The Aspartame Thread
Replies
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Well, since I'm an un-intelligent, uneducated, snaky, childish, rude conspiracy theorist...I'll let you scientists form a consensus without me. :laugh:
No seriously, it was fun but it's dinner time! I don't really care what you guys are drinking with yours but mine will be sans Aspartame. :drinker:
I didn't call you un-intelligent, uneducated, or a conspiracy theorist, but comments like this do make me wonder about your ability to engage in respectful debate.
Regardless, I'm not really trying to convince you. As mentioned earlier, I've learned that true believers cannot be swayed. The true believer assumes that all science is corrupt except for the science that favors their particular bias.
No... I get drawn into these types of discussions because I hope that my words will prevent someone else from 'drinking the cool-aid'. I don't care one way or the other whether someone drinks aspartame. Indeed, I have friends and family that choose not to drink it and I fully support them in their choice. My concern is with the myths that make aspartame seem more dangerous than it really is. I think its especially sad when people try to blame a brain tumor on diet pepsi or Alzheimer's disease on diet coke. These conditions are tragic enough without heaping scorn on the sufferer for choosing to drink sweet-tasting low-calorie beverages, especially when there's no evidence at all that their choice contributed to their condition.0 -
I would blame people like Jillian Michaels (whom I truly respect as a trainer, but not as a nutritionist) and other celeb trainers who follow the fitness industry lead.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I'm a moderate diet soda drinker now (Sprite Zero), but used to drink diet sodas often in place of water (maybe 2-3 cans a day). I have had a few attacks of vertigo in recent years. But I suspect this is more related to my age and Menieres disease than artificial sweeteners (Menieres runs in my family--my dad has it); there is a strong hereditary component to this disease. (I'll also note my dad has never touched artificial sweeteners.) One thing not mentioned in here (at least that I've not seen) is that soft drinks have a LOT of sodium. I've noticed a greater frequency of morning vertigo attacks after indulging in excessive salty snacking, and also after drinking alcohol instead of water at dinnertime.There is some science out there that says vertigo and ear crystal problems can be triggered by dehydration. So I'm working on upping my water intake, and going for moderation in my caffeine, sodium, and alcohol--all known causes of dehydration. That seems to be working, for me at least.
JMO, but I'd guess excessive caffeine intake is the likely culprit in a 3-5 can/day Dr Pepper habit leading to anxiety or panic attacks. Excessive caffeine has definitely been linked to anxiety attacks in people, whereas 'allergic' reactions to artificial sweeteners are more individual. In other words, there's no science that can (yet) say artificial sweeteners are bad across the board for all humans b/c they universally cause migraines, or universally cause anxiety attacks,or universally cause vertigo, etc. If an artificial sweetener is responsible at all for those effects, it seems to be only on an individual reaction/allergy level. So caffeine would seem the most suspect, here.
One more plus for artificial sweeteners; a decline in tooth decay.0 -
I'm a moderate diet soda drinker now (Sprite Zero), but used to drink diet sodas often in place of water (maybe 2-3 cans a day). I have had a few attacks of vertigo in recent years. But I suspect this is more related to my age and Menieres disease than artificial sweeteners (Menieres runs in my family--my dad has it); there is a strong hereditary component to this disease. (I'll also note my dad has never touched artificial sweeteners.) One thing not mentioned in here (at least that I've not seen) is that soft drinks have a LOT of sodium. I've noticed a greater frequency of morning vertigo attacks after indulging in excessive salty snacking, and also after drinking alcohol instead of water at dinnertime.There is some science out there that says vertigo and ear crystal problems can be triggered by dehydration. So I'm working on upping my water intake, and going for moderation in my caffeine, sodium, and alcohol--all known causes of dehydration. That seems to be working, for me at least.
