Stop drinking diet coke. Aspartame causes cancer

[computerfreak77]

Stop using nutrasweet, Equal, diet coke, diet pepsi, and other aspartame containing items. The evidence is mounting against the FDA. The FDA has caved to pressure from the big companies to say that aspartame is not poison. Rats are used in labs because their reactions can be compared to humans, and if these rats developed cancer believe me. I aint drinking that stuff again. I'm not sure if regular coke has it but i'll find out.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=34040#
In fact if you google "aspartame", the first site you find is one linking you to several information resources about aspartame toxicity.
This stuff kills you slowly.

[Radio_Lady]

1. I'm using stevia, a natural sweetener. I've gotten used to it and will

use more of it now that I've read that article. Thanks for the post.

By the way, the article says it is used in over 6,000 foods. Amazing!

[sam sarrha]

33. stevia was rushed onto the market with only '1' 4 month human study. more>

no actual animal tests done because the animals would rather starve to death rather than eat the stuff.

chemically stevia is a chlorinated carbon.. or a pesticide

just google it.. 'stevia dangers'

[Mairead]

Are you perhaps thinking of something else?

Like pot, stevia been used around the world as a sweetener for a long time with no known side effects (other than that licorice-ish aftertaste).

[Mairead]

62. Are you perhaps thinking of something else?

Like pot, stevia been used around the world as a sweetener for a long time with no known side effects (other than that licorice-ish aftertaste).

[librechik]

63. maybe they're thinking about Splenda

which i have my doubts about

[Mr_Spock]

110. What are your doubts about Splenda?

Do you have any research I can read?

[helderheid]

71. I'm sure you mean splenda. Stevia is safe and delicious!

http://www.stevia.net/history.htm

Sugar producers don't like it.

http://www.healthy.net/hwlibrarybooks/stevia/questions.asp

Q) Is Stevia safe?

A) See chapter 6 for a detailed discussion. In general, Stevia is an all-natural herbal product with centuries of safe usage by native Indians in Paraguay. It has been thoroughly tested in dozens of tests around the world and found to be completely non-toxic. It has also been consumed safely in massive quantities (Thousands of tonnes annually) for the past twenty years. Although one group of studies, perform 1985 through 1987, found one ofthe metabolises of steviosides, called Steviol, to be mutagenic towards a particular strain of Salmonella bacteria, there is serious doubt as to whether this study is applicable to human metabolism of Stevia. In fact, the methodology used to measure the mutagenicity in this test was flawed according to a follow-up piece of research which also seriously questioned the validity of the results. For myself, I intend to use the product with both confidence in nature and respect for the healthy moderation and balance which nature teaches us.

[LisaL]

80. I have tried it. And lets face it-stevia doesn't compare to sugar.

Nothing does. Which is too bad, cause I am diabetic.

[helderheid]

158. have you tried stevia clear flavors? Vanilla flavored in seltzer water

tastes JUST LIKE a vanilla italian soda ... soooooooo good! I also add the flavors to plain organic yogurt. YUMMMM!

[helderheid]

72. Dupe! DOH!

[Gormy Cuss]

85. You mean I can grow chlorinated carbon?

Cool. Here I thought it was just fun to grow sweetener in leaf form.:P

[serryjw]

115. I hate the FDA and all their Bushit

Stevia is perfectly safe.......Read on my friend

http://www.herbal-supplements-guide.com/stevia-side-effects.html

[Tsiyu]

191. Stevia? It's a plant

One of my best buddies grows it and has a huge dried plant hanging in his kitchen. Real sweet stuff, but I think it's been in "development" for a few centuries!

[0007]

196. Can ya smoke it?

[insane_cratic_gal]

203. I just ordered some

I got the leaf based stevia..

you have any links of how much to use in coffee?

[waiting for hope]

2. Wasn't this part of a chain letter?

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

Until I hear it on the news, I'm not buying it....

[Clara T]

7. Buy it

Aspartame is wicked stuff. Do research.

[waiting for hope]

8. If it was as serious as this claims....

Doctors all over would be telling their patients not to use products with aspartame. I can't believe it's that big of a conspiracy.

[Occulus]

13. Conspiracy, hell

They'd be sued. Remember Oprah and the burger?

[kestrel91316]

92. They would NOT be sued (successfully). IIRC, what they say to

their patients in private is part of doctor-patient PRIVILEGE. Not actionable by anyone they discuss.

[Clara T]

16. Has nothing to do w/conspiracy

it's about chemical companies and profit.

Don't know what the hell this article is about or care but if you look into it you shall see, it's wicked stuff.

Your doctor has a lot more on his/her plate and isn't going to go to great lengths on this. Most doctors are too deep in the chemical modality anyway.

Anyway hope you stay away from the stuff.

[waiting for hope]

20. Okay, then tell me why

my Doctor tells me to quit smoking....and he wouldn't caution me against the 6,000 products that contain aspartame? Pleeaasse.

[computerfreak77]

48. And you tell me why those rats got cancer

fair?

[kick-ass-bob]

150. because they overdose to the point of ridiculousness.

If I pumped 200 lbs of sacchrin/aspertame into your body each day, I think you might get cancer, too.

[Richard D]

19. This study was released

just two days ago. Wait for this to hit the mainstream and the doctors will be telling people not to use it.

[converted_democrat]

54. Well....

My mother and I both have autoimmune diseases. I have lupus, and my mom has scleroderma. Both of us have some trouble with our liver counts. Both of our doctors strongly recommended that we stay away from aspartame. My mom's doc was even kind of hostile to her about it, telling her that outside of alcohol, aspartame was the worst thing on Earth for her liver.

[tcookie5]

56. Scleroderma

What is your mom doing for her Scleroderma? (if you don't mind me asking) I also have Scleroderma.

[converted_democrat]

60. I don't mind you asking.

Her biggest problems are with the CREST & GERD issues. Her esophagus is in awful shape, but the disease is primarily going after her liver. She has to wear gloves everywhere she goes because of the Renaud's syndrome.)She takes 3 different medications (I'm not sure what they are, and she's not answering her phone right now, but I will PM with them when I talk to her next.) for her liver, and prilosec (I might have spelled that wrong) for her esophagus. The doctor just put her on a large dose of Folic Acid to reduce the number of mouth ulcers she has been getting recently. She has her liver biopsied every 3-6 months, and her doc adjusts her medicine according to her liver counts. She also has rheumatoid arthritis, but they have not found a medicine she can tolerate to treat it yet. They keep telling her that she will have to have a liver transplant within the next 5-7 years. One of the biggest things for her is to make sure she gets enough sleep. If she gets less than 10 hours of sleep she's out of commission for the day. Rest is really important for her. We found out she had it just about 7 years ago.

It really is a strange disease because it attacks different people in different ways. I have another relative (great aunt)that has it, and it has been much milder in her case. It went after her heart, but she has had far less trouble than my mom. She is on heart medication to control a murmur, but that is it. She just has to watch what she eats, and make sure she gets enough rest and she is fine.

I don't mind you asking about any of this. If you need someone to talk to who understands, or anything, please let me know. PM me, anytime!

[tcookie5]

68. can't figure out the PM

Sorry I can't seem to figure out how to PM you. This is only my third post, I'm not sure what I can and can't do here yet. Why don't you check out the roadback.org website. This has helped me tremendously. Although most people lose weight, I have gained quite a bit. My next goal will be to start a very strict diet. Overall I am much better than when I was first diagnosed with Diffuse Systemic Scleroderma. If you PM me I will give you my email address.

[converted_democrat]

86. Oh, I'm sorry. I did not realize you did not have the PM service yet!!

I think you have to have 10-20 posts, and then you get the PM feature. Run up a couple more posts, and then you can use it. I'm going to write down your user name, and when you get enough posts, I'll PM my email address to you!

edit-I left out a word.

[tcookie5]

102. thanks

I'm trying. :)

[converted_democrat]

104. You are almost there!! Just a couple more posts!! n/t

[tcookie5]

119. is this it?

I hope it's only ten posts.

[converted_democrat]

137. Nope, it's not working yet. You've got 12 now, at the most you need 8

more.

[tcookie5]

138. down to

six now?

[converted_democrat]

140. Yep, six now, and you'll have the PM service!!

You are "down to" 6. You can do it!!

