Sweet Misery

[Magicsmom]

Cleo, have you discontinued aspartame, and if so, did your symptoms change when you gave it up?

[KevetS]

Well, I'll just point out that everything is "chemicals" and that arsenic and hemlock are all natural and that witchcraft is ancient.

I never know what advice to follow. Eggs are bad for you, eggs are good for you and on and on. You just do the best you can to be sensible.

I know that sugar, all natural yummy cane sugar, is as bad for me as alcohol is for an alcoholic. And yet I like some things sweetened, like my coffee. I use splenda. I'll also drink diet coke (I try to get the splenda variety when I can) and have other aspertame stuff. This is kind of a *shrug* for me. Life expectancy keeps going up and is highest in advanced industrialized countries. We'll all die someday of course, and I figure obesity-related morbidity is the battle I'll fight.

[cleochatra]

I've been researching aspartame for months now, but when I watched the film and correlated my evidence it proved to be overwhelming.

So, for the first time since 1984, as of 10:25 this morning, I'm aspartame free. I'm going to keep track of symptoms, as I am still experiencing everything listed above. Since the level of damage I've down to my body (in my opinion) over 25 years is so great, it could take weeks or months to recover fully. And, even then, there are long-term ramifications of continued use of that manufactured substance. I might still develop multiple sclerosis.

Research has shown that many neurological issues are due to environmental stimuli.

But, again, people need to do their own research. I've done mine.

[pooticus]

Originally Posted by heidihoopi

Be sure to read this too.

snopes.com: Aspartame -- Sweet Poison?

Ok, so if you are going to dispute this, try something better than Snopes. The arguments they used on this particular issue were very lame. Who is Dr. Dean Edell?

Cleo, I do think that all anecdotal evidence needs to be taken with a grain of salt but this is a support board. The main body of posts are about anecdotal accounts and "Please help me with such and such, I'm doing x, y, or z..." So I do think anecdotal accounts are appropriate here, you know? (Any by the way, I sure prayer you stay off the crud and you start feeling better immediately! and will say prayers for your relief!!!)

And here's my own account,

I can't drink or eat anything with aspartame in it, regardless of temperature, because I get asthma. It will take me from no coughing to trying to hock up a lung cuz of chest tightness within 2 sips. So is it an allergy, plain and simple? Or is it the aspartame? Dunno. But I do know that some of the noted very common side effects are headaches and asthma...interesting.

[jadelee]

20 years from now we'll see a new movie concerning the now-known negative effects of splenda.

[pooticus]

Originally Posted by jadelee

20 years from now we'll see a new movie concerning the now-known negative effects of splenda.

I really believe we will too.

[cleochatra]

I agree that we take a lot at face value, but look at us--we're in the face of a nation who thinks that high-calorie, low-fat diets are the way to live healthfully.

We are low-carbohydrate followers who follow this lifestyle, not because of anecdotal evidence, but because we know the benefits of a largely grain-free, whole foods existence. We can't afford to be chicken littles, running around crying that the sky is falling. Instead, we provide the blood workups. The cholesterol tests. The empirical evidence which shows health and sustenance on this way of eating.

Making claims towards mainstays of a weight loss plan should merit no less the same attention to detail, taking into account that scare tactics are no more the answer than lack of actual evidence.

I'm not trying to pick on anyone here. I'm just saying that people are rational and cogent. We have one poster who says, "Eh. This is just more of the same." Look at how much the media has changed its mind over recent years about the dangers of something, only to be inundated with the benefits months or years later.

One thing that hasn't changed is that neurological problems are increasing in this country at an alarming rate. Why? The answers could be in the very substances we are willingly ingesting.

I remember when smoking was claimed as healthy, too.

Research and empirical data are the key when trying to sway people to understand. It's worth the effort to win advocates with knowledge and not fear. This isn't religion. This is science.

[Zer]

Originally Posted by pooticus

...if you are going to dispute this, try something better than Snopes. The arguments they used on this particular issue were very lame. Who is Dr. Dean Edell?

Ophthalmologist, with an M.D. from Cornell in 1967. Began in 1978 on KGO in San Francisco, California, a station he still retains as his home base. His radio program is now syndicated to 400 stations in the United States.

