The chemicals and nutrients in food and drink can affect your mood and emotions. Mood effects from foodstuffs vary greatly from one person to another -- although diet colas might make you feel angry, they could make another person feel excited or have no effect on their mood. If ongoing feelings of anger are creating problems for you, talk to your doctor about possible causes and solutions.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant that occurs naturally in coffee, tea and chocolate. Cola drinks are one of the few foodstuffs that have caffeine artificially added. According to data from MayoClinic.com, Diet Pepsi drinks contain between 36 and 38 mg of caffeine in every 12-oz. serving. Other diet cola drinks may contain as much as 47 mg of caffeine in 12 oz. Caffeine can worsen the symptoms of stress or anxiety, according to MedlinePlus. Feeling angry, or losing your temper more easily, is a symptom of stress.
Artificial Sweeteners
Diet cola drinks have a lower calorie content than regular colas. Manufacturers achieve this lower calorie content by using artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. A study reported in the July 1993 issue of "Biological Psychiatry" found that individuals with mood disorders were particularly sensitive to the artificial sweetener aspartame. Heavy consumption of artificial sweeteners has caused seizures and mania in some cases, according to a report in the journal "Psychosomatics" in March 1986. Anger is a possible symptom of certain types of seizure or of a manic episode. An April 2002 report in the journal "Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology" found aspartame in soft drinks to be entirely safe.
Other Chemicals
In the United States, Diet Pepsi drinks contain carbonated water, aspartame, caffeine and natural flavors. Citric acid and phosphoric acid are present in the drink, along with potassium benzoate as a preservative and caramel coloring. You could have a strong reaction to any of these chemicals, causing increased feelings of anger. Dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, writing for MayoClinic.com, indicates that the sweeteners and chemicals in diet soda drinks are safe for most people.
Dealing With Anger
The chemical composition of diet sodas may be causing feelings of anger, or alternatively you may be drinking diet sodas at times during the day when you naturally feel angry -- during the morning commute, for example. MedlinePlus recommends making lifestyle changes to deal with anger. A well-balanced diet will help, as will reducing or eliminating intake of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and narcotics. Some prescription medications can cause anxiety. Seek emergency medical help if your anger makes you feel like hurting yourself or another person.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine Content for Coffee, Tea, Soda and More; October 2009
- MedlinePlus: Stress and Anxiety
- "Psychosomatics"; Seizure and Mania After High Intake of Aspartame; R.G. Walton; March 1986
- "Environmental Health Perspectives"; Possible Neurologic Effects of Aspartame; T.J. Maher, et al.; November 1987
- PepsiCo Beverage Facts: Diet Pepsi
- MayoClinic.com; Diet Soda: Is It Bad for You?; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; November 2009
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