JMO, but I'd guess excessive caffeine intake is the likely culprit in a 3-5 can/day Dr Pepper habit leading to anxiety or panic attacks. Excessive caffeine has definitely been linked to anxiety attacks in people, whereas 'allergic' reactions to artificial sweeteners are more individual. In other words, there's no science that can (yet) say artificial sweeteners are bad across the board for all humans b/c they universally cause migraines, or universally cause anxiety attacks,or universally cause vertigo, etc. If an artificial sweetener is responsible at all for those effects, it seems to be only on an individual reaction/allergy level. So caffeine would seem the most suspect, here.
One more plus for artificial sweeteners; a decline in tooth decay.
The average can of diet soda has less than 50 mg of sodium. Not a lot. Even if you drank 10 cans a day that's less 20% of RDA0 -
Do what you're going to do and I'll do what I'm going to do. We're both going to die anyways.
Best answer ever.0 -
I haven't read all the replies, but I think this is an interesting article on artificial sweeteners.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/which-sweetener-should-you-choose/...
Dr. Willett said the long-term safety of the artificial sweeteners remained an open question. “It’s interesting to keep in mind, if you smoke cigarettes, the lung cancer risk doesn’t go up for 30 years,” he said. “And that’s a really powerful carcinogen. A lot of things don’t show up for several decades.”
...
In terms of relative risk — the known dangers of sugar and weight gain versus the uncertainties of artificial sweeteners — “artificially sweetened beverages are much less bad than the full-sugar beverages,” Dr. Willett said. Still, diet sodas are less than optimal. “I view them like a nicotine patch,” he said.
The better solution to protect health: Eat and drink less sweet stuff.0 -
I rarely drink beverages with sugar in them. I steer away from the added calories and now that I am type 2 diabetic, I have to control my carb intake. Why would I waste my carbs on a sugary beverage =O That being said, I avoid saccharin because years ago we were told of it's issues. My preferred sweetener is Splenda in the yellow packet. I do not avoid Aspartame but I don't like the taste and might avoid it if I read a label.
The big culprit in the sweetener story is sorbitol, a natural sugar substitute made by hydrogenation, which causes diarrhea - big time. Ever try to eat a few sugar-free chocolates or put extra sugar-free syrup on your pancakes? It is one of the Polyols - Erythritol, HSH, Lactitol, Maltitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Xylitol, Isomalt
[One source I checked never mentioned the GI side effects of sorbitol and seemed to be industry driven. http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/polyols/sorbitol
Another source said, "This medication is used as a laxative to treat occasional episodes of constipation." http://www.medicinenet.com/sorbitol-oral/article.htm ]
Getting back to the OP question on aspartame, I don't care for the taste as much. I always ask for Splenda if I don't see it on the table at a restaurant and it's first to disappear at convenience store coffee bars.
My favorite SF beverage is Diet Coke or Coke Zero, both with Splenda.
Thanks to the OP for trying to maintain a well thought out thread on aspartame. It's refreshing!0 -
not got time to read the whole thread, but I'm very intolerant to aspartame. It does bad things to my digestive system (or you could say my digestive system simply refuses to have anything to do with it and shows it the door LOL) but yeah I avoid that stuff like the plague.
....edited for brevity...
It annoys me when people totally dismiss the health issues with aspartame, they may not affect everyone but they are real and some people don't realise what's causing them. (and yes I know that can happen with intolerances and allergies to natural things as well) I do wish they wouldn't put it in so many different things though, or at least produce aspartame free diet soft drinks, just like you can get gluten free, dairy free etc.
This is why this subject never dies. No matter what the OP says about facts you get statements like.... "I haven't read the whole thread, but aspartame causes health issues...." without one substantial fact to back them up.
It can be frustrating...0 -
This is why this subject never dies. No matter what the OP says about facts you get statements like.... "I haven't read the whole thread, but aspartame causes health issues...." without one substantial fact to back them up.
It can be frustrating...
SO frustrating! But at least there is SOME good information in this thread.
The funny part is it all comes from the "aspartame is safe for use" crowd. Because that's just the fact of the matter.
