ABC Health Insider

Is anyone out there stupid enough to believe that any soda is "good" for you, especially one containing caffeine?! As for necessary vitamins and minerals, I try to eat properly (or some where near there) but I also take my vitamins. I don't need to get them in a soft drink.

The FDA should spend more of their time and money on serious issues worrying about the word Plus in a product name this a waste of everybody's time and money.

This is government exercising it's power for no other reason than because they can!

It would have been nice if the story told us exactly WHY the word "plus" creates a problem. I've never heard of something like this (talking of banning a food because of the word "plus").

There is no way I would have taken anything serious about the "plus" as nutritious. I like a diet coke on many occasions, but I also know what's in it that is bad for me: phosphoric acid. That stuff could erode your teeth. So, that's why I don't have much and I always take care to maintain good oral hygiene. Merry Christmas everyone!

Drinking Soda = Fat People

Not always true, but mostly true.

I am a researcher/natural health consultant, and I believe diet products are some of the most dangerous substance to put in the body. Do your own research. Aspartame nor splenda is good for your body. The body hates chemicals!!

Sharon: The body is made of chemicals. Like (2S)-2-aminobutanedioic acid and (2R)-2-amino-3-sulfanyl-propanoic acid: two of the twenty amino acids in our DNA. Or the scary sounding 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene-1,2-diol, which is dopamine. We need those chemicals, and thousands of others, to live. No actual researcher who've opened a book on biochemistry would say "The body hates chemicals"

Sam...I am on the same page as Sharon,how about 'synthetic chemicals' would not the production of adrenalin be considered a "chemical imbalance" ie: the adrenalin produced when a mother mover a car off her child...need we introduce chemical into a body that can outproduce 'science'???...as in the mental health field of dreams!!

it just sounds like the word "plus" could be misleading people into thinking this is healthy. next thing you know, other companies will be making their "plus" products and fooling people right into the ER.

me, i think it's more like the "plus" in the phrase "plus-size".

Sam - DNA does not consist of amino acids. Not sure what books you've been reading, but not the ones that us MDs have been reading. Try to understand the issues...artificial chemicals are just that. And they deserve scrutiny for that reason. And Bill, to think that this is just big business is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. The whole notion of capitalism rests on freedom of information and a well-informed consumer. The whole point of the "Plus" is to deceive the consumer. Therefore, your capitalist ideal is shot.

Sorry Sam-I should have been more specific and said "synthetic" chemicals instead of just chemicals. I have written a book on this subject and have two dvd's coming out, so I have done my homework on this!I started researching this subject several years ago when I noticed that most of the auto-immune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and lupus were mostly restricted to women. I noticed a pattern, that women had switched out milk,(with amino acids and calcium) to diet sodas on an empty stomach, which is a double whammy to the body! Aspartame on an empty stomach converts to formaldehyde!I've also noticed a high number of cancer patients with the same pattern. I can't go into detail for lack of space, but dorway.com has lots of info on this subject. Hope this helps someone!

So they put some vitamins in their drink... People who drink sodas will continue to do so. Those who lack proper eating habits will continue to do so whether they market this product or not. Do I think people will stop eating properly because they think they are receiving their vitamins in a soft drink? NO. Do I think those who don't eat properly may benefit and take in a few vitamins from their product? YES. The body only takes in what it needs and eliminates the rest(on certain vitamins/minerals). So what is the controversy about? Some want to make sure those who don't eat properly get what is coming to them? come on...

If you don't want vitamins in a product you have a chance to purchase, then don't buy it! It's very simple

DJ wrote: "The body only takes in what it needs and eliminates the rest(on certain vitamins/minerals)." +++++ What gives you that idea? If that was the case, there'd be no obesity. Additionally, the very low pH conditions involved in sodas and the fact that the vitamins and minerals exist in ionic form in the sodas may make their absorption a joke.

CORN SYRUP = UNHEALTHY ... Linked to obesity. Avoid all things sweetened with corn syrup. Unless you like that slimed mouth feeling it gives you also.

