Should I eliminate aspartame from my life? My Doctor says yes!

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Replies

  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    edited May 2015
    I'm definitely not anti vaccinations! More harm than good (if any) comes from not vaccinating our kids.
    In fact, our government is bringing in a law that if welfare recipients don't vaccinate their children, then their benefits will be slashed to a pittance!

    When did vaccinations enter the discussion?

    Edit: found the comment... Please proceed.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    edited May 2015
    That's the
    Call me a conspiracy theorist, but don't coca cola et al use bucket loads of aspartame in their products? ?
    Are research facilities going to go up against these Billion dollar companies and tell the public that their products are dangerous or harmful...


    That's the exact same logic anti-vaxxers use, and it's the reason why kids are dying in first-world countries of preventable diseases. If the science isn't there to support it, I don't believe it. In this case, it's not even a matter of "we don't know because there haven't been enough studies done"; to the contrary, people have actively been studying the effects of aspartame for over three decades now and STILL haven't found it to be harmful. If that's not convincing enough, I don't know what is.

    Besides, people have been talking about how Coca Cola and the like is bad for you for decades; it's hardly being sold as a health product (unless you count all the Vitamin Water BS) . There's no hush-hush secret agenda there. These companies sell diet products as a calorie-free alternative to their sugar-filled products, so they can appeal to a wider customer base. It's as simple as that. When the conspiracy theorists say "aspartame is bad!" and they get bad press, they just start making their diet products with Splenda instead. If production cost goes up as a result, they just raise their prices.

    Galgenstrick it was mentioned in the above post

    Edited after seeing your Edit :tongue: I just do NOT want to come across as some health food, anti chemicals nazi. I don't have problems with any foods or drinks, other than aspartame. it just sticks in my throat for some reason...

  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    That's the
    Call me a conspiracy theorist, but don't coca cola et al use bucket loads of aspartame in their products? ?
    Are research facilities going to go up against these Billion dollar companies and tell the public that their products are dangerous or harmful...


    That's the exact same logic anti-vaxxers use, and it's the reason why kids are dying in first-world countries of preventable diseases. If the science isn't there to support it, I don't believe it. In this case, it's not even a matter of "we don't know because there haven't been enough studies done"; to the contrary, people have actively been studying the effects of aspartame for over three decades now and STILL haven't found it to be harmful. If that's not convincing enough, I don't know what is.

    Besides, people have been talking about how Coca Cola and the like is bad for you for decades; it's hardly being sold as a health product (unless you count all the Vitamin Water BS) . There's no hush-hush secret agenda there. These companies sell diet products as a calorie-free alternative to their sugar-filled products, so they can appeal to a wider customer base. It's as simple as that. When the conspiracy theorists say "aspartame is bad!" and they get bad press, they just start making their diet products with Splenda instead. If production cost goes up as a result, they just raise their prices.

    Galgenstrick it was mentioned in the above post

    Thanks, I missed that post earlier. I edited my post above!
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    That's the
    Call me a conspiracy theorist, but don't coca cola et al use bucket loads of aspartame in their products? ?
    Are research facilities going to go up against these Billion dollar companies and tell the public that their products are dangerous or harmful...


    That's the exact same logic anti-vaxxers use, and it's the reason why kids are dying in first-world countries of preventable diseases. If the science isn't there to support it, I don't believe it. In this case, it's not even a matter of "we don't know because there haven't been enough studies done"; to the contrary, people have actively been studying the effects of aspartame for over three decades now and STILL haven't found it to be harmful. If that's not convincing enough, I don't know what is.

    Besides, people have been talking about how Coca Cola and the like is bad for you for decades; it's hardly being sold as a health product (unless you count all the Vitamin Water BS) . There's no hush-hush secret agenda there. These companies sell diet products as a calorie-free alternative to their sugar-filled products, so they can appeal to a wider customer base. It's as simple as that. When the conspiracy theorists say "aspartame is bad!" and they get bad press, they just start making their diet products with Splenda instead. If production cost goes up as a result, they just raise their prices.

    Galgenstrick it was mentioned in the above post

    Edited after seeing your Edit :tongue: I just do NOT want to come across as some health food, anti chemicals nazi. I don't have problems with any foods or drinks, other than aspartame. it just sticks in my throat for some reason...
    I don't think you come across that way. It makes me feel like crap, like I mentioned above + I don't even like the flavor. There's not much evidence (if any) that shows it's harmful, however I avoid it nonetheless.
  • MercuryBlue
    MercuryBlue Posts: 886 Member
    I'm definitely not anti vaccinations! More harm than good (if any) comes from not vaccinating our kids.
    In fact, our government is bringing in a law that if welfare recipients don't vaccinate their children, then their benefits will be slashed to a pittance!

