> There's a synergy here, eat healthier, reduce blood sugar spikes, lose weight.

I'm not a doctor, this isn't medical advice, I'm just bullshitting on the Internet. I know this is a controversial topic and the science doesn't appear to be settled.

My understanding about how artificial sweeteners work in part is that they don't have a caloric impact but still cause an insulin response. I've avoided them as best as I can. Some people believe there's a free ride to be had with them - drink Diet Coke and nothing happens, but I'm not so sure that's the case.

If a sugary drink causes an insulin response, and perhaps that response is different of course, but if it causes an insulin response, and so do "sugar-free" drinks - we seem to be in a world where a large number of people are still dealing with issues related to sugar that they maybe aren't expecting. I just have a hard time believe there's a free ride with "sugar-free" drinks. This response probably leads to more cravings for so-called empty calories. A lot of people I find viscously defend "sugar-free" drinks which leads me to suspect there's something there too.

If you grow up with an awful diet, like I did, not centered around so-called whole foods and actual cooking I think you wind up in a vicious cycle of sugar, sugar substitutes, and other empty-calorie style foods that all feed the same biological addiction mechanism. You get fatter and fatter and no amount of exercise will work (you can't outrun a bad diet) and then add in our modern lifestyle and of course we're all pretty dang sick.