I've been relying on Sprite Zero; Coke Zero; and sugar-free, lime-flavored Pepsi to get me through these current dark times, but the more I read about the dangers of diet sodas, the closer I'm coming to the conclusion that those days must end. The artificial sweeteners in diet soda are associated with the harming of gut bacteria, and may actually contribute to the furtherance of metabolic syndrome. There's also something called "cephalic phase insulin release," in which your brain registers the sensation of tasty food, especially something sweet (and that includes things that have been artificially sweetened), and signals to the pancreas that it's time to produce insulin. This ultimately contributes to an increase in insulin resistance—the very thing a dieter like me is trying to avoid.
On YouTube, Dr. Becky Gillaspy recommends transitioning from sweet snacks to savory—nuts, natural beef jerky, celery stalks, and the like. That's a very tall order for me and my sweet tooth. I mean, I've been doing without sweets (except for my morning SlimFast) since starting the Newcastle Diet, trying to stick to the 800-calorie-per-day limit, but there are definitely times when I'd love a Snickers or some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I often find myself dreaming about finishing this diet, eating more reasonably (i.e., eating more), and having cheat days. But it looks as though the current austerity is about to become even more austere: as of today, I'll be dropping diet sodas from my diet, but I will allow myself a maximum of two cups of artificially sweetened tea per day (I use Splenda).
Things just get better and better, don't they?
Yeah, that sounds like a drag. As you know, I don't have all that much of a sweet tooth, so this wouldn't be a trial for me, but I imagine someone telling me that I could never eat cheese again. That would be rough. I do love me some cheese.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Definitely a good choice swearing off all the artificial sweeteners. After a week of nothing sweet, even cucumbers will taste seriously delicious. How is the Slim Fast sweetened? Hopefully not HFCS?
ReplyDeleteI see sugar crystals in the dregs when I drink SlimFast, so I'd guess something akin to table sugar.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that. I'm as addicted to my daytime Coke Zero as I am to my evening beers. I've read some of what you report here before, but at this stage of my life, I've chosen to not let go. Of course, I'm not facing an immediate health crisis like you are, so it's an easier decision.
ReplyDeleteI guess you just need to continue to focus on getting to the end zone of austerity, knowing that something approaching normality awaits beyond the goal line. You'll get there!