Diet drinks…

If I’m trying to loose weight, I should opt for calorie free drinks like diet coke/coke zero right?

Not quite. Artificially sweetened drinks have a 47% higher risk of increased BMI. They are strong dopamine stimulators - meaning that they activate reward circuits in the brain: i.e. they make you FEEL GOOD. This feeling, triggers cravings for more. these cravings don’t just stick to the diet coke, they extend to all things which simulate that same pathway - carbs, fatty, salty foods (basically all processed foods), alcohol, caffeine etc. These cravings also have the ability to override your normal bodies signals telling you that you’re full - so you will also eat more.

Don’t get fooled by calorie free drinks and foods….The food industry literally has something called the ‘Bliss point’ of foods that they aim for - this is the amount of sweetener/fat etc that causes the highest dopamine release in consumers!