An interesting theory about artificial sweetners

[Chris]

I just read Wikipedia's article on the Atkins approach, and afterward began reading some of the discussion threads. In one discussion, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:At...ach#Heavy_Bias they were talking about artificial sweetners.

Here's the part I found fascinating:

I'm sure there's a great impact on blood sugar though. --Cyberman 23:14, 15 January 2006 (UTC)

Yes, there is. At first, the sweet taste acts on the CNS, hunger is reduced and the metabolism speeds up (this is normal to happen when the body was in a state of hunger and is now anticipating carbohydrate uptake). Blood sugar increases. But the carbohydrates don't come, and a rebound occurs. Metabolism (and thus caloric usage) slows, blood sugar decreases, and hunger sets in again and is actually reinforced (sometimes greatly, depending on timing).

The livestock industry utilizes this effect by using artificial sweeteners as appetizers to assist in cramming. The idea is:

1. Let animals develop hunger.
2. Feed low-energy sweetened food.
3. Wait until rebound occurs - this puts animals in a food craze.
4. Then quickly feed large amounts of high-energy feeding stuff.

In other words, artificial sweeteners can be used to induce binge eating. Aragorn2 18:47, 29 March 2006 (UTC)

[sallyann]

Thanks for this posting Chris. I find that really incredible, would it apply to all
sweetners do you think?

Sally

[Chris]

Originally Posted by sallyann

Thanks for this posting Chris. I find that really incredible, would it apply to all
sweetners do you think?

Sally

I suspect that 2Big would know more about this than anyone else, here, but, my guess would be that it would apply to all non-caloric sweetners. After all, the sweet taste makes you think you're getting sugar, but you're not, no matter which sweetner it might be.

Another guess is that the problem would most often occur when consuming a low-cal (or no-cal) food or drink on an empty stomach.

In other words, if you're going to drink a diet soda, have it with food, or shortly after having eaten.

[not2late]

That reminds me of when I briefly went to school in the Mid West. I was in class, sitting between two former farmboys. The lecture was on the brand new food pyramid and how it differed from the out-dated food square. When the professor explained the 9-11 servings of grains daily, one guy said to the other, "Hey, isn't that how we fatten the hogs?" The other replied, "Yeah."

[iyamamaschke]

I know this is a very true statement in my case I gave up the artificial sweeteners and noticed a huge reduction in my appetite however when I was using them regularily I was always hungry and had binge eating behaviour.

Sarah

[Mothercooter]

Originally Posted by not2late

That reminds me of when I briefly went to school in the Mid West. I was in class, sitting between two former farmboys. The lecture was on the brand new food pyramid and how it differed from the out-dated food square. When the professor explained the 9-11 servings of grains daily, one guy said to the other, "Hey, isn't that how we fatten the hogs?" The other replied, "Yeah."

Oh my gosh Im still dying laughing at this!!!!

[Chris]

Originally Posted by mothercooter

Oh my gosh Im still dying laughing at this!!!!

Yeah, Mindy, it's funny, but it's true. Grains are used to fatten cattle and swine before slaughtering. Yet, the FDA insists that grains should be the base of the food pyramid!

Oh, btw, I think I saw your Ghetto Whooshie Fairy when I was in downtown DC this past weekend!

[2big4mysize]

thanks for sharing Chris. yep we think we are getting sugar we react and poof our blood sugar drops causing us to want more foods.

it is much like Dr Atkins warns us when having carbs to have some fat with them in the tips in the OWL section cause when the brief amount of energy is gone but the chemicals to use them are still in the blood stream either the blood sugar drops and we get hunger signals or our dieatary fats drive the energy cycle keeping the no energy chems from signaling EAT!!!!!!!

[sallyann]

Thanks Chris, it really makes you consider the big pictures on sweeteners that for sure.

S
X

[LC_Dave]

Yeah this is an interesting topic.

I think sugar alcohols are even worse than teh artifical sweetners.

There has to be a reaction, nothing is free!