It's simple logic. Aspartame is very widely used. If it really did cause death, cancer, or constant explosive diarrhea as these people are claiming wouldn't we have noticed it by now? Or is that part of the conspiracy?0 -
ASPARTAME IS THE DEVIL! THERE'S A WORLD-WIDE CONSPIRACY SPEARHEADED BY DONALD RUMSFELD TO KILL THE ENTIRE HUMAN RACE! IT'S SUCH AN EVIL DIABOLICAL CONSPIRACY THAT A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH COMPLTELY REVEALS THE ENTIRE THING!
I mean, it's not like the entire world would actually know how to use Google, right? Nah, Google is obviously some secrecy conspiracy exposing web site, that only people who know about the conspiracy are able to access and use. Nobody at all in government, or law enforcement can access Google and discover the evil truth... :huh:
I'll link to this again:
http://sci-ence.org/red-flags2/
Panel number 4.0 -
methanol from aspartame, wood and cigarette smoke, and
many sources is made by ADH1 enzyme into formaldehyde
within cells inside walls of human blood vessels,
harming adjacent tissues, the WC Monte paradigm:
Rich Murray 2012.06.27
See WC Monte's two 1-hour video lectures May 2012
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .
The 200 mg aspartame in a 12-oz can of aspartame drink
is 11% by weight methanol, 22 mg, which is soon released
from the GI tract into the blood, where quickly any tissues
with high levels of the ADH1 enzyme within the cells of
blood capillary walls and adjacent tissues, especially
liver, kidney, brain, retina, etc., in humans only, turn
the methanol into formaldehyde within these cells, which,
being highly reactive, quickly binds with and disables
DNA, RNA, and proteins inside the cells, causing cell death,
attracting macrophages (white blood cells), which also die,
creating durable, cumulative, evolving complex micro lesions.
This affects the fetus, as well, or not so well...
So, there are many resulting novel modern
"diseases of civilization" in humans only, for each type of
damaged tissue, including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis,
lupus, arthritis, the birth defects spina bifida, autism,
and Asperger's, many specific cancers, and chronic ailments
of liver, kidney, heart, lung, joint, skin, muscle, etc.
The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm
MMFTP is backed by 740 references, given free online as
full pdf texts by Prof. (retired 2004, Arizona State University,
Nutrition and Food Sciences) Woodrow C. Monte,
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com,
along with his 2012 January 240 page text
"While Science Sleeps", with two free chapters on
"Autism and Other Birth Defects", and "Multiple Sclerosis",
and free full earlier articles and references on MMFTP.
Other methanol/formaldehyde sources include
wood, peat and cigarette smoke, some fresh coffees,
fermented and smoked foods, fruits juices vegetables heated
and sealed wet in jars and cans, some dark wines and liquors,
bacteria in the colon, genetic flaws in metabolism, vehicle
fumes, leaky fossil fuel stoves and heaters, processed wood
products of all kinds, mobile homes, old Ditto type purple ink
mimeograph duplicating machines in schools and offices,
chemical biology autopsy mortuary facilities, heated wood
in particleboard, pressed wood and paper factories,
and many personal care cleaners and products...
methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis,
free full 56 page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps,
146 full text references online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte:
Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://whilesciencesleeps.com/files/While Science Sleeps Bibliography.pdf
list of 740 free full text pdf medical research references
Aspartame: The hidden danger [methanol/formaldehyde]
in our midst and how it kills us, 12 page review of
While Science Sleeps text (Woodrow C Monte),
International Health News, whole June issue,
Editor: William R Ware PhD: Rich Murray 2012.06.08
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/aspartame-hidden-danger.html
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/issue.htm
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/ihn228.pdf
free full text pdf 16 pages0 -
The average can of diet soda has less than 50 mg of sodium. Not a lot. Even if you drank 10 cans a day that's less 20% of RDA.
That's good news; certainly far less than I'd remembered. Probably the caffeine in most sodas that is so dehydrating.0 -
methanol from aspartame, wood and cigarette smoke, and
many sources is made by ADH1 enzyme into formaldehyde
within cells inside walls of human blood vessels,
harming adjacent tissues, the WC Monte paradigm:
Rich Murray 2012.06.27
See WC Monte's two 1-hour video lectures May 2012
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .
The 200 mg aspartame in a 12-oz can of aspartame drink
is 11% by weight methanol, 22 mg, which is soon released
from the GI tract into the blood, where quickly any tissues
with high levels of the ADH1 enzyme within the cells of
blood capillary walls and adjacent tissues, especially
liver, kidney, brain, retina, etc., in humans only, turn
the methanol into formaldehyde within these cells, which,
being highly reactive, quickly binds with and disables
DNA, RNA, and proteins inside the cells, causing cell death,
attracting macrophages (white blood cells), which also die,
creating durable, cumulative, evolving complex micro lesions.
This affects the fetus, as well, or not so well...
So, there are many resulting novel modern
"diseases of civilization" in humans only, for each type of
damaged tissue, including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis,
lupus, arthritis, the birth defects spina bifida, autism,
and Asperger's, many specific cancers, and chronic ailments
of liver, kidney, heart, lung, joint, skin, muscle, etc.
The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm
MMFTP is backed by 740 references, given free online as
full pdf texts by Prof. (retired 2004, Arizona State University,
Nutrition and Food Sciences) Woodrow C. Monte,
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com,
along with his 2012 January 240 page text
"While Science Sleeps", with two free chapters on
"Autism and Other Birth Defects", and "Multiple Sclerosis",
and free full earlier articles and references on MMFTP.
Other methanol/formaldehyde sources include
wood, peat and cigarette smoke, some fresh coffees,
fermented and smoked foods, fruits juices vegetables heated
and sealed wet in jars and cans, some dark wines and liquors,
bacteria in the colon, genetic flaws in metabolism, vehicle
fumes, leaky fossil fuel stoves and heaters, processed wood
products of all kinds, mobile homes, old Ditto type purple ink
mimeograph duplicating machines in schools and offices,
chemical biology autopsy mortuary facilities, heated wood
in particleboard, pressed wood and paper factories,
and many personal care cleaners and products...
methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis,
free full 56 page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps,
146 full text references online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte:
Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://whilesciencesleeps.com/files/While Science Sleeps Bibliography.pdf
list of 740 free full text pdf medical research references
Aspartame: The hidden danger [methanol/formaldehyde]
in our midst and how it kills us, 12 page review of
While Science Sleeps text (Woodrow C Monte),
International Health News, whole June issue,
Editor: William R Ware PhD: Rich Murray 2012.06.08
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/aspartame-hidden-danger.html
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/issue.htm
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/ihn228.pdf
free full text pdf 16 pages
Your body creates far more formaldehyde from eating an apple than from drinking a diet soda. Methanol and formaldehyde (and formic acid) are all part of normal human biology. In fact, you breathe methanol and formaldehyde out every time you exhale.0 -
Lol, according to this, we may have to go back into living in caves.methanol from aspartame, wood and cigarette smoke, and
many sources is made by ADH1 enzyme into formaldehyde
within cells inside walls of human blood vessels,
harming adjacent tissues, the WC Monte paradigm:
Rich Murray 2012.06.27
See WC Monte's two 1-hour video lectures May 2012
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com .
The 200 mg aspartame in a 12-oz can of aspartame drink
is 11% by weight methanol, 22 mg, which is soon released
from the GI tract into the blood, where quickly any tissues
with high levels of the ADH1 enzyme within the cells of
blood capillary walls and adjacent tissues, especially
liver, kidney, brain, retina, etc., in humans only, turn
the methanol into formaldehyde within these cells, which,
being highly reactive, quickly binds with and disables
DNA, RNA, and proteins inside the cells, causing cell death,
attracting macrophages (white blood cells), which also die,
creating durable, cumulative, evolving complex micro lesions.
This affects the fetus, as well, or not so well...
So, there are many resulting novel modern
"diseases of civilization" in humans only, for each type of
damaged tissue, including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis,
lupus, arthritis, the birth defects spina bifida, autism,
and Asperger's, many specific cancers, and chronic ailments
of liver, kidney, heart, lung, joint, skin, muscle, etc.
