Drink Diet Drinks? Drink Sugar-Free Drinks? Chew Gum? You'll Want to Read This.

[N2NH]

A few years back, I drank an obscene amount of Diet Sodas. I was working, had to wear a bullet-proof vest, while carrying 25lbs of extra weight on my belt while running around for up to 72 hours a week and working on my feet. This meant I sweated a lot and needed a lot of caffeine. Hence the Diet Sodas.

I got sick and it took over 3-1/2 years to recover. I was blind in my left eye, had chronic fatigue, so much pain that it was blocking out pain elsewhere in the body and that pain was around 24/7 for those 3-1/2 years. Nothing got rid of it. They thought I had a stroke, but I didn't. They thought I had MS, but I didn't. They couldn't figure out what caused this...

This is most likely the reason why and I'm thankful that I survived.


Aspartame is being marketed around the world as a sugar substitute and is found in all diet soft drinks, such as Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi. It is also found in artificial sweeteners such as NutraSweet, Equal, and Spoonful; and it is used in many other products as a sugar replacement. Aspartame is marketed as a diet product, but it is not a diet product at all. In fact, it will cause you to GAIN weight because it makes you crave carbohydrates.
Causing you to gain weight is only a very small part of what Aspartame does. Aspartame is a toxic chemical that changes the brain's chemistry. It can and does cause severe seizures. This chemical changes the dopamine level in the brain, and it is particularly deadly for anyone suffering from Parkinson's diseases.
Aspartame is extremely poisonous, and here is why. One of the toxic ingredients of Aspartame is wood alcohol. When the temperature of Aspartame exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in the Aspartame is converted to formaldehyde, and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis.
Formaldehyde is grouped in the same class of poisons as Cyanide and Arsenic - which are very deadly toxins. The only difference is... Formaldehyde kills quietly, and it takes a little longer. And, in the process of killing people, it causes all kinds of neurological problems.
There are 92 documented symptoms of Aspartame Poisoning leading to coma and death. The majority of these symptoms are neurological, because the Aspartame attacks and destroys the nervous system. Some of the symptoms of Aspartame Poisoning are covered below.
One of these symptoms is Lupus, which has become almost as rampant as Multiple Sclerosis, especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers.


Read more: http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/aspartame-poison.html#ixzz24ljXKlMB



The article is very informative. In fact, this information has been available in the EU for quite awhile. Why is it harder to find in the US? Because over here, the manufacturers do their own research and studies. Not so in the EU.

Aspartame Poison: The Silent Killer (http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/aspartame-poison.html)

[PA5COR]

We also have more consumer friendly laws that the producers have to follow, including mentioning all ingredients in their products and their working on people there is a lot of consumer info out here, as member of the consumer union here i am quite well informed, and s being informed i never used aspartame, nor drink fizzy drinks diet or not.

Hope it will not leave permanent disorders in your health...

[NY3V]

7032

[KG4CGC]

Mmmm. I miss the days of cyclamate colas.

[K7SGJ]

I drink a six-pak of Dads root beer every six months or so. I'll take the sugar, thanks. And fuck that artificial shit. it'll kill ya.

[VE7DCW]

I've drunk almost a liter of Diet Pepsi every day for the last 25 years or so........ I used to drink the sugar soft drinks before that..... so far i'm still kicking...I don't glow in the dark and just checked, no extra mutated fingers or toes growing out of the body.

I'm not concerned with aspartame as a sweetener..... it's made from a protein substance ........

Now.....what the hell are they going to do with all that Chem trail stuff coming out of all those jet planes ..... ? :rofl:

[K7SGJ]

I've drunk almost a liter of Diet Pepsi every day for the last 25 years or so........ I used to drink the sugar soft drinks before that..... so far i'm still kicking...I don't glow in the dark and just checked, no extra mutated fingers or toes growing out of the body.

I'm not concerned with aspartame as a sweetener..... it's made from a protein substance ........

Now.....what the hell are they going to do with all that Chem trail stuff coming out of all those jet planes ..... ? :rofl:

Yeah, but isn't it a little inconvenient having two peni AND a vagina?

[KG4NEL]

A few thousand in dental bills was enough to make me cut my soda consumption to essentially nil. I have a bottle of ginger ale around, but usually it's coffee (black), water, beer or whisky :cool2:

[KG4NEL]

Yeah, but isn't it a little inconvenient having two peni AND a vagina?

