Aspartame????

JMarigold

My husband is constantly trying to get me to quit drinking diet, but then I'd be left with water and this hard enough as it is (and I think Stevia tastes like crap). And yet as the weight seems so SLOW to come off . . . I wonder. Not to mention my lack of energy. *sigh*

LorinaLynn

Funnily enough, most scientists are not out to poison us.

I always say, "Follow the money."

I may be living in a delusion, but I like to think I'm worth more alive than dead. Maybe not as an individual, but collectively, the government stands to make a lot more money from income tax on living people who consume artificial sweeteners than they would from the Evil Aspartame Industry's kickbacks. Plus, I think the Evil Aspartame Industry would rather me be a living artificial sweetener consumer than a dead one, too. Corpses don't buy Diet Pepsi.

Yes, cigarettes were once thought to be safe, and now they're known to not be safe, which is why there's all kinds of warning labels all over them now.

I don't know if anyone remembers a few years ago when there was the bad wheat gluten in pet foods, and there was a massive recall. I worked at an animal hospital at the time, fielding calls from scared pet parents. A whole bunch of pet food companies recalled their foods even though there was no problems with their product... just because it was manufactured in the same facility as the bad food. If there was a CHANCE the food might have been contaminated, it was off the shelves, and it was all over the news.

Do you really think the government cares more about our dogs and cats than it does the taxpayers and voters?

RichMurray

long: Low doses of ethanol prevent harm from methanol from smoking and
aspartame, which otherwise the human body always quickly turns into
formaldehyde via the ADH enzyme inside the cells of blood vessels and
many tissues: Rich Murray 2010.02.26

This is inevitably a co-factor in many diseases of civilization since
1800, ranging from heart disease to Alzheimers to cancers to birth
defects like spina bifida and autism, which all have been increasing
rapidly since the approval of aspartame in 1981.

Prof. Woodrow C. Monte (Nutrition, Arizona State University, retired)
sent Chapter 12, Autism and Other Birth Defects, to EFSA in early
Novmber 2011, with a hundred mainstream scientific references,
available free as online full texts, in his comprehensive review
"While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills", with 740 references
published January 1 2012.

His book is now available as an Kindle electronic book,
$ 9.80 download, readable on any computer via free software,
Amazon.com .

within mutual service, Rich Murray

MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics


new book, concise opus "While Science Sleeps" life saving facts re
aspartame (methanol, formaldehyde) -- 740 full text references are
free online -- Woodrow "Woody" C. Monte, retired Prof. of Nutrition,
Arizona State University: Rich Murray 2012.01.03
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-book-concise-opus-while-science.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1631

http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-Woodrow-Monte/dp/1452893675/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325344126&sr=8-2

about 240 pages text, with 740 full text references free online
$ 37.98 paperback -- see:

www.WhileScienceSleeps.com

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNGG3O7U33VCV


Rich Murray,
MA Boston University Graduate School 1967 psychology,
BS MIT 1964 history and physics,
254-A Donax Avenue, Imperial Beach, CA 91932
rmforall@gmail.com
505-819-7388
Skype audio, video rich.murray11

http://RMForAll.blogspot.com
new primary archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages
group with 120 members, 1,636 posts in a public archive

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/messages
group with 782 members, 24,432 posts in a public archive


While Science Sleeps, methanol from cigarettes and aspartame becomes
formaldehyde inside human cells -- Table of Contents, WC Monte bio,
Kindle electronic book version $ 9.80 Amazon.com: Rich Murray
2012.01.26
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/01/while-science-sleeps-methanol-from.html
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/1636

[ See below for info re the affordable $ 9.80 Kindle electronic version,
readable on any computer with free software ]

[ In Chapter 5, two-page Figure 5.2 has only the right page, but has
both pages in Chapter 10 --
Table 5.2 Target Organs of Methanol Toxicity (Bad ADH Sites) gives
detailed data for 10 organs, 19 diseases that all have increased the
last 35 years, with many references for each -- the sites where the
ADH enzyme turns methanol into formaldehyde inside cells, harming DNA,
RNA, and proteins ]

Product Description

The introduction of aspartame into the food supply of the United
States began in the summer of 1981.
Since that time, the incidence of Alzheimer’s deaths has increased 100
fold (10,000%).
Autism has, with no explanation, increased 25 times (2500%).
Autoimmune diseases have reached epidemic proportions,
with Lupus (SLE) up 300%,
and Multiple Sclerosis, Type II Diabetes and Rheumatoid Arthritis
headed out of control.
Cancers, the hallmark of formaldehyde exposure, have exploded.
Skin cancer has shot up over 400%,
liver cancer has tripled,
kidney cancer has doubled,
and breast cancer is up 50%.
The list goes on.....


