Is Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi Bad For You?
Short answer
While Pepsi may be taking steps to make their diet sodas slightly more healthy, Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi is still bad for you. This stuff should not be a regular part of one's diet.
Recommended Alternative
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
The aspartame found in Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi was a significant problem for many consumers. A substitute for sugar, aspartame makes food products sweeter but comes with a long list of side effects from muscle aches to triggering multiple sclerosis symptoms. In the summer of 2015, Pepsi ditched aspartame and swapped it out for a mixture of sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
Unfortunately, sucralose and acesulfame potassium aren’t exactly healthy ingredients either. Sucralose, sold as the artificial sweetener Splenda, has been shown to have a negative effect on metabolism which leads to weight gain and can even cause your body to reject certain medications. Acesulfame potassium comes with its own negative effects, often causing nausea, headaches, and dizziness in exchange for its sweetening effect.
While you may feel like downing a can will satisfy your sweet tooth, the opposite may be true. The sweetness of the drink can set off a craving that will leave you wanting more. This often leads to overeating, reaching for sugary snacks, and refueling with more soda. Many dieters choose diet sodas because of the lack of calories and absence of sugar. In fact, the drinks most likely cause a lot more harm than good for those who are interested in losing weight, especially around their midsection.
Aside from the artificial sweeteners found in the drink, there are plenty of other reasons to steer clear of Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, and soda in general. Anyone with a concern about their dental health or appearance should be aware that the acid found in soda does a huge amount of damage to tooth enamel which leads to decay. This phosphoric acid has also been linked to loss of bone density, kidney stones, and kidney disease. Not to mention the caramel color found within the beverage, which is only there for aesthetic purposes, has been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Possible short-term side effects
- headaches
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dizziness
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blurred vision
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gastrointestinal discomfort
Possible long-term side effects
- weight gain
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cardiovascular disease
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diabetes
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cancer
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kidney stones
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kidney disease
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loss of bone density
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tooth decay
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inflammation
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cravings and addiction
Ingredients to be aware of
Healthier alternatives
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Zevia Cherry Cola
- Zero Calorie
- No Artificial Sweeteners
- Caffeine-Free Option
- Non-GMO Project Verified
- 24 Pack of 12oz Cans
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Written by Healthy Living 35
Published on: 01-29-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Healthy Living 35
Published on: 01-29-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
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