Where's the evidence re: aspartame, msg, carbs, gmo etc?

I'd agree but some of these guys preach eating ice cram everyday.

They do it because they are jerks. They know EXACTLY what they are doing when they brag about that. They are rubbing it in the faces of those who struggle to lose. They know that the majority of people here are hurt, are suffering, are overweight, or are obese, uneducated on health and nutrition, are sick, are depressed about their current condition and are wanting to change. Wanting to learn. They make sure YOU KNOW, THEY CAN and YOU CAN'T so what is wrong with YOU and how cool are they? It is very immature and very rude. It's as if they are in junior high. Like I said, they know what they are doing. Why do they think we care? What is the purpose of getting on MFP and saying, "look at my six pack and I eat ice cream every day." It's like me sitting outside of an AA meeting with a beer on a hot day and making slurping noises as I drink it, holding it up to the member saying, "I do this every day, but in moderation and I'm not an alcoholic". I CAN, you can't just making sure you all know. But hey, I do it in moderation and I STILL am not an alcoholic. " Or more in comparison would be to go to an AA forum online and post I drink wine every night with dinner and am not an alcoholic. Just childish! Just cruel and completely stupid.

Truth is they never really experienced obesity. They really had nothing to push through or fight for to be where they are at today.
Ask these people anything about the psychological aspect of weight loss. How do you take someone severely obese and get them in to shape? They wouldn't know where to begin. They never been there.

You have absolutely no idea about people's lives and what they have had to go through to get where they are. I can also name many people on here who where obese and who eat ice cream all the time...and I know you know they are here.

Question is, who will die first in the long run?

Telomeres have more to do with how long you live than anything.

Genetics.

General calorie restriction actually has a beneficial effect on telomere length. It's not about insulin, its about not eating too much, period.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130123133852.htm

According to a study carried out by a team led by María Blasco, the director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and head of the Telomeres and Telomerase Group, a sustained lowering of food intake over time results in an increase of telomere length -- the ends of chromosomes -- in adult mice, which has a protective effect on the DNA and genetic material.

For every study there is a counter study... heh.

Well eating too much does increase free radicals which does decrease life span(enjoy your bulking cycles). HIgh levels of insulin also does decrease life span. Good example is type 2 diabetics, their life span is shorter if they have the disease compared to i they did not.

It's also scientifically safe to eat a little soap now and again. Does that mean I do it willingly?

Actually the 99.9% soap isn't one you like to consume. Just sayin'. Oh and science showed that.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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http://ntserver1.wsulibs.wsu.edu:3020/content/96/6/1249.full.pdf+html

This is from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Not sure if you guys can open this or not, as I'm signed in on a university server..but it's basically summed up by the last paragraph:

"These 3 studies add to a growing body of evidence on the adverse health effects of soft drinks; however, given the limited and conflicting data available, these findings can at the present time be considered only suggestive, not conclusive, but they warrant further investigation in other prospective studies with data on long-term intake of soft drinks, diet soft drinks, and aspartame."

Basically, we have little hard evidence of ill-effects of soda and artificial sweeteners (and that goes for some of this other stuff from the OP), however some studies are suggestive (and I know some studies say they are fine). More research is needed to have a definitive answer. Personally, I am not really interested in being a guinea pig, and I think that soda, diet or otherwise, is unnecessary junk food anyway. I'll stick to tea and water (and wine;)! ) I figure there's nothing wrong with good ol fashioned sugar in moderation (though I don't really eat sweets anyway).
Not to come off like a nutter, but it is worth understanding that many studies are paid for by the food companies themselves, so they have an interest in maintaining positive results. There are many contributing factors to the constantly growing obesity epidemic, I can't prove that artificial sweeteners and GMO's are a piece of the puzzle...but if I'm given the choice I'd rather eat natural food.

excellent post.

As I said, after she stopped with the aspartame her symptoms immediately stopped getting worse. As I said, her symptoms had been getting worse each day at an alarming rate. Then when she stopped the aspartame the symptoms stopped getting any worse. And after a few months off of it she did start to make some improvements (as her nervous system began the task of trying to repair itself I would assume). ANd yes this is an anecdotal story. Did I say I am an expert? I began by saying that this happened to a friend and when I see others that I care about consuming a lot of sugar free stuff I feel compelled to share this story and information I have read regarding this stuff. Relax.

As I said, after she stopped with the aspartame her symptoms immediately stopped getting worse. As I said, her symptoms had been getting worse each day at an alarming rate. Then when she stopped the aspartame the symptoms stopped getting any worse. And after a few months off of it she did start to make some improvements (as her nervous system began the task of trying to repair itself I would assume). ANd yes this is an anecdotal story. Did I say I am an expert? I began by saying that this happened to a friend and when I see others that I care about consuming a lot of sugar free stuff I feel compelled to share this story and information I have read regarding this stuff. Relax.

If your friend instead suffered the same from a peanut allergy, would you advice people not to eat peanuts?
It's quite possible I could suffer in the same way - I don't like peanuts, so wouldn't know if I was specifically allergic to them as I never eat them intentionally. However, I do consume food that has them in.

I am, I found out, intolerant to Casein (in powdered form, at least) - that doesn't mean I go around telling others not to have it - quite the opposite actually.

What if someone researched a link between 'natural products' and 'bad things', would they find one?
I'd bet they could find many just as conclusive as the ones being posted.

I always liked this, most of it is 'backed up' with 'research';
http://hellokinsella.posterous.com/the-daily-mail-list-of-things-that-give-you-c

Science is a tool that can help feed the planet. Yes, there are checks and balances built in. Any useful tool can be manipulated by the political giants but it doesn't negate the tool.
The magical thinkers that don't use replicable, controlled experiments will drag us back into the dark ages. I prefer enlightenment.