will england :: art : aspartame rant


[Originally, I was forwarded a scary document about the dangers of Aspartime. (Nutrasweet) I followed up with a few hours of research and came up with the following. My goal is to simply show how confusing the research is, and that one should make up their own mind, rather than letting others do the thinking for them. Will]

Thanks, Mike C for sending that anecdote about aspartame to me. It's a
thought provoking, and rather frightening account. My wife had a good
friend of her family die from MS. It wasn't pretty - matter of fact, it's
one of the worst ways to go.

However, I never take these anecdotal "scary stories" on face value. So
after a bit of additional research, I found that there are a multitude of
web sites showing both sides of the story - here's a quick sample of the
less positive ones:

http://www.awod.com/gallery/probono/dorway/whatis.html
http://hss.sd54.bc.ca/School/Pages/STUDENT/individual/Tasha-Zaida/intro.html
http://www.swankin-turner.com/aspartame/index.html


Reading through the links, you come across a ton of cool (and contradictory)
quotes. Too many opinions leads to neat collisions like these. You should
take a look at the sites referenced here too. The information and mis-
information is vaguely interesting. However, much of it is simply banal, trite
and filled with paranoia. Keep in mind, tho, that just because someone is paranoid, it
doesn't mean that someone isn't out to get them!

Anyway, from the one of the original FDA reports:

"...we were unable to reach a communal feeling
of confidence in aspartame's innocuousness on this score and
expressed this unease in our report to you...."
from http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00772.html

But, it may only cause headaches - why was the FDA so uneasy?

"The only ill effect that has been established through a controlled study
was an increase in headaches. . ."
from http://ace.orst.edu/info/extoxnet/faqs/additive/aspartam.htm

And cancer?!?

Dr. Adrian Gross stated " ...the cancer-causing potential
of aspartame is a matter that had been established way
beyond any reasonable doubt..."
from http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/damage.txt

But, it's just like real food!

"Aspartame is broken down in the gastrointestinal tract to small amounts
of common dietary components . . . We consume these same components
in much greater amounts in common foods. . ."
from http://www.nfpa-food.org/aspar.html

See - Real food is even worse!

"The methanol produced by . . . aspartame is identical to that which is
provided in much larger amounts from fruits, vegetables and their juices
. . . a glass of tomato juice provides 6 times as much methanol as a
similar amount of diet soda."
from http://ificinfo.health.org/brochure/aspartam.htm

Or is it?

"The methanol from aspartame is converted to formaldehyde . . .and
does indeed accumulate within the cell. . .[this indicates] grave
consequences
among those who consume diet drinks and foodstuffs on a daily basis."
from http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/methanol.html

Of course, it really has no ill effects

"...aspartame was no more likely than placebo to cause allergic
reactions...:
from http://ificinfo.health.org/insight/aspallrg.htm

And then we have those folks who have to make a profit off of the fear of
the public, for instance:

http://web2.airmail.net/marystod/index.html

This web site seems to only exist to display the authors fascination with
animated gif's, her poor design skills and to hype her book. There is no
facts or references on the page, only a poorly constructed sales pitch.
Mary S. claims to be the leader of this crusade against NutraSweet - if
this is the case, then why does she not present any facts at her web site?

Conclusion

After considerable review, I'd like to conclude that the hyperbola presented
by these "studies" has nearly as much credibility as the "proof" offered by
those who claim aliens have marked them with a transmitter, and black helicopters
are following them to work.

"It is hard to ignore mountains of testimonials maintaining that
aspartame toxicity is the cause of varying ills. [However,] Anecdotal
evidence is compelling and emotional but does not lend itself to
credibility. . ."
from http://www.uvm.edu/~awellman/nutra.htm

Even with that in mind, I do agree with the final conclusion of these
reports -
Don't use aspartame. I do not advocate, nor encourage people to ingest
chemicals of any sort. The body works quite well on a diet of basic, natural foods
and food supplements. The body does not need soda pop or diet soda or any other
man-made feel-good tastee-treats.

Take care of yourself, eat properly, develop peace of mind and relax!
You'll live to a ripe old age.

But that's just my opinion - I could be wrong. :-)

Will England


[Below is the original warning]