Table of Contents

Chapter 1:
A Time When All the Easy Questions Have Been Answered

Diseases Linked to Diet;
My Research Orientation;
Why Methanol;
Why Are Only Humans Harmed by Methanol?;
Ethanol and Methanol Fight for the Attention of the ADH Enzyme;
What Damage Can a Sip of Diet Soda Do?;
Why Would the Ethanol in Your Blood Vanish?;

Chapter 2:
Methanol: Where is it Found? How Can It Be Avoided?

Environmental Methanol;
Cigarette and Cigar Smoke;
Methanol in the Food Supply;
Bad News about Blackcurrants and Tomatoes;
Canned, Bottled, Jarred, and Aseptically Packaged Fruits and
Vegetables and Their Juices;
The Italian and French Exception: Long, Slow Cooking with the Lid Ajar;
Aspartame -- a Very Big No!;
Smoked Foods;
Liquor or Schnapps Made from Rotting Fruit;

Chapter 3:
Man and Methanol: A Tragic History of Mutation and Deceit

A Curious Matter of Some Considerable Consequence;
The Ancient History of Methanol;
The Mutation of Eve;
What Is the Meaning of This Human Mutation?;
The Sordid History of Methanol in the Industrial Age;
The “Real” Killer Is Formic Acid: A Fairy Tale if Ever I Heard One;
The Tortured Toxicology of Methanol;
Minimum Lethal Dose;
Two Ways for Humans to Die from Methanol;
The Hard Way to Die from Methanol;
How Dangerous is Methanol?;
Infant Deaths from a Touch of Methanol;
The Big Lie;

Chapter 4:
Formaldehyde Is the Real Problem

The Look of DOC; [ modern Diseases of Civilization since 1800 ]
Methanol’s Formaldehyde;
An Untraceable and Invisible Killer;
Methanol is the Mother of the DOC, Not Their Cause;
Why is Formaldehyde a Danger?;
Why Is Methanol/Formaldehyde Being Ignored by Science?;
The Production, Use and Nature of Formaldehyde;
Putting Formaldehyde into Perspective: Meet Venus!;
The Two Faces of Formaldehyde: Base or Acid: Bad or Worse;
What Attaches to What and Why: the Many Bonds of Formaldehyde;
What You See Is What You Study!;
What about That Other Aldehyde: the Ethanol Aldehyde?;

Chapter 5:
The Silent Battle that Turns Methanol into Disease

Review;
Bad ADH and Good ADH III;
Alcohol Consumption;
The Brain and Alcohol;
The Diversion of Dr. Majchrowicz;
The REAL Lethal Dose of Methanol;
Where Methanol Turns into Disease: the Front Lines of the Battle for Your Life;

Chapter 6:
How Methanol Kills

Acute Methanol Poisoning;
An Experiment to Help Understand Methanol Poisoning;
Using Ethanol to Protect from Methanol;
The Lethal Dose of Methanol;
Hospital Admission;
The Symptoms of Acute Methanol Poisoning;
How does Methanol’s Formaldehyde Kill?;
Hallucinations, Delirium and Maniacal Behavior;
Formic Acid Causes None of These Symptoms;
Murder by Methanol;
The DOC: the Result of Nature and Nurture Working over the Course of a Lifetime;
Where Do the DOC Fit?
Categories of Disease;
Is Ethanol an Essential Nutrient?;
What Are the DOC?;

Chapter 7:
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (Heart Disease)