[tcookie5]

141. five now

I hate writing on this board, only like to read it.

[converted_democrat]

145. Two more and you're there. Just a couple more to go! n/t

[tcookie5]

147. two

[tcookie5]

148. last one?

I hope

[converted_democrat]

157. I just tried it, and it is still giving me an error message.

I thought for sure that it couldn't be anymore than 20 posts. Shows what I know. It can't be too many more, I just don't know what the "magic" number is. I'm going to go ask one of my friends that has been on here much longer than I have, maybe she knows. I can't imagine it being too many more. I'm so sorry, I thought for sure it wasn't anymore than 20. It can't be too much higher, let me see if I can figure it out.

[tcookie5]

160. thanks

I'll keep checking in. (and try to post some more)

[converted_democrat]

163. She thinks it's 25, but she won't swear to it.

If that is the case, and it is 25, than you have another 3 to go. I'm going to find a mod to ask too. They usually have all the rules memorized.

[tcookie5]

168. okay

I'll give it another try today. See if I hit 25 today.

[converted_democrat]

171. Okay, I'll check in through out the day to see what you're up to, and as

soon as a mod answers back to our question, I'll post it here. Okay? I'm so sorry you've had to go through all this just to get your PM feature!

[tcookie5]

172. I just like to

check in here everyday to what's going on. I didn't know it would be so much work. :)

[tcookie5]

173. Ooooh,

I wonder if post 25 will have the PM available....

[tcookie5]

174. not yet....

I tried to PM you and it didn't work, not enough posts yet. I'll keep trying.

[converted_democrat]

176. Here is what the rules say...

New members are restricted from starting new discussion topics. We require you to first post responses to a few existing discussion threads before you are given the privilege to do so. We wish we did not have to enforce this rule, but we have found it very helpful to keep disruptors off of our message board. Please do not ask what the minimum number is; we won't tell you, and it's not very high. New members are similarly restricted from using the private messaging function or recommending topics for the Greatest Page.

---------
So it really does not say how many, and it says not to ask. The only thing I can think of is that you have not posted to individual threads, because you are primarily posting on this one. Maybe that is the reason? They have these rules so they can monitor for people that want to disrupt, don't take it personal. Try posting to a couple other threads, that is the only thing I can think of.

[tcookie5]

177. I have posted in a couple of other threads...

I have also started my own topic. (big step for me) What are the rules about posting your email address? I have a hotmail one that I could use.

[converted_democrat]

178. I'm not sure what the rules say about that... I'll have to go look...

Everytime I've seen private info posted on here though, the mods have deleted it.

[tcookie5]

179. okay,

hopefully I will reach 30 and the PM will work?

[converted_democrat]

180. I'll cross my fingers for ya!!!!

Oh, and by the way, great job on starting your own topic!! Kudos!! Let's cross our fingers for 30!

[tcookie5]

182. still doesn't work...

you don't have me on your ignore list do you? :)

[converted_democrat]

183. If I had you on my ignore list, I would not be able to see any of your

posts. I can't believe it's this much work just for the PM service. I've had operations that were less complicated! Try a couple more posts, that is all I can think of to do.

[tcookie5]

184. I don't even know how the ignore list work

I think it would be harder to start a new post. It may take a while, but I'll keep trying.

[converted_democrat]

186. I'll keep checking back in, and see if the feature is working yet.

All I can think of is rack up a couple more posts. Just so you know, if you want to put someone on ignore, you just have to click on the red person icon next to their name on their message. The green one is to put them on your buddy list, but I think you have to be a donor to use the buddy list. Again, I'm sorry this has been so much of a hassle for you!

[converted_democrat]

185. posted to wrong place...

[tcookie5]

194. found it

I am still trying to post, I'm not on the computer that much today.

[converted_democrat]

195. I tried again, it still isn't working!

How much longer could it be?

[tcookie5]

198. sure hope

I don't have to get to a 1000 posts!

[tcookie5]

199. not yet...

hope it's 40.

[tcookie5]

200. here's 40

I'll give another try.

[tcookie5]

201. no......

still didn't work. I'll try to post once a day.

[converted_democrat]

202. It's still telling me no! n/t

[tcookie5]

204. not yet

[tcookie5]

205. why don't you

email me. I told what account I can use just put tcookie49 in front of it. Use Scleroderma in the subject line, so I know it's from you.

[leesa]

105. Are you kidding me? Aspartame is a huge market! You think the FDA

is gonna say a word? Besides, they don't want anyone looking too closely at how it was approved in the first place because it wasn't properly tested.
Doctors don't say anything unless they are formally notified by the FDA. The cause/effect testing will probably never be done. Serle will never allow it.

[AngryAmish]

79. I will not do research.

You have made an extraordinary claim - aspartame is a killer. Now in the last 15-20 years aspartame has been used. Life expectancy is increasing at a large rate in those industrialized countries in which aspartame is most used. Coloration - correct. However, the demographic data suggests that aspartame use is not causing a huge spike in premature deaths.

Find me a study -- a good, double-blind peer-reviewed study that can actually prove something as opposed to allege something -- that aspartame use in dietary levels causes anything then we can talk. Until then you are spouting dangerous nonsense.



On edit: I might have to eat some of my words. It was (at first glance) not a quack-type thing. But it must be repeatable. Until then I am still skeptical.

[Clara T]

88. If you do eat those words don't add aspartame- Stay Healthy

Scientifically known as 1-aspartyl 1-phenylalanine methyl ester, consumers recognize aspartame in the forms of Equal, NutraSweet and Spoonful. Aspartame has three components: phenylalanine (50 percent), aspartic acid (40 percent) and methanol, also termed wood alcohol (10 percent). Those in support of this popular artificial sweetener, state that the two primary amino acids, which comprise 90 percent of aspartame by weight, are a harmless and natural part of our diet. They insist that aspartic acid is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter, which is present in the human central nervous system. This is only a partial truth.

Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are amino acids that are normally supplied by the foods we eat; however, they can only be considered natural and harmless when consumed in combination with other amino acids. On their own, they enter the central nervous system in abnormally high concentrations, causing aberrant neuronal firing and potential cell death. The neurotoxic
effects of these amino acids, when consumed as isolates, can be linked to headaches, mental confusion, balance problems and possibly seizures.

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/embalm.html

Warning! NutraSweet is a Neurotoxin

In May 1992, the official U.S. Air Force Magazine, Flying Safety explained: "In pregnancy the effects of aspartame can be passed directly to the fetus, even in very small doses. People have suffered aspartame-related disorders with doses as small as that carried in a single stick of chewing gum. This could mean a pilot who drinks diet sodas is more susceptible to flicker vertigo or to flicker-induced epileptic activity. It also means that all pilots are potential victims of sudden memory loss, dizziness during instrument flight and gradual loss of vision." Aspartame is sold by Monsanto Chemical Co. as NutraSweet and EQUAL, and now under other names by other producers.

Pilots have experienced grand mal seizures in the cockpits of commercial airline flights and have lost their medical certification to fly, and three have died this year from aspartame. FDA has received more than 10,000 consumer complaints on NutraPoison, that's 80% of all complaints about food additives. Still FDA remains comatose and has done nothing to alert the public, who assume that since it's so highly advertised, it must be as safe as mother's milk. The FDA consistently approves killer drugs as OMNI Magazine reported: "51% of FDA approved drugs have serious risks and could cause adverse reactions that lead to severe or permanent disability of death"

The CDC, Johns Hopkins University and the New Jersey School of Medicine estimates that 80-120,000 Americans die from prescription drugs each year. This atrocity has everything to do with money and nothing to do with public health. Monsanto reaps at least a billion annually from its Aspartame toxic bonanza. This can and does buy a lot of bureaucrats! Does FDA mean FATAL DRUGS ALLOWED? FDA works for industry, not citizens. Ronald Reagan's FDA head Arthur Hayes overruled his own board of inquiry to approve NutraSweet, then hired on with their public relations firm. Federal attorney Sam Skinner was assigned to prosecute the G. D. Searle Co. for the fraudulent tests they used get this poison approved, but Sam switched sides and went to work for Searle's lawyers and the case died when the feds let the statute of limitations run out.

