alkaloids and phenolic compounds.

alkaloids and phenolic compounds are produced by plants - can mess with mind?

http://www.mcmanweb.com/more_diet_coke_posts.htm

McMan (Oct 11): The FDA is constantly pulling products it previously approved and is changing the warnings, Mandy. Even with the best-intentioned watchdogs, too many bad products get approved. David Willman of the LA Times won the Pulitzer Prize in Investigative Reporting in 2001 for exposing the ineptitude of the FDA. Please do your research before you accuse me of scaring people.

Heather (Feb 4, 2003): Interesting to know that there is a phenol compound in aspartame. I'm one of the 1 in 16,000 who is allergic to phenol. Every time I've eaten something with aspartame in it, I've had wild, horrible nightmares. I found out I was allergic to phenol when the allergy shots I was taking gave me severe asthma-like symptoms which lasted for months as the usual asthma treatments didn't work. I had to take oral steroids (more trouble) to get rid of them. I'm now taking allergy shots without the phenol preservative in them. And, just BTW, phenol is in everything from pesticide to toothpaste.

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Brad (Nov 20, 2004): I consume about 1 300 litres of Diet Coke annually. I very rarely have headaches, maybe one per year and it's nothing an Advil and a large glass of water or Diet Coke couldn't fix. This whole aspartame thing is nonsense; it's most likely the sugar companies spreading the rumors about 'aspartame poisoning'. Just look at how much business they'll be losing if this new “better then sugar substance” took over the market. Aspartame is made of completely natural substances, two amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine joined together with a methyl group added. Aspartic acid is found in beef, chicken, pork, fish, and some vegetables like spinach. Phenylalanine is found in eggs, milk, bananas, and meats. The downside of aspartame is the phenylalanine one in ten thousand people who have Phenylketonuria or carry the PKU gene can’t ingest phenylalanine or aspartame because of a genetic disorder that is characterized by an inability of the body to utilize the essential amino acid. Once aspartame is broken down in the body it is converted back to aspartic acid and phenylalanine with a very small amount of methanol, no more then a glass of tomato juice would convert to. Thus aspartame is safe to consume in small amounts, but who’s going to drink more then 12 litres of Diet Coke in a day anyways?

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Chocolate comprises 50 percent fat and 50 percent sugar and contains phenylethylamine, all which combine to create an endorphin effect, particularly in women. Low blood levels of phenylethylamine have been found in depressed patents. (Researchers at Nottingham Trent University (UK) claim phenylethylamine to be a byproduct of exercise and the cause of the euphoric mood called "runner’s high.")


Hi! I'm a first time reader of your blog. Happened across the title, and had to find out what you write about.

Anyhow, back to the subject of Diet Coke:
Diet Coke contains PEA (phenylethylamine), which is a feel-good neurotransmitter that affects the brain. PEA is also found in chocolate, surprise surprise.
Based on the scientific research I've read (I've got an M.Sc. in Nutrition; I speak "Science"), together with my personal experience, I'm certain that Diet Coke can be addictive.
When I decided I wanted to kick the habit (I used it as a pick-me-up, when I was a bit depressed, and it worked... I am so not joking), I just started drinking Diet 7Up instead. Funny enough, I now dislike the taste of Diet (I never thought that would be possible), and of course I'm not addicted to the 7up (because who would be?).
Of course, now I NEED my multiple-daily fixes of coffee... I basically replaced one addiction with another.
Maybe it's best to leave well enough alone? :)
All the best to you.

THE CULT OF DIET COKE.