This is not true. All soda that I am aware of is hydrating.
With respect, unless you isolate all factors than you're just guessing. It's possible but stress is a much greater contributor to water retention than a small amount of added sodium in most people.
Not everything has to be scientific when dealing with one's own body. I know what I know.
Well, whenever I hear a statement like "research has shown that eating XX activates the same pleasure centres in the brain as cocaine," I think the statement is meaningless unless we know what ELSE activates (or doesn't activate) those pleasure centres. Maybe petting the dog or listening to soothing music or swimming in a warm ocean or having a great conversation with a friend also activates the pleasure centres. Does that mean all these activities are addictive, or just pleasurable?
I also would take prime rib over a huge piece of chocolate cake ANY day.
In the end I will always be against soda more so for what it does to your teeth than all the controversy about artificial sweeteners. That stuff never did anything for me anyway..perhaps because I have zero sweet cravings.
I'd say ditch it for your dental health more than weight concerns.
I was surprised at how easily I kicked my soda habit. I used to have at least 1 can or bottle of pepsi, dr. pepper, or cherry coke daily. I weened myself off of them by simply not buying them. This year I haven't really been wanting any. The fact that soda, diet or otherwise, is man-made and lacking in nutrition is enough to figure it's not beneficial even if our bodies can tolerate it. Since I heard that thirst is for water and hunger is for nutrients I haven't seen much point in drinking soda anymore.
I'm not disagreeing with you that oreos cause a pleasure sensation in the brain, and that this can cause compulsive behavior. I disagree with the idea that eating an oreo produces the same amount of pleasure as a hit of cocaine. Oreos and cocaine are not in the same ballpark when it comes to addictive potential. They've done tests on animals and time after time it's been shown that animals will prefer drugs of addiction over food. A cocaine addicted chimpanzee will forgo everything- food, water, and the company of other chimps to get more cocaine.
You simply don't see people prostituting themselves in the streets to get one more oreo. Let's also not forget that drugs of abuse can cause horrendous withdrawals. Whether or not people can become addicted to oreos, they aren't going to die if they withdraw from them. People have died withdrawing from alcohol and heroine. So no, all addictions are not equal. You don't see overweight people shooting each other over a girl scout cookie deal gone bad. There's no support for your argument in the laboratory or in real life situations.
I think you are correct that not all addictions are the same. But perhaps instead of comparing it to hard drugs maybe see it similar to smoking or alcohol? I have never seen people shooting each other over getting a cigarette or beer either lol But they both can be real addictions.
Before I smoked I rarely drank pop. Afterward I quit I started drinking it alot! I remember quitting smoking and having withdrawls & the just complete suckitude of it lol And if I got without having a soda it can be a very similar feeling.
I love my diet dr pepper so much. The amount of calories I save from normal soda is insane. I am not quite sold on the articles that it is so bad but it surely is not good for me. It always kind of reminds me of the black sludge stuff from the movie ferngully. lol. And it is sooo bad for your teeth!
I am trying to cut back. Drinking more water is better. Slowly just weed myself down to a few a week would be much better.
MauiKai is right, there is huge amounts of sugar and aspartame in diet sodas. Aspartame has the same effect as cigarettes with nicotine. So your basically drinking nicotine in a soda. I quit cold turkey too. I now drink water (alot) or Powerade, its calorie free, no aspartame, and it fills you up, also it is really good for you. Hope this helps you kick the heck out of the diet soda obsession.
Please be very careful taking in too much of any electrolyte sport drink like powerade. Keep in mind that they're designed to rehydrate athletes after strenuous exercise and even low and no calorie versions can mess with homeostasis.
I was addicted to Mountain Dew - real, not diet. That (and all soda) is the ONLY thing that I have made completely off limits. I had my last soda in May of 2010. And do you know that of EVERYTHING that I've given up or changed it is my sweet lovely Mountain Dew that I miss terribly!
MauiKai is right, there is huge amounts of sugar and aspartame in diet sodas. Aspartame has the same effect as cigarettes with nicotine. So your basically drinking nicotine in a soda. I quit cold turkey too. I now drink water (alot) or Powerade, its calorie free, no aspartame, and it fills you up, also it is really good for you. Hope this helps you kick the heck out of the diet soda obsession.
Are there studies out there that back this up? I'm not so sure about that....
A click through slideshow of pictures with very brief synopses of research (which aren't linked to the original studies) attached is not compelling evidence for an argument for or against drinking diet sodas.