Aspartame Toxicity Information Center http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame/ Aspartame / NutraSweet Toxicity Reaction Samples ------------------------------------------------ Aspartame / NutraSweet / Equal / Neotame ^Poisoning^, ^Toxicity Reactions^, ^Health Damage^ brought to you by Monsanto / NutraSweet / Kelco / Benevia ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ IMPORTANT NOTE: Please print out this list and read *ALL* of the way through it over time. I know it's long, but it can help you recognize the various cases of aspartame toxicity and *help others*. Then copy and share this and other documents from the Aspartame Toxicity Information Center web page with as many others as possible. The names have been removed to protect confidentiality, but many of these posts can be found in various archives and WWW search engines. Please note that this document is only a tiny percentage of adverse reactions to aspartame that have been posted to the Internet over the last few years. The toxicity reactions posted to the Internet are only a very small percentage of the total toxicity reactions reported to various groups. Two independent organizations track aspartame- caused health problems: 1) the Aspartame Consumer Safety Network (ACSN), P.O. Box 780634, Dallas, Texas, 214-352-4268, marystod@airmail.net, and 2) Mission Possible International, 9270 River Club Parkway, Duluth, Georgia 30155, 770-242-2599, bettym19@mindspring.com Please contact these organizations for more information. If you have experienced health damage from aspartame and your health improved after removing it from your diet, please forward your aspartame toxicity reaction to: Mark Gold Aspartame Toxicity Information Center 12 East Side Dr., Suite 2-17 Concord, NH 03301 mgold@holisticmed.com Extensive resources for nutrition, general wellness and healing can be found on the main web page: http://www.holisticmed.com/ News organizations looking for information and contacts (local case histories, physicians, scientists, etc.) should email mgold@holisticmed.com and I will put you in touch with the appropriate organizations. HOW TO USE THIS LIST -------------------- The list is now in *reverse* chronological order such that the newest aspartame toxicity reaction is at the top. If you are reading the list for the first time, please print out the whole list and ***read from the bottom up.*** Then SHARE the printout and other documents on this web page with others. For updates, *read from the top down* until you reach an adverse reaction that you have read before. I have stopped updating this list temporarily because it was getting too long for most people to download. ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 10:17 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame induced sickness I battled high blood pressure from 1987 until 2006. My blood pressure had become uncontrollable. I had memory lapses where I could not remember someone's name. My joints were hurting and aching and my prostate was enlarged. My doctor just kept increasing my medications and the symptoms kept getting worse. After experiencing dizziness and nose bleeds from excessively high blood pressure, I had to stop eating and only consume distilled water. After several days, my blood pressure went down to 116/65. I started eating only one food at a time and checking my blood pressure at intervals afterward to see if my blood pressure went up. I did not experience a problem until I drank a diet drink with Nutrasweet. My blood pressure soared to 185/100 and stayed high for hours. As a result, I took diet drinks off my consumables list. Then I had a cup of coffee sweetened with Equal and my blood pressure soared again. So I switched to decaf coffee sweetened with Equal and had the same thing happen again. My blood pressure soared and stayed up for hours. After that, I knew that Equal sweetener, (aspartame), was the problem. I drank decaf coffee sweetened with sugar for a solid week, and it had no effect on my blood pressure at all. I even went back to regular coffee sweetened with sugar and had only a moderate blood pressure increase, (131/80), that lasted for about an hour. On top of that, I haven't had a memory lapse since I stopped using aspartame. My joints had been hurting me so bad that I could not sleep through the night. My joints have not ached since I stopped using aspartame - that is not a coincidence! On top of that, my prostate symptoms subsided too. I do not have to take any medications at all since I eliminated aspartame from my diet. I think I had several TIAs as a result of high blood pressure induced by aspartame. I wonder how many people have died of strokes or heart failure from high blood pressure brought on from using aspartame? It is not a coincidence that my high blood pressure and my other health problems started when I started using Equal, back in 1987, and ended when I stopped using it. ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 11:11 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: RE: Nutrasweet toxicity Dear Mark, Thank you for responding. Since eliminating aspartame-sweetened products, I have experienced a dramatic improvement in mental clarity, and coordination, and the disappearance of sudden exhaustion, blepherospasms of the left eye, myalgia, depression and anxiety. It was extremely helpful to compare symptoms with other sufferers. Thank you for your website. ---------------------- My own history, by Kim xxxxxx: January 02: My right foot went numb February: First vision loss, holes in my vision, progressed to losing right field of vision for hours March: Numbness increased up to waist, health quickly deteriorating unknown cause Went to primary Doctor for Neurological exam: Abnormal, right reflexes hyper. MRI scheduled. April 2: lesions found on the MRI. Memory loss became significant problem Numbness spread to entire right side of body. Told I did have MS and needed to be followed at hospital of U. of Pennsylvania. Told my friends and family that I had MS. May-March 03: MANY tests run at HUP and Presbyterian Hospital and Sheiy Eye Hospital Symptoms rapidly increased, intermittent field of vision loss, burning in my head, extreme memory loss and fatigue, pain in right arm, joint pain, leg pain, depression, numbness began on left side, eye pain, red eyes, extreme thirst, chest pain, rapid heart beat, hives. I began looking into the possibility of disability through work. In the spring of 2003 was told I had central nervous system Sjogrens and possibly MS as well and needed to begin a 2 year chemo treatment of each immuran or cytoxin and should begin immediately. Told due to the decreased saliva production I should always drink diet sodas to protect my teeth. In May 2003 I informed doctors I wanted to delay my treatment until Sept because I direct a camp in the summers in VA and did not feel I could handle the treatment and face my responsibilities. I also informed the people at camp my health was rapidly deteriorating and that I wasn't sure I would be able to continue at the camp (that I had founded). Doctors strongly encouraged me not to wait for the treatment because the disease was progressing and the damage was irreversible. June 2003 While at camp and drinking a diet coke a dear friend, Jack xxxxxxxxx , asked if I knew that diet coke could cause all the problems that I was having. I explained I didn't believe him but had nothing to lose so I wouldn't drink one for another year and see what happened. The only thing I had to lose was a chemo treatment I was dreading and praying to live without. In Sept. 2003 Returned to HUP neurology. Major improvements and asked by the Dr if my improvements were a result of starting my treatment. I explained my only treatment was stopping Diet Coke. My memory loss had dramatically improved, the burning in my head stopped, extreme fatigue was gone, arm pain gone, eye pain gone, loss of vision completely stopped, numbness never progressed since the day I stopped drinking diet coke and many more...... The Doctor said the only way to prove it was to reintroduce it and see if the symptoms returned. I said NO WAY. Sept 03 to spring 04 I continued to feel good and decided that I was willing to reintroduce Diet coke for the good of others so the medical field would know the need to promote this FACT. In the spring 2004 I called the Dr and said t I was willing to reintroduce Diet coke and asked how would he like me to do it. He explained it needed to be controlled and I could only have one per day and needed to journal my reactions. After one Diet coke per day for 4 days I already had burning in my head, extreme fatigue, abdominal pain, arm pain, red eyes....the 4th day I left my daughter at school and couldn't even remember I was suppose to pick her up(that had not happened since I had stopped drinking Diet Coke). I told my Dr I cannot continue because it's not SAFE. I never dreamed all the horrible symptoms would return so quickly. In Aug 2004 took my sister Roxanne to meet Betty Martini. Sister was diagnosed with MS 9/11/01. She had tremendous pain in her hand and arm. After meeting Betty took aspartame seriously and within 3 weeks had use of her hand and was pain free. This is a very concise summary. Thank you for all your work and thanks again for taking the time to meet with both Roxanne and I. Keep up the GREAT work!!!!! [Editor Note: Kim and Roxanne appeared in the movie, "Sweet Remedy" (a sequal to the aspartame movie, "Sweet Misery") produced by Sound and Fury Productions: http://www.soundandfury.tv/pages/shopcart/shopcartindex.html .] ------------------ Scoop Independent News http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0706/S00418.htm Chewing gum case strengthens school diet drink ban Thursday, 21 June 2007, 11:37 am The case of a Wellington woman who became seriously unwell after consuming excessive amounts of the controversial additive aspartame in chewing gum underlines the urgent need for consumer information and warnings about potential side effects, Green Party MP Sue Kedgley says. "This case also leads me to repeat the call for fizzy drinks containing aspartame to be removed from schools," Ms Kedgley