Deadly Sweetners

Artificial sweeteners are NOT a healthy alternative to sugar

Aspartame (NutraSweet brand name) is probably the most controversial food additive in history. Look up aspartame on the internet, and you’ll find page after page of information – most of it warnings on its dangers. Books have been written on aspartame dangers, there is even a video, “Sweet Misery,” depicting its dangers. The State of New Mexico initiated legislation to try to ban aspartame.

With so many negative reports about aspartame, it is important to understand how aspartame was approved. In approximately 1967, G.D. Searle, manufacturer of aspartame, first began the process of seeking FDA approval for their artificial sweetener as a food additive.

What followed were years of controversy. Early on, respected neuroscientist and researcher, Dr. John W. Olney, warned the manufacturer that oral intake of glutamate, aspartate and cysteine, the excitotoxic amino acids found in aspartame, cause brain damage in mice. His findings were confirmed by another researcher, Ann Reynolds, who was hired by G. D. Searle. (Claiming an oversight, G. D. Searle did not inform the FDA of this study until after the approval of aspartame.) Petitions by Dr. Olney prompted an FDA investigation which found G.D. Searle’s testing procedures to be full of inaccurate results and manipulated test data. Following the investigation, a grand jury probe began, but was thwarted six months later when the lead U.S. Attorney assigned to the case, Samuel Skinner, suddenly resigned and accepted a position at the law firm representing G.D. Searle. About this same time (1977) the battle weary G.D. Searle company sought to turn the situation around by appointing, as their new CEO, former Illinois congressman and Washington “insider” Donald Rumsfeld (most recently the former Secretary of Defense). Although it took several years, Rumsfeld’s political pull, rather than the scientific evidence, eventually resulted in the approval of Aspartame—through his associations in Washington and with President Ronald Reagan.

A study by the American Cancer Society, involving 80,000 women found that the test group who used aspartame products actually gained more weight than the group who didn’t use it. When Ronald Reagan (a good friend of G.D. Searle, manufacturer of aspartame) took office in 1981 he fired the current FDA Commissioner who refused to approve aspartame. President Reagan then hired Dr. Arthur Hull Hayes as commissioner. By this time there was so much controversy over aspartame that a Board of Inquiry was established. The Board advised Dr. Hayes not to approve aspartame. Dr. Hayes overruled his own Board and aspartame was approved for use in November 1981. Shortly (four months) after Dr. Hayes won approval for aspartame he left his position as FDA Commissioner and took a lucrative position with G.D. Searle’s Public Relations firm.

For the history of aspartame, the following websites provide the pre approval and research data that led to the FDA approval of aspartame:
http://www.dorway.com/indexnew.html
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/history.faq
http://www.wnho.net/history_of_aspartame.htm
(1983) Even the National Soft Drink Association drafted an objection to permitting the use of aspartame in carbonated beverages. At that time, it was well documented that when liquid aspartame is stored above 85 degrees it breaks down into DKP and formaldehyde, both known toxins. Formaldehyde binds tightly to DNA, making it difficult to remove from the body. And, because it is a "cumulative toxin", even small amounts can become significantly toxic over time.

Why exactly is Aspartame so dangerous?

Aspartame is an excitotoxin—a substance that excites or over-stimulates nerve cells. An excitotoxin basically excites neural cells to death. This occurs in the brain and in peripheral nerves because the key components in aspartame are absorption accelerants and can easily cross the blood brain barrier. The blood brain barrier is a system of specialized capillary structures that are designed to prevent toxic substances from entering the brain. Aspartame actually changes the brain’s chemistry. Some people react immediately, but more ominous, is that for many, the damage is slow, silent and can be irreversible with long term use.

Over 75% of all food related complaints received by the FDA are associated with aspartame. Because of the high volume of complaints, the FDA has documented 92 common aspartame related symptoms. The majority of the symptoms are neurological, because aspartame destroys the nervous system. Some of the most serious are brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma. Among the most common complaints registered with the FDA are: headache, heart rate irregularities, dizziness, dramatic mood swings, nausea, abdominal pain, blindness, memory loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, rashes, sleep problems, blood sugar problems, sexual dysfunction, difficulty breathing, seizures and convulsions. Independent research shows that seizures are one of the most common reactions to aspartame.

Populations that consume aspartame are known to develop symptoms commonly diagnosed as Multiple Schlerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s.
The components of Aspartame: 40% aspartic acid, 50% phenylalanine and 10% methanol.

Although aspartic acid is produced in minute amounts by the body, the amount ingested by consuming aspartame is so excessive that it destroys neurons. It creates so many neurotransmitters in certain areas of the brain that they are literally excited to death.

