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2006-06-27 3:00 PM

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Subject: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
Is there anything bad about crystal light? I have started taking alot of my hydration from the iced tea crystal light. It doesn't taste great, but it is better than plain old water and I guess much better than coke. Guessing i drink 1/2 gallon a day (8 servings) that is 80 mg of caffine (which I am trying to cut down on) and 40 calories. Pretty much nothing else.

Compared to a 20 oz coke (58 mg caffine and 240 calories) of which I was drinking a bunch, I think this is better. My question is what is the downfall? Is there something in Crystal Light that is bad for you or is it secretly high in some other area that I am over looking?

Also, want to see marketing at its best, try finding this information easily on the coca cola website. I had to use the little ask the virtual assistant guy instead of a nutritional label being readily available.


2006-06-27 5:23 PM
in reply to: #467703

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
Crystal light is great if you don't have a problem drinking aspertame.
2006-06-28 9:09 AM
in reply to: #467703

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
It's definitely an improvement over drinking the same amount of coke, but my guess is that you'd still be better off using water as the main source of hydration.  There's still a lot of sugar (even if it is fake sugar).  Caffeine acts as a dieuretic, so you can lose more fluid by drinking it.  I'm not sure that will happen with the amount of caffeine in the crystal light, but it's something to consider.
2006-06-28 9:43 AM
in reply to: #468391

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?

Couple of things.  "Fake" sugar is not sugar.  Period.  The caffeine content is absurdly low, and effect of it as a diuretic are highly overstated.  The fluid you take in to get that little caffeine is far more than you'd ever lose by its slight diuretic effect.

Crystal Light is fine.

Artemis - 2006-06-28 9:09 AM It's definitely an improvement over drinking the same amount of coke, but my guess is that you'd still be better off using water as the main source of hydration.  There's still a lot of sugar (even if it is fake sugar).  Caffeine acts as a dieuretic, so you can lose more fluid by drinking it.  I'm not sure that will happen with the amount of caffeine in the crystal light, but it's something to consider.

2006-06-28 9:57 AM
in reply to: #468442

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
it all depends on your reaction to chemicals (although, way better than coke, kudos for that). that much crystal light ice tea prevents me from sleeping, and gives me horrible aspertame headaches.

if it concerns you, why not gradually start making the mix less strong? a little more water, a little less mix....

I drink either polar seltzer (flavored) or straight water with a little bit of lemon juice in it.
2006-06-28 10:42 AM
in reply to: #467703

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
Just watch it if you have acid reflux or anything like that. The citric acid in it's a killer (my hubby was just diagnosed with acid reflux a few weeks ago).


2006-06-28 11:35 AM
in reply to: #467703

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
Thanks for the replys. I think I will switch to just water for a few days and see how I feel. It's just nice to have something with flavor, without it I crave sugar.
2006-06-28 12:45 PM
in reply to: #467703

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
Fake sugars give me a horrible stomach ache, and I tend to be very afraid of the stuff and what it does to my body. If you are craving sugar that badly maybe you are not getting enough carbs in your diet. I used to have real bad sugar cravings and after tinkering with my diet awhile and getting in the right amount of carbs the sugar cravings went away completely.
2006-06-28 2:33 PM
in reply to: #468713

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
Also, if you quit eating sugar, you quit craving sugar. It sucks for a few days, even a week, but if you can get past it, you will quit craving it. Then it's just about getting rid of the mental addiction to it, which in my opinion is a lot harder. I've done it though. I don't crave sugar much at all anymore, but when I do have a little bit of it I want more, more, more and have to push past the cravings for a day until it's out of my system.
2006-06-28 3:14 PM
in reply to: #467703

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
Also, if you quit eating sugar, you quit craving sugar. It sucks for a few days, even a week, but if you can get past it, you will quit craving it. Then it's just about getting rid of the mental addiction to it, which in my opinion is a lot harder. I've done it though. I don't crave sugar much at all anymore, but when I do have a little bit of it I want more, more, more and have to push past the cravings for a day until it's out of my system.
---------------------------
True, true. I have learned too certain sugary foods are much worse than others too. I can eat donuts for breakfast from time to time and not crave all day, but say Honey Nut Cherrios, and I crave donuts all day
2006-06-29 2:01 PM
in reply to: #467905

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?

