What do you think about artificial sweetners? For instance in Coke/Pepsi, or pretty much all suger free sodas.

I'm bringing this up because I saw something really, really ironic on TV.

First, an ad for "the informing company regarding artificial sweetners" (it is really hard to translate to English, sorry for the bad translation!).

It shows a picture of young person who has cancer, lying in bed. A voice says "Do you want you or your family to die young? If you don't, why put yourself at danger by drinking sodas with Aspartam in them? It has not yet been verified that Aspartam does not give cancer"

The commercial is directly followed up by:

"Try the new, genious sweetner - Aspartam! It has no proven side-effects, and it is much better for your body than any other alternative!"

Then it shows a picture of a Norwegian women atlete (I have no idea who she is or what she does, but she is well known), who says that it is fantastic.

I think it is just ridiculous. Aspartam has been tested since 1968 (I think), and is one of the most thoroughly tested food additions (don't know what to call it in English).

It has been proven that there are no side-effects by drinking Coke with Aspartam, as long as you drink less than 24 gallons a day (4.5 liters).

So, what do you think about Aspartam/Acesfultam/Sucralose?

Aspartame is horrible and can have a number of side effects including cancer.

 So you're simply going to ignore over 10 years of scientists work on this subject, forming your own opinion?

Or.... If it is a joke, it is semi-funny.

PS: Whoohoo, this thread has now exceeded the average number of replies on my threads :P

They taste like crap.

The after-taste is shit.

Overall, pretty horrible.

I am of the philosophy that if you're going to drink soft drinks then you might as well go all the way, because if you're going to drink that horrible sugar-free caffine-free diet bullshit then you might as well drink water and save yourself the teeth stains. Water tastes considerably better.

It's the same thing with Gatorade (or other energy drinks), either drink something with sugar in it, or drink water. Don't settle for the middle of the road, because guess what, the middle of the road tastes like shit.

so you are going to ignore the work of other scientists because you want to believe studies funded by aspartame people?

Obama=Anti-christ

I'm sorry to keep bringing that up, but since that moment you've lost all credibility.

I'm sure theres some massive conspiracy theory and those horrible people from the Aspartame planet are using their Quatlu's (Aspartamian currency) to fund our Earth studies.

BOO!

 You think all artificially sweetned drinks taste like crap? I am rather opposite. I actually prefer coke zero over normal coke.

Also, I don't drink energy drinks, but I believe the reason people drink them, is that they contain proteins/calories and such. Drinking is far easier than to have a bite of something, and that is the reason why people chose so.

Personally though, I'm with you there - I'll rather have a banana and some water.

Yeah, but they have ones with sugar in them don't they? Which is my point, why drink the ones that have the nasty sweeteners when you can enjoy the sweet, sweet deliciousness of sugar.

the common argument regarding artificial sweeteners, and somehow this hasn't been brought up yet, is that for whatever rate these sweeteners can cause cancers is more than offset by the lowering rate of getting diabetes.

obviously, you're better off avoiding soda period. but most of the time that's not the point.

i drink soda, even if it's not as much as i used to. but probably 80% of the time now i drink soda with artificial sweeteners. the 20% of the time either i forget, need that sucrose kick, or just want to remind myself just how great soda with real sugar tastes.

I've checked this. Aspartame has no proven side effects, unless you drink over 24 gallons a day (4.5 liters).

And Gobias, yeah I think you're right. I think they do have sugar in them.

And Lingyis, I think that diabetes point is very valid. I have 3 friends (who are all just 15 years old), who have caught diabetes due to too much sugar, and all of them drink insane amounts of sugar sodas.