Aspartame - Warning

[Sim882]

I have a massive headache problem (24 hours per day, unremitting 365 days per year) and was a regular aspartame drinker.

I quit all artificial sweetners 2 months ago and have not seen any improvement. What I can say though is I dispute that its an appetite stimulate - my hunger level has not changed since this (indeed, I think diet coke aids a diet because it does with a meal add to how feeling it is).

 

[musclemom]

I have a massive headache problem (24 hours per day, unremitting 365 days per year) and was a regular aspartame drinker.

I quit all artificial sweetners 2 months ago and have not seen any improvement. What I can say though is I dispute that its an appetite stimulate - my hunger level has not changed since this (indeed, I think diet coke aids a diet because it does with a meal add to how feeling it is).

Headaches have a cause, they are a symptom. They are basically caused by one of several things:

1. Musculoskeletal problems causing muscular imbalances, either TMJ or cervical spine problems.
2. Sinus disease.
3. Hypertension.
4. Stress.
5. Tumor.
6. Pain killer addiction.
7. Toxin exposure (I need to explain this further).

#1 needs a good chiropractor and/or change of mattress and/or change of pillow.

#2 If you have allergies and/or sinus problems off and on the problem needs to be addressed properly by an ENT.

#3 If you have uncontrolled hypertension, even mild hypertension, it can give you a headache.

#4 Only you know if your life is stressful. Sleeping less than 5 hours a night regularly, working 12+ hour days, rarely taking vacations, all of those things contribute and compound the problem, even if you don't perceive it as stress.

#5 ... well that one's pretty self explanatory. However, the tumor scenario is rarely a headache by itself, it's usually accompanied by other problems (dizziness, hearing or vision problems, slurred speech, numbness, blackouts, seizures).

#6 If you're at the point where you have to take multiple doses of headache pills every day you've probably gotten to the point where you are hooked, same as a caffeine withdrawal headache.

#7 The most difficult to ascertain and the most prevalent and the one conventional medicine does not acknowlege, toxin exposure. And this can include foods that you have a low grade intolerance to (as opposed to allergy, which is usually pretty obvious and relatively simple to test for).

The thing is, headaches are a symptom. They are not a disease in and of themselves. If you look at that list you'll see there are mainly two reasons you get a headache: musculoskeletal tension/imbalance or toxins (excluding the pathological scenarios of tumor and high blodo pressure. I've been a neurology transcriptionist for 4 years and have only run into a small handful of headache sufferers who had tumors. Usually tumors cause everything else BUT a headache). Sinus disease or allergies are technically toxin situations because you've got either irritants or infection going on.

Chronic daily headaches means you've got either a screwed up neck, a shitty mattress/pillow, untreated hypertension, or you're consuming something your body perceives as a toxin. In my case I didn't get rid of mine until I eliminated, totally, all wheat/gluten products.

Covering up the pain of a headache is not eliminating its cause, but no conventional doctor ever cured anything and certainly won't start looking to do that any time in the near future. If you want to get rid of your headaches you have to figure out their cause on your own.

 

[poysyn]

do you guys think splenda is a product with a lot of potential negative side effects, or do you think it is alright to use?

I NEVER touch any product with aspartame, but I do use quite a few products with splenda (particually oats, coffee, some sugar free jams)

 

[wake_up]

Hello all, i admit that i use aspartame, because its a lot cheaper than stevia and splenda and i don't have headaches

 

[Sim882]

Headaches have a cause, they are a symptom. They are basically caused by one of several things:

1. Musculoskeletal problems causing muscular imbalances, either TMJ or cervical spine problems.
2. Sinus disease.
3. Hypertension.
4. Stress.
5. Tumor.
6. Pain killer addiction.
7. Toxin exposure (I need to explain this further).

#1 needs a good chiropractor and/or change of mattress and/or change of pillow.

#2 If you have allergies and/or sinus problems off and on the problem needs to be addressed properly by an ENT.

#3 If you have uncontrolled hypertension, even mild hypertension, it can give you a headache.

#4 Only you know if your life is stressful. Sleeping less than 5 hours a night regularly, working 12+ hour days, rarely taking vacations, all of those things contribute and compound the problem, even if you don't perceive it as stress.

#5 ... well that one's pretty self explanatory. However, the tumor scenario is rarely a headache by itself, it's usually accompanied by other problems (dizziness, hearing or vision problems, slurred speech, numbness, blackouts, seizures).

#6 If you're at the point where you have to take multiple doses of headache pills every day you've probably gotten to the point where you are hooked, same as a caffeine withdrawal headache.

#7 The most difficult to ascertain and the most prevalent and the one conventional medicine does not acknowlege, toxin exposure. And this can include foods that you have a low grade intolerance to (as opposed to allergy, which is usually pretty obvious and relatively simple to test for).

The thing is, headaches are a symptom. They are not a disease in and of themselves. If you look at that list you'll see there are mainly two reasons you get a headache: musculoskeletal tension/imbalance or toxins (excluding the pathological scenarios of tumor and high blodo pressure. I've been a neurology transcriptionist for 4 years and have only run into a small handful of headache sufferers who had tumors. Usually tumors cause everything else BUT a headache). Sinus disease or allergies are technically toxin situations because you've got either irritants or infection going on.

Chronic daily headaches means you've got either a screwed up neck, a shitty mattress/pillow, untreated hypertension, or you're consuming something your body perceives as a toxin. In my case I didn't get rid of mine until I eliminated, totally, all wheat/gluten products.

Covering up the pain of a headache is not eliminating its cause, but no conventional doctor ever cured anything and certainly won't start looking to do that any time in the near future. If you want to get rid of your headaches you have to figure out their cause on your own.

THanks for your advice.

I realise this is not a headache forum, but I will explain briefly my situation and if possible would love advice.

I was diagnosed with new daily persistent headache 2 years ago, and have permanently had a headache since (I had some headaches in the proceeding year, but these did seem to be toxin related, i.e., caffeine. THe neuro said they were unrelated).

At that time, I was having too much caffeine, artificial sweetner, and sleeping pills (these have all been eliminated from my diet without improvement).

Currently, I am on the diet proposed in "Heal Your Headache" by John Bucholz. Essentially, all I eat now is the following: milk (maybe too much of it); salmon, tuna, beef, chicken; eggs occasionally; and potatoes, sweet potatoes, brocolli, lettuce, cabbage, pumpkin, carrots, red peppers, cauliflower; oat bran; linseeds and flaxseed oil; garlic, salt and pepper. I take no supplements except a multivitamin.

I literally eat nothing else.

I have tried the following meds: tricylic antidepressents, beta blockers, predisolone, epillum, topomax. I have not been or taken any meds for 5 months (I gave month and pain killers have never provided relief so I never took them, so I certaintly do not have rebound headache. I am contemplating taking 5 HTP.

I have seen a chiro (all is fine) & received accupuncture. I even spent a week in hospital where they pumped many drugs into me (not sure what they were now).

Do you have any suggestions as to a possible dietary trigger?

 

[blueta2]

THanks for your advice.

I realise this is not a headache forum, but I will explain briefly my situation and if possible would love advice.

I was diagnosed with new daily persistent headache 2 years ago, and have permanently had a headache since (I had some headaches in the proceeding year, but these did seem to be toxin related, i.e., caffeine. THe neuro said they were unrelated).

At that time, I was having too much caffeine, artificial sweetner, and sleeping pills (these have all been eliminated from my diet without improvement).

Currently, I am on the diet proposed in "Heal Your Headache" by John Bucholz. Essentially, all I eat now is the following: milk (maybe too much of it); salmon, tuna, beef, chicken; eggs occasionally; and potatoes, sweet potatoes, brocolli, lettuce, cabbage, pumpkin, carrots, red peppers, cauliflower; oat bran; linseeds and flaxseed oil; garlic, salt and pepper. I take no supplements except a multivitamin.

I literally eat nothing else.

I have tried the following meds: tricylic antidepressents, beta blockers, predisolone, epillum, topomax. I have not been or taken any meds for 5 months (I gave month and pain killers have never provided relief so I never took them, so I certaintly do not have rebound headache. I am contemplating taking 5 HTP.

I have seen a chiro (all is fine) & received accupuncture. I even spent a week in hospital where they pumped many drugs into me (not sure what they were now).

Do you have any suggestions as to a possible dietary trigger?

I would eliminate dairy and eggs to see if that helps. Also have your dentist check for TMJ. This was the cause of my migraines. I used to get them once a week, now I get them maybe 2 x a yr.
Maybe it's due to toxicity from all the meds you are/were taking. You may want to try a detox of your liver.
The Medical community is clueless about many health issues. DR's do not have all the answers. You may want to visit a naturopath.

 

[musclemom]

THanks for your advice.

I realise this is not a headache forum, but I will explain briefly my situation and if possible would love advice.

I was diagnosed with new daily persistent headache 2 years ago, and have permanently had a headache since (I had some headaches in the proceeding year, but these did seem to be toxin related, i.e., caffeine. THe neuro said they were unrelated).

At that time, I was having too much caffeine, artificial sweetner, and sleeping pills (these have all been eliminated from my diet without improvement).

Currently, I am on the diet proposed in "Heal Your Headache" by John Bucholz. Essentially, all I eat now is the following: milk (maybe too much of it); salmon, tuna, beef, chicken; eggs occasionally; and potatoes, sweet potatoes, brocolli, lettuce, cabbage, pumpkin, carrots, red peppers, cauliflower; oat bran; linseeds and flaxseed oil; garlic, salt and pepper. I take no supplements except a multivitamin.

I literally eat nothing else.

I have tried the following meds: tricylic antidepressents, beta blockers, predisolone, epillum, topomax. I have not been or taken any meds for 5 months (I gave month and pain killers have never provided relief so I never took them, so I certaintly do not have rebound headache. I am contemplating taking 5 HTP.

I have seen a chiro (all is fine) & received accupuncture. I even spent a week in hospital where they pumped many drugs into me (not sure what they were now).

Do you have any suggestions as to a possible dietary trigger?

Taken private.

 

[KyleMcd]

Sure some people don't respond to it, but what about the billions that are ok? Jay Cutler is one of the most finiky people when it comes to diet, he drink's diet sodas everyday and has for a long time. He's fine. I as well am fine, my friends are too. I've never heard of anyone personally getting hurt from it, and when I do, I will assume it was from something else. Why? There is no science arguing against it.

And you know what, if it shows it CAN harm SOME people, I will still drink it. Why you ask again? I live my life doing what I want. People sky dive, people die sky diving, does that stop millions of people from doing it and living? No. Why walk out your door today? You could get shot in an instant, why not kill yourself now? Until there is specific evidence that it will harm me, it's going down the hatch, and my abs will be laughing at people with sugar craving.

Money. Money. Money talks.

 

[EL GAUCHO]

Don't a lot of protein powders contain these kind of sweetners too?

 

[blueta2]

Don't a lot of protein powders contain these kind of sweetners too?

Yes, some of them do.