How much sugar is in your soda? What does that do to your teeth? How much body weight can that add?
12 oz can of non-diet beverage (10 tsp. of sugar) = 140 calories; one a day=15 lbs/year
20 oz can of non-diet beverage (17 tsp.of sugar) = 250calories; one a day=24 lbs/year
64 oz “Big Gulp” of non-diet beverage (52 tsp. of sugar) = 800 calories; one a day= 83 lbs/year
Choosing a 'sugar free' or 'diet' soda eliminates the sugar and the calories from your soda. The taste provided by sugar is replaced by a low-calorie sweetener. 'Diet' soda is a better choice without so much sugar, but remember it is still very acidic from the added phosphoric acid and still damages teeth.
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of these low-calorie sweeteners. The American Diabetes Association accepts the FDA's conclusion that these sweeteners are safe and can be part of a healthy diet.
Saccharin (Sweet N Low, Sugar Twin)
Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal)
Acesulfame potassium (Sweet One, Swiss Sweet, Sunett)
Sucralose (SPLENDA)
How are sugar alcohols metabolized?
Sugar alcohols are usually incompletely absorbed into the blood stream from the small intestines which generally results in a smaller change in blood glucose than "regular" sugar (sucrose). This property makes them popular sweeteners among diabetics and people on low-carbohydrate diets. However, as for many other incompletely digestible substances (such as dietary fiber), overconsumption of sugar alcohols can lead to bloating, diarrhea and flatulence because they are not absorbed in the small intestine. Some individuals experience such symptoms even in a single-serving quantity. With continued use, most people develop a degree of tolerance to sugar alcohols and no longer experience these symptoms.