The One Unifying Factor of All ACD;
The Long Slow Progression from Atheroma to Full-Blown Heart Disease;
Some Necessary Background;
The Approach that Modern Science Takes to Atherosclerotic
Cardiovascular Disease;
Formaldehyde from Methanol is the Cause of ACD;
How Methanol Causes Atheroma;
Where to Now?;
Does Diet Soda Cause Coronary Heart Disease?;
The Proper Interpretation of Animal Experiments to Test Methanol’s Safety;
The Circulatory System is a Target of Methanol Poisoning;
An Alcoholic’s Arteries;
The Girl Who Switched to Aspartame;
The U-Shaped Curve in Depth and Beyond… Far, Far Beyond;
Avoid Ethanol and Risk Disease;
The All-Important U-Shaped Curve;
The Details of the U-Shaped Curve Explained;
Keeping Ethanol in the Blood: The Genetic Bombshell

Chapter 8
Alzheimer’s Disease and its Perivascular Nature

Short History of Alzheimer’s;
The Ignored Epidemic of Alzheimer’s;
Methanol from Aspartame as a Cause of Alzheimer’s;
What Connects Methanol to Alzheimer’s;
The Scene of the Crime;
Quick Review;

Chapter 9:
Multiple Sclerosis

The Conflagration that is Multiple Sclerosis;
Listening to Nature’s Whispers;
The Scene of the Crime;
Location, Location, Location;
Details of Plaque Formation;
The Look, Touch, Taste and Smell of Multiple Sclerosis;
The Kitchen Autopsy;
The Cause of MS is within the Thickening Blood Vessels;
Symptoms Mean Little Unless They Are Identical in All Ways…Then They
Mean Everything!;
Learn a Little About Arginine;
Myelin Basic Protein (MBP);
Looking for the Shadow of Formaldehyde;
“Woody… They Have Done Our Experiment for Us.… But They Just Don’t Get It!”;
Finding the Shadow of Formaldehyde in the MS Brain: The Smoking Gun (a
Triple Blind Study);
Evidence That Methanol Causes MS;
The Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis -- Follow the Methanol;
A Food Scientist’s Nightmare Called Aspartame;
MS: a Disease of Colder Climates and Flush Toilets -- Before Aspartame;
A World Awash in MS after Aspartame;
Change in Frequency of MS by Sex:
the Methanol Source -- Food or Smoke -- Makes All the Difference;
Can Methanol Really Cause MS?;
MS Can Be Found in Some Places, but Cannot be Found in Others;
Industrial Exposure to Methanol -- Jobs that Can Last for an Eternity;
Teachers’ Paradigm;
MS Treatment -- Pharmaceutical Placeboes or Perhaps Worse;
Conclusion and Review;

Chapter 10:
Classic Autoimmune Diseases Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis

The Scene of the Crime: the Antibody;
Autoantibody Production Enhanced Dramatically by Formaldehyde Treatment;
Systemic Lupus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Two Sisters of
Atherosclerosis;
Cigarette Smoking Increases Risk of Both Lupus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis;
The U-shaped Curve of Ethanol’s Protection from Autoimmunity;
Is Aspartame the Cause of the Epidemic of Autoimmunity over the “Last
Thirty Years”?;
A Few Words about Diabetes;

Chapter 11:
Cancers of Aspartame

Formaldehyde’s Cancer-Causing Prowess is Enhanced when it Comes from Methanol;
Thousands of Carcinogens Exist;
The Sensitive, Vulnerable, and Susceptible Will Be Lost First;
Brain Cancer: the Killing Begins;
Breast Cancer;
Why is the Human Breast Particularly Sensitive to Methanol?;
School Teachers Have Higher Risk of Breast Cancers;
Aspartame Causes Breast Cancer in Human Feeding Study Done by Searle;
The Scene of the Crime;
Matching Epidemics of Breast Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis: the Legacy
of Aspartame;
Breast Cancer Increases as Does Popularity of Aspartame;
Genetic Distribution of Slow ADH Verses Fast ADH Linked to Breast Cancer Risk;
Exposure to Organic Solvents and Breast Cancer;
Cigarette Smoking with a U-Shaped Twist;
Cancer of the Kidney (Renal Cancers);
Melanoma and Cancers of the Skin;
Formaldehyde from Aspartame;
Young Women Take the Burden of the Epidemics of Two Skin Cancers;
Cancers of the Liver and Lungs;
The Strange Case of the Female Thyroid Gland;
Limitation of Animal Studies