The Monte methanol/formaldehyde toxicity paradigm
MMFTP is backed by 740 references, given free online as
full pdf texts by Prof. (retired 2004, Arizona State University,
Nutrition and Food Sciences) Woodrow C. Monte,
www.WhileScienceSleeps.com,
along with his 2012 January 240 page text
"While Science Sleeps", with two free chapters on
"Autism and Other Birth Defects", and "Multiple Sclerosis",
and free full earlier articles and references on MMFTP.
Other methanol/formaldehyde sources include
wood, peat and cigarette smoke, some fresh coffees,
fermented and smoked foods, fruits juices vegetables heated
and sealed wet in jars and cans, some dark wines and liquors,
bacteria in the colon, genetic flaws in metabolism, vehicle
fumes, leaky fossil fuel stoves and heaters, processed wood
products of all kinds, mobile homes, old Ditto type purple ink
mimeograph duplicating machines in schools and offices,
chemical biology autopsy mortuary facilities, heated wood
in particleboard, pressed wood and paper factories,
and many personal care cleaners and products...
methanol/formaldehyde paradigm for multiple sclerosis,
free full 56 page chapter 9 pdf, While Science Sleeps,
146 full text references online, Prof. Woodrow C. Monte:
Rich Murray 2012.03.20
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/03/methanolformaldehyde-paradigm-for.html
http://whilesciencesleeps.com/files/While Science Sleeps Bibliography.pdf
list of 740 free full text pdf medical research references
Aspartame: The hidden danger [methanol/formaldehyde]
in our midst and how it kills us, 12 page review of
While Science Sleeps text (Woodrow C Monte),
International Health News, whole June issue,
Editor: William R Ware PhD: Rich Murray 2012.06.08
http://rmforall.blogspot.com/2012/06/aspartame-hidden-danger.html
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/issue.htm
http://www.yourhealthbase.com/ihn228.pdf
free full text pdf 16 pages
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Re Rich Murray's post above: Is there any research besides that of Monte/Murray that comes to similar conclusions?0
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Aspartame gives me migraines. At one point, when I was drinking 2-3 Diet Dr. Peppers a day, I had migraines 5-6 days of the week, every week. I gave up the aspartame about 6 years ago and the migraines occur only every couple of months now.
No sci evidence, but my doctor told me he thinks it causes plaque build-up in the brain.
Wow!! I recently had an MRI and they found several areas of white plaque buildup in my brain. I've been on 'the blue packets' for sweetening for years. Chronic migraines for years too. I found nitrates were my biggest issues, but I think I might need to curb my blue addiction now.
I just always figured it was better than sugar in my diet due to diabetic parents.0 -
I recently had an MRI and they found several areas of white plaque buildup in my brain.
Not to discount your doc, but I had scattered white spots, too, on an MRI several years ago. My neurologist said they were a naturally occurring thing starting in middle age.0 -
The 200 mg aspartame in a 12-oz can of aspartame drink
is 11% by weight methanol, 22 mg, which is soon released
from the GI tract into the blood, where quickly any tissues
with high levels of the ADH1 enzyme within the cells of
blood capillary walls and adjacent tissues, especially
liver, kidney, brain, retina, etc., in humans only, turn
the methanol into formaldehyde within these cells, which,
being highly reactive, quickly binds with and disables
DNA, RNA, and proteins inside the cells, causing cell death,
attracting macrophages (white blood cells), which also die,
creating durable, cumulative, evolving complex micro lesions.
This affects the fetus, as well, or not so well...
So, there are many resulting novel modern
"diseases of civilization" in humans only, for each type of
damaged tissue, including Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis,
lupus, arthritis, the birth defects spina bifida, autism,
and Asperger's, many specific cancers, and chronic ailments
of liver, kidney, heart, lung, joint, skin, muscle, etc.