University: BA, Cornell University (1963)
Medical School: MD, Cornell University (1967)

[DolphinsOnMyMind777]

Marking my spot!

[pooticus]

Thanks Zer, and he qualifies as an authority on the deliterious effects of aspartame on the neurologic system...why? Just wondering...

[Sugar Free Sweet Pea]

I have been having problems with my knee, for about a year now. Nothing I can't live with...but, problems. Then, all of a sudden (about a month ago), my knee got so bad, I could hardly walk on it. Someone asked me if I'd been consuming alot more aspartame, than usual. Well, I do not drink soda at all, much less diet soda, and I refuse to use Equal. I avoid products that use Equal. Then I remembered, about two months ago, I found Crystal Lite flavored teas. I love them so much, I started drinking almost a half a gallon, a day. I went in and looked at the ingredients...sure enough...ASPARTAME.

Is that what was causing my severe knee problem? Who knows? I've since quit drinking Crystal Lite Tea...I just make my own, and use Sweet-n-Low. I guess I'll find out, soon enough.

[hollyoak]

I'ust marking my spot so I can watch the links later.

[tita2005]

Wow a light bulb just went off in my head. I quit caffeine about a month ago, I drink herbal coffee. I have been noticing no more arthritis pain in my left knee, but didn't know why it had gone away.

Now I'm thinking it was the coffee.

Theresa

[Tuscanytrace]

Originally Posted by pooticus

Ok, so if you are going to dispute this, try something better than Snopes. The arguments they used on this particular issue were very lame. Who is Dr. Dean Edell?

That's what I was thinking, Poot. While they're right on a lot of things, I've seen at least once in the past where they've given out the wrong answer on controversial issues--the party line, so to speak, when I had personal experience and official knowledge that the thing they refuted was true.

Dean Edell is a lowfat diet guru whose segment is carried on a lot of news stations, or used to be.

Also, all three links make pro-Nutrasweet statements that are refuted in the video, often by board-certified specialists.

[Tuscanytrace]

Originally Posted by pooticus

I really believe we will too.

I hope we do. I'd love to know just why I get migraines that last for 3 weeks from sucralose (Splenda), while the ones I get from Nutrasweet last only 3 days (but are horribly intense).

[Tuscanytrace]

Originally Posted by gettinserious

I get little tadpole looking squirmy lights its weird. I never used to have them..... Before dieting and drinking diet pop particularly. I thought it was just my eyesight getting worse. Hmmm, I wonder now.

Wish I could see that video.

That's what my migraine auras that I ONLY would get with Nutrasweet looked like! I don't get auras from Splenda, or on the ones I get when I'm not doing LC from a combination of heat, light, and stress triggers. Just Nutrasweet gives me tadpole auras.

If you haven't actually had a migraine to follow the auras yet, trust me, you DON'T want one. It took me about 15 years to figure out what was causing them, because I was taking in so much Nutrasweet it didn't even occur to me. But it happened the very first time I had some Diet Coke--put me in the college health center for three days, losing so much fluid that they put me on an IV drip to rehydrate me. I think it also messed up my endocrine system--something I realized watching this movie. I always thought it was birth control pills, but I haven't taken them in 23 years after having only 6 weeks' worth!

I figured it out when my OBGYN told me to stop drinking it when I was pregnant with my first child. I just thought no migraines was a nice side-effect of pregnancy. But someone at work offered me a sugar-free Certs when I was about 8 months along, and I was so sick I scared my co-workers and they wanted me to go to a hospital, or offered to drive me home! I realized then it was Nutrasweet, after looking at the label of the Certs. Two years later almost to the day, after having had none for 2 years, my sis-in-law brought some SF Jello salad (the kind with whipped cream and put through a blender) to a family picnic. She knew I couldn't have Nutrasweet and needed to know if anything had it in it; but didn't tell me. She told me later, after I'd nearly lost my job for missing several days of work after a holiday and called to check what was in the salad, "OH, I thought you just didn't like it! I thought since I couldn't taste it was in the Jello salad, it would be fine with you!" We haven't had any slip-ups since.

