Carbonated water is carbonic acid....and can make our bodies acidic on the pH levels. We want the pH balanced, I'm sure a pop here and there won't matter. But since I've been told that and done the research pop is just another thing I need to have in moderation after this diet. I drink WAY more water/herbal tea when I'm not drinking pop.
I'm not on IP, but am considering it or a similar meal replacement program, so have been researching them for the past couple weeks. With my health issues I'm finding that I eat far less healthfully when I don't have the energy to prepare meals, and thought maybe meal replacements might be helpful, at least on those days. Though I don't like the term meal replacement, because you still are getting a meal, it's just a different meal.
but on the topic of ph, orange juice and most sodas have similar ph levels (although I'm guessing that fruit juices aren't allowed on IP either). Colas are usuallly more acidic than orange juice and rootbeers are generally less acidic than orange juice, and have the highest ph of most sodas on average. (the lower ph, the more acidic).
The research support for the ph-balance diet theory is still pretty limited and even controversial, but if you accept the theory, you still wouldn't eliminate all acidic foods (in fact you couldn't). And according to most proponents of the theory, meat is the worst offender in terms of producing acid in the body.
As to citric acid in the IP food (IP coaches may be able to answer this better), my guess would be the citric acid is used as a preservative or as a source for vitamin C.
However there'd be a lot more acid in a glass of orange juice or soda than the amount used as a preservative.
As a vitamin supplement though, that would be higher, but how much soda, a supplement would equal, I don't even have a guess.
Out of curiosity, wouldn't citric acid have the same effect? And if so, why is it in our packages?
Good question, I'm not sure.
I know that we get controlled 'exposure' to sugar and carbs through the packages, perhaps this is 'controlled exposure' too lol! My coach's coach mentioned the acid level, combined with the dentist telling me the same thing made me do a lot of research on it. I think it's worth looking into if your interested. I remember finding a list of items that were listed in terms of their acidic levels.
My coach mentioned that clear pops weren't as big of a deal as say Cola's something to do with acids but I can't remember what it was exactly and I don't drink cola.
I used to be a Diet Coke Addict...at least 1-2 cans per day. That was the#1 thing I was worried about before trying IP. I have to say, I'm 10 days into IP and I don't crave it AT ALL. My coach told me I could have 1 per week, but I need to drink an extra glass of water that day. I had it last Friday, and honestly it didn't even taste that good!
I have the occasional diet soda and it hasn't affected my weight loss. We can't give up everything and it seems that no matter what we do to make healthier lifestyle changes someone finds a negative to add to the mix! Do your best to make healthy choices, but remember we are not perfect!
My coach mentioned that clear pops weren't as big of a deal as say Cola's something to do with acids but I can't remember what it was exactly and I don't drink cola.
If I remember correctly, the issue as far as acid in sodas is that the dark sodas, such as Coke or Pepsi, are higher in acid. Which is why they make a good meat tenderizer (ever had coke BBQ?). I would think that in moderation, a caffiene-free clear soda amde with spenda or stevia would be fine. Or even sparkling water with sugar-free torani or davinci syrup in it.
I know I've mentioned this before, but it's good ebough to mention again, Powerade Zero is made from spenda and is a good source of elecrolytes (especially for the big D).
I have the occasional diet soda and it hasn't affected my weight loss. We can't give up everything and it seems that no matter what we do to make healthier lifestyle changes someone finds a negative to add to the mix! Do your best to make healthy choices, but remember we are not perfect!
Very well said, Holly! We have to make this diet work for us. If that means tweaking it, then so be it! I'd rather be on a tweaked version (which I am) than on a strict version and end up giving up after a while. I know myself well enough to know that I cannot be as strict as most for as long as I have to in order to lose as much weight as I have to. I no longer have a coach since I am doing alternatives (the expense!) and have to rely on my body to tell me when I need to tweak something.
I have heard the biggest reason why you want to avoid soda in addition to the aspartame is sodium. I got the ok to have waist watchers diet soda. It's made with Splenda, no aspartame, no fat, no carbs, no sodium, no sugar, no calories. Kind of falls in line with the WF products...
I have heard the biggest reason why you want to avoid soda in addition to the aspartame is sodium. I got the ok to have waist watchers diet soda. It's made with Splenda, no aspartame, no fat, no carbs, no sodium, no sugar, no calories. Kind of falls in line with the WF products...
I've never heard of that drink, where do you buy it?
My coach has stressed that I try to only drink beverages sweetened with stevia or splenda/sucralose and/or Ace K. More importantly, the phosphoric acid in darker sodas is what IP deems "bad" for you. With the sugar substitutes, I think the effects vary from person to person. You will find people on this forum who have had diet soda every day and have had no problems. I have switched to Diet Rite tangerine soda (splenda sweetened and no phosphoric acid) for a treat, and otherwise stick with plain water, water with True Lemon, or flavored seltzers. Also, check out the new Mio water flavors by Kraft Foods! I hear they are great, and they are OP. (On protocol.)
Here is from IP FAQ:
Why is diet soda discouraged during the Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method?
All diet drinks (i.e. sugar-free, carb-free) are NOT contraindicated on the Ideal Protein Diet. The problem that can arise is imbalances in acid / base regulation. Our protocol is very alkaline and this is why we do not see complications common to other "protein type diets", namely kidney stones, gout, bone spurs, etc.
Some diet drinks (Crystal Light for example) are mixed with water and these are acceptable. Many others (flavored Aqua-fina, Dasani, etc.) contain alot of phosphoric acid. This is a very strong acid and will play havoc with the body's bicarbonate buffering system. The same goes for diet sodas...particularly the "brown ones"...Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, root beer, etc.). Flavored seltzers are usually OK, just read the label and make sure it is carb-free and contains no phosphoric acid. Carbonated beverages contain CO2 which, when dissolved in water becomes carbonic acid, a weak acid (unlike phosphoric).
To have a glass of these occasionally would not be a problem, but consuming large amounts (like in place of the 2 liters of water per day) would not be a good idea. The pH of Perrier is about 5.7, weakly acidic. Our protocol provides so many health benefits besides weight loss, it would be a shame to compromise some of the benefits by consuming these products. Acid / base balance plays a major role in physiology, particularly in such conditions as osteoporosis, gout, "hardening of the arteries", and a more acidic blood does not carry oxygen as well. Using sugar-free, carb-free drinks and diet sodas will not compromise your weight loss (providing you drink extra water if these drinks contain caffeine, remember an extra cup of water for every cup of coffee you drink, same thing here) the dieter who chooses to use these products a lot, will not receive all of the wonderful benefits of the program.
I'm reluctant to bring this up again, but here goes... according to David Zinczenko & Matt Goulding, authors of Eat This, Not That, Diet Coke & other diet sodas are the very worst beach-body beverages... this is what they say on Yahoo Health:
No calories, no fat, and no sugar—so what's the harm? For starters, the carbon dioxide that supplies soda's fizz will continue to burble and expand in your stomach, priming you for serious bloat. That's the short-term effect. The long-term could be even worse: The artificial sweeteners in diet soda might actually inhibit weight loss. Studies have shown that rats consuming artificial sweeteners consume more calories at subsequent meals. It's as if the promise of calories, without the payoff, causes the body to crave food. Below is a better beach-day beverage: Hint Water. By drinking water, you keep your body flushed out and your skin looking healthy, and since Hint uses natural flavors, you earn all the boons of hydration without suffering the downsides of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Drink This Instead!
Hint Cucumber Water (16 fl. oz.)
0 calories
0 g fat
0 g sugar
