We know a sweet taste triggers all kinds of responses in the body, that won't match up when all the chemicals arrive... expecting a caloric form of sugar.

This might be part of the problem with other sugar strategies which rely on high amounts of "sweet taste." Which is why aspartame is a neurotoxin, since the dose matters. A soda once in a while is probably a blip. 3-4 sodas every day might not be.

The problem is when we use sugar for quick energy, mood regulation, and a coping mechanism. I remember when a big hunk of meat like the Sunday roast or lots of fish was the correct centerpiece of a celebratory meal. Reason for the season kinds of things.

Now, it's a giant sheet cake that is terrible but cheap. I don't think that's an improvement.

I put fruit in my smoothies and have a gluten free cookie, made with actual sugar and butter, as my dessert with coffee. And I don't crave it after I have my treat. I especially don't eat the whole bag over the course of a day, which was how I used to handle treats. Not even tasting it, pure dopamine hit.

That misplaced impulse, along with the misery of malnutrition, make us depressed/anxous and we eat more to try and "fix" it. That's when sweet isn't.

Developing a "normie" approach to such foods was directly connected with my commitment to real food. I went months without ANY because the savory food I was eating tasted so good.

I know the people who aren't moved by food, can take or leave treats, don't really care what it tastes like... apparently that's not the only way to manage our health, at least in modern times.

It's about letting our taste buds work like they are supposed to. Now, like my husband's recent mass produced chocolate muffin: this tastes like dirt.

My current philosophy is that goodies are supposed to be rare and glorious. Not as common, and tasty, as dirt. I've never liked soda or sweet drinks, and a little Barista flourish with my French press, heavy cream is all the sweetening my (decaf) coffee needs.

But for people who do like them, they are something that will need a sub. In my experience, these subs do get improved or dropped because we all know we shouldn't duplicate the pyramid on keto.

Though that seems to be what so many are trying to do, living on protein cookies and diet sodas.