Chapter 12:
Autism and Other Birth Defects

Increase in Birth Defects in the U.S. as Aspartame Consumption Rises;
Birth Defects Caused by Aspartame’s Methanol;
What Might Have Been;
The Laboratory;
A Fire of Mysterious Origin;
The Hidden Epidemic of Neural Tube Defects;
Aborted Neural Tube Fetuses -- and Their Statistics -- Incinerated;
The Rush to Mandate Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) Consumption to “Reduce
Neural Tube Birth Defects”;
Folic Acid, the Dangerous Form of a Little-Known Vitamin;
The Chemistry of Folic Acid (Folate) Is Inseparable from Methanol and
Formaldehyde;
Birth Defects Caused by Methanol from Cigarette Smoke;
Autism;
Silly Rat Pups;
Autism and Methanol -- the Same Target;
The Chemistry of Autism? One Word: Methylation;
Formaldehyde, or More Correctly, the Methylation It Causes, Is the
“Ghost in Your Genes”;
Does Aspartame Cause Autism?;
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: “The American Paradox”;
Frank, the Friendly Face of Big Pharma;
Tidy Up;
Epilogue;


Biography

Dr. Woodrow C. Monte has decades of experience in food science and
nutrition as a researcher, teacher, inventor, industry consultant and
consumer advocate who is committed to food additive safety and the
prevention of food borne diseases.
For over 30 years he has studied the link between artificial
sweeteners and the diseases of civilization including Alzheimer's,
Heart Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, numerous forms of cancer, Autism
and other Birth Defects.

Dr. Monte's testimony before Congress was instrumental in the
prevention of Sulfites from receiving status of US FDA GRAS (Generally
Regarded As Safe) and the implementation of mandatory labeling for
most foods that contain this dangerous additive.

Through his research, Dr. Monte has been awarded 22 US patents.
He has shared his technical expertise during hundreds of television
and radio appearances including a special feature on the CBS Evening
News with Dan Rather and 60 Minutes.
He is the author of numerous scientific publications and the book
While Science Sleeps: A Sweetener Kills.

Dr. Monte is a dedicated scientist with both a Ph.D. and M.S. in Food
Science and Nutrition and a B.S. in Biology.
He has been a Registered Dietician, Certified Nutrition Specialist
AIN, professional member of the American Chemical Society and emeritus
member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In 1985, he was chosen by the Council for International Exchange of
Scholars as a Senior Fulbright Scholar.

As Professor Emeritus of Nutrition from Arizona State University, Dr.
Monte continues his study of the damaging effects of methanol in our
food supply.

More information about Dr. Monte and his work can be found on his
website: www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .


http://www.amazon.com/While-Science-Sleeps-ebook/dp/B007127OFY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327475470&sr=8-3

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twasadark

It's not safe for me - it triggers serious depression. Same for my dad and daughter. When researching the link between aspartame and depression I came across this study done by the government. Very scary:

Biol Psychiatry. 1993 Jul 1-15;34(1-2):13-7.

Adverse reactions to aspartame: double-blind challenge in patients from a vulnerable population.

Walton RG, Hudak R, Green-Waite RJ.

Source
Department of Psychiatry, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Youngstown.

Abstract
This study was designed to ascertain whether individuals with mood disorders are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of aspartame. Although the protocol required the recruitment of 40 patients with unipolar depression and a similar number of individuals without a psychiatric history, the project was halted by the Institutional Review Board after a total of 13 individuals had completed the study because of the severity of reactions within the group of patients with a history of depression. In a crossover design, subjects received aspartame 30 mg/kg/day or placebo for 7 days. Despite the small n, there was a significant difference between aspartame and placebo in number and severity of symptoms for patients with a history of depression, whereas for individuals without such a history there was not. We conclude that individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener and its use in this population should be discouraged.

Rachiewoowoo

Wow. I'm kind of surprised at the amount of ignorance/paranoia present over a chemical that *helps* people cut down sugar on a site that advocates for positivity and losing weight...