> ----------
> From: Chadwick, Michael
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 1999 8:33 AM
> To: Zehr, Kim E; Lyda, EB; Prestage, Michael; England, Will; 'Home';
> 'Dad'
> Subject: FW: Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi
>
> You need to read this.
>
> ----------
> From: Elliott, Carey L
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 1999 8:17 AM
> To: Chadwick, Michael
> Subject: FW: Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi
>
>
> Carey Elliott, Buyer
> Boeing Commercial Airplane Group
> Phone 316-523-5425
> Fax 316-523-5689
> M/C K09-00
>
>
> ----------
> From: Bruchas, Al
> Sent: Friday, January 22, 1999 7:15 AM
> To: Crawford, Clayton D; Lopez, Keith R; Price, Harry B; Lies, Bill;
> Elliott, Carey L; Albert, Willie; Mercer, Toby W; Ayer, Boyd W; Hitchcock,
> David J
> Subject: FW: Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi
>
>
>
> ----------
> From: Alsho, Eddy
> Sent: Thursday, January 21, 1999 4:17 PM
> To: Bruchas, Al
> Subject: FW: Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi
>
> NUTRA-SWEET PARANOIA OR TRUTH? IS IT WORTH RISKING IT?
>
>
> Subject: RE: Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi
>
>
>
> WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE and the MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS FOUNDATION
> F.D.A. IS SUING FOR COLLUSION WITH MONSANTO
> Article written by Nancy Markle (1120197)
>
> I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL
> CONFERENCE on "ASPARTAME marketed as 'NutraSweet', 'Equal', and
> 'Spoonful"'. In the keynote address by the EPA, they announced that there
> was an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus, and they did not
> understand what toxin was causing this to be rampant across the United
> States. I explained that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject.
>
> When the temperature of Aspartame exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood
> alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid,
> which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. (Formic acid is the poison found
> in the sting of fire ants). The methanol toxicity mimics multiple
> sclerosis; thus people were being diagnosed with having multiple sclerosis
> in error. The multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, where methanol
> toxicity is.
>
> In the case of systemic lupus, we are finding it has become almost
> as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi
> drinkers. Also, with methanol toxicity, the victims usually drink three to
> four 12 oz. Cans of them per day, some even more. In the cases of systemic
> lupus, which is triggered by ASPARTAME, the victim usually does not know
> that the aspartame is the culprit. The victim continues its use
> aggravating the lupus to such a degree, that sometimes it becomes life
> threatening.
>
> When we get people off the aspartame, those with systemic lupus
> usually become asymptomatic.
>
> Unfortunately, we can not reverse this disease.
>
> On the other hand, in the case of those diagnosed with Multiple
> Sclerosis, (when in reality, the disease is methanol toxicity), most of
> the symptoms disappear. We have seen cases where their vision has returned
> and even their hearing has returned. This also applies to cases of
> tinnitus.(Bob's comment: I recently began consuming a popular brand of
> yogurt at lunch, purchased in the company cafeteria. Since that time I
> have begun to experience frequent tinnitus, "ringing in the ears". That
> yogurt, as shown by a check of the label this morning, contains
> ASPARTAME.)
>
> During a lecture I said "If you are using ASPARTAME (NutraSweet,
> Equal, Spoonful, etc.) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms,
> shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness,
> headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred
> speech, blurred vision, or memory loss -- you probably have ASPARTAME
> DISEASE!" People were jumping up during the lecture saying, "I've got
> this, is it reversible?" It is rampant. Some of the speakers at my lecture
> even were suffering from these symptoms. In one lecture attended by the
> Ambassador of Uganda, he told us that their sugar industry is adding
> aspartame! He continued by saying that one of the industry leader's son
> could no longer walk - due in part by product usage!
>
> We have a very serious problem. Even a stranger came up to Dr.
> Espisto (one of my speakers) and myself and said, "Could you tell me why
> so many people seem to be coming down with MS?" During a visit to a
> hospice, a nurse said that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke
> addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence.
>
> Here is the problem. There were Congressional Hearings when
> aspartame was included in 100 different products. Since this initial
> hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, but to no avail. Nothing
> has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets. Now
> there are over 5,000 products containing this chemical, and the PATENT HAS
> EXPIRED!!!!!
>
> At the time of this first hearing, people were going blind. The
> methanol in the aspartame converts to formaldehyde in the retina of the
> eye. Formaldehyde is grouped in the same class of dmgs as cyanide and
> arsenic-- DEADLY POISONS!!! Unfortunately, it just takes longer to quietly
> kill, but it is killing people and causing all kinds of neurological
> problems.
>
> Aspartame changes the brain's chemistry. It is the reason for severe
> seizures. This drug changes the dopamine level in the brain. Imagine what
> this drug does to patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease. This drug
> also causes Birth Defects.
>
> There is absolutely no reason to take this product. It is NOT A DIET
> PRODUCT!!! The Congressional record said, "It makes you crave
> carbohydrates and will make you FAT". Dr. Roberts stated that when he got
> patients off aspartame, their average weight loss was 19 pounds per
> person. The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips
> and thighs.
>
> Aspartame is especially deadly for diabetics. All physicians know