<snip>

An honest FDA toxicologist, the late Dr. Adrian Gross wrote to Senator Howard Metzenbaum: "The views of the FDA's Center for Food Safety read like a script written for Abbott & Costello in the sense of their having perceptions inside-out and upside-down. FDA may have gone through the motions...such a "process" or dance represented a farce and a mockery." Aspartame is a molecule composed of three components: aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol. Once ingested, the methanol (wood alcohol that has killed or blinded thousands of skid row drunks) converts to formaldehyde, then formic acid . Formaldehyde is deadly embalming fluid, a Class A Carcinogen. Phenylanine and aspartic acid are toxic when unaccompanied by the other amino acids in proteins. Aspartic acid caused brain lesions in experimental animals. The FDA report listed 92 documented symptoms, including:

http://aspartame.com/warning.htm

:toast:

[Greyhound]

142. Hi AngryAmish. Please look at post 130 and the link provided.

while it is true that there have few large scale studies on aspartame directly, that is due to the financial disincentive inherent in going after one of Monsanto's most profitable divisions. Simply looking at the components of aspartame and the known effects of those components when metabolized, it is pretty clear to anyone with an ounce of sense that consuming this chemical is not a good idea.

[conflictgirl]

190. Yes, but the cancer rate has increased at the same time. nt

[Mairead]

66. One of the debunking sources cited by snopes is questionable

Take a look for yourself: www.acsh.org. Look at the overall industry-supporting tone. Look at what they link to: a right-wing cite trying to debunk global warming, the Cato Institute, etc.

[oblivious]

187. Also the only study Snopes refers to was financed by NutraSweet

Study reaffirms safety of aspartame

See the last sentence: "This work was supported by a grant from the NutraSweet Co."

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1998/aspartame-0916.html

And another site Snopes refers to is run by an aspartame producer:

http://www.aspartame.net/index.html

Bottom of page: "The Aspartame Information Service is provided by Ajinomoto Food Ingredients LLC. Ajinomoto is a producer of aspartame."

[iconoclastNYC]

107. You know what I heard on the news?

Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, mobile weapons labs, purchased high strength aluminum tubes, reconstituting it's nuclear program.

The "news" is to be taken with a big grain of salt.

[serryjw]

117. ......and you forgot

Saddam tried to buy yellow cake uranium for Niger, When I hear anything on the news I go online to confirm with 2 sources I respect..Great MSM we have :sarcasm:

[Dora]

154. "until I hear it on the news"

And when was "the news" made the expert source?

:rofl:

[LuCifer]

3. I go SUGAR all the way!

Does anyone trust the FDA!? I mean, they ban whatchamacallit, Sachrin (sic?) cuz a RAT DIED--yeah, ya gave the rat enough of it to KILL A WHALE! DUH! But they keep Aspartame LEGAL!? Oh gee thanks!

Lu Cifer, and ENOUGH of this ANIMAL TESTING. Animals ARE NOT HUMAN. Why don't we TEST THIS CRAP ON HUMANS?! STARTING WITH THE 30% WHO STILL SUPPORT BUSHitler!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SharonAnn]

23. You´re probably going "high-fructose corn syrup" all the way. Not sugar.

Nearly all soft drinks use that instead of sugar. It metabolizes a little differently and supposedly causes problems that traditional sugar doesn´t.

BTW, high-fructose corn syrup is made through some pretty toxic processes with lots of toxic emissions and waste.

High-fructose corn syrup is brought to you by ADM and its allies. Remember ADM? In Nixon´s day, the head of ADM was the source of the $100,000 in cash in Nixon´s safe to help out with the Watergate payments.

All in all, a pretty suspicious group of manufacturers.

Read "The Informant" or "Rats in the Grain" to learn a little more about the price-fixing, government buying, money laundering cartel.

[Deja Q]

57. ADM - "Supermarket to the world" was their slogan during the 1990s

[LifeDuringWartime]

125. i have never

seen a soft drink that replaces sugar with high fructose corn syrup. chances are if it has sugar it will have HFCS and vice versa. it can be difficult to find juice or some other drink without HFCS.

[liberalhistorian]

4. I gave up diet soft drinks several years

ago since my kidneys couldn't tolerate them; I've never missed them. Fortunately, the sweetener I use whenever I drink iced tea isn't nutrasweet or Equal.

[asthmaticeog]

5. Donald Rumsfeld played a large role in its FDA approval.

Google it, it's seriously creepy. The stuff wasn't going to pass FDA muster, but then Reagan got elected and suddenly Rummy (honcho of Searle at the time) had a bunch of pals in the right place to fast-track his company's poison.

[SofaKingLiberal]

14. I didn't see your post. I just posted an article on this. n/t

[LynneSin]

6. From an expert I know

Everything causes cancer in labortory rats.

And it doesn't take much to clear it up.

[AlienGirl]

11. Domestic rats are extremely prone to cancer

I don't know if there's any good cure for it in rats, though; there wasn't last time I had a rat get tumors. :-(

(I'm taking a break from rats for a while; between the emotional cost of their short lifespans and the monetary cost of end-of-life care, I can't afford them right now.)

Tucker

[computerfreak77]

49. That's very innacurate

"Alachlor does not cause mammary (breast) tumors in laboratory rats"
http://www.google.com/search?hs=Ute&hl=en&lr=&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=Alachlor+does+not+cause&btnG=Search
That's one example.
Here's another example of a product found not to cause cancer in rats when given at levels comparable to human consumption:
Alachlor does not cause mammary (breast) tumors in laboratory rats. One study did report a higher number of mammary tumors in female mice that were fed alachlor over long periods of time. But this only occurred when the animals were fed very high, toxic levels of alachlor that caused many of the animals to become sick, and some to die.
http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/FactSheet/Pesticide/fs32.alachlor.cfm
but bear in mind that the aspartame study in question refers to levels comparable to those approved by the FDA for humans.

[Odin2005]

9. This sounds bogus.

Aspartame is just two common amino acids joined together, I'm sure the body treats it the same way as amino acids from protein.

[DBoon]

28. I think methanol is another product of aspatame's metabolism

phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol.

The theory is that is is the small amounts of methanol that induce cumulative poisoning.

Countering this argument is the observation than many common natural fruits contain methanol in greater (though still trace) quantities. If aspartame is so bad, then why not orange juice?

[oblivious]

30. The authors' theory related to formaldehyde.

...the increase in lymphomas and leukemias may be related to one of the metabolites in aspartame, namely methanol, which is metabolized in both rats and humans to formaldehyde. Both methanol and formaldehyde have shown links to lymphomas and leukemias in other long-term experiments by the same authors.

[Greyhound]

130. Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and

methanol. Too much aspartate or glutamate in the brain kills certain neurons by allowing the influx of too much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals, which kill the cells. Here's a few or the chronic illnesses that have been shown to be contributed to by long-term exposure to excitatory amino acid damage;
* Multiple sclerosis (MS)
* ALS
* Memory loss
* Hormonal problems
* Hearing loss
* Epilepsy
* Alzheimer's disease
* Parkinson's disease
* Hypoglycemia
* AIDS
* Dementia
* Brain lesions
* Neuroendocrine disorders

In the body, methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde and formic acid; both of these metabolites are toxic. you are probably familiar with formaldehyde (used to preserve corpses for one thing, mmm-mmm yummy) and formic acid makes an ant bite sting, probably not really good to eat either.
Dr. Woodrow C. Monte, director of the food science and nutrition laboratory at Arizona State University, states "There are no human or mammalian studies to evaluate the possible mutagenic, teratogenic or carcinogenic effects of chronic administration of methyl alcohol." Hmm, I wonder why they wouldn't want to study this? Maybe this has something to do with it;
Shortly after approving aspartame and in spite of the objections of a number of highly regarded scientists, the Commissioner of the FDA, Arthur Hull Hayes, Jr., left for a position with G.D. Searle's public relations firm.
There is much more about this blatant selling out of our health for corporate profits here.
http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/dangers.htm

[SofaKingLiberal]

10. Donald Rumsfeld and Aspartame

http://www.newswithviews.com/NWVexclusive/exclusive15.htm


Here's a part of the article:


In 1981, the newly appointed FDA Commissioner, Arthur Hull Hayes, ignored the negative ruling and approved aspartame for dry goods. As recorded in the Congressional Record of 1985, then CEO of Searle Laboratories Donald Rumsfeld said that he would "call in his markers" to get aspartame approved. Rumsfeld was on President Reagan's transition team and a day after taking office appointed Hayes. No FDA Commissioner in the previous sixteen years had allowed aspartame on the market.

