Is it safe for kids to drink diet soda?

Question

My boys are 17 and 8, and they like to drink my diet pepsi. I'd rather have them drink that than koolaid or juice with tons of sugar in it. But, is it safe?

Answer 1

there is low carb juice and we drink tons of sugar free koolaid its the most normal tasting sugar free drink that ive tried, diet pepsi still has caffeine which should not be given to an 8 year old, and if you get juice that is 100% juice sure it has natural sugars in it but it is loaded with tons of healthy stuff vitamins and such, diet soda has no nutritional benefits at all, and theres always water which has no sugar and is good for your body

Answer 2

Diet drinks aren't good for anyone its better for them to drink a regular pepsi instead of a diet.  

Answer 3

While diet may not have sugar it still has caffeine, my daughter has always preferred diet, I think that it is better than koolaid w/ a **** load of sugar in it.

Answer 4

My toddler is a type 1 diabetic, and I give her diet sodas all the time.  She doesn't like plain water, and she needs to keep hydrated or her blood sugars will go way up.  Her endocrinologist said diet pop is fine, she can drink as much as she wants.  All the same, I still don't want her having too much, so I mix it with plain water.  

I think you shouldn't worry about it.  Just like anything else give it to them in moderation.  And you have the right idea ... the diet sodas are much better than the sugared ones.  Just be careful not to get the caffenated ones, especially for your 8 year old.

Answer 5

Diet colas in general were introduced for those who needed to lessen their sugar intake, for diabetics , for obese people

and for health conscious people.

They do not have sugar like the regular drinks of the same brands. They use artificial sweeteners like aspartates and cyclamates which do not increase blood glucose. by a direct effect.

But the findings in some of the studies were that although the diet sodas did not have a direct effect on the blood glucose, they indirectly helped in increasing the blood glucose

because those who took these drinks developed a craving for sugar and this resulted in a paradoxical effect. Further they increased the blood triglycerides leading to increase

of arisk factor for heart disease.

The same studies have shown that the colouring material used in some ( caramel like) has an adverse effect by increasing the resistance to insulin.

And such children became unexpectedly obese, and diet conscious adults started gaining weight, and control of blood sugar in diabetics was made more difficult.

This is the present state of things but health authorities in countries have not yet taken a decision according to what transpired from the studies. More studies may be needed to

study this problem.

Added later

The regular drinks like Colas and Pepsis have real high sugar and they contribute to increase the blood sugar and has the same effects.

Answer 6

My kids are around the same age, and years ago my pediatrician told me that diet drinks should not be given to kids at all. Nutrisweet has some kind of amino acid thing that was found to affect kids brains, and the others aren't good either. I know if your kid is diabetic, that they should use sweetener replacements, and so only in that case, and in moderation.

Regarding Pepsi and other colas, kids should have a very moderate amount because it has been linked to weakening bones in developing children. Also, if they do drink soda, make sure they DON'T brush their teeth right after. Soda softens the tooth enamel, and it takes a half hour or so before the enamel 'rehardens'. Brushing your teeth right after drinking soda will then brush away the enamel, and really damage your teeth.

I've taken my kids completely off of soda. They love vitamin waters, and because now they're so used to the very diluted juice taste of them, they'll drink regular juice that's super diluted, like 1/4 juice to 3/4 water, and they love it. Substitute mineral water for the regular water, and it will be close to tasting like an Italian soda, and they get all the vitamins of juice, without the sugar and calories.

Answer 7

Well, I just saw a report on the Today show that said that any cola diet or otherwise ups your chances of kidney disease....on the other hand, the clear sodas don't. If they HAVE TO have soda, try getting them to switch to clear ones.  

Answer 8

your 17 should be find but your 8 year should not drink it my kids doctor said its not good for them i also read this in a magazine once  

Answer 9

Well it's not as safe as say water.  Though it isn't like it's going to destroy them or anything.  Though personally I have a huge problem with Nutrasweet just because I've seem so many people be effected negatively by it.  If I were going to let them drink some soda I would get the zero stuff that has splenda in it rather than Nutrasweet.  Nutrasweet actually can spike some peoples glucose about as much as sugar and so therefore it is just as dangerous in causing diabetes as other drinks with sugar in it.  I personally do not drink diet drinks because they have artificial sweetener in them.  I make my own ginger ale and I put powdered stevia in it.  Stevia is a plant that tastes better than sugar in my opinion.  Though you probably don't want to go to such inconvenient lengths, but I would switch to a diet drink sugared with splenda for myself and for my kids if that is something that you have to have.  Also yes your right it's much better for you than koolaid.  Though you also have to realize the high acid content of it which can cause many problems such as kidney stones and can wreck their teeth.  As for the caffiene I wouldn't worry about that,  caffiene actually is not such a problem it does not adversely effect your health.  It's not like it's healthy for you in large doses but it's fairly safe of course unless you have medical problems specially with the heart.  Oh also they have some good diet drinks that I have had in the past they are made by diet rite, all their sodas all sugared with splenda and they have a variety of flavors too including coke.