> what wood alcohol will do to a diabetic. We find that physicians believe
> that they have patients with retinopathy, when in fact, it is caused by
> the aspartame. The aspartame keeps the blood sugar level out of control,
> causing many patients to go into a coma. Unfortunately, many have died.
>
> People were telling us at the Conference of the American College of
> Physicians, that they had relatives that switched from saccharin to an
> aspartame product and how that relative had eventually gone into a coma.
> Their physicians could not get the blood sugar levels under control. Thus,
> the patients suffered acute memory loss and eventually coma and death.
>
> Memory loss is due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine
> are neurotoxic without the other amino acids found in protein. Thus it
> goes past the blood brain barrier and deteriorates the neurons of the
> brain. Dr. Russell Blaylock, neurosurgeon, said, "The ingredients
> stimulates the neurons of the brain to death, causing brain damage of
> varying degrees. Dr. Blaylock has written a book entitled "EXCITOTOXINS:
> THE TASTE THAT KILLS" (Health Press 1-800-643-2665). Dr. H.J. Roberts,
> diabetic specialist and world expert on aspartame poisoning, has also
> written a book entitled "DEFENSE AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE"
> (1-800-814-9800). Dr. Roberts tells how aspartame poisoning is escalating
> Alzheimer's Disease, and indeed it is. As the hospice nurse told me, women
> are being admitted at 30 years of age with Alzheimer's Disease. Dr.
> Blaylock and Dr. Roberts will be writing a position paper with some case
> histories and will post it on the Internet. According to the Conference of
> the American College of Physicians, 'We are talking about a plague of
> neurological diseases caused by this deadly poison".
>
> Dr. Roberts realized what was happening when aspartame was first
> marketed. He said "his diabetic patients presented memory loss,
> confusion, and severe vision loss". At the Conference of the American
> College of Physicians, doctors admitted that they did not know. They had
> wondered why seizures were rampant (the phenylalanine in aspartame breaks
> down the seizure threshold and depletes serotonin, which causes manic
> depression, panic attacks, rage and violence).
>
> Just before the Conference, I received a FAX from Norway, asking for
> a possible antidote for this poison because they are experiencing so many
> problems in their country. This "poison" is now available in 90 PLUS
> countries worldwide. Fortunately, we had speakers and ambassadors at the
> Conference from different nations who have pledged their help. We ask that
> you help too.
>
> Print this article out and warn everyone you know. Take anything
> that contains aspartame back to the store. Take the "NO ASPARTAME TEST"
> and send us your case history.
>
> I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of aspartame, knows how
> deadly it is. They fund the American Diabetes Association, American
> Dietetic Association, Congress, and the Conference of the American College
> of Physicians. The New York Times, on November 15, 1996, ran an article on
> how the American Dietetic Association takes money from the food industry
> to endorse their products. Therefore, they can not criticize any additives
> or tell about their link to MONSANTO.
>
> Aspartame Disease is partially the cause to what is behind some of
> the mystery of the Dessert Storm health problems. The burning tongue and
> other problems discussed in over 60 cases can be directly related to the
> consumption of an aspartame product. Several thousand pallets of diet
> drinks were shipped to the Dessert Storm troops. (Remember heat can
> liberate the methanol from the aspartame at 86 degrees F). Diet drinks sat
> in the 120 degree F. Arabian sun for weeks at a time on pallets. The
> service men and women drank them all day long. All of their symptoms are
> identical to aspartame poisoning. Dr. Roberts says "consuming aspartame
> at the time of conception can cause birth defects".
>
> The phenylalanine concentrates in the placenta, causing mental
> retardation, according to Dr. Louis Elsas, Pediatrician Professor -
> Genetics, at Emory University in his testimony before Congress.
>
> In the original lab tests, animals developed brain tumors
> (phenylalanine breaks down into DXP, a brain tumor agent). When Dr.
> Espisto was lecturing on aspartame, one physician in the audience, a
> neurosurgeon, said, "when they remove brain tumors, they have found high
> levels of aspartame in them".
>
> Stevia, a sweet food, NOT AN ADDITIVE, which helps in the metabolism
> of sugar, which would be ideal for diabetics, has now been approved as a
> dietary supplement by the F.D.A. For years, the F.D.A. has outlawed this
> sweet food because of their loyalty to MONSANTO.
>
> If it says "SUGAR FREE" on the label-- DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT
> IT!!!!!l!
>
> Senator Howard Hetzenbaum wrote a bill that would have warned all
> pregnant mothers and children of the dangers of aspartame. The bill would
> have also instituted independent studies on the problems existing in the
> population (seizures, changes in brain chemistry, changes in neurological
> and behavioral symptoms). It was killed by the powerful drug and chemical
> lobbies, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting
> public. Since the Conference of the American College of Physicians, we
> hope to have the help of some world leaders. Again, please help us too.
> There are a lot of people out there who must be warned, "please" let them
> know this information.
>
> Note from ALAN-
> (ONE of my co-workers has a report from the EPA and the
> World Health Organization futher confirming these worries,
> which we will try to get a copy of.....)
>

The usual suspects

Main -- Humor -- Art -- Food -- Book Reviews -- seti@home -- Living Well -- Shooting

Disclaimer: Anything I have to say is mine, dammnit! My employers, clients nor anyone else can take credit (or be blamed) for it.

Author: Will England (will@mylanders.com)
Complaints? /dev/null

This page is a Y to K complaint.

Valid HTML 4.0! Valid CSS!

Updated Wednesday, September 05 2018 @ 11:47pm