Posted on 12/16/2008 7:43:43 PM PST by Sammy67
You drink diet soda, so you must be healthier. Right?
That's what New York Gov. David Paterson is talking about with his proposal for an "obesity tax" — a 15 percent slap on non-diet sugary soft drinks. Think $1 for a Diet Coke, $1.15 for a Coke.
There's just one problem: Studies have found links between drinking diet sodas and obesity and diabetes.
A 2005 study at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, and separate studies released in 2007 at the University of Alberta in Canada and the University of Massachusetts found that diet soda drinkers were more likely than regular soda drinkers to be obese.
Also, several studies by U.S. and European researchers have tied the artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet), which is used to sweeten many diet sodas, to cancer, headaches and organ damage -- though both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union maintain that the studies they’ve reviewed show that the product is safe.
According to Paterson's proposal, the obesity tax would net an extra $404 million a year for the state and help close its projected $15 billion deficit.
In addition to soda, sugary drinks containing less than 70 percent fruit juice would be
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
What’s next! State soda drinking age raised to 18 with an ID to prove it?
LOL.
Can't imagine why.
Well I have always thought about visiting New York City someday.
But, I think in the long run.. I will just stay away. 18% on all that stuff is just crazy.
Well I have always thought about visiting New York City someday.
But, I think in the long run.. I will just stay away. 18% on all that stuff is just crazy.
200,000 employees with big fat pensions....
Did they happen to tell you why diet soda becomes dangerous after six months or why it will make you very ill? I ask only because I've been in the business for more than 20 years and have never heard a soft drink manufacture say any such thing.
Aspartame is highly unstable and will break down if subjected to prolonged heat. That's why it isn't used for baking and is why Splenda has become such a big hit. Aspartame also has a short shelf life in liquids. As Aspartame decomposes, it breaks down into its three original components (phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol) as well as the diketopiperazine derivative of aspartame. So what? This isn't dangerous in any way and has been tested extensively.
Drinking a can of hydrolyzed aspartame leaves a burning feeling on the tongue and throat from the methanol.
It's the amino acids that cause the cyclic peptide to form. The taste may be bad but it certainly isn't harmful. Your concern is an issue of quality, not an issue of safety. Again, this is why sucralose is becoming the sweetener substitute of choice today.
Since phenylalanine is, if I remember correctly, the most common amino acid and is found in most proteins, people suffering from PKU really have it tough. That doesn’t make aspartame any more dangerous to these people than steak. Only about 1 out of 15,000 people suffers from PKU. That still doesn’t prove aspartame is dangerous and makes people ill when it breaks down.
Right, "divide and conquer" strategy. Equal protection under the law means nothing to our current crop of filthy scumbags "serving" the public. Rape, pillage, and steal - has much more appeal to these pirates.
That must be why they want us to drink the diet stuff, eh?
Most likely. Because frankly, diet soda does NOT:
-Contain a significant amount of energy.
-Cause any significant insulin spike.
Hence, diet soda making you fat would be something of a scientific miracle. Only epidemiological studies link diet soda to obesity, etc., but that says more about the crappiness of epidemiological dietary studies (a general phenomenon) than it does about diet soda.
The cancer and general health issues are more complicated. I don’t think it’s terribly dangerous, but I try to limit my consumption.
(((((( rimshot ))))))
My biggest weakness is regular coke. (Liquid not powder :)). When I started my diet I found switching to diet didn’t help at all. I just cut down the amount of coke I drink from about 40 bottles a day to 1.
Besides helping me with my diet cutting coke out almost completely has also improved my dental health. Perfect checkup just last week.
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