Can you drink diet soda while fasting? - explained by Simple (2024)

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Can you drink diet soda while fasting? - explained by Simple (1)

Writtenby Aly Owen

Medically reviewedby Josie Porter, RD

Fact checkedBefore we hit “publish,” our science team needs to be 100% satisfied that we’re giving solid advice based on high-quality, reliable, scientifically-sound research.

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Table of contents

No matter how long or for whatever reasons you’re trying intermittent fasting, there’s one golden rule to follow during your fasting windows: don’t eat anything.

But that one rule can be confusing when it comes to what you drink. You want to keep your body in a fasted state — which means no carbs, protein, or fat — but you also need to stay hydrated.

So, what breaks a fast?

Key takeaways

Diet soda is typically safe in moderation and won’t break your fast.
More research is needed to understand the impact of diet soda on our overall health.
The artificial sweeteners found in diet sodas may have some adverse health effects for some people, but more evidence is needed to confirm what effects might happen under what conditions.
While there aren’t a ton of inherent health benefits in diet soda, the health risks in drinking it are likely limited if you have only one or two cans per day.

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So, does diet soda break a fast?

Does diet soda break intermittent fasting?

On a surface level, diet, zero, and no-sugar sodas all lack calories, which means technically, they’re all fair game for your fasting window. So if you’re craving that cool, crisp carbonation, go ahead and pop that top. Live out your blissful summer soda commercial fantasy.

But if you’re wondering specifically, “Can I drink diet soda while fasting?” the answer may depend on your reasons for fasting in the first place.

Science is still working out the impact diet soda can have on health — and we’ll dig into those potential side effects and risks shortly — but it’s worth keeping in mind that diet soda is ultra-processed, and these types of foods and drinks have been linked to poor health outcomes like metabolic diseases and inflammation.[1]

So, especially if you’re fasting to improve your gut health or reach your happy weight, we recommend avoiding large quantities of diet soda.

Like anything you eat or drink, diet soda isn’t fundamentally “good” or “bad” for you; some things are just more nutrient-dense or health-promoting than others. So whatever your fasting goals, moderation is your best drinking buddy. A can or two per day is a good rule of thumb.

Whether you’re a fasting newbie or a pro, figuring out what and how much to eat and drink along the way can be tricky. We’re here to help make it simple. To start working out the best approach for your unique body, preferences, and lifestyle, take our Simple quiz.

Alternatives to diet soda while fasting

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We get it: fasting can be boring. Even if you’re used to it, your tastebuds can get tired of biding their time until your next meal.

During intermittent fasting, diet soda isn’t the only drink that can help you through the monotony of your fasting window. If you’re at the stage where the thought of having regular old H2O is feeling more like H2-NO, there are other beverages that could start a party in your mouth (even if, admittedly, that party is less all-out-rager and more mid-afternoon office birthday).

For some caffeine, carbonation, or flavor kicks without breaking your fast, try sipping on things like:

naturally-flavored sparkling water
green and herbal teas
black coffee
Gatorade Zero or Powerade Zero

If you’re an apple cider vinegar fan, you can also dilute a few tablespoons in water.

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Health side effects and risks of diet soda

Now that you know the short answer to “Can you drink diet soda while intermittent fasting?” let’s dive into the longer answer about how intermittent fasting diet soda drinking may impact your body.

The thing that makes diet soda “diet” — meaning calorie-free and sugar-free — is artificial sweeteners. These sweeteners are typically laboratory-made sugar replacements that give diet soda that sweet and acidic cola taste without any actual sugar.

While these sweeteners are safe in moderation, more research is needed to figure out their long-term impact on overall health. Scientists also agree we need more insight into whether they’re processed differently than natural sugars and in exactly what quantities or under what circ*mstances they may be detrimental.

Based on what we know so far, here are some possible side effects and risks of drinking diet soda. As always, everybody is unique, so your body’s response to diet soda may be different than your friend’s, roommate’s, or partner’s.

Glycemic impact

One of the biggest concerns with artificial sweeteners is that in some specific cases — like adults who have type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or obesity — they may be associated with increased insulin resistance and obesity (though the jury’s still out about the sweeteners specifically in diet soda).[2,3,4]

However, studies on adults without these conditions have found that regular consumption of artificial sweeteners doesn’t affect glucose levels, glucose tolerance, glucose metabolism, or insulin sensitivity.[5,6,7]

It’s difficult to extrapolate these findings to all types of sweeteners, though, so even though the sweeteners used in diet soda are fairly consistent and there have been some larger studies in this area, more long-term, inclusive research is needed.

Sweet preferences

It’s rumored that artificial sweeteners increase sweet cravings, but most of these findings are from animal studies. A more recent review suggests these sweeteners aren’t associated with changes in sweet preferences or motivation to eat.[8]

Gut health

Some emerging evidence suggests some artificial sweeteners could impact the composition of your gut microbiota (in other words, all the bacteria and other stuff that live inside your gut).[9,10] These changes could, in turn, affect how your body metabolizes sugar and other nutrients. However, more evidence is needed to confirm these findings.

