This Changes Diet Soda For Good (shocking new brain study)

About this video

• Video Title: This Changes Diet Soda For Good (shocking new brain study)
• Channel: Thomas DeLauer
• Speakers: Thomas DeLauer
• Duration: 00:07:34

Overview

This video explores the impact of diet soda on the brain's reward system and appetite regulation, drawing on a study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology. It discusses how both regular and diet sodas can trigger dopamine release, but diet sodas may have a different effect on metabolic addiction and subsequent food cravings. The speaker also suggests strategies like consuming electrolytes or protein to mitigate potential negative effects.

Key takeaways

• Dopamine Release: Both regular and diet sodas can stimulate dopamine release in the brain. Even carbonation itself can activate oral sensory nerves, contributing to a perceived sense of hydration and a dopamine hit.
• Sweetness and Addiction: The study found that the concentration of sweetness, regardless of whether it's from natural or artificial sweeteners, is the primary factor influencing dopamine release. This suggests that all sweet substances, including diet soda, can be equally addictive from a neurotransmitter perspective.
• Metabolic vs. Neurological Addiction: While regular soda with sugar can lead to metabolic addiction through blood sugar spikes and crashes, diet soda primarily impacts the neurological system. This can increase appetite for the next meal, even though it doesn't cause the same metabolic fluctuations.
• Cephalic Insulin Response: Diet soda may cause a small cephalic insulin response, but not enough to significantly increase appetite from a metabolic standpoint.
• Mitigation Strategies: Consuming salt with diet soda or pairing it with a protein shake can help blunt the neurological effects and reduce subsequent appetite. Electrolyte drinks like LMNT, sweetened with stevia, are presented as a potential alternative.
• Aspartame vs. Sucralose: The video suggests that aspartame might be safer than sucralose, with more evidence pointing to potential issues with sucralose consumption.