Sweet Misery

[fawn]

If you have not seen this movie and you consume aspartame, I would advise it. Quite an eye opening experience. Anyone allowing their children to consume this toxic chemical should really see this movie....I think you might consciously change your mind about the safety of consumption.

Dead brain cells are a frightening thing.

Such a socially acceptable addiction.

I got it on netflix for anyone interested.

[GardenGirl639]

I needed to see this today, Fawn. I put it in my queue. It's also available as an "Instant Watch."

I've been feeling a bit sorry for myself that I can't seem to tolerate any artificial sweetener. I get horrible headaches from them. Even my little breath mint gives me and aura for awhile after I eat it. While Stevia is not artificial, it gives me a sore throat for the whole day after I eat it so that is out too.

This will reinforce that Aspartame isn't good for me anyways, so I'm not missing out.

[Carrollkay]

So splenda is ok right??
Lisa

[thestreets]

You can watch this docu online at -

Free Movies & Documentaries - Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World (2004)

[fawn]

Thank you for posting that link!

Folks, don't ignore this one......it is scary.

[tomswife]

Originally Posted by Carrollkay

So splenda is ok right??
Lisa

In my humble opinion, NO!

[Zer]

Check it out at Mercola on "Sweet Misery"

[Kris T.]

I will have to watch this. Unfortunately I use a small bit of Equal, not being able to tolerate granular Splenda.

I refuse to let my kids have it though. They have sugar or honey, in moderation of course.

[LauraAnn]

Fawn, I am only 7 minutes into watching this and I swear I am shaking. I have had such a light bulb moment it is incredible.

I was going to tell you all the details but it would take forever. Suffice it to say 8 years ago I started with some pretty bad neurologic problems. A friend of mine (who is a real health expert like you) told me to quit AS because she thought it was odd how it coincided with me only several months before quitting sugar and starting to use large quantities of AS. I don't know why, but I kind of dismissed it at the time. But it has stayed in the back of my mind. But no more.

I swear to youthat 30 minutes ago I just drank my last diet Coke. No more AS for me at all anywhere in anything.

I will post in the coming weeks my progress. I have had to take Tegretol to control the neuro problems for 8 years now. I see my neuro Tuesday for my yearly and am going to talk to him about a slow taper after about 3 months of being off AS.

I have also wanted to post and tell you about my dad who about 35 years ago became crippled with arthritis in his 50s. He was in agony and nothing was helping. A friend where he worked told him about this book: A Doctor's Home Cure for Arthritis by Giraud W. Campbell. The friend said not to think he was a nuts but to just try it.

I saw the man go from crippled to cured in a matter of weeks. I would not have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes.

When I think back I remember him telling me that the doctor believed arthritis was caused by all the junk in our diet... all the additives.

I remember he started with a fast and a cleanse of his colon and then what he ate was basically everything fresh. All meats and dairy came from hormone free additive free sources. Milk was actually raw. He also took supplements. He ate raw honey I think? I'm going to see if I can find his old book. I remember he ate TONS of food and in addition to arthritis reversing itself completely, he lost 40 lbs without trying.

Anyway, a very interesting read and I thought you would be interested in reading it. The doc was a man before his time.

My dad became a health food junkie in a small town in south Texas back in a day when it was unheard of. But he is almost 90 now and still going strong. He's even had three different types of cancers that he refused treatment for and his immune system kept things in check. Up until about five years ago he still road his bike.

Sorry for rambling, but thought this would all interest you. I'll check back in over the coming weeks to let you know if I see a difference in symptoms with quitting AS.

Laura

[LauraAnn]

I forgot... all the veggies he wanted... including potatoes of any sort... but all I had to be organic.

[Tuscanytrace]

Originally Posted by Kris T.

I will have to watch this. Unfortunately I use a small bit of Equal, not being able to tolerate granular Splenda.

I refuse to let my kids have it though. They have sugar or honey, in moderation of course.

There are alternatives to Splenda, which I can't tolerate either. There's stevia. Some health food stores will have packets of different brands, plus dropper bottles of the liquids, for you to sample to determine which one you like. There's Lo Han Guo. There are erythritol and xylitol.

[gettinserious]

I cannot view movies, but I know the risks of consuming AS, sugar or anything else like that. I am to a point that I would like to learn how to sweeten stuff with raw natural products if I feel a need for sweet. Such as pure maple syrup, pure honey or even natural unsweetened fruit juices.

[Tuscanytrace]

Originally Posted by gettinserious

I cannot view movies, but I know the risks of consuming AS, sugar or anything else like that. I am to a point that I would like to learn how to sweeten stuff with raw natural products if I feel a need for sweet. Such as pure maple syrup, pure honey or even natural unsweetened fruit juices.

I give my kids real maple syrup and raw honey, but very limited quantities. Mostly I use stevia, which is a natural product. I can't find a lo han guo product that doesn't have a form of fructose, which is NOT safe for anyone with carbohydrate intolerance problems (which would be about everyone on here!) even though it's often billed as being safe for diabetics.