These diseases are not necessarily modern, nor do they occur in humans only, and the animals that get them are unlikely to have ingested aspartame (certain dogs, cats, cattle, etc.). Ailments such as these long preceded artificial sweeteners. Just a few examples:
Arthritis in humans and animals since the beginning of time:
“While evidence of primary ankle (kaki) osteoarthritis has been discovered in dinosaurs, the first known traces of human arthritis date back as far as 4500 BC. In early reports, arthritis was frequently referred to as the most common ailment of prehistoric peoples. It was noted in skeletal remains of Native Americans found in Tennessee and parts of what is now Olathe, Kansas. Evidence of arthritis has been found throughout history, from Ötzi, a mummy (circa 3000 BC) found along the border of modern Italy and Austria, to the Egyptian mummies circa 2590 BC .”
http://www.news-medical.net/health/Arthritis-History.aspx
Spinal bifida - in animals:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/100416.htm
Spinal bifida - first known human case:
“The first recorded case was in 1085 AD in Arabia. The name was given to the condition by Nicolaas Tulgius, a Dutchman, in 1637.”
http://www.spinabifidainfo.nl/spina_bifidaeng.htm
Cancer – present in animals and humans since the beginning of time:
http://www.cancersa.org.au/aspx/Cancer_through_history_timeline.aspx
Multiple sclerosis -- around for ‘ages’ and predated aspartame:
http://www.msstrength.com/a-brief-history-of-multiple-sclerosis/
Latest research (2011) suggests it, too, may be found naturally occurring in animals:
http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2011/06-28-ohsu-researchers-discove.cfm0 -
This is why this subject never dies. No matter what the OP says about facts you get statements like.... "I haven't read the whole thread, but aspartame causes health issues...." without one substantial fact to back them up.
It can be frustrating...
SO frustrating! But at least there is SOME good information in this thread.
The funny part is it all comes from the "aspartame is safe for use" crowd. Because that's just the fact of the matter.
It's simple logic. Aspartame is very widely used. If it really did cause death, cancer, or constant explosive diarrhea as these people are claiming wouldn't we have noticed it by now? Or is that part of the conspiracy?
Going to try to state this as neutrally as possible: Are there not examples of other substances that were widely considered safe (ot not even paid any attention) for years and years -- decades even -- and then were found to be dangerous, and everyone was backpedaling frantically? DDT -- the World Health Organization was spraying it all over the place in the 1950s. Pregnant women used to be encouraged to drink beer. Lead, thalidomide, secondhand smoke . . .
I am not saying that someday aspartame will be proven carcinogenic, but isn't saying "wouldn't we have noticed it by now" a little shortsighted?0 -
Well it's been around for about 50 years..................I don't think that we're that naive. Not to mention with all the watchdog groups, legitimate awareness is raised. But for something to be pulled, it has to show conclusive proof to being a danger. There currently isn't enough solid proof to show that aspartame does what many anti aspartame claimants state. And that's from peer reviewed scientific studies that are independent from either the pro or con side.This is why this subject never dies. No matter what the OP says about facts you get statements like.... "I haven't read the whole thread, but aspartame causes health issues...." without one substantial fact to back them up.
It can be frustrating...
SO frustrating! But at least there is SOME good information in this thread.
The funny part is it all comes from the "aspartame is safe for use" crowd. Because that's just the fact of the matter.
It's simple logic. Aspartame is very widely used. If it really did cause death, cancer, or constant explosive diarrhea as these people are claiming wouldn't we have noticed it by now? Or is that part of the conspiracy?
Going to try to state this as neutrally as possible: Are there not examples of other substances that were widely considered safe (ot not even paid any attention) for years and years -- decades even -- and then were found to be dangerous, and everyone was backpedaling frantically? DDT -- the World Health Organization was spraying it all over the place in the 1950s. Pregnant women used to be encouraged to drink beer. Lead, thalidomide, secondhand smoke . . .
I am not saying that someday aspartame will be proven carcinogenic, but isn't saying "wouldn't we have noticed it by now" a little shortsighted?
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I realize that this is non-scientific (in that it involves only the study of one individual). However, here is my point of view:
1. There are very few (if any) nutritional benefits of aspartame.
2. Aspartame can be very beneficial to people who need to control their intake of sugar (such as diabetics).
3. There are very few (if any) proven detriments of aspartame.
I've been a diabetic for 22 years. I have used aspartame containing products for 22 years. It has helped me keep my sugars steady. I have healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. I have never experienced any side effects (I'm not discounting that some people do. There are people who are allergic to milk, fish, etc. So, it stands to reason that some may be allergic/sensitive to aspartame).
Another positive: unlike Saccharine, aspartame is safe for pregnant women. http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/artificialsweetner.htm0 -
Going to try to state this as neutrally as possible: Are there not examples of other substances that were widely considered safe (ot not even paid any attention) for years and years -- decades even -- and then were found to be dangerous, and everyone was backpedaling frantically? DDT -- the World Health Organization was spraying it all over the place in the 1950s. Pregnant women used to be encouraged to drink beer. Lead, thalidomide, secondhand smoke . . .
I am not saying that someday aspartame will be proven carcinogenic, but isn't saying "wouldn't we have noticed it by now" a little shortsighted?
Understand you're being neutral. Please do not take my response as an attack.
It's a commonly used logical fallacy. "Well science has been wrong in the past, so it can be wrong now." Well yes of course that's true. But no one uses this as a guiding factor in their lives. We couldn't function. "You really shouldn't drink arsenic, it's poisonous." "Sure according to SCIENCE! But what do they know??"
Science works on proof. If you can PROVE aspartame is harmful than you win. You have beaten bad science with good science. That is how all those previous schools of thought you mentioned were eventually overturned. With conclusive evidence proving their harmful effects.
But you can't just say, "Hey we don't know. Anything's possible. 20 years from now we could find out it's lethal." Well you can say that about anything. 20 years from now our alien overlords might have sucked all the aspartame from our bodies because they need it to live. But you haven't proven anything. It's pure conjecture.
(also as I mentioned a few pages ago DDT isn't as bad as we think, the problem is dosage. But scare mongering will keep it from being used to prevent Malaria, a very real and deadly disease)
So if there is some proof, evidence or research on the harmful effects of aspartame this is the place to throw it down and see if it floats. But just saying "Well anything's possible" really does nothing to further the discussion. Yes. Anything is possible. What's your point? (not you specifically, royal "you")0 -
Aspartame gave me a nasty kidney infection which took 2 different antibiotics to clear.
It's also used as a filler in some migraine meds (Maxalt), so be careful! Taking my meds caused the aforesaid mentioned scenario for me.0 -
Well it's been around for about 50 years..................I don't think that we're that naive. Not to mention with all the watchdog groups, legitimate awareness is raised. But for something to be pulled, it has to show conclusive proof to being a danger. There currently isn't enough solid proof to show that aspartame does what many anti aspartame claimants state. And that's from peer reviewed scientific studies that are independent from either the pro or con side.
Well, it's only been in the food supply for about thirty years. Not saying that isn't long enough for adverse affects to appear . . . just aiming for accuracy.
It is difficult to put complete faith in the outcomes of these studies when Searle has funded so many of them. Then you have organizations like "The Epilepsy Institute" claiming there is no link between aspartame and seizures -- then it turns out the Epilepsy Institute is funded by Monsanto.
Thanks for being civil.0 -
Going to try to state this as neutrally as possible: Are there not examples of other substances that were widely considered safe (ot not even paid any attention) for years and years -- decades even -- and then were found to be dangerous, and everyone was backpedaling frantically? DDT -- the World Health Organization was spraying it all over the place in the 1950s. Pregnant women used to be encouraged to drink beer. Lead, thalidomide, secondhand smoke . . .
I am not saying that someday aspartame will be proven carcinogenic, but isn't saying "wouldn't we have noticed it by now" a little shortsighted?
Understand you're being neutral. Please do not take my response as an attack.
It's a commonly used logical fallacy. "Well science has been wrong in the past, so it can be wrong now." Well yes of course that's true. But no one uses this as a guiding factor in their lives. We couldn't function. "You really shouldn't drink arsenic, it's poisonous." "Sure according to SCIENCE! But what do they know??"