    I'm sorry, I wasn't implying that you were an anti-vaxxer. What I said, verbatim, was "that's the exact same logic anti-vaxxers use, and it's the reason why kids are dying in first-world countries of preventable diseases." Because, really, it is the same. You suggested that research facilities weren't going to go against million-dollar companies and tell people that their product wasn't safe as a reason why aspartame was harmful, and anti-vaxxers use the same logic to promote their agenda. They say, "scientists aren't going to go against Big Pharma and tell the public their vaccinations are causing [whatever bogus thing they've attached to vaccinations that week]" and use that to support their belief that vaccinations are harmful. My point is that that logic is flawed, and that it doesn't make sense to make decisions based on something that maybe, theoretically could be possible if all the ducks were lined up just right. It makes more sense to make decisions based on evidence and facts.

    Of course, if you choose not to consume aspartame for your own reasons, that's totally fine. I don't either, because I don't like the taste. I know some people have sensitivity to aspartame and it makes them feel sick (just like some people have sensitivities to MSG, or to peanuts, or to dairy, etc.) I'm just pointing out that that kind of reasoning can be- and has been, in the case of vaccinations (which is why I used that as an example)- harmful overall. In recent years, people have become increasingly vocal about 'chemicals', without realizing that everything that we consume, natural or otherwise, is made of chemicals. I think that it's dangerous to be vocal about chemicals in foods unless we have an academic understanding of chemistry, because otherwise you wind up with a culture of people who make dietary decisions based on the paranoid delusions of some random housewife with a blog.

    To clarify: Please do not feel like I'm criticizing you personally. Rather, I'm objecting to an overall way of thinking about the world and serious issues that has become increasingly common online. I feel it's important for people to educate themselves based on facts instead of hearsay. I'm especially concerned about the fact that healthcare professionals are giving medical advice based on superstition and paranoia, as opposed to scientific facts. That's really unnerving to me. What's next, is my doctor going to tell me that I can keep myself healthy by keeping an onion in the corner of my bedroom?
  • try2again
    try2again Posts: 3,562 Member
    I keyed in on your statement that "all diet foods" have it. Just eat regular food. I buy yogurt with splenda in it, but I can't think of any other diet-marketed product I buy. Just log carefully and use moderation with things like sugar.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    All good @MercuryBlue :smile:
    i appreciate you taking the time to reply :) I was not at all familiar with the anti vaxxers stance.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    I found that when I used various artificial sweeteners that it increased my cravings expecially at night. I only used them for about a year. I quit all those over a year ago and lost the 10-15 pounds I had gained from it, and have maintained well ever since. I stick to mostly foods with 1-5 ingredients or less and foods I mostly prepare at home, which I mostly did before. The doctor said I had probably messed up my gut bacteria with the artifical chemicals, so I started eating fermented foods, just a little each day. I'm feeling great now and the cravings are gone.

    Maybe the chemicals causing cravings thus eating more is what they mean by "slowing down weight loss".
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  • gdyment
    gdyment Posts: 299 Member
    edited May 2015
    Call me a conspiracy theorist, but don't coca cola et al use bucket loads of aspartame in their products? ?
    Are research facilities going to go up against these Billion dollar companies and tell the public that their products are dangerous or harmful...

    You should look up how huge the Sugar lobby is. They HATE any artificial sweetener, obviously. I would put money on them fiddling with the research more than someone like Coke who has products on both sides and doesn't care which one you buy as long as it's not Pepsi.

    Edit: And for the record I have no issues at ALL about Aspartame or fake sugars. Diet Coke, sugar free gum, splenda/equal in the coffee, even bake with splenda.
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    I believe Diet Pepsi uses Splenda. It is best to ditch soda pop all together, but my mom used to drink Diet Pepsi to avoid Aspartame. She had cancer and didn't want to make it worse with Aspartame.

    Incorrect...I'm drinking a Diet Pepsi right now, and aspartame is #3 in the list of ingredients.

    Pepsi One uses Splenda and a couple of other sweeteners. Could that be what you're thinking of? Diet Rite also uses Splenda.
  • JohnTabbakh
    JohnTabbakh Posts: 8 Member
    Hello Everyone!
    I just got back from seeing my cardiologist with a glowing report that I am praising the Lord for giving me my health back. During our conversation, my Doctor noted that I had lost weight. I told her that I had been on Nutri System...and that I really LOVE the frozen food plan! She said that Nutri System was a good way to lose weight...but that I needed to watch the labels to make sure that there were no Aspartame in the ingredients. She went on to say that Aspartame usage will result in very slow weight loss...or NONE at all...and that I should stop the Diet Coke as it was full of Aspartame. Right then and there...I swore off "pop" for ever!

