Ya, Franz here! Hilga and I were in the grocery store yesterday, and as usual, we can’t help but observe what other people are buying. We also observe what they look like in relationship to what they have in their grocery cart. I can’t help it! Optimal nutrition is my life. I obsess over it. It took me two hours to shop for groceries yesterday because I read every label, but that’s another subject! Today, let’s talk about diet soda facts!

Any way, back to my observations. The man in front of us in the checkout line had the following items: a package of ground beef, two cans of Dinty Moore chili, a package of cookies, and two liters of diet soda. The man was clearly over weight, older, and had a very pasty white complexion. In other words he was not the picture of vibrant health! Now, Franz couldn’t help but think this poor guy needs nutrition advice! But, unfortunately most people are like him. They buy food never realizing the effect that is has on their body. This man did not have one item he was buying that was going to do him any good. To me, it looked like his dinner and dessert. And he was going to wash it down with the diet soda because, of course, he would save all those extra calories, right?

Well, let’s look at the diet soda facts! If you type in “what is in diet soda” into Google, three interesting things come up as answers to your query: what is in diet soda that is harmful, what is in diet soda that causes cancer, and what is in diet sodas to make you fat. Interesting! These are things that are being searched, talked about and obviously on people’s minds. But what are the real diet soda facts? Should you be drinking it if you care about the health of your body?

The real truth is that drinking a can or two a day won’t kill you, but what are the long term effects over time? Who knows? The artificial sweeteners and chemicals in diet soda are considered to be safe for the average person. And the cancer causing claims of drinking diet soda still have both sides of the argument claiming victory over their proclamation. But, “here me now, listen to me later, but believe me sometime,” diet soda is not a healthy drink, or the way to achieve your weight loss goals, or calorie cutting program! Sure, you can save yourself some calories, but you are putting extra load on your liver. It has to deal with the chemicals! Also, studies may show that one or two diet sodas a day may increase your risk of obesity and other health issues like type-2 diabetes. The studies are listed everywhere on the internet. If you drink the stuff please research diet soda facts for yourself!

But, if I were you I would just replace the stuff with club soda (if you have to have carbonated drinks) and add some lemon, or other natural flavor of your choice. You can also try plain old filtered water with lemon, and green tea, either hot or iced. Ultimately your body just loves water!

As always, I wish you vibrant health, many blessings, and a long life!

Ya, zis is Franz signing off!