Pinata - 2006-06-27 6:23 PM Crystal light is great if you don't have a problem drinking aspertame.

Bingo.



2006-06-29 2:16 PM
in reply to: #468460

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?

em73 - 2006-06-28 10:57 AM ...why not gradually start making the mix less strong? a little more water, a little less mix.... I drink either polar seltzer (flavored) or straight water with a little bit of lemon juice in it.

That's exactly what I do--a little flavor help definitely encourages me to drink more, but I do try to reduce the amt. of artificial sweetners I consume... getting a more dilute solution plus a touch of flavored or plan sparkling water and then a fresh lemon/lime/etc. slice, adn that's one YUMMY drink!

2006-06-29 7:23 PM
in reply to: #467703


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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
I think if you drink it in moderation it's ok, but I've read that anything that has aspartame in it is BAD. Cancer causing if taken in large amounts? If this is your main stay for hydration...it might be good to find another drink. Just my 2 cents.

Edited by sharona 2006-06-29 7:23 PM
2006-06-29 9:23 PM
in reply to: #470338

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?

sharona - 2006-06-29 8:23 PM  Cancer causing if taken in large amounts?

Hmmm...I've never heard that one. I've read many an article saying you can gain weight, and I've had a nerologist neor  brain doc say it causes muchos brain damage. But cancer is a new one...

2006-06-29 9:27 PM
in reply to: #470402

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?

It causes cancer in rats in doses that are many thousands of times what any human could take.  That doesn't mean that it causes cancer in normal doses.

Brain damage?  Heh.  Lots of folks with claims out there.  None have been substantiated by a review of the body of literature that exists about aspartame.

jknapman - 2006-06-29 9:23 PM

sharona - 2006-06-29 8:23 PM  Cancer causing if taken in large amounts?

Hmmm...I've never heard that one. I've read many an article saying you can gain weight, and I've had a nerologist neor  brain doc say it causes muchos brain damage. But cancer is a new one...

2006-06-30 11:58 AM
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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
If aspertame caused cancer, i'd be dead right now. Diabetics have no choice, and we freakin' love Crystle Light.


2006-07-01 10:17 AM
in reply to: #467703


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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
aspartame is not good...lol...I'm not making it up. I have read about it in many health magazines...It's just not good for you...in small quantities, it might be ok, but why test the theory?
2006-07-01 11:32 AM
in reply to: #471722

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
After searching around a bit I see this argument has been going on since the early 80's. I would like to think if there were a real (>0.01%) chance of there being a link, it would have been found out by now. I agree with an above poster that it probably would be problematic if you took huge doses.

http://www.aspartame.org/aspartame_experts_science.html

Check out that list of groups not opposed to aspertame. Specifiaclly:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_3_2X_Common_Questions...

The american cancer society states there is no evidence to a link. I gotta go with the experts on this.
2006-07-01 9:02 PM
in reply to: #467703


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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
I just think anything not natural, and 'fake'...and synthetic...over time, when taken on a regular basis...can't be good for us. Doesn't mean it will definitely cause cancer, but I have read Dr Weil's books (anyone read his books?) and he is a big advocate of organic living...and eating. I would rather go with a more natural sweetener, than something I'm not quite sure of. Ok--'nuff said--just my 2 cents.
2006-07-01 9:12 PM
in reply to: #471972

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?

