Toxic Additives

Toxic Additive Alert!

By: Susan Booth


I was blessed to be born into a health-conscious family where eating well has always been a high priority. We’ve tried to stay away from artificial ingredients, and any natural ingredients that might be detrimental to our health. But recently, several people close to me have had problems related to a specific toxic chemical added to many sugar-free and diet products. Although I have stayed away from this toxic Sugar substitute, as many of you probably have, I decided this important subject should be brought to your attention in case you have friends who are affected. After just one search on the Internet for the words “aspartame dangers,” I found many testimonials to substantiate the stories of my own friends and colleagues. I also found numerous disturbing scientific reports.

Recently, I was reminded of the potentially dangerous side effects of Aspartame (NutraSweet) when my assistant told me that a decade ago she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, after discontinuing diet soda and sugar-free gum for six months she was remarkably free of MS symptoms. Just last month she confided she was beginning to have the symptoms again. Why? Her new favorite gum contained aspartame! When she realized this she threw away all the gum and her symptoms have already begun to subside. (It takes about two months of being aspartame-free to see significant improvement. If you have or know someone who has “mystery” symptoms and uses any product containing aspartame, seriously consider discontinuing all products containing Aspartame for two months to see if the symptoms improve.)

So, I started asking around... who else is consuming Aspartame products, or has in the past? Did they notice anything strange? Yes! People told me of their personal experiences. They said aspartame seems to be addictive... you can’t pull yourself away from it. When one is consuming aspartame products, other sweeteners (including plain sugar) have a bad aftertaste and they actually prefer the taste of aspartame. And significantly, a number of the people I am acquainted with who currently consume aspartame have MS (or at least the symptoms of it), Parkinson’s symptoms, or other major health problems. The effects of aspartame can mimic or worsen symptoms of other diseases such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, lupus, multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), epilepsy, Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue syndrome, lymphoma, lyme disease, attention deficit disorder (ADD or ADHD), and depression. (4)

Specifically, aspartame affects the nervous system. There is a list of nearly 100 symptoms associated with aspartame including blindness, tinnitus, anxiety attacks, brain tumors, depression, dizziness and disorientation, headache, memory loss, joint pain, numbness, slurred speech, and seizures to name a few. (3) These symptoms may not appear immediately after ingesting aspartame. The damage is cumulative and may not show up for 5, 10, or even 40 years down the road. (7)

The nerves are so much affected by aspartame that the U.S. Air Force and Navy have warned pilots that even a stick of sugar-free gum may impair their ability to safely fly their plane. Pilots are potential victims of “sudden memory loss, dizziness during instrument flight and gradual loss of vision.” (2)

Aspartame safety is a hot issue because there is a lot of money involved. The government, the chemical industry, and health care providers all have agendas that don’t necessarily benefit your health. I won’t go into those details here except to alert you to the controversy and let you do additional research on your own. Each side in this debate points out “facts” to support its position. But I found it an interesting coincidence that Monsanto (yes, the company that genetically engineered Round-Up-ready seeds) is the same company that invented aspartame (NutraSweet), a product which can cause the symptoms of arthritis, and yet, they are also the makers of the popular Arthritis pain-reliever drug Celebrex! (2)

Aspartame breaks down into three harmful components when it reaches temperatures above 86° F. (Thus, if it hasn’t done so already on the store shelf or in the delivery truck, your own body temperature certainly causes the aspartame to break down.) The three components are: phenylalanine (50%), aspartic acid (40%), and methanol, also termed wood alcohol (10%). Phenylalanine decomposes into diketopiperazine (DKP), a known carcinogen. And methanol converts to formaldehyde (an embalming agent) and then to formic acid (the same poison found in the sting of fire ants).(2)(3)

Azure Standard does not carry products that contain aspartame. But, when you’re going through your pantry in search of any hidden aspartame you’ll want to look at any products that could contain aspartame such as: soft drinks, over-the-counter drugs & prescription drugs (very common and listed under “inactive ingredients”), vitamin & herb supplements, yogurt, instant breakfasts, candy, breath mints, cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, cocoa mixes, coffee beverages, gelatin desserts, frozen desserts, juice beverages, laxatives, milk drinks, shake mixes, tabletop sweeteners, tea beverages, instant teas and coffees, topping mixes, wine coolers, etc. (5) And to add to the confusion, in some countries such as Australia, the word “aspartame” may not appear on the label, but the phrase “Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine” appears instead. (5)

As I perused articles about aspartame I found it particularly interesting that Gulf War Syndrome could be linked to the aspartame in the diet colas the troops were given. Many veterans of the Gulf war have been permanently debilitated by mysterious symptoms that are quite similar to the effects of aspartame. (2 & 3)

Some argue however, that Sugar has a much broader negative affect on the American people than aspartame does since Sugar (and by extension all carbohydrates) is the leading preventable cause of major diseases in this country such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and the like. When sugar is removed from the diet, the body can rejuvinate itself. However, aspartame not only can do serious nerve and brain damage that is irreversible, but it can cause harm to an unborn child! The effects of aspartame on an unborn baby are stunning -- birth defects and brain damage.(6) During the first year of life infants can suffer irreversible brain damage because of tainted breast milk. (2)

So, what do you do if sugar is not an option for you, and yet the carb-free artificial sweeteners are more dangerous? My family has discovered Stevia. Stevia is a natural herb that has been used as a sweetener for over a thousand years without side-effects of any kind. Not only is stevia sweet, but it has health promoting properties - it may help normalize blood pressure, regulate blood sugar, aid digestion, normalize pancreatic function, and prevent cold/flu. (1) Notice that stevia has only been approved by the FDA as a nutritional supplement, not as food. But, that’s another story you’ll find along the way as you research this on your own. (Japan has banned the use of aspartame and saccharine, and stevia is now used in hundreds of Japanese products including sodas and snacks - commanding a 52 percent share of the commercial sweetener market there. (1)

The bottom line is: “Better safe than sorry.” When it comes to your lifelong good health, why risk a life of disfunction and pain in exchange for the sweetness of aspartame?

1) Sugar Alternative Provides Health Benefits, Health Keepers Magazine Vol. 3 Issue 2
2) Aspartame - Sweet Poison? by Larry Cook, The EcoVision Journal
3) Aspartame, Optimal Breathing, http://www.breathing.com/articles/aspartame.htm
4) Aspartame (NutraSweet) Toxicity Info Center http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/
5) Aspartame/NutraSweet Detoxification http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/detox.html
6) Aspartame/NutraSweet Dangers in Pregnancy http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/preg.html
7) Aspartame...the BAD news! article courtesy of Mark Gold, http://www.dorway.com/badnews.html

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