I am currently on a strict diet to lose weight (dropped 8kgs in about 4 months) and a few weeks ago I came across a soft drink that claimed that it had ZERO sugar. I thought, they must be joking. I looked on the back and saw "5.3kJ per serving", and I though "What! 5300kJ per serving?! What a joke". But when i checked again, i realised that it was ONLY 5.3kJ per serving. Other soft drinks are around 1000kJ per serving.

So anyway, my question is, is it alright for me to drink this while on a diet? It has very low calories, but is there always that problem of it actually BEING a "soft drink"? Thanks.

soft drink = soda

Look at the ingredents.  Obviously it is not optimal and if there is sugar, it will effect your fat loss...maybe consume after your workout during the PWO carb window.
 
One every now and then..2 a week say..would not be terrible....just not the best choice.

It's ingredients are (per serving/can)

Energy.................. 5.3kH/1.1 Cal
Protein................. 0.2g
Fat, total............... 0g
Carbohydrates..... 0.4g
-sugars................. 0g
Dietary Fibre......... 0g
Sodium................. 41mg

Sound ok?

Those are not the ingredients.  That is the nutrient information.
 
Always look at the actual ingredient list.
 
Ingredients: Water, sucralose, Sodium Bicarbonate, etc...
 
Unfortunately in the UK they are allowed to lie on the ingredient label.

ORIGINAL: danmirage

Those are not the ingredients.  That is the nutrient information.

Always look at the actual ingredient list.

Ingredients: Water, sucralose, Sodium Bicarbonate, etc...

Dan's the man!...

On the side note: It most probably also contains high fructose corn syrup along with phenylalanine (AA) etc...

Good Luck!

Since there are no sugars listed, we can assume the sweetener is not HFCS..rather, as TIH noted: sucralose/aspartame/acesulfame K etc
 
Some people are VERY allergic to these.  There is some 3rd party research to show that they may stimulate fat storage as a "toxicity" response.
 
However, they are in very small quantities and the fat storage response would be far less than if it contained HFCS or sugar.  And they do not appear to lock in fat or impede its burning.
 
SO if you must...do it minimally. 

"I'm allergic to being poisoned!" - danmirage

Some show a warning of containing phenylalanine which is a NEAA, however, some don't mention that aspartame is derived from phenylalanine (in this case: "ignorance is not bliss")!...

"The only issue with aspartame is with individuals who have a disorder known as "phenylketonuria", which is what the cryptic warning on soda cans refers to." (If you have this disorder you can become morbidly ill!... "Left untreated, the disorder can cause brain damage and progressive mental retardation as a result of the accumulation of phenylalanine and its breakdown products.")...

For detailed info on Artificial Sweeteners check this great thread out: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=291569

Good Luck!

(PS. - danmirage... Do you chew gum?... If so, which one/s?)

(PS. - danmirage... Do you chew gum?... If so, which one/s?)

Nope.  Even Peelu gums piss my stomach off!

ORIGINAL: danmirage

(PS. - danmirage... Do you chew gum?... If so, which one/s?)

Nope.  Even Peelu gums piss my stomach off!

I hear you!...
 
Hypothetically, if you were to chew one which would it be???

Thanks!

The only issue with aspartame is...

Actually, no there are other issues.
 
Aspartame has aspartic acid in it, which is a well-documented excitotoxin. Single amino acids like this can cause your brain cells to become excessively excited and...die. Excitotoxins can also cause a loss of brain synapses and their connecting fibers.  (ADD anyone?)
 
Then the ester bond connecting aspartic acid to phenylalanine in aspartame is broken down to formaldehyde and methanol, which have their own toxicities. So it is absolutely no surprise that leukemia is associated with using it.
 
The Italian scientist Morando Soffritti makes some interesting points about the initial studies in the 1970s that led to aspartame's approval:
 
- They were (obviously) funded by the companies that produced aspartame.
- The tests used only a small number of lab rats
- Some of the test animals did get brain tumors, but these results were ignored - anomalies
- They were not conducted according to the standards of "Good Laboratory Practice"
 
In fact, nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners can:
- Stimulate your appetite.
- Increase carbohydrate cravings.
- Stimulate fat storage and weight gain.
 
Not particularly dangerous side effects, but worth noting...as their use in foods has increased and miraculously so have waistlines!
 
Which is why they are added to specialty food for the elderly who regularly have trouble consuming sufficient calories.
 
This is also of value for physique athletes to note....

One of the peelu type gums made with natural mint and such...
 
I don't really know much about gum options...but it would be something found in a health food store.

ORIGINAL: danmirage

The only issue with aspartame is...

Actually, no there are other issues.

Aspartame has aspartic acid in it, which is a well-documented excitotoxin. Single amino acids like this can cause your brain cells to become excessively excited and...die. Excitotoxins can also cause a loss of brain synapses and their connecting fibers.  (ADD anyone?)
 
Then the ester bond connecting aspartic acid to phenylalanine in aspartame is broken down to formaldehyde and methanol, which have their own toxicities. So it is absolutely no surprise that leukemia is associated with using it.
 
The Italian scientist Morando Soffritti makes some interesting points about the initial studies in the 1970s that led to aspartame's approval:
 
- They were (obviously) funded by the companies that produced aspartame.
- The tests used only a small number of lab rats
- Some of the test animals did get brain tumors, but these results were ignored - anomalies
- They were not conducted according to the standards of "Good Laboratory Practice"

Yep!...

"Aspartic acid is an amino acid commonly found in foods. Approximately 40% of aspartame (by mass) is broken down into aspartic acid."
"Aspartic acid is in a class of chemicals known as excitotoxins."
"Abnormally high levels of excitotoxins have been shown in hundreds of animals studies to cause damage to areas of the brain unprotected by the blood-brain barrier and a variety of chronic diseases arising out of this neurotoxicity. [32], [33] The debate amongst scientists has been raging since the early 1970s, when Dr. John Olney found that high levels of aspartic acid caused damage to the brains of infant mice [34]. Dr. Olney and consumer attorney, James Turner filed a protest with the FDA to block the approval of aspartame."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame

Good Luck!

ORIGINAL: danmirage

One of the peelu type gums made with natural mint and such...

I don't really know much about gum options...but it would be something found in a health food store.

I'll seek out "peelu"!
 
Thanks again!

It's ingredients are:

Carbonated Water
Colour (150d)
Food Acids (338, 331)
Flavour
Sweeteners (951, 950)
Preservative (211)
Caffeine
"Contains Phenylalanine. Contains caffeine"

Carbonated Water
Sulphite ammonia Caramel - Colour (150d) - Made from sucrose
Phosphoric Acid - Food Acid (338)
Sodium citrate - Food Acid (331)
Aspartame - Sweetener (951)
Acesulphane K -Sweetener (950)
Sodium Benzoate - Preservative (211)
 
So, it contains sugar, the second ingredient is made from it...they lied.
It is also loaded with ingredients that are questionable in relation to health effects.
 
In good faith, I would have to say avoid that.  But that is just me!
 
I would rather take green tea or tea, Ice it, add lemon and a touch of stevia...or throw in mint leaf and strawberry...