I think that the caffeine is basically for those who can get heart palps or shaky when they take it in. I know that caffiene does not apply to everyone.
As for the sweeteners, I have heard that your body can respond to them like regular sugar. As for the diet drinks, they contain phospate acid which binds to calcium and can lead to osteoperosis and brittle bones. Especially important for women to stay away from them. I know that splenda is supposedly better for you then the pink or blue stuff...but all of that artificial stuff is bad for us!

Here is what I know. Grave's disease is an autoimmune disease. The hyperthyroid is a consequence of that disease. So, I am looking to heal the immune system, and then the thyroid problem will follow. Anything toxic to the body is toxic to the immune system. Artificial sweeteners are foreign, hence they are a strain (or are toxic) to the body. My sense is that eating as pure as we can get will give our bodies a chance to heal, otherwise we are just continuing to tax the system. I have known this for a long time. I have just been lazy. Change is hard. Hopefully this disease is the kick in the butt I need to make the healthy changes I have been wanting to.
Good health to you!

If I took everything that was unnatural out of my diet I would be MORE unhappy than before! If I used real sugar instead of Splenda, I would gain weight so fast! If you are willing to cut out all those things, that's great. I enjoy food too much to take out all the good stuff.

Splenda is the better sweetner to use. The others all raise your heart rate and that is why most doctors dont want you using them. Also caffeine is another that raises your heart rate and with Graves your heart rate is already elevated enough that they dont want you to do anything to cause more complication. Alcohol hurts you liver. Most of the medications for Graves affect your liver and that is why they say no to alcohol.