Dear Team-Z, question: Does anyone know how the sweeteners affect insulin? As always, Karl

Karl, So sorry, I was just browsing and found your unanswered message. Did you post this question again? I remember talking about this before, but I have had a long week, and I am not sure!!! Anyway, all that aside, I can tell you what I know about artificial sweeteners. There is always a quick store of insulin ready to go when we eat. So, when the sweetness is sensed by the tongue, this store of insulin is released. Of course, there may not actually be carbs available in the case of artificial sweeteners, just like when you drink diet soda. So, what ends up happening is that the body will start to crave something. We end up getting hungry and eating, sometimes much earlier than we would have if we had not had that seemingly guiltless treat.

Dear CranberryCat(Jenny) Thanks so much for your reply. Your response makes sense. I might be lucky in that I do not seem to have a pronounced rebound affect from the artificial sweeteners. I do know that It would be good to ween myself from them. I just love that taste. I'll work on being better. Sincerely, Karl

[quote:9e59025195="Karl Arndt"]Dear CranberryCat(Jenny) Thanks so much for your reply. Your response makes sense. I might be lucky in that I do not seem to have a pronounced rebound affect from the artificial sweeteners. I do know that It would be good to ween myself from them. I just love that taste. I'll work on being better. Sincerely, Karl[/quote:9e59025195] Side NOTE: With all of the research that I have done, I will not, if at all possible ingest any artificial sweetners. The only real sweetners are Sugar, natural occuring Fructose, and Stevia. We know what sugar is, but if one must, much preferable to any artificial "chemicals". Fructose a litle better, but still a high GI carb. However, Stevia is the safe good sweetner, non-carb, alternative to sugar. That is why in US sugar AND artificial sweetner "chemicals" companies have banned together and fought so hard (and won) not to allow Stevia in foods. They also tried to ban it as an "Herbal Supplement", as well. However, on that front, they failed.

Thanks for the info on that, very interesting! I often wonder why stevia is not as popular as I feel it should be. Now I have something to go on here. I probably have not done nearly as much research as you have, but I have read enough to be scared of artificial sweeteners. I used to consume a huge quantity in my pre-zone days. I just hope that all that artificial stuff is not hiding out somewhere in my body.

Speaking of artificial sweeteners, have you seen that New Mexico is looking into outlawing aspartame? YEAH!!!!!! Read about it here. http://atlanta.indymedia.org/newswi.../index.php

what about Splenda?

Splenda is an artificial sweetener; not naturally occurring like sugar, fructose or stevia. In that regard, I try to avoid it. However, Dr. Sears seems to feel that this one is safer than the others. I am not sure what research that is based on.