Aspartame

Aspartame is by FAR the most dangerous substance added to our food market. In studying Aspartame (it's in DIET SODA & also goes by the names NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful & Equal Measure) I have found so many chilling {no pun intended!} adverse effects to it that it's hard for me to know where to even begin. Researchers and physicians have found that chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by ingesting Aspartame. It attacks the nervous system and can mimic the effects of Muscular Sclerosis, Parkinson's and other neurological diseases. As many as 98 toxic side effects have been reported, including depression, chronic fatigue, obesity and addiction to it! Dr. Mercola, a doctor who is devoted to the public awareness of this TOXIC substance, says, "Aspartame accounts for over 75% of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death."

What is Aspartame?

Here's what it's made of -

Aspartic Acid (40% of Aspartame)

In talking about Aspartic Acid let's also talk about Glutamic Acid (about 99% of MSG is Glutamic Acid) - these are called "excess free excitatory amino acids", and by ingesting them in our food supply we are experiencing chronic neurological disorders and a myriad of other acute symptoms. This information is from a book published by a professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical University in Mississippi, Dr. Russel L. Baylock, and is backed by nearly 500 different scientific references. "The excess glutamate and aspartate slowly begin to destroy neurons. The large majority (over 75% or more) of the neural cells in a particular area of the brain are killed before any clinical symptoms of a chronic illness are noticed." - that's from Dr. Mercola's website which you can look up if you're interested in investigating this further. (Ya I know most people are really savy and already know about this all.) There is also a strong link between aspartic and glutamic acid (aspartame and msg) - and memory loss.   

Phenylalanine (50% of Aspartame)

Phenylalanine is an amino acid that is normally found in the brain. However, ingesting Aspartame (especially along with carbohydrates) can lead to excess levels of it in the brain. What excess levels of Phenylalanine does is cause the levels of seratonin in the brain to decrease, and decreased levels of seratonin is what leads to emotional disorders. Studies show even a single use of aspartame raises the blood Phenylalanine levels. (I'm sure Prozac and Big Pharma looovvve Aspartame.)

Methanol (aka wood alcohol/poison) 10% of Aspartame

This is a deadly poison. If Aspartame is improperly stored (who knows where the boxes were before they got to your house) at above 86 fahrenheit - your body will then speed up its ability to absorb methanol --- very bad. One quart of an aspartame-sweetened beverage contains 56 mg of methanol. In assessing it's toxic (pff, better word for poisonous) effects, the EPA recommends a consumption limit of 7.8 mg a day. Symptoms from methanol poisoning include headaches, dizziness, gastrointestinal disturbances, nausea, ear buzzing, weakness, vertigo chills, memory lapses, numbness and shooting pains in the extremities, behavioral disturbances, and neuritis. The most well known problems occurring from methanol are vision problems - misty vision, progressive contraction of vision fields, blurred vision, obscuration of vision,  retinal damage, and blindness.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-neuritis.htm

http://www.diseasesatoz.com/neuritis.htm

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/224160-Just-How-Bad-is-Aspartame-

What is soda anyway?? My favorite answer is from Tom Philpott, "artificially blackened water tarted up with synthetic chemicals."

Okay next post will be about something light and happy -- promise.

Love,

Kelsea