[Kool Kitty]

98. December's issue of "Vanity Fair"

has a long article about this.

[MissMarple]

12. Oh my dear God...not this again.

:eyes:

[waiting for hope]

15. Hee hee

how many forwarded chain emails have you gotten on this one?

[MissMarple]

18. How many threads have we had here, is a better question.

Please, God, make this topic go away.

[waiting for hope]

25. Ssshhhh

I think it's fading away.......

[OzarkDem]

127. C'mon ladies get educated this time

Take a moment to read the article and the study it links too. Let's set a good example and encourage Dem women to be knowledgeable about health issues and research that affects them.

http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/8711/8711.pdf

[Qanisqineq]

17. artificial sweetners have always given me headaches

and just plain make me feel ill. Can't drink diet pop without getting sick. I have a friend with diabetes and he drinks diet coke/diet pepsi and has been warning of the dangers of these substances for at least the 10+ years I've known him.

[begin_within]

21. Aspartame gives me headaches

[nickinSTL]

22. There has been no confirmed scientific evidence to support this

Lots of anecdotal evidence, and 'studies' backed by the sugar industry.

Regular Coke, btw, does NOT have aspartame.

There is only one negative health effect CONFIRMED by scientific study for aspartame.

That is for people with PKU (phenylketonuria). One of the ingredients of aspartame is the amino acid phenylalanine, which people with PKU (an inborn metabolic disorder) can not break down properly.

There is no evidence that aspartame is harmful to anyone without PKU.

That said, if an individual believes that they have a negative reaction to aspartame or any other food/food ingredient, they should avoid it.

Also, FYI, Splenda (sucralose) is safe for people with PKU, so the new sodas with Splenda as a sweetener are a nice alternative.

(and yes, I realize many consider Stevia a better alternative to either, but Stevia is not widely available in soda at this time)

[oblivious]

32. "No confirmed scientific evidence?" What do you call this report?

Authors: from the Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences

Financing - NOT from the sugar industry: the European Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology and Environmental Sciences, Bologna, Italy

The Publication: peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP)

Publisher: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

[sam sarrha]

38. what is even worse is High Fructose Corn Syrup, causes obesity..

a certain Percentage of the population lack an enzyme to metabolize this artificial product.. which results in a chemical that causes the liver to make a chemical that causes you to store what you eat into fat.

it also interferes with the mechanism that tells you you have eaten enough..

is that insidious or what..

it also does other things too.

it is not 'corn syrup' it is a complex product made from corn sugar..

[loudsue]

76. That's really interesting. Do you have a link to that information?

It would sure make a lot of sense, dunnit?

Look at how much "high fructose corn syrup" is used in almost everything we eat in the U.S. And look at how much of our population is obese.

:kick:

[Warren DeMontague]

108. This is a very interesting book which covers HFCS and how it was

inserted wholesale into the American Diet.

http://dietsnutrition.allinfoabout.com/features/fatland.html

The author gets a bit preachy at times, IMHO, but it's still an interesting read.

As near as I can figure it, with regards to HFCS, fructose isn't metabolized like other sugars, it bypasses certain metabolic processes or something like that-- not really an issue if you're talking about the levels normally encountered in regular food, but when you have an artificially concentrated source like HFCS it becomes a different story...

Or so I understand it. Either way, I try to avoid the stuff as much as possible, along with hydrogenated oils.

[Cronus Protagonist]

82. That's been my personal experience too

I quit drinking or eating anything with "corn syrup" in it. Lost over 30 pounds and I have another 30 to go.

Once you start noticing "corn syrup", it's amazing how many products have "corn syrup" as one of the main ingredients. Bread, for instance. And lots of other stuff too, particularly any sweet fluids and baked goods.

I drink water now, or home made iced tea - the iced tea you get in stores had "corn syrup".

I'm convinced of its deleterious effects from personal experience, but here's a Wikki for it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_syrup

And http://www.corn.org/web/processo.htm

[nickinSTL]

94. maybe I should have been more clear

up to this point, there has been no confirmed scientific evidence.

I wasn't really trying to comment on the validity of this report, specifically.

And, even if this report IS legit...it's ONE study.

To be confirmed, the results need to be repeatable. Let me know when there's a second.

That said, I'm not a fan of aspartame. Anything that has such questionable approval history would make me squeamish to begin with. And then...I'm one of those few people who really DO need to worry about aspartame...as I have PKU.

[computerfreak77]

50. cancer is not a negative reaction that you feel suddenly

Nobody wakes up and says: "let me go to a doctor because I think I'm feeling a cancer on my left side that's probably due to years of aspartame consumption".

[nickinSTL]

95. yeah, I know...

and I didn't say anything of the kind. :shrug:

[ashling]

24. Haven't used it

causes terrible migraines fro me and my wife

[DBoon]

26. Well, I'll just have to drink my rum straight from now on

no more "Cuba Libre" with diet Coke for me.

Why contaminate the healthful properties of distilled alcohol with wicked aspartame?

[Lengsel]

27. Die

Everything causes cancer these days -- I think I'll just die.

[SofaKingLiberal]

40. Be careful, studies show that dying causes cancer in lab rats. n/t

[stevietheman]

29. Poppycock. n/t

n/t

[Chiyo-chichi]

73. I could go for some Poppycock!

...or better yet some Diet Poppycock with aspertame.

[Swamp Rat]

31. I never eat or drink ANYTHING with Aspartame!

:puke:

[depakid]

37. It does taste like shit

A couple weeks ago, I picked up a carton of "lite" fruit juice by mistake. I took one swig of that stuff and :puke:

I took it back to the store and pointed out that it said 100% juice and they gave me a refund.

Just goes to show you have to pay closer attention to labels these days....

[Swamp Rat]

41. Well, I don't know what shit tastes like but...

:D Just kidding. :)

[depakid]

44. delete

[NMMNG]

34. I haven't used aspartame for years--it triggers my migraines

[lenidog]

35. I knew that aspartame cause serious problems for years

If you let it sit in above 80 degree temps for a length of time the apsartame starts to break down to formic acid. That is the stuff that ants use to kill their prey.

[donheld]

36. Life causes death, Stop living

Just like Heterosexual marriage causes homosexuality.

[sam sarrha]

39. if you lose 10 years off end of your life its bad, in the middle its worse

your attitude is reckless.. dont encourage others, bad karma

[tiptoe]

42. Experts Speak: From www.dorway.com (David O. Reitz website)

David O. Reitz (1937 - 2003) website
Experts Speak
CDC Disease Review
CDC Report
Baru, Dr. (India)
Barclay, Dr.
Blaylock, Dr.
Bowen, Dr.
Bressler, Dr., FDA
Cabot, Dr. (AU)
Drake, Dr.
Elsas, Dr.
Forman, Dr.
Gross, Dr., FDA
Hays, Dr.
Hulse, Dr.
Lancet
Lydon, Dr.
Gold, Mark (On Tests)
Markle, Nancy
Monte, Dr.
Mercola, Dr.
Misner, Dr.
Nexus Magazine
NSDA Protest
NSDA Report
Olney, Dr.
Peer Reviewed
Price, Dr.
Raiford, Dr.
RAO - Damning FDA Report (PDF)
RAO Report (Txt)
Roberts, Dr.
Sabates, Dr.
Schwartz, Dr.
Simkin, Dr.
Smith, L., Dr.
Townsend
Verrett, Dr.
Walton, Dr.
Whitaker, Dr.
Wolverton, Dr.
Wurtman, Dr.
Whyshak, Dr.
References
Wall Street Journal

[DanCa]

43. I try everything in moderation but thanks for this info.

I printed out this article out and am sticking it on my fridge. Next time I want a pop am goig to really really thinking about it.