After getting off of it, my headaches pretty much stopped...until they started adding it to skim milk, which I didn't find out about until last year. So for about 3 years I was getting them again. But 7 years ago we switched to fresh local milk, raw, anyhow. And I didn't have them again until I started using Splenda early last spring.

[tita2005]

What kind of yoghurt can I give my kids?

They've been eating the Lite kind with Aspartame. Any substitutes?

Thanks,

Theresa

[tita2005]

Also, if I had been drinking a lot of diet soda I noticed I had trouble remembering. Now I know I'm not crazy.

Theresa

[Zer]

Originally Posted by tita2005

What kind of yoghurt can I give my kids? They've been eating the Lite kind with Aspartame. Any substitutes?

You will see a difference if you select yoghurt that has active cultures - no gelatin to firm up faux yoghurt that has sweetener and no active cultures working in it.

To sweeten plain yoghurt, I like a bit of banana, diced fine. Less-carby sweets are available, I'm sure, but banana is an occasional treat for me nowadays. All sorts of berries go great in yoghurt. Have fun creating your favorite flavors!

[deb3]

Okay, the good news is that I don't do the Yogurt, the gum, the SF candy, the jello- none of that stuff. My nemisis is diet soda- I drink at least one a day if not two or three. I'm also drinking my water.

I have one cup of coffee a day with Splenda, but I'm guessing that's just as bad. I don't like the taste of Stevia- what can use that is natural while still following the WOE?

[tita2005]

I want to know too! If there's ANY sweetener that's safe to use.


Theresa

[Tooter]

This is a fascinating thread. Marking my spot.

[lisabinil]

Originally Posted by heidihoopi

Be sure to read this too.

snopes.com: Aspartame -- Sweet Poison?

Snopes is definitely not the tell all end all of things. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2005 at the Mayo Clinic. The only food substance I was warned about was aspartame-that there were medical findings being presented that it worsened the symptoms of Fibro in some people. Also my sister is in the medical records fields and has told me the records filed showing worsening of illnesses and/or their symptoms due to aspartame has increased dramatically.

[Diana]

Originally Posted by heidihoopi

Be sure to read this too.

snopes.com: Aspartame -- Sweet Poison?

Originally Posted by Pork Chop

And this:

NutraSweet and Brain Tumors

Aspartame and the internet

Personally, I'll take aspartame over any sugar, including "natural" sugar any day of the week.

Originally Posted by ncgirl

well-said!

Well I have formed my own thoughts on this and I do take in some Aspartame, maybe a Diet Pepsi a couple times a week. 90% of the time I will get a mild headache from them. Now I mainly use liquid Splenda (Davinchis) in my yogurt, and coffee. I do chew 1-2 pieces of gum- (Aspartame in them) a day- not a problem. if I fix Koolaide it's with Splenda. My PERSONAL opinion is I prefer Splenda over Sweetnlow or any of those. Stevia no matter how long I tried tastes bitter to me, use alittle I don't taste a thing, too much and it's bitter.
I believe that ANY type of Sugar or Sugar Substitute must be limited. Too much of anything- ANYTHING is bad! Including WATER

[tita2005]

Where's the 92 symptoms of Aspartame that the woman on the movie was talking about?

Theresa

[cleochatra]

I just wanted to say that I gave up Aspartame yesterday.

This morning for the first time in weeks I didn't wake up dizzy, and my face isn't numb. I know these are not psychosomatic 'wishing' away of symptoms, either. I'm too much of a skeptic.

[cleochatra]

92 Symptoms (as reported to the FDA):

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

[Tooter]

Originally Posted by cleochatra

I just wanted to say that I gave up Aspartame yesterday.

This morning for the first time in weeks I didn't wake up dizzy, and my face isn't numb. I know these are not psychosomatic 'wishing' away of symptoms, either. I'm too much of a skeptic.

That's amazing, Cleo. I do love your honesty. This has been a real eye opening thread.

[cleochatra]

I'm too lazy to be anything but honest, and too scatter-brained to keep track of fabrications. All you get from me is 100% loud Milwaukee, Wisconsin-born truth.

[deb3]

So Cleo, what are you drinking instead of diet soda?