Mostly, as a family, we've gotten away from lots of sweet things. The quantity of stevia it took to make something sweet for me a month ago is now way too sweet! I"m able to cut it by a third so far. Maybe down the road I'll need to cut it further, and maybe eventually dispense with it unless I'm cooking for a get-together.

[rose1]

Marking.

[Lucky21]

Okay, after watching that I am officially freaked! I usually stick with Stevia or Splenda so I wan't too worried... that is until I started checking my SF Jello and ice pops! Ack! What else have I been eating SF that has this crap in it? I threw out the jello and ice pops and will be more careful in the future.

Thankfully I haven't had these symptoms, but I don't want to acquire any medical issues! I'm sure I will end up eating something with Equal/Nutrasweet in it, but I'm going to do my best NOT to. Honestly, I just didn't bother to look at what sweetener they used, just the carb count. I should be more careful! Thanks for the heads up.

[tomswife]

I have to check the packaging to make sure they didn't add splenda before I can buy it.

[heidihoopi]

Be sure to read this too.

snopes.com: Aspartame -- Sweet Poison?

[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.

[fawn]

oh please, Snopes is NOT the tell all

secondly, did you WATCH it?

Far too many unanswered questions and you can find any report you "choose" to seek.

Enjoy your aspartame and if YOU can in good conscience consume such a controversal chemical and give it to your children.....
I wish you good health and no dead brain cells.....

I happen to trust the neurologists in this report and at this point would not trust anything Rumsfeld had his dirty fingers on.

[quitecontrary]

Thanks for sharing the link. I am on my way into the kitchen to pour my diet drinks down the drain, and then I'm hitting my cabinets in search of any aspartame-sweetened products which will quickly go from shelf to trash.

This documentary scared the heck out of me. I am a believer.

I've always wondered if it was really that unsafe because I'd never had an allergic reaction, but the neurologist plainly stated that even if you don't have instant reactions, it is causing some nasty things that get worse over time.

I shudder to think of what I have done to my body over the past 20 years. . .

[fawn]

Good for you Carol Ann......

I have had over the years some strange symptoms that have become less apparent since discontinuing any diet products. I used to consume diet Dr. Pepper w/cream for dessert and sf jello, sf gum, mints, etc. These symptoms were strange circles in the outer corners of my eyes that my Eye Dr. could not diagnose. She told me if they got worse she would send me to a neurologist.

When the common denominator is removed and the symptoms subside? yeah I think I've found the culprit so one can publlish little citings here and there but until I see a full blown report with double blind studies cited......though it's a chemical and my precious body deserves better than the ingestion of chemicals.......and so does yours!

[lildragonfly]

WOW.....I dont know what else to say.

[CrzyCatLady]

Originally Posted by LauraAnn

Fawn, I am only 7 minutes into watching this and I swear I am shaking. I have had such a light bulb moment it is incredible.

I was going to tell you all the details but it would take forever. Suffice it to say 8 years ago I started with some pretty bad neurologic problems. A friend of mine (who is a real health expert like you) told me to quit AS because she thought it was odd how it coincided with me only several months before quitting sugar and starting to use large quantities of AS. I don't know why, but I kind of dismissed it at the time. But it has stayed in the back of my mind. But no more.

I swear to youthat 30 minutes ago I just drank my last diet Coke. No more AS for me at all anywhere in anything.

I will post in the coming weeks my progress. I have had to take Tegretol to control the neuro problems for 8 years now. I see my neuro Tuesday for my yearly and am going to talk to him about a slow taper after about 3 months of being off AS.

I have also wanted to post and tell you about my dad who about 35 years ago became crippled with arthritis in his 50s. He was in agony and nothing was helping. A friend where he worked told him about this book: A Doctor's Home Cure for Arthritis by Giraud W. Campbell. The friend said not to think he was a nuts but to just try it.

I saw the man go from crippled to cured in a matter of weeks. I would not have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes.

When I think back I remember him telling me that the doctor believed arthritis was caused by all the junk in our diet... all the additives.

I remember he started with a fast and a cleanse of his colon and then what he ate was basically everything fresh. All meats and dairy came from hormone free additive free sources. Milk was actually raw. He also took supplements. He ate raw honey I think? I'm going to see if I can find his old book. I remember he ate TONS of food and in addition to arthritis reversing itself completely, he lost 40 lbs without trying.

Anyway, a very interesting read and I thought you would be interested in reading it. The doc was a man before his time.

My dad became a health food junkie in a small town in south Texas back in a day when it was unheard of. But he is almost 90 now and still going strong. He's even had three different types of cancers that he refused treatment for and his immune system kept things in check. Up until about five years ago he still road his bike.

Sorry for rambling, but thought this would all interest you. I'll check back in over the coming weeks to let you know if I see a difference in symptoms with quitting AS.

