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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Chris24Main" data-source="post: 2737932" data-attributes="member: 585131">It's a pretty complicated story with artificial sweeteners - and I think there is a hugely personal level to it as well, which you may be able to speak to [USER=85197]@zand[/USER] . I think this is one of the things where genetic expression plays a huge part. Ie, you may genetically be predisposed to react to some sweeteners. What the hell does that mean ? Some people are clearly driven to want more (I'm ...lucky?... in that regard, just don't like the taste of any artificial sweetener, never have) - so you drink a diet coke - among other things, the signalling to your brain is a consequence of, if you like, your genetic sensitivity to the mechanisms that underpin that signalling (translation factors - it's like .. some people may have a broadband connection between their stomach and brain for that particular signal - others work on dial-up). The reaction in your pleasure/ reward centre, how much dopamine and your sensitivity to dopamine then play a part. It becomes a spiral with dopamine too, needing more and more for the same "fix".The point being that genetics plays a part, but the genetics alone may make no difference unless you are exposed to the thing that makes that genetic material express something.Then, independently, the same thing applies to the hormonal reaction to the sweetener. It may just taste sweet, or your whole system may go "right - we're due to deal with a whole bunch of sugar in a minute - best roll out the insulin carpet..." - which of course is where the connection to insulin resistance comes in, and the elevated insulin locking you in energy storage, thus the "makes you fat" comment. But - how you personally react to the specific sweetener will depend on what your body is used to - in some cases literally (the emotional connection to the reaction to that sweetener), but also physiologically, some directly have effects in the gut and pancreas and some don't.I always kind of felt as a kid that you were better off with the sugar. I'm not sure I 100% agree with that now - I think I see it as the same kind of relationship as heroin and methadone; if you are using one to reduce the other, that's one thing, but you can get hooked on either.The history of these kind of drinks is really fascinating - and I speak as someone who would pack away 5 Cokes or Sprites or Fantas easily every day in the Seventies growing up in the tropics. 5 minimum. Every day. Coke in particular started off as a "tonic" packed with wine, cocaine and sugar. The wine was removed and nobody noticed. The cocaine was removed and nobody noticed. The sugar was reduced and people rioted...</blockquote>

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