I'd never leave the house.

[KC9ECI]

I seldom drink soda any more. I'll stick to beer.

[N2NH]

Hope it will not leave permanent disorders in your health...

Thanks Cor.

I gained a lot of weight drinking the 'diet' sodas. In fact, for the 4 months that I drank them, I gained 40 pounds. Eventually I went from 220 lbs. to over 330 lbs. The inability to do anything aerobic due to severe pain and fatigue meant that the weight couldn't be worked off. Eventually, all that extra bulk meant that I got diabetes and in turn I ended up with Neuropathy (permanent nerve damage) in my extremities. This also means that I get chronic pain in my legs, but can not feel my toes or most of my feet.

Not all that bad. It has led to an early retirement and I plan to study in college. Hoping to start in Physics (not all that different from Engineering) in a few months. Also, I have time to brush up on my Morse Code.

[PA5COR]

That sucks...
Thanks for the heads up anyway, we get bombarded with info, so sometimes some warnings get lost, you made the aspartame warning very clear.
I don't use artificial sweetener, read the labels in the shop buying stuff, and the more E numbers there are on the label, the less chance it gets to be bought and used.
I prefer fresh food without lots of the artificial "extra's " as conservatives, colourings etc, keep my weight in balance as much as possible, but i'm not a health freak.
Simple choices can already make your diet more healthier and our own little plot of land with vegetables and some fruit and potato's all grown without psticides does fine.

And maintaining the plot gives me time to do some work and let my thoughts wander and gives me fresh air.
I really hope the effects will go away, losing weight might take care of the diabetes, but the permanent nerve damage is really bad luck.

Take care John, good luck in your new study!.

[kf0rt]

A few thousand in dental bills was enough to make me cut my soda consumption to essentially nil. I have a bottle of ginger ale around, but usually it's coffee (black), water, beer or whisky :cool2:

That's why I switched to diet. Can't freakin' win.

Guess I need to "acquire" a taste for coffee, eh? Or... water?

[w0aew]

Aspartame is perfectly safe.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/aspartame.asp

[N2NH]

Aspartame is perfectly safe.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/aspartame.asp

As stated earlier, nearly all American studies have been funded by Monsanto and/or those with an interest in keeping Aspartame on the market.


Ralph G. Walton, a psychologist at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, stated in a self-published 1996 analysis of aspartame research that industry-funded studies found no safety concerns while 84 of 92 independent studies did identify safety concerns.[17] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-lowdown-16)[23] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-22) This analysis by Walton was submitted to the television show 60 Minutes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/60_Minutes) and has been extensively discussed on the Internet.

Then there's this:


The European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=European_Ramazzini_Foundation_of_O ncology_and_Environmental_Sciences&action=edit&redlink=1) (ERF) has released several studies which claim that aspartame can increase several malignancies in rats, concluding that aspartame is a potential carcinogen at normal dietary doses.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-Magnuson-7) Although thirteen occupational safety and health (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupational_safety_and_health) experts signed an open letter from CSPI to the FDA expressing that the 2007 ERF study merited a reevaluation of aspartame's safety in humans,[70] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-CSPItoFDA-69)[71] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-Couzin-70) these studies have been widely criticized and discounted by the FDA and other food safety agencies:
After reviewing the foundation's claims, the EFSA[72] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-EFSAreport-71) and the FDA[68] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-FDAstatement-67) discounted the study results and found no reason to revise their previously established acceptable daily intake levels for aspartame. Reported flaws were numerous and included, but were not limited to, the following: comparing cancer rates of older aspartame-consuming rats to younger control rats; unspecified composition of the "Corticella" diet and method of adding aspartame, leading to possible nutritional deficiencies; unspecified aspartame storage conditions...

Like when it's left in the sun? Or when it's not refrigerated? Why would STORAGE be a problem when it is not a problem in the real world??


Headaches are the most common symptom reported by consumers.[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-Magnuson-7) While one small review noted aspartame is likely one of many dietary triggers of migraines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migraine), in a list that includes "cheese, chocolate, citrus fruits (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrus_fruits), hot dogs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_dogs), monosodium glutamate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate), aspartame, fatty foods, ice cream (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cream), caffeine withdrawal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_withdrawal), and alcoholic drinks, especially red wine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_wine) and beer,"[81] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-Millichap-2003-80) other reviews have noted conflicting studies about headaches[8] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-Magnuson-7)[82] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy#cite_note-81) and still more reviews lack any evidence and references to support this claim

Yes, muddying the waters.


