I've heard that artificial sweeteners stimulate your appitite and so you tend not to reduce your energy intake when drinking diet stuff 'cause you eat more. DH is convienced that Nutrasweet causes MS and various other nasty stuff, but you can find articles saying that & others refuting that claim. All I know is I feel icky if I have anything with artifical sweeteners so I avoid them. IMO you're better off drinking water instead.