We take in lots of synthetic things.  It doesn't make them all bad.  There's simply no proof out there that aspartame does much of anything harmful when ingested in normal human doses. It's just that simple.

sharona - 2006-07-01 9:02 PM I just think anything not natural, and 'fake'...and synthetic...over time, when taken on a regular basis...can't be good for us. Doesn't mean it will definitely cause cancer, but I have read Dr Weil's books (anyone read his books?) and he is a big advocate of organic living...and eating. I would rather go with a more natural sweetener, than something I'm not quite sure of. Ok--'nuff said--just my 2 cents.



Edited by DerekL 2006-07-01 9:13 PM
2006-07-02 11:21 AM
in reply to: #468460

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
em73 - 2006-06-28 9:57 AM

it all depends on your reaction to chemicals (although, way better than coke, kudos for that). that much crystal light ice tea prevents me from sleeping, and gives me horrible aspertame headaches.


You are so right did you know that hundreds of people every year die from breathing dihydrogen oxide? There are other things too:

# A major component of acid rain
# Can cause severe burns in the gaseous state
# Accidental inhalation can kill you
# Primary contributor to erosion
# Decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
# Has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients
# May dissolve metal ions especially in the presence of road salt

Gotta watch those chemicals!


2006-07-02 11:24 AM
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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
phoenixazul - 2006-06-30 11:58 AM

If aspertame caused cancer, i'd be dead right now. Diabetics have no choice, and we freakin' love Crystle Light.


Ditto here. Amazing how us diabetics haven't dropped dead from our aspartame use . My favourite yet is some yahoo out there claiming that aspartame converts to methanol in the bloodstream - hehehe - wouldn't that make all diet softdrink drinkers blind by now?
2006-07-03 9:46 PM
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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?

Wookiee - 2006-07-02 12:21 PM
em73 - 2006-06-28 9:57 AM it all depends on your reaction to chemicals (although, way better than coke, kudos for that). that much crystal light ice tea prevents me from sleeping, and gives me horrible aspertame headaches.
You are so right did you know that hundreds of people every year die from breathing dihydrogen oxide? There are other things too: # A major component of acid rain # Can cause severe burns in the gaseous state # Accidental inhalation can kill you # Primary contributor to erosion # Decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes # Has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients # May dissolve metal ions especially in the presence of road salt Gotta watch those chemicals!

I think you're refering to Dihydrogen Monoxide. the stuff is really going to kill me some day .

http://www.dhmo.org/

2006-07-06 8:00 PM
in reply to: #473231

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?
jknapman - 2006-07-03 9:46 PM

Wookiee - 2006-07-02 12:21 PM
em73 - 2006-06-28 9:57 AM it all depends on your reaction to chemicals (although, way better than coke, kudos for that). that much crystal light ice tea prevents me from sleeping, and gives me horrible aspertame headaches.
You are so right did you know that hundreds of people every year die from breathing dihydrogen oxide? There are other things too: # A major component of acid rain # Can cause severe burns in the gaseous state # Accidental inhalation can kill you # Primary contributor to erosion # Decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes # Has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients # May dissolve metal ions especially in the presence of road salt Gotta watch those chemicals!

I think you're refering to Dihydrogen Monoxide. the stuff is really going to kill me some day .

http://www.dhmo.org/



I stand corrected

Glad you appreciate the humor
2006-07-07 9:30 AM
in reply to: #470338

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Subject: RE: Anything bad about Crystal Light?

sharona - 2006-06-29 6:23 PM I think if you drink it in moderation it's ok, but I've read that anything that has aspartame in it is BAD. Cancer causing if taken in large amounts? If this is your main stay for hydration...it might be good to find another drink. Just my 2 cents.

given the proper does and the proper exposure, every substance known to man is lethal and can cause cancer.  Everything is slowly killing you.  I guess we are just not meant to live forever.  Go figure

and aspertame may metabolize into formaldehyde which is a carcinogen, but again, the levels are trace at best unless you drink a 50 gal drum of the raw chemical every hour for 50 years.  I personally view the "chance" of possible dangers of aspertame being heavily out weighed by the nasties that HFCS can cause.



Edited by vortmax 2006-07-07 9:33 AM
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