But it is still the internet so...

Also, someone said that we'd become denatured to the sugar level in fruits and other natural products... listen: it's not like we're dumping cups and cups worth of sweetener into our foods. Many of us only use small amounts to get the *same* effect that a larger amount (but not overtop) amount of sugar would have. Anyway, large amounts of aspartame have an aftertaste.

ninerbuff

With everything you can find research to back up the positives and negatives... However, my new years resolution was to drink more water... well that is hard for me so I decided to buy Crystal Light packets to help... I am talking daily.. After my nutrition session I googled side effects and I have a ton of them! I am going off Crystal Light and see if any of my symptoms improve...

There's a difference between pseudo science and actual science. Actual science research by peer reviewed clinical studies have shown aspartame to be safe for consumption and haven't been found to cause the issues claimed by the anti crowd.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

KJLIII

I grew up never knowing what a "headache" was - I thought people were just being a little melodramatic... That is, until I had a diet drink once with aspartame in it. My head hurt for hours, and I came away with a new understanding and sympathy for people who get headaches. I also came away with the knowledge that aspartame is BAD for ME ! ! Won't touch the stuff ! !

I think it's better for you to stick with natural, unprocessed foods and drinks, if at all possible...

ninerbuff

Didn't the scientists used to tell people that cigarettes were harmless?

I suppose it depends who's paying for the tests as to what the results may be.

Just saying.


And don't be surprised if a site that promotes dieting has a few people wandering around it's chatsites under the pay of the aspartame industry, there to defend it knowing this subject will arise time and again.

Understand that peer reviewed clinical studies aren't the same as studies that are payed for by a manufacturer.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

rjt1000

Didn't the scientists used to tell people that cigarettes were harmless?

I suppose it depends who's paying for the tests as to what the results may be.

Just saying.


And don't be surprised if a site that promotes dieting has a few people wandering around it's chatsites under the pay of the aspartame industry, there to defend it knowing this subject will arise time and again.

HEY, if people around here are getting paid by the asapartame industry, where do I sign up?

Smelerz

It gives me crazy headaches and I see white spots when I have it so I add a splash of pomagranet, cranberry or lemon juice to my water. I eat plain yogurt and add berries so avoid any fake sugars.

zincalloy

Didn't the scientists used to tell people that cigarettes were harmless?

I suppose it depends who's paying for the tests as to what the results may be.

Just saying.


And don't be surprised if a site that promotes dieting has a few people wandering around it's chatsites under the pay of the aspartame industry, there to defend it knowing this subject will arise time and again.

Understand that peer reviewed clinical studies aren't the same as studies that are payed for by a manufacturer.

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

All studies are paid for by somebody. And they don't like to generally shout from the rooftops who the paymaster is.

All scientists need funding and most are funded by business.

zincalloy

Funnily enough, most scientists are not out to poison us.

I always say, "Follow the money."

I may be living in a delusion, but I like to think I'm worth more alive than dead. Maybe not as an individual, but collectively, the government stands to make a lot more money from income tax on living people who consume artificial sweeteners than they would from the Evil Aspartame Industry's kickbacks. Plus, I think the Evil Aspartame Industry would rather me be a living artificial sweetener consumer than a dead one, too. Corpses don't buy Diet Pepsi.

Yes, cigarettes were once thought to be safe, and now they're known to not be safe, which is why there's all kinds of warning labels all over them now.

I don't know if anyone remembers a few years ago when there was the bad wheat gluten in pet foods, and there was a massive recall. I worked at an animal hospital at the time, fielding calls from scared pet parents. A whole bunch of pet food companies recalled their foods even though there was no problems with their product... just because it was manufactured in the same facility as the bad food. If there was a CHANCE the food might have been contaminated, it was off the shelves, and it was all over the news.

Do you really think the government cares more about our dogs and cats than it does the taxpayers and voters?

Follow the money is exactly my point.

Cigarettes were deemed safe by many scientists and Dr's because it paid well for them to come to that conclusion.

As for being worth more alive than dead, let me add something to that. You're worth more alive but suffering from an illness that requires expensive treatment, than dead.

