Artificial Sweeteners

Good morning, all. I found this newsletter in my inbox this morning from IDM (Intensive Dietary Management), I think this is Jason Fung's group. You have to scroll on down in there to find a short post on artificial sweeteners. idmprogram.com/idm-round-up... She says that even stevia can raise your insulin just by the taste of it, sounding like maybe some have an insulin rise and others don't. Not being diabetic, do those home tests only check blood glucose, not insulin? If you can't self check, it's sounding more and more like it's best to avoid them entirely, verifying what many have said here before. Sigh.....

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador]

I think the main reason for avoiding sweeteners would be the second one given: "Artificial sweeteners may cause cravings and induce over-eating of sweet foods". I didn't notice this myself, but getting into a mindset where you're substituting chemicals for sugar, forever, is probably not a good approach.

Having said that, I used them as a means to an end, and found them easy to dispense with.

It's only my personal view, but I think there are lots of subtle considerations that come into play with the use of synthetics and modern technology. Slightly unrelated example, but which I guess you might relate to. I have a problem patch on my farm that has never responded to cover crops, composting, and the like. It's still the disaster zone that it was when I bought it. So just last week I had a soil test done and applied phosphorus, potassium, micronutrients, and APAM ("soil conditioner"), to hopefully "jumpstart" the process of ecological regeneration. Normally I don't use such things, but if it gets the job done, then I will. I take the same view towards pesticides and herbicides: I have never yet encountered a reason to use them, but in a sense I'm glad they're available on the offchance that I might.

In general, I'd say the aim is to fully understand the upsides and the downsides of the technology you're using, determine if it achieves your long-term goals, and then proceed with care.

[S11m in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Ideally, we should train ourselves to not like or crave sweet food, snacks or anything else.

[Hidden in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Agreed. Balance!

[Ladylin151]

Yes, the home tests only test blood sugar and not insulin, You could design an experiment and make an assumption but not get a number for insulin. Many things can raise your insulin a bit. But it is mostly a response in your brain, so it is not true for everyone at all times. Brushing your teeth or smelling food or knowing it's lunchtime. Cooking/ preparing food for other people or having ate at this time yesterday. Even shopping and looking at food pictures! They tell your brain to get ready to eat. So...avoiding insulin surges completely is impossible, sweeteners is one part of the picture. Separately, is their chemistry and your beliefs about how they affect your body. And finally the cravings; having insulin surges can make you hungry even without lowering your blood glucose and "yumminess" can as well. So for some of us, avoiding that as much as possible is a good thing.

[Hidden in reply to Ladylin151]

Great info, thanks for the input.