Phenylalanine is also produced naturally by the body, like aspartic acid, in very small amounts. The elevated levels of phenylalanine as found in aspartame, damage the hypothalamus, the gland responsible for weight regulation, and has also been determined to cause schizophrenia and susceptibility to seizures. According to Dr. H.J. Roberts, the phenylalanine in aspartame breaks down the seizure threshold and depletes serotonin, which causes manic depression, panic attacks, rage and violence.

Methanol is classified by the EPA as a “cumulative” poison. Even more dangerous, the form of methanol in aspartame, “free” methanol, metabolizes even faster when heated above 85 degrees. According to neurosurgeon, and researcher, Dr. Russell Blaylock, there is alarming research that demonstrates the dangerous relationship of sudden cardiac death and athletes consuming beverages containing aspartame. (http://www.russellblaylockmd.com/). Supporters of aspartame (funded by Monsanto, who now own G.D. Searle) make claims that fruit juices and alcohol also contain methanol, which is created in the manufacturing process, proving methanol is safe. While this may be true, it is vital to point out that fruit juices and alcohol contain an essential methanol neutralizer—ethanol. Aspartame does not contain ethanol, and therefore has nothing within its structure to neutralize the toxic effects of methanol.

Aspartame breaks down within 20 minutes at room temperature into several primary toxic and dangerous ingredients: ¨ DKP (diketopiperizine) when ingested, converts to a near duplicate of a powerful brain tumor causing agent¨ Formic Acid - toxin that shuts down the energy processes of cells¨ Formaldehyde—embalming fluid¨ Methanol -wood alcohol, causes blindness.

Diet soda consumption is now being linked to obesity. Touted as an aid for weight loss and weight management, aspartame may actually have the opposite effect. Aspartame may actually stimulate the appetite and bring on a craving for carbohydrates according to an article in Technology Review. Researchers believe that any kind of sweet taste signals body cells to store carbohydrates and fats which cause the body to crave more food. Aspartame and it’s cousin, the excitotoxin MSG, are both documented to increase appetite and damage the hypothalamus gland, which is responsible for regulating and balancing weight.

If you’re thinking about switching from aspartame to Splenda (sucralose)… think again! Tests done on sucralose reveal it can cause up to 40% shrinkage of the thymus, a gland that is critical to the immune system. It also causes swelling of the kidneys and liver, and liver calcification. Although Splenda’s motto is “made from sugar...so it tastes like sugar”, the chemical structure is much different. Splenda has basically been chlorinated. 3 hydroxyl groups (atoms composed of hydrogen and oxygen) are selectively removed and replaced with 3 atoms of chlorine. The sugar molecule has now been transformed into a chlorocarbon—a chemical agent that has no place in the human diet.

The dangers are real, and the benefits are false.

In a Congressional record, one doctor states that his studies showed when his patients stopped using aspartame they lost an average of 19 lbs. per person. Any advantages people perceive they are gaining from eliminating real sugar, by exchanging it for aspartame or sucralose, are certainly nullified by the far reaching, documented damage they cause. Nothing this dangerous is worth the risk just to save a few calories. Sound scientific research, and study after study prove that aspartame’s beneficial claims are based solely on marketing hype and inaccuracies. The components of aspartame are proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be toxic to the human body and ineffective for weight loss.

The patent on aspartame has recently expired. This means that aspartame will soon be found under a multitude of new names. Currently the most common aspartame names on the market are NutraSweet, Equal, Equal Measure, Saccharin, Spoonful, Neotame, Sunette, Sweet & Safe, Sweet One, and Canderal. Unfortunately, there are over 9,000 products on the market containing aspartame and sucralose. It is even in prescription drugs and some children’s chewable vitamins. The scope of this article barely touches on the dangers and deceptions of artificial sweeteners.

Aspartame is a multi billion dollar industry, so the chances of having it pulled off the market by the FDA are pretty slim...unless of course everyone stops purchasing it!

The point of this article is not to point fingers and "look at the bad man" but it is about personal responsibility. Only YOU can make a difference in your own life and your own health.
If this article has moved you to look for healthier alternatives, go to your local health food store, and look for Stevia, agave syrup, maple syrup, evaporated cane juice, and more.

Some of the numerous books on the market about aspartame include:
“Sweet Poison”, by Dr. Janet Starr Hull
"Sweet Deception", by Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Kendra Pearsall“Excitototoxins: The Taste that Kills” , by Dr. Russell L. Blaylock
“The Deadly Deception: Story of Aspartame” , by Mary Nash Stoddard
“Slow Poisoning of America”, by John E. Erb and Michelle Erb
“Defense against Alzheimer’s Disease” , by Dr. H.J. Roberts