And if you think your Government really cares if you live or die then good luck with that.

rjt1000

Everything gives you cancer. There's no cure. There's no answer. ---Joe Jackson

My view, I'm going to die from something some day. Average lifespan for Americans has gone from 50s to mid80s since the 1940s. That's the same time frame as all the chemicals, additives, etc etc in our lives. Hard to argue that all these things are killing us when the reality is that most of us are living much longer than our grandparents and much much longer than our great grandparents.

My dad is 84. He's never paid attention to his diet, drank at least a 6pack of beer a day of most of his adult life. Is/was 30-50 pounds overweight his entire life, etc etc. His dad died at age 48 from cancer. His mom died at age 85 after smoking 2-3 packs a day from the time she was 16. My mom died at age 77. Her dad died at age 60 of pancreatitis. Her mom died at age 64 of heart problems. What can we conclude from this anecdotal information? NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING.

LorinaLynn

You're worth more alive but suffering from an illness that requires expensive treatment, than dead.

And if you think your Government really cares if you live or die then good luck with that.

I don't think the government cares about me as an individual. But I know that when my mom was sick and dying in a hospital getting loads of expensive treatment, the money didn't come out of her pocket. Uncle Sam footed most of that bill.

mirandamatte

I mean really think about it.....how many paralyzed and blind people have you met that say....yeah I got paralyzed by crystal light...lifes a b!tch ain't it?! Um, none that I know of or even heard of realistically.

doobabe

It also causes cancer- dont eat it. It is banned in all countries but the US....... :huh:

SherryR1971

Depends on how many gallons of diet soda you can down in a day.

It is, however, a migraine trigger for me.

it is also a migraine trigger for me-but only if I drink Crystal Light, not diet sodas..could it be the addition of caffeine that keeps the migraine away?

hope516

Everything gives you cancer. There's no cure. There's no answer. ---Joe Jackson

My view, I'm going to die from something some day. Average lifespan for Americans has gone from 50s to mid80s since the 1940s. That's the same time frame as all the chemicals, additives, etc etc in our lives. Hard to argue that all these things are killing us when the reality is that most of us are living much longer than our grandparents and much much longer than our great grandparents.

My dad is 84. He's never paid attention to his diet, drank at least a 6pack of beer a day of most of his adult life. Is/was 30-50 pounds overweight his entire life, etc etc. His dad died at age 48 from cancer. His mom died at age 85 after smoking 2-3 packs a day from the time she was 16. My mom died at age 77. Her dad died at age 60 of pancreatitis. Her mom died at age 64 of heart problems. What can we conclude from this anecdotal information? NOTHING. Absolutely NOTHING.

^^^ love this

LorinaLynn

My niece gets migraines from Aspartame. She doesn't drink it.

I break out in hives from Ivory Soap. I don't use it.

BrownEyedGiRL928

I found this link this morning... 5 Best and Worst Sweeteners

http://www.rodale.com/best-sweeteners

Savyna

Jillian Michaels suggests that artificial sweeteners affect your liver and the way in which your hormones work.

Hmm.. I wonder where Jillian Michaels got her biochemistry degree from, and what her thesis was?

The user already said that s/he takes note that she isn't a biochemist so I dont know why you took his quote then chopped off that part.

farmers_daughter

I heard aspartame causes mass hysteria in people that believe everything they read. Is it true?

REALLY, OMG WHERE??? is it happening to me? :laugh:

ONce had a guy tell me that diet pop had aspartame in it, and he said "You DO realize that's human feces!" :noway:

I told him, then I'd be rich manufacturing aspartame for the diet pop drinkers of the world, give me a bucket to put it in! :laugh:

cpotter4

Aspartame only causes side effects and problems when taken in abundance. By abundance I mean you would have to eat at least an entire bag of Splenda in one sitting per day for a long time. Never heard about it causing blindness but it can cause minor deformities in babies when eaten in abundance during pregnancy. It has to do with the way your body recognises the chemical and processes it. I could explain further but I would need pics and it would take a long while for you to understand if you know little about chemistry.

