Is Aspartame Dangerous? Discover the Facts

[AJPratt]

Is all the hype about aspartame true? What do you think? My director told me that it cause neurological damage and to "google" it. Here's what I found.

Abdominal Pain
Anxiety attacks
arthritis
asthma
Asthmatic Reactions
Bloating, Edema (Fluid Retention)
Blood Sugar Control Problems (Hypoglycemia or Hyperglycemia)
Brain Cancer (Pre-approval studies in animals)
Breathing difficulties
burning eyes or throat
Burning Urination
can't think straight
Chest Pains
chronic cough
Chronic Fatigue
Confusion
Death
Depression
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Excessive Thirst or Hunger
fatigue
feel unreal
flushing of face
Hair Loss (Baldness) or Thinning of Hair
Headaches/Migraines dizziness
Hearing Loss
Heart palpitations
Hives (Urticaria)
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Impotency and Sexual Problems
inability to concentrate
Infection Susceptibility
Insomnia
Irritability
Itching
Joint Pains
laryngitis
"like thinking in a fog"
Marked Personality Changes
Memory loss
Menstrual Problems or Changes
Migraines and Severe Headaches (Trigger or Cause From Chronic Intake)
Muscle spasms
Nausea or Vomiting
Numbness or Tingling of Extremities
Other Allergic-Like Reactions
Panic Attacks
Phobias
poor memory
Rapid Heart Beat
Rashes
Seizures and Convulsions
Slurring of Speech
Swallowing Pain
Tachycardia
Tremors
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Vision Loss
Weight gain

Aspartame Disease Mimics Symptoms or Worsens the Following Diseases

Fibromyalgia
Arthritis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Parkinson's Disease
Lupus
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS)
Diabetes and Diabetic Complications
Epilepsy
Alzheimer's Disease
Birth Defects
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Lymphoma
Lyme Disease
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Panic Disorder
Depression and other Psychological Disorders

 

[chef_leeanne]

I have Lupus- itis a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the bady, especially the joints, blood, kidneys and skin.

I found in my case, aspartame did effect my joints. I recieved an e-mail from a good friends mother who is a nurse. It said how studies had found that people with Lupus, MS, CFS and other diseases that effect the joints, that stopped consuming products with aspartame found great pain relief in their joints, muscles etc...

I was a HUGE diet pop drinker and thought what the heck, won't hurt to drink something else for a while. The worst that will happen is I won't feel any different! When I woke up the next morning after going without the diet pop, I couldn't believe the difference. My fingers, knees and feet where the most limber they had been in years!

EVERYONE is different- this is just how my body reacted.

 

[pchefinski]

I've been doing research on some other neurological things that coincide with the death of my 3 year old nephew (last month), and will NEVER give aspartame to myself or my family ever again! When you ingest it, it is broken down in your system into methanol (wood alcohol) that turns into poisonous FORMALDEHYDE (ew!) which in turn coverts to formic acid. Oh, and formic acid is an activator to help strip of epoxy and urethane coatings. (GROSS!) Such gasses mess with your joints, causing hardcore arthritis, and can cause birth defects, brain damage and all those other things that Anne listed. No thanks. I'll pass.

 

[Ginger428]

I've been doing research on some other neurological things that coincide with the death of my 3 year old nephew (last month), and will NEVER give aspartame to myself or my family ever again! When you ingest it, it is broken down in your system into methanol (wood alcohol) that turns into poisonous FORMALDEHYDE (ew!) which in turn coverts to formic acid. Oh, and formic acid is an activator to help strip of epoxy and urethane coatings. (GROSS!) Such gasses mess with your joints, causing hardcore arthritis, and can cause birth defects, brain damage and all those other things that Anne listed. No thanks. I'll pass.

OMG!!...I'm so sorry about your nephew what a tragic loss!!
But on a brighter note...GREAT pic of your son

 

[AJPratt]

Amanda... that is so awful! My heart goes out to you and your family! Thank you SOOO much for your insight!

 

[DZmom]

As a chronic Migraine sufferer, I've found that any aspartame in my system can and will trigger a severe episode. Normally, an aspartame induce episode will last for 4 to 5 days with no relief except hard core narcotics.

 

[Harrle]

Is it in all diet soda's? What other products is it in?

 

[DZmom]

It's in pretty much anything diet UNLESS it says that it is made with Splenda.

 

[KellyRedHead]

I know we stay away from Diet soda and Crystal Light (love the packets) but not what can come from using it!!

Splenda is okay to use right?? Its made from sugar I believe?

Kelly

 

[Grandmarita]

Aspartame is also in Jello Sugar Free gelatin, and I do notice it effects my
knees when I forget and have some. You will also want to check the labels
on Lo-Carb Salad dressings, and No Sugar ice creams. I read an article
about two years ago but don't think I have it in my archives anymore. If you
want to PM me, I can look and forward it, if I do.

 

[Kelley Sells]

Thank Youfor this thread, as I am (ashamed to say it now) an AVID, 2 1/2 liter bottle of Dt. Coke drinker daily, I am going to run upstairs and look....I had not heard this and I also consume sweet & low with my 4 morning coffees (a little hard core on the caffeine? )

I am so sorry to hear about your nephew.

I will definatley be looking more closely and reading up on this now.

THANK YOU again....

 

[AJPratt]

You're welcome! It was my director who brought it to my attention!

Splenda is not really safe, either. Splenda, also known as sucralose, is artificial sweetener which is a chlorinated sucrose derivative. Facts about this artificial chemical follows:

Other adverse effects reported in pre-approval research included:
Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage) (EO56)
Enlarged liver and kidneys. (EO57 & E161)
Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus (EO51, EO56, EO151)
Increased cecal weight (E151)
Reduced growth rate (EO57)
Decreased red blood cell count (EO55)
Hyperplasia of the pelvis (EO57)
Extension of the pregnancy period
Aborted pregnancy (E134)
Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights (EO32)
Diarrhea



http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/

http://www.holisticmed.com/sweet/

 

[kapooh1210]

OMG are like all these artificial sweetners bad for you? What will I do now after reading this. I can't possibly go back to regular sugar, I will be big as a house...LOL. This is an intresting thread i never knew that it could cause so much damage.

By the way...Im sorry to here about your nephew....Just to young.

 

[Evelynt]

These artificial sweetners also deplete our "feel good" hormone Seratonin. No wonder dieters feel so crazy all the time. Moderation is key. A teaspoon of sugar has 16 calories. Rather than order sweet tea, I add 2 packets of sugar. That's only 32 calories. We burn that breathing.
It seems that ALL chewing gums now have artificial sweetners too. I have become an avid label reader and refuse to put all the fake stuff into my body or my family's.

 

[mminikus]

I know one time I looked into this, and it is true about all the side effects, but some of the articles were talking about large amounts. It would be way more than most people would ever consume in a day. It would be interesting to check into how much they are talking about being consumed when they are talking about all those side effects.

 

[AJPratt]

I know one time I looked into this, and it is true about all the side effects, but some of the articles were talking about large amounts. It would be way more than most people would ever consume in a day. It would be interesting to check into how much they are talking about being consumed when they are talking about all those side effects.

That's true. I just think if you have three diets sodas, pack of gum, and a couple of cups coffee with sweetener in it, you've had quite a bit. One site does mention how much is safe, but that's just an estimate.

Kapooh: I am cutting back on soda and not consuming these sweeteners. Every now and then you may have something with them in it and you can't help it. If you just make the effort to watch out for it, you'll be better off.

Now if you are diabetic and can't have sugar than these sweeteners are your only choice. I will cringe the next time I see my FIL drop four of those packets into something.

 

[soonerchef]

I have never liked the taste of artificial sweeteners and will only drink non-diet because the taste kills me every time. It's funny that the "healthier" stuff is what is going to do us in!!

 

[ChefJesssica]

My mother is a dentist and she says that the stuff in diet sodas is just as bad as regular sugar on your teeth. (I am a little teeth crazy). My husband and I stopped drinking sodas all together about a year ago. Even the diet stuff can pack the pounds on you! Once you let go of all that sugar and caffiene, you don't even miss it. I agree that people should be more careful about what they put into their bodies. I definetly DO NOT believe that everything that is approved to sell as food is good for you. I have been so tempted to go all organic with my family, but we just haven't done it yet.

 

[Sk8Mom209]

I have a friend who's mother is a researcher and she says we would have to consume more than humanly possible every day of our life to have the effects the articles are talking about. There my making it impossible to consume enough to have negative side effects.

 

[AJPratt]

I have a friend who's mother is a researcher and she says we would have to consume more than humanly possible every day of our life to have the effects the articles are talking about. There my making it impossible to consume enough to have negative side effects.

While that may be true in general, I'd rather not rik it. And, everyone reacts differently. If I drink a diet soda I will get a migraine. If I eat lunch meat or anything else with a lot of nitrates, I'll get a headache.

 

[pchefinski]

I don't agree. I know a good bit of people that have adverse reactions (listed as side effects) to both aspartame and splenda, as well as some other preservatives that the FDA deems healthy and safe for consumption. Think 100 years ago when we weren't consuming this crap all day long in everything we eat. A good bit of things do not even have to be listed in the food we eat, and we can't even decipher 95% of what IS in it already! Yes, there are many causes for the things listed as side effects, but if we'd stop polluting our bodies with chemicals used to preserve things for 12 years (or worse, used as chemicals to strip furniture polish or as gasoline additives, among other things), we'd no doubt be healthier. As for those who use the diet foods to lose weight, a lot of times they are in a catch 22 -- the "diet" foods are actually preventing their weightloss. I am with ChefJessica in the desire to go completely organic. Unfortunately, we live in a society where most are not financially able to eat preservative- (and poison-) free. And, since I'm doing PC to get extra money for groceries (and other necessities), my family is in that boat. But God willing, and hard work on my part, my family will soon eat food that can keep our bodies healthy without ingesting carcinogens mixed in with our ranch dressing (benzene).

 

[jdavis]

I have never liked the taste of artificial sweeteners and will only drink non-diet because the taste kills me every time.