Science works on proof. If you can PROVE aspartame is harmful than you win. You have beaten bad science with good science. That is how all those previous schools of thought you mentioned were eventually overturned. With conclusive evidence proving their harmful effects.
But you can't just say, "Hey we don't know. Anything's possible. 20 years from now we could find out it's lethal." Well you can say that about anything. 20 years from now our alien overlords might have sucked all the aspartame from our bodies because they need it to live. But you haven't proven anything. It's pure conjecture.
(also as I mentioned a few pages ago DDT isn't as bad as we think, the problem is dosage. But scare mongering will keep it from being used to prevent Malaria, a very real and deadly disease)
So if there is some proof, evidence or research on the harmful effects of aspartame this is the place to throw it down and see if it floats. But just saying "Well anything's possible" really does nothing to further the discussion. Yes. Anything is possible. What's your point? (not you specifically, royal "you")
As I said to ninerbuff -- thanks for being civil. I myself don't trust aspartame and won't touch it, but I fully acknowledge that that is a personal choice, not one based on scientific studies. I understand the points being made in its defense. And I appreciate the lesson in logic
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Aspartame gives me migraines. At one point, when I was drinking 2-3 Diet Dr. Peppers a day, I had migraines 5-6 days of the week, every week. I gave up the aspartame about 6 years ago and the migraines occur only every couple of months now.
No sci evidence, but my doctor told me he thinks it causes plaque build-up in the brain.
Wow!! I recently had an MRI and they found several areas of white plaque buildup in my brain. I've been on 'the blue packets' for sweetening for years. Chronic migraines for years too. I found nitrates were my biggest issues, but I think I might need to curb my blue addiction now.
I just always figured it was better than sugar in my diet due to diabetic parents.
*SIGH*
THIS IS WHY I HATE PSEUDOSCIENCE AND MYTHS.
Look, there's some evidence linking aspartame to migraines, but there is NO EVIDENCE that indicates aspartame has ANYTHING to do with plaque in the brain.
Do you know what DOES cause plaque accumulation in the brain? Age. The slow break-down of the body's system for eliminating the plaque forming material that we ALL produce regardless of what we eat or drink.
There are factors that can increase your risks of plaque formation in the brain. These factors include genetics, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, how mentally active you are, but NOT consumption of aspartame.0 -
Aspartame gave me a nasty kidney infection which took 2 different antibiotics to clear.
It's also used as a filler in some migraine meds (Maxalt), so be careful! Taking my meds caused the aforesaid mentioned scenario for me.
No it didn't. You cannot prove that it was the aspartame that gave you the infection. Infections are not caused by aspartame. They're caused by bacteria or viruses. You might think it was the aspartame due to coincidence. You ate it/drank it and you got an infection. But coincidence is not the same as cause-and-effect. And your word is not science. There's no scientific evidence that aspartame causes kidney infections.0 -
Aspartame gave me a nasty kidney infection which took 2 different antibiotics to clear.
It's also used as a filler in some migraine meds (Maxalt), so be careful! Taking my meds caused the aforesaid mentioned scenario for me.
Why do you think aspartame caused the kidney infection?
As I said previously, I've used it for 22 years. I've never had a kidney infection or a uti. My sister and my mother, both barely use aspartame (I won't say never because I'm sure it could be in some food they eat without knowing it), and both get uti and kidney infections. I could infer from this that aspartame prevents kidney infections/uti. I won't do that, because that is not scientific in any way.0 -
personally I stay away from most items that I know have aspartame in them - not always possible but I try - though my problem is if I have it say in diet soda (which is what I typically see it in) then I usually end up with a major Migrane - so for me I stay away other people I know use it and do ok (for now)
I was getting migraines all the time and couldn't figure out why but once I cut out light yogurts and Crystal Light, I got significantly fewer migraines. I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one with this problem (not that I want anyone to suffer the pain of a migraine, but hopefully you know what I mean) 0 -
I try not to drink too much as it makes me grumpy, I think I don't sleep well (not as deep as I should) when I have had a lot of diet soft drinks. I look for diet drinks sweetened with Splenda/Sucralose and xylitol0
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