Sleep quality and duration

In addition to artificial sweeteners, some diet sodas also contain caffeine. They may not pack the same hyper-jittery punch as coffee or strong green tea, but they can add up enough to mess with your sleep. Avoiding diet soda (and all sources of caffeine) for at least six hours before bed will help you sleep better and longer.[11]

Heart health

One recent prospective study found a potential association between higher artificial sweetener consumption and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.[12] Again, more supporting evidence is needed before we can say for sure that diet soda may impact heart health in certain conditions.

In addition to these specific potential health impacts, one thing to keep in mind is that diet sodas are ultra-processed. Consistently consuming large quantities of ultra-processed food has been linked to a variety of chronic illnesses, decreased brain health, and changes in eating behaviors.[13,14,15]

Before you hit the panic button and rue every time you thought you were making a health-promoting choice by picking diet over full-calorie soda, don’t worry: it would likely take a lot of daily diet soda to put yourself at serious risk. Stick to the moderation mantra, and you’ll be fit to slay another day.

What can you drink while intermittent fasting?

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One of the most common intermittent fasting mistakes we see is not staying hydrated. Drinking enough water (or mineral / sparkling water) is crucial for a safe, effective fast, so if you’re not a big water fan, try jazzing it up with some mint or slices of fresh fruit. We love a bit of lemon or orange, but things like cucumber and lime work just as well. You can also mix in a spoonful or two of apple cider vinegar — though we recommend not combining that with other flavors or drinking it straight up (ick).

Beyond diet soda, there are lots of other non-water drinks that can help keep any pesky hunger pangs at bay. Tea (without milk, sugar, cream, or sweeteners) and coffee (without milk, sugar, cream, syrups, or sweeteners) are a particularly good support squad to call in.

Sadly, Long Island iced teas are off the menu (as well as all alcohol, full-sugar soda, and other sugary drinks like fruit juice), but there are literally hundreds of other fun teas to explore.

And, of course, spilling “tea” is always a good way to pass the time without breaking your fast … as long as you don’t head for some cathartic comfort cookies straight after!

Looking for more of a deep dive into what you can drink while fasting? Our full guide has you covered. If you’re feeling meal-planning motivated, we also have one about what to eat during intermittent fasting.

Simple’s expert opinion and final thoughts

So, will diet soda break a fast? Nope!

Can you have diet soda while fasting? Probably — just remember that moderation is your BFF. You also want to ensure you have enough water to avoid dehydration and other intermittent fasting side effects.

Whether you’re testing out intermittent fasting for the first time, figuring out how to reach your nutrition goals, or just looking to shake up your eating routine, we’re here to guide you through the process and help you take care of your unique body. We can also answer any fasting-related questions you have — like “Why is intermittent fasting not working?” or “Does intermittent fasting slow metabolism?” — so you can get advice straight from the experts, not Google.

To get started with your intermittent fasting support team — and say goodbye to googling your health and nutrition concerns — take our Simple quiz.

Frequently asked questions about diet soda and intermittent fasting

Can you drink zero-calorie soda while fasting?

Yes, you can drink diet soda intermittent fasting. Drinking zero-calorie soda while fasting is generally safe as long as you stick to one or two cans per day. Just keep an eye on your body — if you start experiencing more sugar cravings or an increased appetite, maybe try some other zero-calorie drink options.

Does diet soda break ketosis?

No, in moderation, diet soda shouldn’t break ketosis (otherwise known as when your body is chilling in its fasted state). Whether or not diet soda is a good fast-safe choice for you, though, depends on your individual body and how much of the diet stuff you drink. Up to two cans a day should be fine as long as you aren’t experiencing any side effects.

Can you have co*ke Zero on a fast?

Yes, as another type of diet soda, you can have co*ke Zero on a fast. As with any diet soda, moderation is key. Just watch out for potential side effects and avoid drinking it from mid-afternoon onward since its caffeine levels could impact your sleep routine.

Does diet soda trigger insulin?

There’s no evidence that diet soda triggers insulin responses in humans, though there have been some animal studies that suggest it might. Some diet sodas may contain a small amount of fruit juice (like Diet Fanta), which could affect insulin production, but that reaction is likely dose-dependent to some degree.

Do diet sodas cause weight gain?

On a base level, no, diet sodas don’t cause weight gain. In some research, though, the artificial sweeteners found in diet soda have been associated with weight gain, while other studies have found the opposite.[16]

It’s hard to be decisive here, as results are largely dependent on baseline diet soda habits and behavioral changes over time, but more evidence is needed to understand in what, if any, circ*mstances drinking diet soda could lead to weight gain.

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Sources

Intermittent Fasting

Health benefits

Writtenby Aly Owen

Medically reviewedby Josie Porter, RD