[depakid]

45. As usual, Wiki has an accurate take on the issue

Without all the histrionics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame

[computerfreak77]

51. Wikipedia on Ronald Reagan and aspartame

In 1981, U.S. President Ronald Reagan appointed as FDA commissioner Arthur Hull Hayes. This appointment proved to be favorable to the approval of aspartame. Citing data from a Japanese study that had not been available to the members of the PBOI, Hayes approved aspartame for use in dry goods.

[computerfreak77]

52. While this is an ongoing debate, avoid using it

Wikipedia: (not a chain letter)
There is a significant debate in the scientific and medical community as to whether these symptoms are or are not caused by short-term or long-term exposure to aspartame.

[computerfreak77]

53. Human tests questioned.

From the wikipedia article:
in human research of aspartame, the aspartame is usually provided in slow-dissolving capsules. But the biochemical changes from ingesting aspartame in slow-dissolving capsules is many times smaller than ingesting aspartame dissolved in liquids (such as carbonated beverages). .Therefore, the amount of aspartame used in most human studies is equivalent to a much smaller "real-world" amount.

[Neil Lisst]

46. I like Diet Coke because it really brings out the mercury in tuna!

It's the mercury that makes it tangy!

[smartvoter]

159. ROTFLMAO !!!!!

[tjdee]

47. I really don't know what's wrong with sugar. Plain old sugar.

Carbonated drinks aside, which probably will kill us all. ;)

Is it diabetes?

I mean, do you really have to shave off that 10 extra calories or whatever the sugar is giving you?

I don't see the point of artificial sweetners. And sugar tastes much better.

:shrug:

Though, for a while I didn't understand margarine either.

[BiggJawn]

59. If you could just GET sugar in processed foods!

"Mexican" and Kosher Coca-Cola and "Silk" soymilk are the only widely-available products I know of that don't use HFCS.

Oh, sure, there's all kinds of HFCS-free stuff at the "Healh Food Store", but who's got the $$$$$ these days?

I understand margerine. I can control the cholesterol I get from butter. I can't control the Hydrogenated shit once I eat it.

[TimeChaser]

74. Bawls

It uses Corn syrup, but not HFCS

And foreign drinks... Mmmm... Ramune...

[BiggJawn]

91. Bawls?

That's a new one on me. I like Guarana, too. Ramune....Wonder what you can do with the bottles after you're done. They're too unique to toss in the recycling barrel...

[TimeChaser]

99. I put some fake flowers in one before

And I've used a Bawls bottle as a vase for a rose.

[immoderate]

128. Is there anything wrong with carbonation?

Do you have a reference? I stopped drinking sweetened drinks, but I love those bubbles. I drink club soda (non-sodium) all the time.

--IMM

[politicat]

188. No.

The carbonation makes the water slightly acidic (very mild carbonic acid), but since humans primarily eat foods in the acidic range anyway, it's not a problem.

Don't hold it in your mouth for several days; in theory, you could etch the enamel on your teeth by doing such a thing, but that's in theory, and no one lives there, anyway.

[Pavulon]

55. Carcinogens

Sucn pleasurable things as new car smell.
Furnature polish.

Everything can cause cancer..

Nickel is a carcinogen.

http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/carcinogens.html

Drink up, odds are you will die of heart failure anyway.

[eomer]

58. Rhonda Weiss & Rhondettes sing "Goodbye, Saccharin"

Rhonda Weiss ... Gilda Radner
Rhondette #1 ... Jane Curtin
Rhondette #2 ... Laraine Newman
Rhondette #3 ... Linda Ronstadt


Don Pardo V/O: Ladies and gentlemen, Saturday Night is proud to present Rhonda Weiss and the Rhondettes!



Rhonda:
They say you gave rats cancer
And I say that can't be true
Because you're just so very sweet
That's something you'd never do
I love you, I needed you
We had a fine relation
Till last week when it was ruined by the Food and Drug Administration

And I can look everywhere from Arkansas to Akron ...

Rhondettes: ... but, sugar ...

Rhonda: ... there's no sugar substitute to substitute for saccharin!

Rhondettes: Saccharin!

Rhonda: Goodbye, sacc-ha-rine!

<snip>

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/76/76pweiss.phtml

Gilda Radner died of ovarian cancer in 1989.

[Mugsy]

61. Aspertain is safe in moderation. Nothing safe in excess.

People have been screeming about "cancer causing sweeteners" for over thirty years, only back then, it was sacarine ("Sweet & Low"), and in those 30+ years NOBODY has developed cancer from sacarine.

A review of the original study found that the amount of sweeter the mice were junked up with was 300 times greater than most humans might use in a day, everyday for months.

In this new study on aspartain, you'll notice they say "in dosages approved for human consumption" but they never say exactly what dosage finally produced the ill effect.

You can DIE from drinking too much water in one sitting (putting your electrolites so out of balance you suffer a heart attack). ANYTHING in excess can be deadly. I'm sure this goes for plain old sugar too... though sugar has a stronger Lobby than any artificial sweetner. And now that "Splenda" controls almost 70% of the market, you don't see anyone talking about how the miniscule amount of "real sugar" used in Splenda after it has been so extremely chemically modified to the point where chemically "sugar" really is no longer an ingredient, such facts are ignored because it has become such a large market.

Anytime anyone makes a major claim... be it products or politics... always ask yourself one question: "Who benefits?"

o ...Medical studies prove RESEARCH cause cancer in mice. :)

[Odin2005]

77. Exactly.

Peoiple have this ridiculous idea that anything with a big scientific name is bad for you.

In another thread people started sreaming about HFCS in pop. Excuse me, high fructose corn syrup is concetrated corn sap, not much different from maple syrup, and used in the cheap "maple" syrups in the store. Sugar is sugar is sugar.

My chemistry proffesor last fall often joked around about our scociety's chemophobia. Like my mom says, "according to some of these fearmongers anything you do causes cancer." And she is right. LIVING causes cancer. Most of the damage to our bodies is from oxygen metabolism and naturally occuring radiation (such as from carbon-14 and potassium-40 in our bodies).

[MADem]

136. I know someone who worked on that study, slaughtering the little mice

I guess if we all ate a chunk of saccharine the size of a dining room table every day for a few years, we might have ill effects as well....

[qanda]

64. I gave up all soft drinks over two months ago

I know in my heart that Pepsi was killing me. I have never had to stop aspartame because anytime I had it I would get an immediate headache-- that stuff is toxic!

[edhopper]

65. Since aspartame was introduced

millions, if not billions of people have been consuming it for decades. I have not heard of any alarming increase in cancer due to it's consumption. After all that's a pretty big sample of "lab rats".
A google search is not science.

[FDR33]

67. I have an idea!

Just don't drink any garbage to begin with!

[Greyhound]

69. Searle bought their 'approval' under raygun. One of the big campaign

contributors that was the reason for the FDA fast track .

[jim3775]

70. Does the OP count as "medical advice"?

It is against the rules to give out medical advice.

[Chicago Democrat]

75. I quit it like 3 weeks ago. Amazingly I feel so much better...

I had trouble hearing, headaches, dryness and depression.




http://www.aspartame.com/


I am so pissed that TONS OF PEOPLE drink GOBS AND GOBS of this. Who is supposed to know this shit ahead of time? HOW DID THIS GET APPROVED?

[tiptoe]

78. years of ongoing debate were aborted upon Reagan's appt of new FDA

chief, Arthur Hayes (...within 7 months of his appt, I believe)

Hayes went on to work for the company whose "drug" his FDA approved.

See: Rumsfeld "calls in his markers"

Another example of Republican crony capitalism at the expense of scientific research, reason and, ultimately, public safety.

Rumsfeld is now "marketing" TAMIFLU.

[apollo56]

81. Get a life - there are plenty of bads things to worry about

I have read pros and cons but when you are diabetic - not much of a choice. You read on article or two and warn people to stop something you know little about. So many things to look for in live - why worry so much all the time!

[jim3775]

83. Don't eat cooked food or stand out in the sun too

The sun causes cancer, using the above example you should never, ever go out in the sun. Ignore all the facts about moderation.

Don't eat any cooked meat either, cooked meat contains Heterocyclic Amines a carcinogen.

Anti-dandruff shampoos contain carcinogens, don't use it.

Hair dye is a possible cancer causer, don't use it too.

Also, never breathe any air that contains any pollutant, car and industrial exhaust cause cancer too.