...it has long been recognized that excessive intake of phenylalanine, one of the constituent amino acids of aspartame, can pose a hazard to individuals suffering from an inherited metabolic disorder called phenylketonuria. For this reason, all foods containing aspartame must indicate on the label the presence of phenylalanine.

So, it's safe, BUT.


Anecdotal reports claiming that aspartame caused health problems increased in the days and weeks after aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages in 1983. These reports prompted the FDA to request an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC analyzed more than 500 reports and the problems associated with aspartame were divided into two categories. Two-thirds of the people experienced neurological problems while one-quarter of the people experienced gastrointestinal problems. The neurological symptoms consisted of headaches, mood alterations, insomnia, dizziness, and fatigue. The gastrointestinal symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. The CDC concluded, "The majority of symptoms were mild and are symptoms that are common in the general populace."

So, they happened, but it's okay despite the numbers and despite the link to aspartame.

Lot's of evidence, all of it discounted and muddied by studies, all funded by Aspartame producers.

Believe as you wish. I stay away from it as much as possible. There was less evidence with cyclamates, yet it remains largely banned.


Controversy developed when, in 1966, a study reported that some intestinal bacteria could desulfonate cyclamate to produce cyclohexylamine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclohexylamine), a compound suspected to have some chronic toxicity in animals. Further research resulted in a 1969 study that found the common 10:1 cyclamate:saccharin mixture to increase the incidence of bladder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinary_bladder) cancer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer) in rats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat). The released study was showing that eight out of 240 rats fed a mixture of saccharin and cyclamates, at levels of humans ingesting 350 cans of diet soda per day, developed bladder tumors. Other studies implicated cyclohexylamine in testicular (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testicle) atrophy in mice (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouse).[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_cyclamate#cite_note-1) On October 18, 1969, the Food and Drug Administration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Drug_Administration) banned its sale in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) with citation of the Delaney Amendment (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaney_clause) after reports that large quantities of cyclamates could cause liver damage, bladder cancer, birth mutations and defects, reduce testosterone or shrivel the testes. In the same month, cyclamate was approved for use in the United Kingdom and is still used in low-calorie drinks; it is still available without restriction in the UK and other parts of Europe. As cyclamate is stable in heat, it was and is marketed as suitable for use in cooking and baking. Commercially, it is available as Sucaryl™. [3] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_cyclamate#cite_note-2)



SO, cyclamates banned here on flimsy evidence, but despite a large amount of sick people and an epidemic of diabetes, aspartame remains on the market.

It only makes sense if you realize this is life in America.

[HUGH]

The European recommended sweetener is "Sucralose". It bears no chemical resemblance to sucrose and is supposedly safe. I haven't found any reports to the contrary.....so far.

[ab1ga]

That's why I switched to diet. Can't freakin' win.

Guess I need to "acquire" a taste for coffee, eh? Or... water?

I switched to diet sodas when I was diagnosed as diabetic, but after ten or so years it's getting so I can't stand the taste. I've started switching to seltzer water with lemon, lime, or orange wedges, and sometimes all three. Makes a big difference.

73,

[NQ6U]

I switched to diet sodas [...]

I've switched to benzene, usually neat but sometimes on the rocks with a twist.

[N2NH]

One of the side-effects of aspartame is that above 80° F, it emits formaldehyde. This is a strong carcinogen and is why it is important to keep it refrigerated. There is still a problem because the human body is normally 98.6° F so it will break down once it has been consumed. During Desert Storm, pallets of Diet Sodas were left in the sun for days and sometimes weeks in triple digit temperatures. Originally, I thought I had contracted my condition from a vet who had that mystery disease that so many came back home with. Problem was, even though I had the same symptoms, it wasn't caused by being contagious, but by the same soft drinks.

There is a new drink by Pepsi called "NEXT". It is the replacement for Pepsi Throwback. Trying to disguise the fact that it has aspartame, it is sweetened with High Fructose Corn Syrup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Fructose_Corn_Syrup), Aspartame (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame), Acesulfame Potassium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acesulfame_Potassium), and Sucralose (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucralose). It is so bad that even on sale it sits on the shelf because nobody will buy it.

A Link to ponder. (http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/recent.html#1)