Thursday, July 3, 2014

ARTICLE: The Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners: The Many Health Risk Factors with Aspartame

(Originally published at Yahoo.Voices formerly Associated Content~Sept. 10, 2007)

The Dangers Of Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners have been around for over one-hundred years, with Saccharin being the first one to have been invented in 1878 by Constantin Fahlberg, and while it was in use as a sugar substitute especially among diabetics, and then used extensively during sugar shortages during World War I, it didn't become popular especially among dieters in the form of Sweet'nLow until the 1960s and 1970s. Saccharin wasn't without its problems, however, for even as far back as 1907, the USDA began investigating the possible health risk factors associated with this sugar substitute, and in later years, there was evidence of cancer connections with the constant use of Saccharin. Then, in 1972, attempts were made to completely ban this sugar substitute, yet it still remains on the market, but now has warnings about its risk factors.

With the controversy over the health risk factors connected with saccharin, manufacturers began scrambling to come up with another artificial sweetener and in 1974, the FDA approved the now very popular Aspartame. With its invention, Aspartame became more popular in use than Saccharin, and was packaged under the names of NutraSweet and Spenda, however, it also wasn't just used to sweeten beverages, such as diet soda, but could be found in over 6,000 products, including carbonated and powdered soft drinks, hot chocolate, chewing gum, candy, desserts, yogurt, and tabletop sweeteners, as well as some pharmaceutical products like vitamins and sugar-free cough drops. (1) The instant popularity of Aspartame in so many sugar-free products was due to the fact that it tasted better, for it did not have the bitter after taste that Saccharin had. And, for awhile, it didn't seem to have any known health risk factors involved. However, now the evidence is becoming more and more apparent, that this sugar substitute has even far worse side effects and can trigger over ninety-two health problems, and not just cancer. There are also indications that instead of helping people, who are diet conscious and who are trying to lose weight, or control blood sugar levels, may actually be hindering themselves from any beneficial effects of being on a sugar-free diet with the constant and continual use of Aspartame. ...."According to an article in Technology Review, "aspartame may actually stimulate appetite and bring on a craving for carbohydrates"(2)

The possibility of gaining weight from the use of Aspartame is nothing compared to the more serious health problems that can arise from the consumption of this sweetener. One of the main reasons for the staggering difference between the health risk factors that Saccharin can create versus Aspartame is due to the fact, that while Saccharin does not break down and therefore is not absorbed into the physiological system, Aspartame does, and can travel throughout the body and deposit within any tissue of the body. (3)

The list of potential health side effects is staggering when one reads the list given on the "Sweet Poison" website. I include the list in its entirety as this is the only way to inform of the serious risk factors involved here:

Adverse reactions and side effects of aspartame include:

Eye


blindness in one or both eyes 


decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision


pain in one or both eyes 
decreased tears 
trouble with contact lenses 
bulging eyes

Ear


tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound


severe intolerance of noise


marked hearing impairment

Neurologic


epileptic seizures 


headaches, migraines and (some severe) 


dizziness, unsteadiness, both


confusion, memory loss, both 


severe drowsiness and sleepiness


paresthesia or numbness of the limbs 


severe slurring of speech


severe hyperactivity and restless legs


atypical facial pain 


severe tremors

Psychological/Psychiatric


severe depression 


irritability


aggression


anxiety


personality changes


insomnia


phobias

Chest


palpitations, tachycardia 


shortness of breath


recent high blood pressure

Gastrointestinal

nausea 


diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools 


abdominal pain


pain when swallowing

Skin and Allergies

itching without a rash


lip and mouth reactions


hives


aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma

Endocrine and Metabolic


loss of control of diabetes


menstrual changes 


marked thinning or loss of hair


marked weight loss


gradual weight gain 


aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) 


severe PMS

Other

frequency of voiding and burning during urination


excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating 


increased susceptibility to infection

Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all


death


irreversible brain damage


birth defects, including mental retardation


peptic ulcers 


aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets 


hyperactivity in children


severe depression


aggressive behavior 


suicidal tendencies

Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 


Epstein-Barr


Post-Polio Syndrome


Lyme Disease


Grave's Disease


Meniere's Disease 


Alzheimer's Disease


ALS


Epilepsy


Multiple Sclerosis (MS) 


EMS


Hypothyroidism 


Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings


Fibromyalgia


Lupus


non-Hodgkins

Lymphoma 


Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

These are not allergies or sensitivities, but diseases and disease syndromes. Aspartame poisoning is commonly misdiagnosed because aspartame symptoms mock textbook 'disease' symptoms, such as Grave's Disease.

Aspartame changes the ratio of amino acids in the blood, blocking or lowering the levels of serotonin, tyrosine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. Therefore, it is typical that aspartame symptoms cannot be detected in lab tests and on x-rays. Textbook disorders and diseases may actually be a toxic load as a result of aspartame poisoning. (4)

There is a very tragic story involved of how a young little girl was unknowingly suffering from Aspartame poisoning. To the girl's doctor, her symptoms indicated nothing more than a severe ear infection and was simply given antibiotics. But her symptoms didn't fade nor become better, if anything, they became worse. No one, including her physician could figure out what was causing all the serious health problems this girl was undergoing and why. It was later discovered that the culprit was the chewable vitamins she had been taking. They hadn't been labeled as being sugar-free, yet had Aspartame in them. I include this article for you to read as part of my sources.(5)

What I would like to know is why, with the ever growing evidence of how dangerous this "simple" little sweetener is, that is found in so many of our products, that there hasn't been any government intervention to pull this hazardous and deadly product off the market. It's my hope that by writing this article, I will have succeeded in at least having more people become aware of the dangers of consuming anything with Aspartame in it.

Sources To Read More On The Subject of Artificial Sweeteners:

History of Saccharin

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

Aspartame Side Effects

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/aspartame-side-effects-include-cancer.html

Weight Gain And Aspartame

http://www.sweetpoison.com

Sources cited: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/aspartame-side-effects-include-cancer.html 
(1)

http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html (3), (4)

http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-case-histories.html 
(5)

http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/weight_gain_myth.htm 
(2)

No comments: