Aspartame - Warning

[Douglas7777]

Found this article about aspartame. I was curious because I drink sugarfree red bull like crazy!

"I drank diet soda for the obvious reason -- to avoid sugar and to avoid weight gain" claims a businesswoman in a case reported to Dr. Roberts (qtd. In Roberts 147). It's not unusual for people who are dieting to reach for an aspartame product verses a product containing sugar. Aspartame is "200 times sweeter" than ordinary sugar so fewer calories are consumed (Deskins G1). With a weight conscious society, fewer calories can be attractive. However, a closer look shows that aspartame may not help control weight gain.

Outlined in the following list are some reasons why aspartame might not be effective in controlling weight:

1. According to an article in Technology Review, "aspartame may actually stimulate appetite and bring on a craving for carbohydrates" (Farber 52). 2. An article in Utne Reader claims, "researchers believe that any kind of sweet taste signals body cells to store carbohydrates and fats, which in turn causes the body to crave more food" (Lamb 16). 3. From the San Francisco Chronicle, Jean Weininger states that "studies have shown that people who use artificial sweeteners don't necessarily reduce their consumption of sugar -- or their total calorie intake. . . . Having a diet soda makes it okay to eat a double cheeseburger and a chocolate mousse pie" (1/ZZ1). 4. "The American Cancer Society (1986) documented the fact that persons using artificial sweeteners gain more weight than those who avoid them" (Roberts 150)

Whether you are trying to lose pounds or maintain your weight, using an artificial sweetener such as aspartame does not seem to have any significant effect on weight control. Those extra calories you saved by drinking a diet pop won't make much of a difference if you still need to satisfy your hunger and indulge in several cookies later. If it is actually increasing your appetite, why use it? Common sense tells you that proper diet and exercise are more beneficial. Even if you believe that aspartame may aid in dieting, is this worth risking your health?

FDA approval and natural ingredients may signal safety at first, but the mounting evidence against aspartame reveals many hidden dangers and possible risks. If you are experiencing any of the adverse reactions, stop using aspartame and see if the symptoms disappear. Now that you are aware of the problems with aspartame, inform others of the symptoms of aspartame poisoning. Notify the FDA of any adverse reactions that you may experience and encourage others to do the same. Don't just stop using aspartame, but make a difference by returning any aspartame products you may now have. If sales go down, hopefully aspartame will be pulled off the market and put an end to the aspartame dilemma.

 

[blueta2]

JavaGuru in 3, 2, 1

I agree with this. I think this stuff is poison!

 

[wake_up]

We cannot trust corporations, because all private corporations wether doctors, corporations who make aspartame, and even your phone company is based on a profit-based system. What they want is to make as much profits as possible, even though it might harm the consumer. It just shows you the nature of this system, that's why i don't trust a lot of proteins out there even though the package sells u magic

wake_up

Found this article about aspartame. I was curious because I drink sugarfree red bull like crazy!

"I drank diet soda for the obvious reason -- to avoid sugar and to avoid weight gain" claims a businesswoman in a case reported to Dr. Roberts (qtd. In Roberts 147). It's not unusual for people who are dieting to reach for an aspartame product verses a product containing sugar. Aspartame is "200 times sweeter" than ordinary sugar so fewer calories are consumed (Deskins G1). With a weight conscious society, fewer calories can be attractive. However, a closer look shows that aspartame may not help control weight gain.

Outlined in the following list are some reasons why aspartame might not be effective in controlling weight:

1. According to an article in Technology Review, "aspartame may actually stimulate appetite and bring on a craving for carbohydrates" (Farber 52). 2. An article in Utne Reader claims, "researchers believe that any kind of sweet taste signals body cells to store carbohydrates and fats, which in turn causes the body to crave more food" (Lamb 16). 3. From the San Francisco Chronicle, Jean Weininger states that "studies have shown that people who use artificial sweeteners don't necessarily reduce their consumption of sugar -- or their total calorie intake. . . . Having a diet soda makes it okay to eat a double cheeseburger and a chocolate mousse pie" (1/ZZ1). 4. "The American Cancer Society (1986) documented the fact that persons using artificial sweeteners gain more weight than those who avoid them" (Roberts 150)

Whether you are trying to lose pounds or maintain your weight, using an artificial sweetener such as aspartame does not seem to have any significant effect on weight control. Those extra calories you saved by drinking a diet pop won't make much of a difference if you still need to satisfy your hunger and indulge in several cookies later. If it is actually increasing your appetite, why use it? Common sense tells you that proper diet and exercise are more beneficial. Even if you believe that aspartame may aid in dieting, is this worth risking your health?

FDA approval and natural ingredients may signal safety at first, but the mounting evidence against aspartame reveals many hidden dangers and possible risks. If you are experiencing any of the adverse reactions, stop using aspartame and see if the symptoms disappear. Now that you are aware of the problems with aspartame, inform others of the symptoms of aspartame poisoning. Notify the FDA of any adverse reactions that you may experience and encourage others to do the same. Don't just stop using aspartame, but make a difference by returning any aspartame products you may now have. If sales go down, hopefully aspartame will be pulled off the market and put an end to the aspartame dilemma.

 

[musclemom]

The shit's poison and anyone who thinks otherwise is just kidding themselves.

In particular, if you suffer from headaches or migraines you shouldn't touch any of those artificial sweeteners. I also have a personal theory that if you have a family predisposition to/are in remission from cancer, particularly breast cancer, you shouldn't go near ANY of that shit.

If you really, really need to watch carbs and calories, and are dying for something sweet, use Stevia (totally natural, just the leaf from a bush) or just use a small amount of frigging unrefined sugar or honey, which is infinitely more satisfying.

 

[blueta2]

The shit's poison and anyone who thinks otherwise is just kidding themselves.

In particular, if you suffer from headaches or migraines you shouldn't touch any of those artificial sweeteners. I also have a personal theory that if you have a family predisposition to/are in remission from cancer, particularly breast cancer, you shouldn't go near ANY of that shit.

If you really, really need to watch carbs and calories, and are dying for something sweet, use Stevia (totally natural, just the leaf from a bush) or just use a small amount of frigging unrefined sugar or honey, which is infinitely more satisfying.

MM, I agree and have said the same thing in other threads, and everyone was jumping down my throat.
Stevia is the best alternative. Stevia is used in diet coke and pepsi in Japan.
Aspartame should be a banned substance, but it will never be b/c ppl are making too much money on this crap.

 

[musclemom]

MM, I agree and have said the same thing in other threads, and everyone was jumping down my throat.
Stevia is the best alternative. Stevia is used in diet coke and pepsi in Japan.
Aspartame should be a banned substance, but it will never be b/c ppl are making too much money on this crap.

Well, put it this way, I've been a neurology transcriptionist full time for four years, and that includes one headache management center. While doctors are the absolute last ones to deal with problems from a nutritional standpoint, the FIRST thing they ask a migraine sufferer is if they drink diet softdrinks and how often. If the person answers yes, they tell them to cut them out.

The artificial sweetener companies did everything they could to block stevia from coming into the U.S. It's not sold as a sweetener, the only way it got into this country is as a nutritional supplement and that's how it's sold.

 

[Cutiebaby]

It is def poison. I know a lady who was addicted to diet soda.Might I add she did not lose much weight as she thought she would due to drinking diet vs reg soda...Then to add to it she had severe withdrawals rash, facial swelling etc..I do not like my kids to have sugar but I do not give them any aspartame products.
My mom in law told me about this product called "stevie" it is a sugar and I guess it is far better than typical sugars or that aspartame crap. I still have to look into it though

 

[blueta2]

It is def poison. I know a lady who was addicted to diet soda.Might I add she did not lose much weight as she thought she would due to drinking diet vs reg soda...Then to add to it she had severe withdrawals rash, facial swelling etc..I do not like my kids to have sugar but I do not give them any aspartame products.
My mom in law told me about this product called "stevie" it is a sugar and I guess it is far better than typical sugars or that aspartame crap. I still have to look into it though

Angel, that is the stuff MM and I are talking about. It's called Stevia.
Like in the US, in Canada it's also sold only as a diet suppliment. You can find Stevia at a larger grocery store or most health food stores. The liquid has a bit of an aftertaste but the granuled form less so.

 

[Cutiebaby]

Angel, that is the stuff MM and I are talking about. It's called Stevia.
Like in the US, in Canada it's also sold only as a diet suppliment. You can find Stevia at a larger grocery store or most health food stores. The liquid has a bit of an aftertaste but the granuled form less so.

lol, I am well known for not reading other posts than the very first post!
Any how yes, my mother in law said I could find it in the health food stores around. That also if I get the white instead of the off white/brownish color than the after taste is not as bad.
I am interested in getting it and giving it a shot. I need to look it up some before I actually make a full decision. But I generally trust what my mom in law says seeings how at one point in time she ate all natural foods and such.

 

[wake_up]

The real big problem abou stevia, is an economic problem. Stevia is 8 dollars, when compared with aspartame which is about 2 dollars a box of 100. That's the big problem of Stevia. I think Stevia consumers need to tell the Stevia corporation to bring down the price a bit, by mass producing, etc.

Wake_uP

Angel, that is the stuff MM and I are talking about. It's called Stevia.
Like in the US, in Canada it's also sold only as a diet suppliment. You can find Stevia at a larger grocery store or most health food stores. The liquid has a bit of an aftertaste but the granuled form less so.