Savyna

I personally dont like the taste of artificial sweeteners, Id rather use honey, actual sugar or that agave stuff rather than use splenda/crystal light/etc. If it works for some and it doesn't bother them then all the more power to them, those who are sensitive to aspartame and have cut it out of their diet then hooray for them too.

jaitken_22

My aunt and I were talking about this last night funnily enough and apparently she is allergic to it and makes her break out into a rash.

slim422

The original poster is not scaremongering or spreading false information. First let me clarify I am not an MD I am an Epidemiologist and medical research is my profession.

Artificial sweeteners are not good for our health. There is no evidence in any research study to suggest otherwise.

The posters, who are reminding all of us that artificial sweeteners most often cause all the side effects we are seeing posted if taken in large quantities are correct. However, there is very little data documenting the long term effects of low dose exposure and the impact on our health.

There are numerous studies, case studies and physician confirmation of the adverse effects of artificial sweeteners.

We have only had the chemicals in our food readily available for about the last 10-15 years so we really cannot conclude they are safe over time and this refers to adults. There is also no data on what consuming, even smaller doses may do to children.

Other posters have also reminded us to take what we find on the Internet with a grain of salt, also true. We all have access to Google Scholar, which will help you find published studies, in peer reviewed journals from various disciplines (medicine, biochem, biology etc) and you can read a vast amount of information.

Bottom line, it's a synthetic substance with many proven adverse health effects in otherwise healthy adults (never mind any of us who have other issues). They impact on our health through our liver and other major organs is well documented so my question is why would we take a chance when there are other choices such as stevia or coconut palm sugar (which doesn't impact insulin levels like sugar) to still have sweetness in our food and help reduce calories. For a few calories? Makes no sense to me.

Before grad school, I drank my fair share of coffee with splenda and diet coke with aspartame, now I use other substitutes and protect my health; however, having said that it is a very personal decision just be an informed consumer, don't believe everything you read on the Internet and check with reputable sources.

Please don't have the attitude "I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with facts".....go get your facts. Here's just one place to start, an article from the Journal of the Diabetic Association of India 1995 from Dr's. Barua and Bal "Emerging Facts About Aspartame http://basichealthinfo.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/5/9/425984/article-on-aspartame.pdf

We've known for over a decade (and some argue much longer) the adverse events of artificial sweeteners, which no amount of industry sponsored research or slick advertising can make safe.

Thanks OP

samf36

I wonder how many of the MFPeeps who claim not to like using/consuming artificial products use cosmetics? Or wear garments made of 100% natural, un-dyed fibres. or use protein shakes, supplements and vitamins?

Funnily enough, most scientists are not out to poison us.

Low-calorie sweeteners are an effective tool in the weightloss arsenal when consumed as part of a calorie-controlled diet. It should be up to personal choice whether or not to consume products made using aspartame, sucralose, stevia or whatever.

Lets see this morning I put on my organic cotton danties, organic cotton socks, my cotton jeans( so old not organic but cotton)and my organic bamboo shirt. I used virgin coconut oil for lotion this morning. Do you need more deatail I can give it.
The few of us that said we would rather eat natural never said we were better or even said anything bad about artificial sweetners we just said we prefer to use natural.

ninerbuff

It also causes cancer- dont eat it. It is banned in all countries but the US....... :huh:

Not proven. And Japan has the largest aspartame production plant in the world.......................

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

rjt1000

It also causes cancer- dont eat it. It is banned in all countries but the US....... :huh:

Not proven. And Japan has the largest aspartame production plant in the world.......................

A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Funny, if it's banned in all countries but the US, how come I can buy aspartame sweetened sodas in Mexico, Canada, Italy, France and GB? I haven't been in any other countries so I don't know about the rest of the world, but I'm surprised to find it being sold illegally but openly in all the countries I've been in. You'd think it was legal........

mbar12

It is apparent from some of the replies that aspartame causes headaches in some people. There may also be other side effects. Does it cause blindness? hmmmm dont know but to me its doubtful. To those who suffer side effects it is of course best that they not use aspartame. For those who are committed to using natural products, it would also be best not to use aspartame. For those who seem to be able to handle aspartame, and who enjoy their diet foods with aspartame, by all means use them (hopefully there will be no adverse effects down the road).