Diet soda

[Avenger]

Why is diet soda bad for kidneys?

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Diet sodas, especially dark ones, usually contain Aspartame or other sweeteners and that is a problem for your kidneys. Along with being empty calories it's still a food that requires your kidneys to work harder. Add to that the caffeine and other sweeteners and you can see it's a vice to cut out. An article attached below will help explain it better for you.

healthline.com/nutrition/di...

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Its not necessarily the "diet" as much as its the phosphorus in the darker sodas like Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper. These are much higher in phosphorus which is worse in lowering functioned kidneys. If you want a darker soda choose something like rootbeer, black cherry or go for something like cranberry, grape or pomegranete juice (although pomegranete is higher in potassium). I try to stick with sprite, cream, rootbeer or raspberry lemonade. The phosphorus if high can trigger the parathyroids to overload and work super hard at trying to level out the calcium and phosphorus levels. This can cause bone loss and lead to bone fractures. Something you do *NOT* want. As Mr_Kidney states the aspartame or artificial sweeteners of "diet" sodas are often something we should avoid just on a healthy level. Blessings

[Dangermom13]

YES! The way soda is soda uses a sodium compound. And substitute chemical sugar is terrible. Water instead, lots of it.

[Sassychick64]

Diet Sodas are basically all chemicals and full of potassium, sodium and phosphorus. All of which are to be avoided if you have CKD.

[CtKathleenUSA]

My nephrologist was very persistent that I reduce soda and tea comsumption. 1 soda per week maximum and no tea. As well as stressing the kidneys, they cause stones, which are very painful.

I switched to soda stream for my carbonation fix. I weaned off soda switching to lemon lime, then carbonated water, with a squeeze of lime.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck!

[Sassychick64 in reply to CtKathleenUSA]

Do you use the soda stream bland flavors or fresh? I am missing my carbonated fix! TIA

[CtKathleenUSA in reply to Sassychick64]

Fresh. I don't care for the Soda Stream flavorings. Also, there were so many ingredients, I am more comfortable using real limes and lemons.

[RhenDutchess123]

my nephologist told me that all carbonated drinks are hard on kidneys and GI Track...If it has bubbles...i avoid it..

[steve680]

All sodas are acidic due to the carbonation, which is not good for damaged kidneys. Dark sodas are also high in phosphorus, which can also be a problem for your kidneys as damaged kidneys don't filter out phosphorus as well as they should. Diet sodas have ingredients which there is some evidence that they raise your risk of cancer.