the new DIET COKE. CAN DO FOR THE DIET! Traditional Carbonated soft drinks have continued to help so many people in so many ways. Carbonated beverages help people digest their food. The carbonation helps to break down food in the digestive system. It allows people to eat more and enjoy more food and more kinds of different foods at one meal. And yes, traditional soft drinks do help people Enjoy Life. Traditionally consumers have seen carbonated soft drinks plain and simple having no nutritional value. The secret formula? Taste. And yet that has been a value in itself, a freedom to pick up a great feeling. The climbing to the mountain top. Feeling peak at the summit. Bathing in golden rays. All for the feeling of watching the water fizz over the rocks. Just for the fun. Consistent dependable pleasure. Because traditional soft drinks give consumers nothing to think about other than the pure pleasure of refreshment. The refreshing feeling. That was substance enough. And of course additionally the soft drinks benefit of providing the simple universal confidence of the value of pleasant and satisfying hydration. Now that a diet soft drink proposes to offer to those who choose an additional benefit of nutritional value, certainly that benefit of the beverage could not be intended to replace food itself. Any more than food or even fast food could be asked to replace the practically mandatory carbonated soft drink with the meal. Rather, the soft drink and fast food are lifelong best friends. Sharing good times together. The earth is mostly water. 64 million square miles of ocean carbonating waves. The human body, 75% water. Tingling head to toe with a wade in the waves. People naturally want pure refreshment of cold, sweet and lively. The minute mineral value that would be naturally yielded by the rocks. The body readily utilizes liquid based nutritional supplementation. Nutrients in liquid form are easier for the body to access and assimilate than compressed powder binder-based vitamin pills (which may pass through the body completely without dissolving) or nutritional powders which may fail to dissolve completely when the consumer adds them to a liquid. Nutritional supplementation of water based vitamins and minerals added by companies to water and beverages can be helpful for consumers to reassure that they are getting a complete provision of necessary vitamins and minerals completely dissolved in liquid form that the body is able to access and assimilate. I look forward to see the beauty of what the new DIET COKE CAN DO FOR THE DIET!

Have you bothered reading what aspartame 'Can Do' for your brain, Jerry Rosen? Or splenda?

...Hold that thought. Nevermind. It appears you either work for them or are far too gone already.

I eat organic whenever I can. I love my veggies, fruits and everything good. However, when I feel nauseous, or have a headache, there is nothing out there that helps me more than a diet coke! I KNOW! I can't believe it either! It is my magic bullet when I am not feeling well.

I am often asked by triathletes, "What should I eat to kick butt in my next triathlon?" The answer is, "It depends."
I'm not a nutritionist, but I have learned a lot about my own nutrition planning through years of training experience. Each individual is different, and if you really want a personalized plan you should seek out a professional nutritionist.
Some basic tricks to proper triathlon nutrition include figuring out what will keep the athlete fueled for optimal performance (and help them recover quickly after the event or workout). Here are the 3 key factors to consider:
1. What are you doing (i.e. swimming, biking or running - or all three) and how intense will you be exercising? 2. How long will you be training? 3. What can you stomach or tolerate?
There is no one diet plan for all triathletes. Nevertheless, there are some rules of thumb you can use to figure out your very own high performance diet.
The first thing you have to figure out is your fuel needs - in other words, how many calories do you need to consume to prevent your body from shutting down and your performances to whither.
The amount of calories you need to consume will alter based on Key Numbers 1 and 2 - what are you doing that day and how long will you be doing it?
The basics:

1. Before your workout/race: Start increasing carb and fluid intake an hour or more before your workout. This will help build up carbohydrates that your body will need for fuel during your workout. It will also help keep you hydrated.
For shorter workouts, maybe half a nutrition bar and 10 or more ounces of water. If you plan to work out longer than an hour, maybe eat a PBJ and drink 8 ounces gatorade and 8 ounces of water.
2. During your workout/race: One rule of thumb that many start with is 100 calories per hour. If you are working out more than an hour you will need to replace carbohydrates during your workout. Make sure you are drinking 4 to 8 ounces of fluid every 15 minutes (this should replace both carbohydrates and sodium). You want to consume around 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per hour - this can come from an energy drink, fruit, energy bars, gels or any other source you tolerate. Experiment some while training to find the best sources for you.
3. After you workout your body needs fuel to recover. If you are doing endurance work (training in one of the three disciplines) you need to consume some carbohydrates to replace energy you burned as soon as you can - no later than an hour and a half after the workout. After every workout I try to also eat some protein to help with recovery. There are several "recovery drinks" on the market. While some may not taste to great, remember getting the nutrition down is important. You may have to base what you use more on how it works than what it tastes like. Some good real food choices are bananas, nuts, electrolyte drink like Gatorade, milk, or PBJ.
4. Between workouts I have had good luck eating regularly throughout the day (5-6 small meals). I try to eat both a carb and protein serving at each meal. This keeps my blood sugar levels regulated and decreases the mid-day energy slump. When I eat out I'll eat half the meal at the restaurant, and the rest later or for lunch the next day. I also make sure one of these meals happens around 2 hours before a workout session.
5. Know the amount of liquids your body loses. Occasionally do a test by weighing yourself before and after workouts to get an idea of how much fluid you lose. Drink 24 ounces of fluid for every pound you lost during your workout.
If you use these tips as a starting point for your triathlon nutrition plan you will see your body recover faster from workouts and your performance improve. You need to self-experiment with your nutrition plan - everyone is different - and see a nutritionist who specializes in sports nutrition if you experience any problems or just want to take your nutrition plan to the next level.

How close does the FDA monator the major juice companies such as Natural Orange and V8?