During pregnancy, your body has an increased need for several important nutrients such as the calcium found in milk and dairy products. If you enjoyed drinking diet soda prior to pregnancy, you may wonder whether it is safe and healthy to continue this practice and if so, how much diet soda is safe for you, now that you are eating for two.
Significance
Diet sodas contain non-nutritive artificial sweeteners. Non-nutritive artificial sweeteners add a sweet taste, without adding any calories, to the diet sodas you drink. The difference between non-nutritive artificial sweeteners and nutritive sweeteners in regular sodas and some other drinks is that nutritive sweeteners contain what is referred to as "empty" calories. Empty calories are calories from sugar, without the benefit of added nutrition from vitamins and minerals. According to the American Pregnancy Association, if you have gestational diabetes, which is diabetes resulting from your pregnancy, diabetes mellitus or insulin resistance, you need to limit your use of nutritive sweeteners. There is limited research available regarding the use of non-nutritive sweeteners during pregnancy.
Considerations
In addition to non-nutritive artificial sweeteners, many diet sodas also contain caffeine. Although studies regarding the safety of caffeine for your unborn child are inconclusive, most experts agree that a small amount of caffeine is safe for you during your pregnancy, as reported by American Dietetic Association. The caffeine content of diet sodas varies. On the high end of the spectrum is Vault with 71 mg of caffeine and diet Mountain Dew with 54 mg of caffeine per 12-oz. can, respectively. Fanta, Mug Root Beer, 7Up and Sprite contain zero caffeine, reports MayoClinic.com. If you are pregnant, limit your caffeine intake to no more than 200 mg per day, advises the March of Dimes.
Types
There are several different types of non-nutritive artificial sweeteners used in diet sodas. Some, but not all of them, are considered safe for you during your pregnancy. Rebaudioside A, also known as Stevia, acesulfame potassium, more commonly known as Sunett, sucralose, more widely recognized as Splenda, and aspartame, known as Equal or NutraSweet, are considered safe in moderation, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Warning
During your pregnancy, the safety of saccharin, also known as Sweet n Low, is questionable, and cyclamate is considered unsafe, as reported by the American Pregnancy Association.
You body requires extra calories, calcium and folic acid when you are pregnant. If you drink diet soda during your pregnancy, it is important to make sure that the diet soda you drink is not replacing any of the extra nutrition your body needs.
Expert Insight
Since all women are different, it is important for you to check with your doctor or health-care provider to determine whether it is safe for you to consume diet sodas during your pregnancy. A registered dietitian can help you develop a healthy eating plan for you and your baby.
