Is too much crystal light bad for you?

I drink about 8 cups of crystal light a day and I know it has sweetener in it that's probably not that great for you. Does anyone know how bad that actually is for you? Maybe it's ok, I've just heard bad things about large amounts of artificial sweeteners.

You're probably going to get mixed results with this question!  I do not use artifical sweeteners and my nutritionist wants me to stay away from them.  Which is fine with me, because I try not to consume chemically altered foods if I can help it.  Many doctors believe that artificial sweeteners stimulate your appetite as well, which can be detrimental to your weight loss.

When I was doing Weigh****chers, I had a few group leaders say that it was OK to drink Crystal Light, as long as you drink an equal amount of unflavored, pure water.  I have had others say to limit it to 2 cups a day. 

Lots of people use sweeteners and have great results while doing so... but I think that it just boils down to "diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks."  I am just as happy drinking sun-brewed iced tea with real raw sugar and holding myself accountable for the calories.

I drink a ton of crystal ligh****er every day.  I'm not crazy for just plain old water.  Can't really tell you if it's bad or not, it seems like everything is bad for us when it tastes good!!!  LOL

Lord, I hope not!  I drink a lot of Crystal Light.

Marsha

As other posters have noted you will get mixed answers.  My nutritionist and doctor said to stay away from it - your body has a hard time discerning the difference between artificial and real sugars - thus there has been some research on the fact that even drinking diet pop and diet drinks can play a role in diabetes as your body will still kick up the insulin in response to the sugar whether it be artificial or natural. 

I know that I was addicted to diet coke my whole life - drank tons of it everyday.  When I had to give it up I decided I would also give up any artificial sweeteners, etc. as well.  I have not had any crystal light or any type of splenda, etc. since surgery.  I think it has made a big difference in my appetite and carb cravings.  I do not get the highs and lows I used to get, and have been pretty successful in my weight loss (161 pounds in 18 months). 

Again, you need to weigh what works for you.  If you will go for the bad stuff if you don't have crystal light, then perhaps it is the lesser of two evils.  If you have still having lots of cravings for sugar and carbs, perhaps the crystal light is the culprit - do what works best for you.  Experiment and see if you can tell a difference if you give up crystal light for two weeks.

Good luck!

Some people are sensitive to aspartame, and have problems with it.  Diarrhea, belly pain, burning, etc. Do a web search to see other possible problems.

Most people have no trouble, though.

There is lots of research showing the artifical sweeteners have played a big part in the pobesity epidemic, and increase our desire for "sweet" which is not good at all.  Other studies show they encourage diabetes.

C. light IS acidic, and burns some people - of so, they have a gastitis going on and need to see their band docs and possibly get an endoscopy to see what is going on.

All liquids count toward the 80-100 oz a day we need, even coffeee, tea, c. light, and other things.
Water is still the "best"  imo  - no acid, no preservatives, no chemicals, always safe, and never harmful.

Be sure, if you drink bottled water, you are getting abough fluoride from tap water. Ther is none in bottled water, and dental problems are increasing with all the people now who drink only bottled (and unnecessary) water.

Sandy r

Please don't take this as an attack, but I just wanted to mention this...

Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential to health.  Fluoride deficiency does not cause tooth decay.  A poor diet and poor dental hygiene are what lead to cavities. 

There have been thousands of studies that have proven that fluoridation is actually more poisonous to the human body than lead, and that communities with fluoridated water have more occurances of alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, and reproductive sterility.

Respectfully diagreeing is never "an attack" ! 
But I do have to disagree about the fluoride. Use of fluporidated water is well-proven to decrease cavities , especiallly in kids. THis is quite different, though,  than saying it is "essential" or a deficiency causes decay.

This is from the ADA:

http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/fluoride_article01.asp

and from the US Surgeon general:

http://www.cdc.gov/Fluoridation/pdf/natures_way.pdf

and from the CDC:

http://www.dpreurope.com/dpreurope/Rotating+articles/Bottled-water-and-tooth-decay-linked/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/515110

I believe it. Others may choose to disagree, of course.

As far as bad side-effects, I don't find any accepted research showing this, just a lot of opinions with no formal studies to back them up.

Juxt my opinion, of course..

Sandy R
band educator

Of course you are entitled to your opinion... but there have been an unbelievable amount of studies and research that have proven that fluoride is hazardous.  You just have to dig for it because it's not the popular opinion.  Here's a sample:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SYgUi_f5yY

I'm afraid this isn't a study or research, only opinions of people who admit they have been labeled as "renegades". RESEARCH involves double-blind studies and results that are consistent over several studies.
Many things are "poisons" in large quantities, but safe and/or essential in small quantities. This includes most vitamins, minerals, and food additives.
Sandy