Laura

When you find the book could you please PM me or post it here. My Dad has severe RA and I would be interested in finding it.

Thanks!

[cleochatra]

I think this is something which has been prone to oversensalization.

There are a lot of scare tactics out there warning people off of many things.

People should see the film, do their own research and then determine for themselves whether there is something to it. It's like the SuperSize Me film-- there is something for everyone, even if people don't ascribe to everything in the movie.

It's worth a watch.

Let's not get into the fallacious appeal to authority argument, stick to facts,and try to convince folks to decide for themselves through numbers and not fear tactics or anecdotal evidence. Religion is one thing. Science is another.

[scandalouslyglam]

Hello all,

Something tells me if I watch this I won't be able to stick to my WOE. I read Fast Food Nation...and couldn't eat, look or Think about ground beef for a LOOOONG Time.

I am one of those that is easily scared. Hmmm, perhaps I will do some research first. Im marking my spot. Thanks.

[Zer]

Originally Posted by CrzyCatLady

When you find the book could you please PM me or post it here. My Dad has severe RA and I would be interested in finding it. Thanks!

I googled and got this:

A Doctor's Home Cure for Arthritis. Author: Giraud W. Campbell. ISBN: 9780007132829. Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers. ... Dr Campbell's 7 day plan has helped many thousands of sufferers overcome the pain of osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis. Now considered a classic self-help book, A Doctor's Home Cure for Arthritis is a drug-free plan that introduces certain key foods and helps you eliminate processed foods, caffeine and coffee from your diet.

Try FetchBooks.info for best price on books.

[ncgirl]

Originally Posted by cleochatra

I think this is something which has been prone to oversensalization.

There are a lot of scare tactics out there warning people off of many things.

People should see the film, do their own research and then determine for themselves whether there is something to it. It's like the SuperSize Me film-- there is something for everyone, even if people don't ascribe to everything in the movie.

It's worth a watch.

Let's not get into the fallacious appeal to authority argument, stick to facts,and try to convince folks to decide for themselves through numbers and not fear tactics or anecdotal evidence. Religion is one thing. Science is another.

well-said!

[gettinserious]

These symptoms were strange circles in the outer corners of my eyes that my Eye Dr. could not diagnose

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.

[gina1]

wow? getting rid of my crystal lite and going back to plain old lemon water!

[cleochatra]

Now, I have seen the movie this morning and I have done my own research.

Some might think I am a supporter of aspartame. I am not in any way, shape or form, an aspartame fan, but I am an opposer of sensationalism and appeals to emotion and authority (or to peer pressure and fear mongering).

Despite my dislike for anecdotal evidence as the reasoning for anyone to believe anything (especially online), I will appeal for a moment to my own circumstantial evidence.

For several years I have been suffering from facial numbness. It has been a worrisome continuation of numb face, which especially is exacerbated with stress. This has been a relative new occurrence, beginning in 2006.

In 2007, I was given an MRI (a brain scan) because I was encountering odd tingling in my limbs which came and went, but which were increasing in frequency and in discomfort.

Nearing 2008, I was also encountering dizzy spells, tending to fall down for no reason whatsoever, and more recently have been experiencing lapses in the ability to find the words I want to use when speaking or writing. I will often stop for a moment and think about the word I'm looking for, when, years ago, they found me quickly. It was almost as though I was suffering from aftereffects of stroke. Now I find my vision blurred. I will close my eyes and shake my head to 'right' myself, but don't trust myself to drive on various occasions due to this out-of-the-blue anomaly.

Despite being morbidly obese for years, I have been tested for and have been determined to not have diabetes. No stroke, and aside from occasional panic attacks, no cardiac concerns. My blood pressure is normal, and I am not medicated for any infirmities, nor do I take vitamins regularly. I do eat a healthy, whole-foods diet.

I have been an avid consumer of aspartame in Kool-Aid and in Diet Coke, Extra Gum, Jell-O, D-Zerta, and other drink items and food items regularly since 1983, consuming approximately 1-2-liters of the beverages per day (give or take) over the last 25 years.

The MRI showed shadows on my brain, but no absolute evidence of a disease. The doctor is monitoring me for possible signs of multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease many are registering with the FDA.

Again, this is anecdotal. This is my experience.

I look to my research and I now wonder at the number of heightened autism cases which exist in the United States, as an explosion in the last 20 years has prompted more research and acknowledgment of the affliction. Are babies in the womb who are subjected to aspartame turning out to be the new fetal alcohol syndrome kids?

Are my four autistic children this way due to the poisons jumping the blood-brain barrier for years on end while I Diet Coke-d and Extra-Gum'd and Kool-Aid'd my way through pregnancy?

I am not going to try to convince anyone here that, based on my personal experiences and research that aspartame is a poison. You have to do that research for yourself. I can't convince you that there have been more brain tumors in the United states in the last 20 years any more than I can convince you that there is or is not snow on the ground in Colorado.

For me, the evidence is compelling.

Find your own evidence.