    But when I got home...I noticed that almost all the diet foods and drinks have Aspartame in them. Now I am wondering what I am going to eat. And I need a second opinion. Any help would be so appreciated! Roland

  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Stay away from diet foods. Just eat normal food
  • JohnTabbakh
    JohnTabbakh Posts: 8 Member
    Your body does not recognise aspartame/man made chemicals...so just guesses what to do with it. Hence all the health problems today from the rubbish supplied in food stores. Natural foods are the way forward. Sugar/Fat etc are not the enemy. Eating too much of the above is. Diet/exercise is the answer. All in moderation!
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    Hello Everyone!
    I just got back from seeing my cardiologist with a glowing report that I am praising the Lord for giving me my health back. During our conversation, my Doctor noted that I had lost weight. I told her that I had been on Nutri System...and that I really LOVE the frozen food plan! She said that Nutri System was a good way to lose weight...but that I needed to watch the labels to make sure that there were no Aspartame in the ingredients. She went on to say that Aspartame usage will result in very slow weight loss...or NONE at all...and that I should stop the Diet Coke as it was full of Aspartame. Right then and there...I swore off "pop" for ever!

    But when I got home...I noticed that almost all the diet foods and drinks have Aspartame in them. Now I am wondering what I am going to eat. And I need a second opinion. Any help would be so appreciated! Roland

    Don't take nutrition advice from a cardiologist just like you shouldn't take heart advice from a nutritionist.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    Call me a conspiracy theorist, but don't coca cola et al use bucket loads of aspartame in their products? ?
    Are research facilities going to go up against these Billion dollar companies and tell the public that their products are dangerous or harmful...
    They don't use bucket loads, no. A few milligrams per serving.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    Your body does not recognise aspartame/man made chemicals...so just guesses what to do with it. Hence all the health problems today from the rubbish supplied in food stores. Natural foods are the way forward. Sugar/Fat etc are not the enemy. Eating too much of the above is. Diet/exercise is the answer. All in moderation!

    Your body can work with aspartame just fine. It's made out of aspartic acid and phenylalanine, two amino acids you're consuming every time you eat any kind of meat, and in higher quantities than you'd ingest by drinking a whole bunch of diet soda.
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  • JohnTabbakh
    JohnTabbakh Posts: 8 Member
    Yes...lets stop with the sharing of misinformation. lol
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited May 2015
    Hello Everyone!
    I just got back from seeing my cardiologist with a glowing report that I am praising the Lord for giving me my health back. During our conversation, my Doctor noted that I had lost weight. I told her that I had been on Nutri System...and that I really LOVE the frozen food plan! She said that Nutri System was a good way to lose weight...but that I needed to watch the labels to make sure that there were no Aspartame in the ingredients. She went on to say that Aspartame usage will result in very slow weight loss...or NONE at all...and that I should stop the Diet Coke as it was full of Aspartame. Right then and there...I swore off "pop" for ever!

    But when I got home...I noticed that almost all the diet foods and drinks have Aspartame in them. Now I am wondering what I am going to eat. And I need a second opinion. Any help would be so appreciated! Roland

    Don't take nutrition advice from a cardiologist just like you shouldn't take heart advice from a nutritionist.

    This ^ ^

    As far as aspartame (and other sugar substitutes) goes, if it bothers you or you are sensitive to it, you should limit or avoid it. Otherwise, go ahead (but I do believe in moderation in all things, including sugar substitutes). There is no credible evidence that it is harmful to the general public or inhibits weight loss.

  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    What does aspertame have to do with weight loss? It doesn't have any calories!
  • callsitlikeiseeit
    callsitlikeiseeit Posts: 8,626 Member
    dont go to your cardiologist for nutrition advice.

    ive lost 50 pounds in 6 months and drink diet coke fairly heavily (go in stages though but it has never slowed it down or prevented it).

    i also eat whatever else i want, as long as it fits within my calories for the day.
  • zezelryck
    zezelryck Posts: 251 Member
    I can tell you this from my own experience (not very scientific I know) but I have lost over 190lb and have drunk at least 2 litres of diet soda most days. I live in the UK and am a firm believer in our health system. Here is a post from the NHS website regarding aspartame. http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/the-truth-about-aspartame.aspx.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    What does aspertame have to do with weight loss? It doesn't have any calories!

    But, but, it haz chemikillz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    earlnabby wrote: »
    What does aspertame have to do with weight loss? It doesn't have any calories!

    But, but, it haz chemikillz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Oh noes! *puts on tinfoil hat and runs around in circles*
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    zezelryck wrote: »
    I can tell you this from my own experience (not very scientific I know) but I have lost over 190lb and have drunk at least 2 litres of diet soda most days. I live in the UK and am a firm believer in our health system. Here is a post from the NHS website regarding aspartame. http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/the-truth-about-aspartame.aspx.

    Amazing loss! Congratulations!

  • Jesslan_Rose
    Jesslan_Rose Posts: 137 Member
    I try to avoid aspartame as much as I can simply because it seriously aggravates my fibromyalgia. I try to stick to flavored waters that don't have any.
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  • Unknown
    edited May 2015
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