pregnancy and diet soda

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2004
pregnancy and diet soda
4
Mon, 01-10-2005 - 10:13pm
I am 6 months along w/ my 3rd child. I've heard so many different things about drinking diet soda while pregnant, and I wanted to get some opinions. I didn't drink diet soda w/ my first or second, but I have been "addicted" to it for awhile now. And I can no longer see the point in regular soda b/c I would rather eat my calories and carbs, than drink them. So should I quit drinking it all together, limit it to a dining-out treat, or not worry at all? tia-chrissy
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Mon, 01-10-2005 - 11:15pm

I've read recently that there's been no (or little) tests regarding artificial sweeteners like aspartame and pregnancy. I'd say stay away from it or reduce it if you can - too much of anything can't help things. The good thing is that you're so far along and a lot of that stuff really matters during the 1st trimester. So, for what it's worth, I'd say just to be on the safe side, you might cut down on it a bit.

Melissa

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 7:02am
I think the one thing you can do is ask your OB, they would be able to tell you what is best.
All I know is of caffeine, and I did not drink much soda while pregnant.





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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 9:53am

When I was pregnant with both my kids, I had gest. diabetes. I hated not being able to eat anything bad, but my doc said 1 diet soda/day was ok, so she must not have felt 1 was too bad re: caffeine or artif. sweetners. My kids turned out OK so far! I looked forward to those sodas each day, let me tell ya!

Patti
Kayleigh - 3
Robbie - 1

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Tue, 01-11-2005 - 11:03am

Sorry, but if you're pregnant or nursing, the diet soda HAS to go unless it's made with Splenda, which is sugar based (and the jury is actually still out on that one). Aspartame (1-methyl N-Laspartyl-L- phenylalanine)has been CLINICALLY PROVEN to kill fetal brain cells, and Nutra Sweet had tetrogenic effects as well that were well documented. I'm not talking about HUGE amounts of the stuff either. Normal consumption amounts, even at reduced levels, still had adverse effects on developing fetuses. Even when you aren't pregnant, it ain't great for you, to be honest. One of the problems comes with the metabolizing of the chemicals that make up the sweeteners. Aspartame in particular produces an excess of L-phenylalanine when it is processed through the intestines, which is a know neurotoxin. Humans cannot process L-phenylalanine as efficiently as lower mammals such as rodents, so are actually much more susceptible to brain damage as the result of consumption than the rats used to study the effects, which showed damage themselves. In particular, the L-phenylalanine can concentrate in developing fetuses, and also in the breast milk of lactating mothers.

An article presented to/by the US senante committee on the matter stated "In the developing fetus such a rise in maternal blood phenylalanine could be magnified FOUR TO SIX FOLD by the concentrative efforts of the placenta and fetal blood brain barrier. Thus a maternal phenylalanine of 150 pM could reach 900 pM in the developing fetal brain cell and this concentration kills such cells in tissue culture. The effect of such an increased fetal brain concentrations in vivo would probably be much more subtle and expressed as MENTAL RETARDATION, MICROCEPHALY, OR POTENTIAL CERTAIN BIRTH DEFECTS In the rapidly growing post-natal brain (children of 9-12 months) irreversible brain damage could occur by the same mechanism. In the adult we have found that changes in blood phenylalanine in these concentration ranges are associated with slowing of the electroencephalogram, and prolongation of cognitive function tests. Fortunately, these effects on the mature brain are reversible but provide clear evidence for a negative effect on sensitive parameters of brain function"

The FDA biochemistry department has also confirmed that aspartame, as well as the chemical formualas for "Nutra Sweet" and "Equal" releases amino acids in addition to phenylalanine--aspartate, methanol which then must be processed through the body for elimination, and are subject to concentrate in fetal cells.

So. . . Find other ways to cut your calories, because the stuff is poison. Sorry, but there's just no way around it :(

Angela