Aspartame,
Well I know that this is a controversial topic for the first week in the Disease of the Week Postings. My Grandma and Grandpa are the reason as they got me really looking at some topics about aspartame and our consumption of it in our diets.
To kick things off here is an article that states that the intake of aspartame reduces the ability of the liver to use certain kinds of antioxidants. Antioxidants stop free-radicals from spiraling out of control thus aiding in the immune response of the body; if left unchecked free-radicals can cause havoc in the system leading to cancers and other diseases.
Did you know that aspartame breaks down into wood alcohol a very toxic poison to a human being. It has been argued that the dose of methanol from aspartame is far below the methanol poisoning thresh hold. This may be true in a one shot deal but chronic low doses of methanol over time give the appearance of MS or fibromyalgia as stated in these first two studies.
Here is another article that looks at aspartame and its affects on causing fibromyalgia. There has been a huge increase in the amount of documented cases of this disease and there are very few reasons why it is caused. I like how it states right in the two sentences that doctors should ask their patients who are suffering from symptoms of fibromyalgia to ask them about their aspartame intake and that by asking them it can reduce the onset of a more chronic disabling condition.
And, here is Dr. Roberts, MD, FACP, FCCP, who is at the forefront of aspartame poisoning and research. He slams the use of aspartame and clearly denotes that the following be taken into consideration clinically,
“The following caveats derive from clinical experience:
• Every patient with unresolved neurologic, psychologic, allergic, dermatologic,gastrointestinal and metabolic/endocrine problems should be queried about aspartame intake.
• The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis should be deferred pending at least several months of observation in the case of persons consuming aspartame.
• A pregnant woman should not risk the health of her fetus by consuming aspartame products.
• Visual, neurologic or bowel problems in diabetics should not be ascribed to a presumed underlying retinopathy or neuropathy until evaluating the response to aspartame abstinence.
• Cataract surgery ought to be deferred in heavy aspartame users to evaluate for spontaneous improvement after abstinence.
• Patients presenting with seizures, headache, atypical facial or eye pain, the Meniere syndrome, depression, the carpal tunnel syndrome, normal-pressure hydrocephalus, and a host of other unexplained neuropsychiatric problems, or who fail to respond to conventional treatment, must be queried about aspartame use … especially if invasive studies are planned.
• Young adults who express concern about “possibly having early Alzheimer’s disease,”
based on recent confusion and memory loss, ought to be observed at least one month
after stopping aspartame before this diagnosis is pursued.
• Gynecologic surgical procedures to evaluate gross menstrual changes should be deferred
pending the response to abstinence.”
Wow I like how he notes that those who ingest aspartame have neurological/ neuropsyciatric problems. It is amazing to note that chiropractic has had amazing results in helping the body to restore neurological deficits. Make sure you go to your chiropractor because they can be of benefit to any individuals who may be experiencing any kind of neurological/ neuropsyciatric problems.
Here is an experiment done by an 11 year old. She takes a certain kind of soda and lets it sit out for a while at different temps and then studies how much methanol is sub-conjugated from the aspartame. She notes that soda left at room temp breaks down into methanol… but so does soda in the fridge. Wow good for her, I don’t think I was that ambitious at that age. She leaves a good statement at the end… get all the facts strait (try this article for some more) and “decide for yourselves”.
Well that is where I will leave you all. I hope you decide to quit aspartame and see your chiropractors so as to improve you overall neurological health.
As for me and mine… Aspartame is out! I hope it is for you too!
