patrick.net

They are somewhat bad for you. For example, studies of diet soda drinkers show they tend not to lose weight, because the rush of sweetness sets off a reaction in the brain, like a drug, that causes people to crave calories. Also, aspartame was approved for use in sodas at the behest of Donald Rumsfeld, despite concerns that use in sodas would increase consumption to levels associated with tinnitus and other problems. The links to cancer seem a bit misleading though, because they are based on massive doses in animal studies.

Why do we live in a country where Donald Rumsfeld has any say in what goes in soda? That's just crazy.

The one thing about the article in the o.p. that I disagree with is the assumption that if the FDA approves something, that suggests it's ok to eat. The FDA would approve feeding broken glass to children. Food has to be pretty fucked up before the FDA stops it from going to market.

curious2 says

For example, studies of diet soda drinkers show they don't lose weight, because the rush of sweetness sets off a reaction in the brain, like a drug, that causes people to crave calories.

I've heard that too, but is that confirmed by multiple studies and have any of them been discredited? And does it really apply to all artificial sweeteners and their uses? When I drink coffee with Splenda, it's not sweet. The Splenda just counterbalances the bitterness of the coffee. Would that cause calorie cravings?

There have been multiple studies on diet soda, some showing weight gain and others showing no effect; I haven't seen any showing weight loss. As for coffee, IMMV.