You read my mind, I have tried many diet drinks, and just can't stand the after-taste of that artificial stuff, I will stick with my NON-diet Dr Pepper thanks.

 

[agw]

Try stevia. I've recently hopped on the anti-artificial sweetener bandwagon. Stevia is a sweet herb. It's been used for decades in other countries, but for some reason the FDA hasn't put it on the 'safe' list yet. Probably due to politics.

I've given up sodas and such because of the sugar and artificial sweetener things. These days I use our Juicer to get fresh lemon juice for stevia-sweetened lemondade/lemon water. It's great! The tricky bit has been figuring out just how much stevia to use.

 

[sigmaqt95]

I am allergic to Aspartame. About 10 years ago, I started having horrible headaches. It always happened after I had coffee and I thought it was the caffine. I went to decaf and it worsened. I then started having vomiting episodes with it. Eventually, really bad hives started to happened. We came to the conclusion it was the sweetner that I was putting in the coffee. I also can not eat sugar free jello etc. It really is bad in the raw form.

 

[AJPratt]

OMG! I'm so glad you caught it!

 

[jenniferlynne]

My husband used to consume large quanities of Equal every day in tea, plus drink diet sodas made with it. He used to get the worst headaches. When we switched to Splenda, the headaches stopped. More and more diet drinks are switching to Splenda. I've read online where a lot of people don't like Splenda either. Sounds like the only thing that won't hurt you is sugar unless you are fat like me or diabetic.

 

[AJPratt]

Sounds like the only thing that won't hurt you is sugar unless you are fat like me or diabetic.

LOL! I'm trying to use more organic or whole foods, things that haven't been processed.

Are there any good sites about going organic?

 

[ChefBeckyD]

LOL! I'm trying to use more organic or whole foods, things that haven't been processed.

Are there any good sites about going organic?

This thread is very interesting - basically because I am & have been for some time on the "Whole Foods" bandwagon.....eating organic, minimally processed foods whenever possible.
There is a great book - "Ultra-Metabolism" by Mark Hyman M.D. and he also has a website www.ultrametabolism.com. which will help you as you try to eat healthier - the bonus for me was that by eating healthier (getting rid of processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils etc...) I was able to lose 30 lbs w/o even trying!!

His website & book have lots of recipes, shopping lists, and other links to help you! It is a great book! Sometimes its hard for me to find organic around here, but it is getting easier all the time. If you are fortunate enough to have a Whole Foods Market, or a Wild Oats or Trader Joe's Market near you it will be much simpler!
The book I read first which really opened my eyes to the link between my health, and what I eat - was "Eating Well for Optimum Health" by Dr. Andrew Weil.
OH - and just a thought about the comment about how much aspartame you would have to ingest to be dangerous......EVERY researcher says that about their specific product - but they don't take in to consideration the cumulative effect of ALL the artificial chemicals, pesticides, etc....that are going into our bodies on a daily basis...hmmmmm. Our bodies are pretty much in shock by all the stuff we are putting into them that they don't know how to process!
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, about 5 yrs ago, and have been able to live a normal healthy life since changing my eating habits! My son (who is 2)has never had a hot dog, prefers fruits, veggies and fish over other foods and doesn't like french fries! (he also loves M&M's - I'm not completely heartless )

 

[AJPratt]

OH - and just a thought about the comment about how much aspartame you would have to ingest to be dangerous......EVERY researcher says that about their specific product - but they don't take in to consideration the cumulative effect of ALL the artificial chemicals, pesticides, etc....that are going into our bodies on a daily basis...hmmmmm. Our bodies are pretty much in shock by all the stuff we are putting into them that they don't know how to process!

That's what I meant. Thank you, you were able to put my thoughts down when I couldn't! I remember my Mom made a lot of our food and we didn't eat a lot of junk and I want to do that when we have kids, maybe not make the food, my Mom had a lot more time than I do.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I remember my Mom made a lot of our food and we didn't eat a lot of junk and I want to do that when we have kids, maybe not make the food, my Mom had a lot more time than I do.

The good thing is that there are alot of great prepared organic whole foods out there now! Amy's brand is excellent - awesome mac & cheese, pizza, burritos (all frozen foods), Seeds of Change has great tomato products & salad dressings, my son had organic baby food and teething biscuits, yogurt...etc. I have a small garden,and I do alot of our cooking (I was also raised by a mom who grew and made everything herself) but I love having the option of convenience foods that are healthy (especially on show nights). I guess you could call this a passion of mine - because I have seen the results in myself and my family. My 2 yr old is never sick(except the Chicken Pox), and hasn't had ear infections or allergies....he was born 5 weeks premature, and even his dr. can't believe how healthy he is!
I can say though that learning to eat healthier was like learning a new language - lots of label reading and deciphering. When I decided to do it - we went cold turkey - I threw out or gave away anything that wasn't healthy! Except Coffee! I still drink some coffee (but I buy organic now )
We eat almost everything that other people eat (not fast food though!), I just learned to prepare it healthfully, or found healthy substitutes for convenience foods.
Okay - I could go on and on - I'll stop now!