[giant_robot]

84. Hmmmm....

The journal seems legit, although it's not one that I'm familiar with. However, the manuscript is still in press (according to the linked website), and only a short abstract is available at this time. I'm skeptical about aspartame toxicity, but I'll reserve judgement until I can read the manuscript. It's not time to run around with your hair on fire yet.

[ErisFiveFingers]

165. Full article available.

http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/8711/abstract.html

Bottom link.

[Lithos]

87. Except

Coke and Pepsi are phasing out aspartame and starting to use Splenda (sucralose) in their diet products instead.

[Clara T]

90. Use Maple Syrup

The following interview was conducted with Janet Starr Hull on the safety of sucralose found in Splenda.

Q: What exactly is Splenda?

A: In a simple sentence, you would just as soon have a pesticide in your food as sucralose because sucralose (Splenda) is a chlorocarbon. The chlorocarbons have long been known for causing organ, genetic, and reproductive damage. It should be no surprise, therefore, that the testing of sucralose reveals that it can cause up to 40 percent shrinkage of the thymus: a gland that is the very foundation of our immune system. Sucralose also causes swelling of the liver and kidneys, and CALCIFICATION of the kidney. Note: if you experience kidney pain, cramping, or an irritated bladder after using sucralose in Splenda, stop use immediately.

more...
http://www.mercola.com/2004/jan/10/splenda_questions.htm

Is It REALLY Sugar?

There is no question that sucralose starts off as a sugar molecule, it is what goes on in the factory that is concerning. Sucralose is a synthetic chemical that was originally cooked up in a laboratory. In the five step patented process of making sucralose, three chlorine molecules are added to a sucrose or sugar molecule. A sucrose molecule is a disaccharide that contains two single sugars bound together; glucose and fructose.


The chemical process to make sucralose alters the chemical composition of the sugar so much that it is somehow converted to a fructo-galactose molecule. This type of sugar molecule does not occur in nature and therefore your body does not possess the ability to properly metabolize it. As a result of this "unique" biochemical make-up, McNeil Nutritionals makes it's claim that Splenda is not digested or metabolized by the body, making it have zero calories.

<snip>

-There have only been six human trials to date
-The longest trial lasted three months
-At LEAST 15% of Splenda is not excreted from your body in a timely manner

Considering that Splenda bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar, are you willing to bet your health on this data? Remember that fat soluble substances, such as DDT, can remain in your fat for decades and devastate your health.


If the above facts don't concern because you believe the FDA would not ever allow a toxic substance into the market then read on.

http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm#

Take care of your bodies as much as possible. We are bombarded daily with synthetic chemicals in our foods these toxins accumulate and hence the soaring rates of cancer. The FDA is one the most thoroughly corrupted Orgs in the Federal Gov't. The revolving door swings wildly in that place. Avoid such unnecessary evils as aspartame, splenda etc. For that matter avoid Coke and Pepsi. Use Maple syrup for your sweetener, Grade 'B' if you can find it. Sweet and healthful.

:toast:

[kineneb]

89. Hubby is diabetic and on dialysis

who give a crap about a little aspartame? We have bigger things to worry about than diet soda. I occasionally use sweet-n-lo and it will take more than that to kill me.

If people are sensitive to it, fine; stop using it. For diabetics, however, artifical sweeteners are a quality-of-life issue.

[incapsulated]

93. I can't drink that shit no matter what it does to you

It dries up my throat and makes me thirsty, not exactly the experience I'm seeking while drinking a beverage.

Saccharine never did that to me. :shrug:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

132. Thats exactly what they want

Coke and Pepsi know what they are doing...

[stepnw1f]

96. Aspartame Gave Me a Weird Buzz

I do not like that shit at all. Bad stuff.

[MarsThe Cat]

97. i don't use diet ANYTHING.

full-on sugar and HFCS, baby...

[Rainscents]

100. Only sweetener I'll have... Fair Trade None process Organic sugar!

I can't stand the taste of artificial sweeteners, it's disgusting! I have tried it few times and each time, I had to spite it back out. Yuck!

[Up2Late]

101. Please! I found the article (which your link didn't go to) and it sounds

...much too vague to be taken seriously. The article leaves out a LOT of important info that should be included. Basic stuff like:

1) What is the normal average life expectancy for this type of Rat.

2) Did all the rats die at 159 weeks, or just the rats fed the high doses of Aspertain?

3) Were any of these premature deaths? They don't sound like it.

Here's a link to the article, the Sprague-Daley Rats, and the main U.K. website, which I'm a bit suspicious about.

<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/newssearch.php?newsid=34040>

Plus! Here's an older article about the same study which shows the Italian researchers calming that in their study they used 1800 Rats, instead of the 500 study rats, plus an un-specified number of Control rats they now claim to have used.

And then their is this:

“...At present our advice on artificial sweeteners is that those using them should use a variety and make sure they do not exceed the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI). The average adult would have to drink at least 14 cans of low calorie drinks in a day to reach the ADI for aspartame.”

I doubt too meany folks drink 14 Cans of Diet Cola per day.

<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/newssearch.php?newsid=27623>

<http://www.taconic.com/anmodels/spragued.htm>

<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/>

[Greyhound]

106. Anecdotal evidence would support the claim that it is bad for you

I have known 4 people seriously addicted to diet coke and pepsi. Every one of the has developed serious neurological problems. One woman is probably going to die from it, but she won't stop drinking it. :shrug:

[Up2Late]

111. Wow! 4 people, I know dozens too! This must be serious!

OR, it could just be that Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi contain one of the most addictive additives in the world, it's called.......................

CAFFEIN!

I've had to work hard to get that monkey off my back too, it takes time and effort, and I didn't want to do it either, but it was something my Doctor asked me to do to try to figure out if it was that stimulant or the prescription drugs I take for ADD that was causing my Tinnitus, the Caffein/Diet Coke wasn't it. <http://www.ata.org/about_tinnitus/>

The second thing Nutrasweet Diet drinks contain, which is noted on every can, is Phenylalanine. This is another one of the reasons people get addicted to diet drinks. (more below)
Each can says PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.

I'll save you the trouble of Googling these words, seeing how this essential amino acid is also the target of some of the internet's worst fear mongering, scam artists, who say this stuff will kill you too:

From the University of Maryland Medical Center:

<http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Phenylalaninecs.html>

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid, which means that it is essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. For this reason, phenylalanine must be obtained from food. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. It is available in three chemical forms: L-phenylalanine, the natural form of phenylalanine found in proteins throughout the body; (2) D-phenylalanine, a mirror image of L-phenylalanine that is synthesized in a laboratory; and (3) DL-phenylalanine, a combination of the previous two forms.

The body converts phenylalanine into tyrosine, another amino acid essential for making proteins, certain brain chemicals, and thyroid hormones. Symptoms of phenylalanine deficiency include confusion, lack of energy, decreased alertness, decreased memory, and diminished appetite. (more at link above)

As for what PHENYLKETONURICS means, here's a link that has several excellent answers on that subject:

<http://www.stupidquestionsanswered.com/answered/dietpop.htm>

"Phenylketonurics" is the term used to refer to people that have the metabolic disorder Phenylketonuria, or PKU for short. I myself, am one of these phenylketonurics and the warning on diet soda cans is included merely to inform people like me that the product contains aspartame. People that have the disorder PKU cannot consume any product that contains aspartame, for reasons which I will elaborate on below....
(more at link above)

I don't know why or who create these hoaxes on the internet, most likely though, it's to make you think you need to buy something they are selling or to cover up another serious problem by distraction and misdirection, Magicians do it all the time. The best way to avoid falling for this sort of scam is, remain skeptical until you see a second, well respected, medical study that reaches the same conclusion as the first, that's called SCIENCE.

[Greyhound]

113. OK I'm dense, but WTF is your position? Caffine is the culpret?

I aced 2 1/2 years of GenChem and 1 1/5 years Organic so I am well aware of what Phenylalanine is. I also know that Searle got aspartame through the FDA with an inordinate amount of arm twisting by the raygun administration and it never would have been approved under the old criteria.
I think the real issue is that there is no real, objective research to indicate whether aspartame is responsible or not because there is too much corporate $ at stake to risk it.

