Diet Cola Addiction

When you're in the mood for a sweet treat, drinking a diet soda may seem like a more nutritious alternative than a regular soda that's loaded with sugar. But when your diet soda cravings have turned into an addiction, it may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity. Cutting back to one diet soda a day will help you stay healthy but talk to your doctor before making any changes in your diet.

Addictive Properties

There isn't a secret ingredient in diet soda that makes you want more and more of it when you crave soda, you're probably craving the caffeine. Caffeine is an addictive substance that may make you feel more alert, energized and focused. When you're used to drinking three cans of diet soda a day, skipping a dose may give you a headache and make you feel lethargic. If you're drinking diet soda to curb your appetite, fight off boredom or keep you from smoking cigarettes during the day, diet soda may be even more addictive.

Diet Soda Risks

Although diet soda is lower in calories than regular soda, it may still contribute to obesity and type-2 diabetes. Diet soda is sweetened with artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, instead of regular sugar. Although these artificial sweeteners may taste sweet, they don't trigger the same receptors in your brain that sugar does. Therefore, even after you've had a diet soda, you may still feel the desire to satisfy your sweet tooth and consume more calories.

Healthier Beverage Alternatives

When you're facing a diet soda addiction, reducing the amount of diet soda you drink every day will help. If going cold turkey is too overwhelming, eliminate one soda per day and replace it with water, seltzer or 100-percent fruit juice. Squeeze a wedge of lemon or lime into your seltzer or plain water to add a hint of sweetness and curb your cravings. If you're looking for an energy boost, get your caffeine from black coffee or tea instead of diet soda. Continue eliminating sodas until you are down to one diet soda per day.

Beating the Cravings

Even if you've completely eliminated diet soda from your daily routine, you may get the occasional craving. There's no harm in indulging periodically, but you may be more satisfied with a regular soda instead of a diet one. A regular soda may satisfy your sweet tooth, while diet soda may leave you feeling deprived. If you're really craving a soda, pour half a can into a glass with ice and sip it slowly.