Question:
Carbonated Drinks - Stir with a fork!

I love Diet Coke and missed drinking it since having Lap-Band Surgery. Talked to a nurse who advised stirring it well with a fork to release the carbonation. It works great! Taste isn't changed and I can enjoy it again.    — Anne B. (posted on July 22, 2004)

July 22, 2004
I'd be careful of the caffine, it's a no no for us. I think it can restretch out our pouches. Plus I have read the aspertame in diet pop's cause you to get hungry and you could start grazing. I was a diet pepsi junkie pre-op and had to give it up. When a craving hits I'll take a sip and only a sip of my husband's.
   — ckreh

July 22, 2004
That's a great tip for those who are allowed an occasional soda. My surgeon is a 'no soda' kind of gal, but I've read where some surgeons say various things, from 'go ahead' to 'if it's flat'. Lap-Band is also different from RNY, so the rules may be different. Caffeine is another of those things that different surgeons handle differently. My surgeon says some is ok, but in moderation, and to increase other fluids to compensate. Caffeine won't stretch the pouch, but carbonation will, if it's full on and there's a lot of it. I have a sip or two here or there just to get a 'fix', but I don't usually get my own (I sip other people's, but not strangers or anything - HAHAHAHHAHAA!). Excuse me, sir, but can I have a sip of your drink? HAHAHA! Sorry, I wandered. Thanks for the tip!
   — ScottieB86

July 23, 2004
This is an ongoing, age old debate so I'll just throw in a few stats and everyone can make thier own decisions. Of course, it is a different ball of wax for a Lap Bander. Caffienated soft drinks can cause dehydration if consumed en masse. You should replenish each ounce of caffienated beverage with 2 ounces of non-caffienated beverages or water. The bicarbonate of sode in soft drinks leeches calcium from our system (and calcium absorption is already an issue for us) so supplementing calcium is a "must" if you're drinking soft drinks. For RNY patients, the bubbles and acidity in soft drinks has been known to cause ulcers at the anastamosis (where the pouch is connected to the intestine). This seems to be the case even if the soft drink is flat. Studies have also shown that soft drinks with bubbles can prematurely stretch the pouch. Our program says they're a huge no-no but I know all programs are different so I thought I'd just throw some stats out there for ya. I imagine it's a debate that will go on forever. Best wishes!
   — ronascott

July 23, 2004
I just did a search on bones & leech & calcium on Yahoo and came across this page: http://www.preventdisease.com/news/articles/soda_may_not_hurt_bones.shtml <p> The title of the article is "Soda May Not Hurt Your Bones After All" and some points made there: <li>A new study shows that bubbly beverages won't hurt your bones -- unless you drink so much that they take the place of other calcium-rich foods or beverages. <li>But before you throw coins in that vending machine, consider this: Experts also say women aren't getting enough calcium-rich foods, and part of the reason may actually be because they fill up on the carbonated beverages. <li>The whole idea that soda might harm your bones was born from the theory that too much phosphorus could leech calcium from the body, thus increasing the risk of fracture. Because phosphorus is plentiful in many soft drink formulas, the connection between soda and weak bones was made. <p> There was never any scientific proof that this was, indeed, the case. But as the soft drink industry continued to blossom -- soda is now considered the No. 1 beverage of women between 20 and 40 years old -- researchers began to take the pseudo-scientific theories under greater scrutiny. <li>The research -- just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition -- involved 32 women, all of whom confessed to gulping down at least 24 ounces of soda a day. <p> In order to test not only the effects of phosphorus-laden sodas, but also other components of soft drinks, four different formulations were tested: Coke (containing caffeine and phosphorus), Coke-free (no caffeine but with phosphorus ), Mountain Dew (caffeine and citric acid, no phosphorus) and Sprite (no caffeine, no phosphorus but with citric acid). <li>To help ensure that the consumption of liquid alone wouldn't yield any specific results, plain water was used as a "negative" control, while skim or chocolate milk was a "positive" control. <li>The result: Urine tests showed an excess of calcium was excreted in only two groups -- those who drank the milk (an expected result) and those who drank the caffeine-rich sodas -- although the amount was so small it was not considered significant. <li>In addition, previous studies showed the calcium-robbing effects of caffeine beverages in general are compensated for by the body. <li>The phosphoric acid component of the sodas -- the suspected culprit -- had no effect on calcium excretion. <li>"Soda may not harm your bone health, but it certainly doesn't help it -- while a calcium-rich beverage can satisfy your thirst and help your bones at the same time," says Wolfe. She believes women don't get enough calcium because they do fill up on soda. <p> JR
   — John Rushton

July 23, 2004
Great article John! I have printed it and will pass it along to our physicians. Thanks!
   — ronascott

July 23, 2004
Carbonated isn't the same as caffine. There are plenty of caffine free sodas out there. In fact the Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke versions are great. The carbonated drinks do cause gases in our pouch and you do have to be careful. (Thanks for the fork trick!) Yes, if you drink a carbonated drink, you must go 2 to 1 with non-carbonated to replenish. Don't overdue the soda but if you love it, drink it smartly. Best of Luck. LAP RNY 8-28-02 down 125 lbs.
   — Linda K.

July 23, 2004
Forget the fork. Just stir in some artifial sugar. You'll lose the fizz FAST.
   — Danmark

July 23, 2004
This is just my opinion but I cannot figure out why someone that has gone through WLS, RNY or otherwise would want to start introducing something back into their diet that is not good for them. The carbonation can stretch the pouch for RNY patients and the fact that the calcium can be leached out of your bodies also Go figure. I miss my diet Pepsi also but not enough to put my health in jeapordy later on down the road. Remember, I said it is just my opinion.
   — ChristineB