[Up2Late]

118. All I'm saying is your friends are addicted to Caffeine and Phenylalanine,

but mostly Caffeine. Caffeine is a very addicting and difficult to kick quickly. It took me over a month to cut back from 4 cups (or 2 mugs) of Coffee in the morning, and 4 to 6 Diet Cokes during the rest of the day. and I didn't enjoy it one bit. In fact, I'm back to 4 Cups and 1 to 2 Diet Cokes a day because, like most will tell you, it just makes me feel better.

And, Caffeine is added, it's a totally un-necessary ingredient, except that people want it, so they add it to increase sales. Add too much, sales go down (because you can drink less), add too little or none at all, sales go down (people switch to another brand).

The other point I'm trying to make is, their is a lot of bogus information and scams out on the internet, and if you don't stop, think and use the "scientific method" as your rule of thumb, your going to end up being somebodies Sucker.

I also agree that "...the real issue is that there is no real, objective research to indicate whether aspartame is responsible or not because there is too much corporate $ at stake to risk it...," but you can't just take the first, very questionable, "study" that comes along and "proves" something that is a known internet rumor or hoax.

Stay alert and objective for a second (actually a first) respectable study that confirms the findings of the first. This could just be a scam, perpetrated by the Sugar industry or even the "New and Improved" and more profitable because it's patented, sweetener "Splenda."

[Greyhound]

120. It is the aspartame, not caffine. n/t

[ErisFiveFingers]

166. Interesting....

1) Under the conditions and diet they were subjected to, about 100 weeks. Last rat from all groups (control included) died at 168 weeks, so there isn't some flim-flam about death rates (the charts show equal number of control rats, with somewhat equal mortality... but one thing I found interesting is that the female control rats had slightly *decreased* lifespans. So, if you're a female rat, eating aspartame can make you live longer. :)

2) The experiment design was like this: Get a bunch of rats. Feed some of them mega-doses, some minor doses, some no doses. Wait until *all* the rats die naturally. Dissect 'em, and compare their bodies.

3) Yup, there were "early" deaths and "later" deaths, they have pretty charts for it. Most of the rats died between week 72 and week 120.

Here's why I think the study is a tad... uhm... silly:
They waited until the animals all died, and then went over their bodies with microscopic precision, to see if there was any kinds of cancers, leukemia, etc. Looking at the data, they show no evidence that there is increased fatality from aspartame, or that aspartame causes tumors which are in any way harmful. In fact, non-apartame (control rats) showed higher tumor rates, mortality rates, etc. than rats getting the equivalent of 400 diet-cokes worth of aspartame every day.

[SidDithers]

103. Hoax..

but thanks for playing.

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

Sid

[depakid]

121. I think I'll take science over snopes in this case, thanks

Snopes is great for cultural things, but it's not meant for as a source for biochemestry.

[OzarkDem]

122. The web site at the link is credible

Its a valid study, and should be taken seriously.

[Clara T]

144. Enter the politics of science

1. Rumbling Rumsfeld
 
http://www.freezerbox.com/ ]

In 1985 Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle, the chemical company that held the patent to aspartame, the active ingredient in Nutra Sweet. Monsanto was apparently untroubled by aspartame's clouded past, including a 1980 FDA Board of Inquiry, comprised of three independent scientists, which confirmed that it "might induce brain tumors." The FDA had actually banned the drug based on this finding, only to have Searle Chairman Donald Rumsfeld (currently the Secretary of Defense) vow to "call in his markers," to get it approved. On January 21, 1981, the day after Ronald Reagan's inauguration, Searle re-applied to the FDA for approval to use aspartame in food sweetener, and Reagan's new FDA commissioner, Arthur Hayes Hull, Jr., appointed a 5-person Scientific Commission to review the board of inquiry's decision. It soon became clear that the panel would uphold the ban by a 3-2 decision, but Hull then installed a sixth member on the commission, and the vote became deadlocked. He then broke the tie in aspartame's favor. Hull later left the FDA under allegations of impropriety, served briefly as Provost at New York Medical College, and then took a position with Burston-Marsteller, the chief public relations firm for both Monsanto and GD Searle. Since that time he has never spoken publicly about aspartame.

<snip>

3. Welcome to the revolving door

The "revolving door" - the interplay of personnel that assists the industrial alignment of public service and regulatory authorities - has led to key figures at both the US's FDA and EPA having held important positions at Monsanto, or else doing so shortly after their biotech related regulatory work for the government agency.

<snip>

"Michael R. Taylor, the FDA's deputy commissioner for policy, wrote the FDA's rBGH labelling guidelines. The guidelines, announced in February 1994, virtually prohibited dairy corporations from making any real distinction between products produced with and without rBGH. To keep rBGH-milk from being "stigmatized" in the marketplace, the FDA announced that labels on non-rBGH products must state that there is no difference between rBGH and the naturally occurring hormone.

In March 1994, Taylor was publicly exposed as a former lawyer for the Monsanto corporation for seven years. While working for Monsanto, Taylor had prepared a memo for the company as to whether or not it would be constitutional for states to erect labelling laws concerning rBGH dairy products. In other words Taylor helped Monsanto figure out whether or not the corporation could sue states or companies that wanted to tell the public that their products were free of Monsanto's drug.

http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/Lbushmonsanto.htm

[depakid]

126. Sure, if you believe the FDA

and I have news- no one in the public health commmunity takes what the FDA says at face value anymore.

There are actual scientific controversies here that are too complicated for the people at snopes to adequately research or explain. It's not what they do.

the link is a good one, but it's only part of much larger puzzle.

[oblivious]

133. This Snopes info is a bit supicious.

First of all, it claims only to debunk the claim "the artificial sweetener aspartame is responsible for an epidemic of cancer, brain tumors, and multiple sclerosis."

Then take a look at the sources it offers as proof. Only one study is presented (#6) and it was financed by an aspartame producer.

1. FDA approval in 1981 and 1987 GAO incestigation results. Nothing at all about the significant controversy surrounding its approval.

http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-adf9.html

2. Aspartame and the Internet (Lancelet) - This a letter to the journal from two authors. The only research mentioned is internet research.

And can you guess who runs the website with this very selective information? Ajinomoto, a producer of aspartame. Surprise surprise, there is nothing negative about aspartame on the website.

http://www.aspartame.net/index.html

3. ACSH Debunks Internet Health Hoax - In fact this doesn't debunk anything. It just reprints an email health scare and says it's nonsense. No research or anything, just a statement that it's not true.

http://www.acsh.org/healthissues/newsID.265/healthissue_detail.asp

4. Beware The E-Mail Hoax: The Evils Of Nutrasweet (Aspartame) - again, this is just a TV doctor saying the email is bogus - no proof or evidence or explanation - just got to take his word for it.

http://web.archive.org/web/20040205093914/http://www.healthcentral.com/DrDean/DeanFullTextTopics.cfm?ID=8134

5. FDA 1996 statement that they first refused to approve aspartame in 1980 because the maker, G D Searle did not provide sufficient proof that it did not cause cancer in rats, but that in 1981 though FDA scientists were not all in agreement, they did endorse it.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00772.html

6. Study reaffirms safety of aspartame
This work was supported by a grant from the NutraSweet Co.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/1998/aspartame-0916.html

7. Time article - pay to read - appears to be one columnist's opinion that it's ok.

http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,19130,00.html

If this is the best Snopes can do, I've lost a bit of respect for them and will check their debunking sources more carefully in future.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

146. funny how Snopes is GOD until it states something

people don't believe...just goes to show that some people will support only information that have predetermined to be true...everything else...regardless of support from external sources...is bunk...

subjectProdigal

[oblivious]

162. I don't know what to believe on Aspartame, so I want to examine everything

Whoever wrote this Snopes piece didn't appear to have the same interest.

The evidence provided is one-sided and out of date.

I guess Snopes needs to be debunked from time to time.

[rman]

170. Sure, if you believe the chemical industry, and Rumsfeld

[Warren DeMontague]

109. Too bad nobody did a study showing it prevents pregnancy in rape victims

then the FDA would be all over it with a ban like dogs on a steak.

[Up2Late]

112. No kidding, or if they could prove that it causes "Spontaneous Abortions"

what most called mis-carriages until the RW-Funfolk started blaming the woman for it, it would surly be banned. :sarcasm:(as soon as they can convert all their products to Splenda)

[sakabatou]

114. My mome only drinks the stuff with splenda

so no problem.

[noonwitch]

139. I tried that kind and it tasted nasty

I'll stick with aspartame.

[sakabatou]

151. Well Coke Zero tastes ok....

[gulfcoastliberal]

116. Aspartame may be tied to increased brain tumor rates - medline

Here's one entry:

Increasing brain tumor rates: is there a link to aspartame?

Olney JW, Farber NB, Spitznagel E, Robins LN.

Department of Psychiatry, Washington University Medical School, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.

In the past two decades brain tumor rates have risen in several industrialized countries, including the United States. During this time, brain tumor data have been gathered by the National Cancer Institute from catchment areas representing 10% of the United States population. In the present study, we analyzed these data from 1975 to 1992 and found that the brain tumor increases in the United States occurred in two distinct phases, an early modest increase that may primarily reflect improved diagnostic technology, and a more recent sustained increase in the incidence and shift toward greater malignancy that must be explained by some other factor(s). Compared to other environmental factors putatively linked to brain tumors, the artificial sweetener aspartame is a promising candidate to explain the recent increase in incidence and degree of malignancy of brain tumors. Evidence potentially implicating aspartame includes an early animal study revealing an exceedingly high incidence of brain tumors in aspartame-fed rats compared to no brain tumors in concurrent controls, the recent finding that the aspartame molecule has mutagenic potential, and the close temporal association (aspartame was introduced into US food and beverage markets several years prior to the sharp increase in brain tumor incidence and malignancy). We conclude that there is need for reassessing the carcinogenic potential of aspartame.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8939194&dopt=Citation

Personally, 1 stick of sugar free gum gives me a splitting migraine.

[tuvor]

123. ALL bubbly sugarwater is unhealthy. Stop drinking all of it.

[OzarkDem]

124. Study published at National Institutes of Health web site

First Experimental Demonstration of the Multipotential Carcinogenic Effects of Aspartame Administered in the Feed to Sprague-Dawley Rats

http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2005/8711/abstract.html

Full text of the research article, (open access)

http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2005/8711/8711.pdf

Its a real study, folks. That said, it will need to be duplicated, etc. but it gives cause for concern.

[Odin2005]

129. Hmmmm. I read somwhere...

(a SciAm or PopSci magazine, IIRC) That articial sweetners make you crave sugar because your body expects sugar if you taste something sweet. Has anyone noticed geting a sweet tooth after drinking diet pop? i've never had.

[Abelman]

131. I don't drink "diet" anything

Because it tastes like shit.

It reminds me of the many obese people I've seen at fast food restaurants ordering huge meals.

But with a Diet Coke. They're on a diet.

That's an aside, the whole argument about aspartame is moot for me. I don't drink soda very often, and if I'm going to, it's not diet. I have never had a diet soda that I though tasted good. I'll stick with water, thank you.

[Chovexani]

134. I don't know about cancer

But I don't drink any of it because it tastes like shit in a can. :shrug:

[Err]

135. What won't give you cancer?

I'll still drink it. It's not much worse than any other sweeteners or preservatives found in foods/drinks today.

[Clara T]

143. FDA banned Aspartame for scientific reasons

then gave it the okay for political reasons, pressure from chemical company giant Monsanto.

Info on toxicity of Aspartame has been suppressed
for 20-30 years. It was developed in a program during WWII to create
a neurotoxin to kill enemy soldiers. - AA

ASPARTAME CRISIS POSED TO WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE
By Betty Martini, 8/17/00
http://www.sightings.com/general3/en.htm 


When the temperature of Aspartame exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in
ASPARTAME coverts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn
causes metabolic acidosis. (Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of
fire ants.) The methanol toxicity mimics multiple sclerosis; thus, people
were being diagnosed with having multiple sclerosis in error. The multiple
sclerosis is not a death sentence, where methanol toxicity is.

<snip>

Aspartame changes the brain's chemistry. It is the reason for severe
seizures. This drug changes the dopamine level in the brain. Imagine what
this drug does to patients suffering from Parkinson's Disease. This drug
also causes birth defects. There is absolutely no reason to take this
product. It is NOT A DIET PRODUCT! The Congressional Record said, "It makes
you crave Carbohydrates and will make you FAT." Dr. Roberts stated that
when he got patients off aspartame, their average weight loss was 19 pounds
per person.

The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and
thighs. Aspartame is especially deadly for diabetics. All physicians know
what wood alcohol will do to a diabetic. We find that physicians believe
that they have patients with retinopathy, when in fact, it is caused by the
aspartame. The aspartame keeps the blood sugar level out of control,
causing many patients to go into a coma. Unfortunately, many have died.

<snip>

I assure you that MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame, knows how deadly it
is. They fund the American Association, American Dietetic Association
Congress, and the Conference of the American College of Physicians. The New
York Times, November 15, 1996, ran an article on how the American Dietetic
Association takes money from the food industry to endorse their products.
Therefore, they cannot criticize any additives or tell about their link to
MONSANTO.

http://www.netlink.de/gen/aspartame.htm

[sexybomber]

149. I knew that ten years ago (n/t)

[Catchawave]

152. I don't trust anything with "artificial" in it's ingredients

:shudder:

[Odin2005]

164. * points to post on Chemophobia*

this "artificial is bad" meme is annoying, it comes from the same kind of technophobia that makes people scared about genetically modified foods.

:argh:

[Catchawave]

192. Good reason, you post, artificial is *bad*

Euwwww :hi:

[hopeisaplace]

153. We all descend from Rats...

that's explains A LOT. Intelligent design has another kink.

About Aspartame, I avoid it.

[Shadowen]

155. I haven't done Diet Coke in...

...oh, months at least. Probably longer.

[Lindacooks]

156. Once again, I was at the University of Minnesota in 1981 when

Reagan got elected. Food science professors were all saying there were too many problems with aspartame for it to be approved. Lo and behold, Rumsfeld got his dirty hands on it and the stuff was approved. It it bad for you - do NOT consume it.

[smartvoter]

161. We eat so many synthesized products, and lead such unhealthy

lifestyles, that I have trouble pinning anything on aspartame in particular. I used to guzzle it but stopped as part of an overall process of eating more naturally.

I don't know, of course, but I don't think we'd see a decrease in cancer with the removal of aspartame. Not that I want to defend aspartame either, but we eat so many products loaded with crap that singling out aspartame is like trying to identify the "bad" person on death row.

I do think we would see a difference if everyone stopped off at the store on the way home and picked up some fresh veggies and fruit instead of McDonald's or pizza.

[SmokingJacket]

167. If people got over their childish desire to make everything sweet...

this wouldn't be a problem.

Don't like the calories? Don't eat sugar. Food tastes just fine without the treacle or the chemicals sprayed all over it.

[nolabels]

175. They start by shaping the minds of the young ones

[rman]

169. If for no other reason then that Rumsfeld says it's good for you.

When was the last time that guy did anything good?

[typeviic]

181. also in

Aspartame is also in sugar free chewing gum and mints!!!

[conflictgirl]

189. I drank diet Coke for years and also had daily headaches for years

One day I had the brilliant idea to see if there was any connection between the two, and wouldn't you know that my daily headaches stopped when I quit drinking the diet pop. Now I avoid aspartame like the plague, especially because if I'm inadvertently exposed to some I get that same old weird metallic-feeling headache back.

Besides that, many studies have found that people who regularly consume artificial sweeteners are not significantly thinner than those who have regular sugar.

[Catchawave]

193. Good for you, me too !

All my "diet coke,etc, ad nauseum" friends 'n' family are really fat too.

I'm thinking artificial sweetners may have an "addictive" buzz too?

As for me, I hate the *taste* of sugar/artificial sweeties and drink lots of water, I love lemon water. Love black coffee too. :shrug: ?

[RepublicanElephant]

197. i'm partial to xylitol...

very close to real sugar in appearance and taste.
but kinda expensive (about $3.00/lb).

"Xylitol is a low-calorie alternative to table sugar (sucrose) (approximately 40% less food energy), and is absorbed more slowly than sugar; thus it doesn't contribute to a rapid rise in blood sugar level and the resultant insulin response."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol