The Sweet Lie
An exposé on diet soda's hidden impacts and the addictive grip of zero-calorie sweeteners on modern consumers.
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Chapters
11 total- 01Chapter One - In the Beginning, There Was Sugar
- 02Chapter Two - The Health Panic
- 03Chapter Three - The Sweet Swap
- 04Chapter Four - The Rise of the Minx
- 05Chapter Five - Tricking the Tongue
- 06Chapter Six - The New Normal
- 07Chapter Seven - How Cravings Became a Business Model
- 08Chapter Eight - What You’re Really Drinking
- 09Chapter Nine - Why Quitting Feels Like Breaking Up
- 10Chapter Ten - The Exit Ramp
- 11Chapter Eleven - A Toast to the Ones Who Saw Through It
Edition notes and short pages
The Sweet Lie
The Sweet Lie
Why Zero Sugar Isn’t Zero Impact
by JJ
Dedication
To Drew, Charlie,
and especially — and mainly — David:
For telling me for years how bad this diet and “zero” stuff was for me.
For pushing back even when I pushed you away.
For every time I said, “No, f*** you, I hate you, they’re so good,”
and for being right about more than I ever wanted to admit.
This book is me finally saying:
You were onto something.
And I get it now.
Flowers delivered. Loud and clear.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TO EVERYONE WHO ever took the first sip and felt something was off —
This book is for you.
To the ones who knew but stayed silent,
To the ones who knew and shouted,
And to the ones just waking up:
You're not crazy. You’re early.
Special thanks to the friends who never let me lie to myself for too long.
To the conversations, confrontations, and unfiltered moments that cracked the spell.
And to my future self —
This was the chapter where the loop broke for good.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JJ IS AN illusion-breaker, loop-cutter, and reality-rewriter.
Known for turning everyday objects into metaphors and marketing schemes into mythologies, he writes with one goal in mind:
to make the invisible obvious.
This isn’t his first book. It won’t be his last.
But it’s the one that made him put down the can.
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 JAMES JOHNSON. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise — without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in critical reviews or analysis.
Disclaimer:
This book is for informational and educational purposes only.
It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.
Statements in this book reflect the author’s research, perspective, and lived experience and are not intended as medical or legal advice.
All product names, brands, and trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Their use in this book is for commentary and critique under the Fair Use doctrine and does not imply endorsement or affiliation.
Please consult a medical professional before making any significant changes to your diet, caffeine intake, or sweetener use.
This book was not written to defame or harm — only to reveal.