; I had specifically tried its cream soda variety. That post brought me a note from Zevia asking if I wanted to try some of its other flavors.

Good form, Zevia. I was less than totally sold on the flavor of the cream soda. But rather than send me an angry note, Zevia basically said ‘try some of our other flavors and see what you think of those.’ Fair enough, I will and thank you for the offer.

Zevia asked me to try it again, so I will. Thanks.

And I already feel good about the company for handling this in such a positive way.

No guarantees of course on how I’ll review the other flavors but again I appreciate the offer.

Will post again when I’ve tried them.
John

January 13, 2015 2

Drink plenty of water…oh wait, maybe not

One of the most basic tenets of post-angioplasty health these days is to drink plenty of water. I was told to drink at least two liters a day, about 64 ounces, which I pretty much do regularly, if for no other reason than there’s not much I can eat during a given day, so water has become my snack.

My Super Big Gulp days are over when it comes to diet soda, I given it up for water on the advice of nutritionists...who didn't mention arsenic in water could be a cause of my heart troubles. — My Super Big Gulp days are over when it comes to diet soda, I given it up for water on the advice of nutritionists…who didn’t mention arsenic in water could be a cause of my heart troubles.

So imagine how I felt in reading a recent New York Times article saying that the very water I drink could have caused my heart problems!!! Continue reading “Drink plenty of water…oh wait, maybe not” →

November 5, 2014 0

Naturally sweeten soda: what is that anyway?

Diet soda was a mainstay of my pre-angioplasty life, giving me daily hits of sweetness with no calories and I thought no harm. It comes in for much derision these days and is off my diet now except for once or twice a week, my now special treats.

But let’s face it, water, which I now drink a lot, is boring and tasteless. So I keep searching for low-calorie diet alternatives.

A recent trip to Whole Foods brought one to my attention, something called Honest Fizz naturally sweetened zero calorie soda (made by a unit of Coke of all places). Twelve-ounce cans were on sale for four for $5, or $1.25 a can. Not cheap, but the hope they would be tasty caused me to buy some of the root beer and lemon lime varieties.

Honest Fizz soda tasted good, how do you feel about stevia?

Continue reading →

April 25, 2014 2

Diet soda and eating more: more sad news

I once used diet soda as a substitute for all the sweet, creamy treats I couldn’t have. These days, I’ve cut down on diet soda along with everything else as I redo my eating and drinking habits since having an angioplasty done 18 months ago. But twice a week, I still allow myself a diet beverage.

So I was sad to read this Reuters article about a new study saying people who drink diet beverages tend to consume more calories. Sad, but not really surprised, since I think people regularly assume if they have diet products, they can eat more than they otherwise would and still be ok.

My Super Big Gulp days are over when it comes to diet soda, but I miss it.

“People who were overweight or obese generally consumed the same amount of calories a day no matter what they drank, but those who chose diet drinks got more of those calories from food,” the article notes.
Continue reading “Diet soda and eating more: more sad news” →

February 21, 2014 2