says. Abigail McCormack began suffering crippling muscle cramps and tingling in her hands and feet, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, depression and skin rashes, she thought she was dying after consuming excessive amounts of chewing gum containing aspartame. Ms McCormack is concerned that there were no warnings to alert her to the fact that aspartame could cause harm. These health problems stopped when Ms McCormack stopped chewing aspartame sweetened gum. .... [Video Interview: http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/HealthNews/tabid/191/ArticleID/29322/Default.aspx ] ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2007 2:58 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: My Story Regarding Aspartame My name is xxxx xxxxxxxx and I live in xxxxxxxx, Alabama. I am 51 years old. Last year, I was feeling so much pain and stiffness in my legs (especially my knees), that I had gotten to the point I could barely get out of my car and walk into a store. I would literally have to get out of the car and stand beside it for 3 or 4 minutes before I could start walking. I got really scared, because my job is in sales and I was starting to have trouble making sales calls. I remembered an article I had ready years ago in Oxygen Magazine about Aspartame, as well as a story in Readers’ Digest about a woman who was about to take her last vacation because she thought she would be unable to walk in the near future. Her brother (I believe) had read an article about Aspartame and told her about it and, within a month after discontinuing its use, she was able to walk on her own again. I was drinking several diet drinks every day, as well as using Aspartame to sweeten cereal, etc. I decided to just try going without it, and within 2 days I could feel a difference. After a month, I was totally pain free. At the time, I was going to a Rheumatologist at the Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham because I have Raynaud’s Syndrome. I had told him about the pain in my legs and knees, and he put me on Mobic and 2 Tylenol Arthritis Strength every six hours. Although it did help, it didn’t completely alleviate the pain. He had done a series of tests because of the Raynaud’s, and because my father had severe rheumatoid arthritis, but found me to be arthritis-free. When I got off of the Aspartame, I went back for a checkup and told him about what I had done, and he said I was certainly not the first person to tell him this same thing. He totally believed I had “healed myself” -- his words. Now, I am off of the medication and doing great. I have told several others who have gotten relief by going without Aspartame. I try to tell as many people as I can, because it has made a tremendous difference in my life. ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 10:10 AM To: mgold@tiac.net Subject: Aspartame I am responding to your article/web page on aspartame. I am 44 years old and have been suspecting aspartame as a major health hazard since it hit the market. I have been "dieting" all my life to stay thin and because of all the hype about saccharin causing cancer, as soon as Nutrasweet hit the shelves I was all over it. I ate everything they had with it and added the packets to my numerous cups of tea on a daily basis. As soon as it was in soft drinks, I drank that too. In 1982, I had a child born with a major heart defect, and then in 1985 I had another child born with cranial-facial deformities. Even at only 23 years old, I was beginning to suspect the product as a possible cause of the completely unrelated birth defects my children had and wrote to the governor of Ohio (Celeste) explaining my suspicions. The governors office wrote back saying they were not aware of any problems with the product but did not give me any advice on how to persue the issue. The rest of my family and friends convinced me that the government would not allow a product on the market if it were not safe so I continued to drink it. By my late 20's, early 30's I was sick of the daily headaches I was having. I hate taking any kind of drug (go figure) and I hated having to take pain reliever all the time. At that point I had read some serious articles about aspartame which made me truly believe I was right all along. I stopped using it completely (mind you I had still been adding it to my numerous cups of tea daily) and my headaches stopped. I still have blood sugar problems (insulin sensitivity?) to this day which cause me not to be able to eat large portions of carbs at a time or I become completely dysfunctional. I maintain a lower-carb diet (1/2 cup of carbs at a time mostly) to control it. On occasions where I can't take it and have to have a donut or something, an hour or two later I become extremely irate, shaky, hungry, can't think straight or barely have a conversation without wanting to kill everyone. I think this is permanent damage as I have been off aspartame for about a decade and I still have problems with that. .... ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2007 5:20 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: ASPERTAME My son is 11 and has ADD and is very sensitive to anything with aspertame in it. He will go from a loving little boy to someone who just flies off the handle. and has tantrums uncontrollable. He says he doesn't know why he does this and says that he doesn't feel right. I took him to his pediatrician and she ran tesets and concluded that it was the aspertame he was reactin to. we have cut everything out of his diet that has this in it and he is a totally different boy. What I don't understand is why the FDA is allowing this to be put in our food and drinks? ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 12:57 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Thanks you for saving my life My life has totally change !!! I have been drinking diet coke for many years , thinking I was not consuming sugar , so I must be doing something right, WRONG!!!! I begin to get sick several years ago with symptoms that compared to MS. I have suffered for years but last year was the worse. I have seen 3 nero . my family physician sent me because of my symptoms and my blood test !! I was experiencing muscle weakness ,vision problems, speech problems, depression and I was expecting any day to wake up and not be able to walk. I underwent every test know to man!!! Lumbar puncture horrible!!! Vision test !!!! Doctors puzzled!!! I did not get better. A friend of my sisters ask did I drink diet drinks, my sister said that is all she drinks. They refered me to the web site! I thought what do I have to lose so I quit diet drinks. My life changed within a week I could tell a huge difference. I could walk again !!!! My vision totally has improved !! My speech is totally normal !!! I can read again!!!I truly believe that diet coke was killing me!!!! I have told everyone I know to STOP!!!!I have been off any aspartame for about 4 months ! WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!! If there is anyone who doesn't believe this is happening just quit and see what happens!!!! ----------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx To: Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum. [Bettym19@mindspring.com] Subject: aspartame and seizures Date: 09:17 PM 10/17/2006 Hi Dr Martini, I have been fighting the war of aspartame for the past 13 plus years! Diet coke started my s/sx.... I would pass out after drinking diet coke, my Dr's say it is not related and that is has to be something else, but I stopped using diet coke and no more passing out, that was 13 yeasr ago, But then now everything has artificial sweetners in it ! and low and behold when ever I consume something with aspartame in it wham I pass out! I get a terrible headache, and very sick after a episode, memeory loss, confusion, just a terrible feeling my entire body goes thru, my eeg shows iam having migraine headaches even when Iam not, but yet my nuerologist and family DR both say its perfectly safe to consume, when I know what it does to me but all the medical tests they have done , blood work,echo cardiograms....halter monitors, except the eeg which shows iam having migrains when iam not have all been normal, HELP what does it take to prove this is poisin to me what can I ask the DR to test for to hepl me prove my case? Iam affraid that the aspartame will one day kill me! Please help ME! ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 12:14 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame and mood disorder. I don't know if anyone else has drawn the same conclusions as i have, or maybe it hasn't even be suggested yet; but i have found that nutrsweet had caused my mood disorder. I had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder (who hasn't) and had been medicated for years. within the last year i had stopped consuming diet soda with nutrasweet and noticed a considerable improvement in my mood. on occasion when i did ingest nutrasweet a mood swing would follow within 72 hours. the swings were hardly noticable from 1 soda, but, with multiple sodas the mood swings increased. .... ----------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx To: Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum. [Bettym19@mindspring.com] Subject: Claritin (hayfever - sinus medicine) contains Aspartame Date: 03:16 PM 1/7/2007 First of all, Doctor,let me say how much the community at large owes you for your tremendous research and energy on MSG and Aspartame. Secondly, as time goes on, more and more people will hear your message and begin to feel appreciatvie of you. But in the meantime, people are continuing to make themselves and their children ill with these awful food additives. I want to tell you about a personal experience. For years I have suffered with terrible allergies and hay fever. One day a doctor gave me a sample of "Claritin" and the next time my allergies bothered me, I took one tablet. Well, for the rest of the day, life was difficult. I could not get my brain to tell my muscles what to do. It's as though there was a disconnect between the brain and the nervous system. Of course I resolved to never take this product again. (It did relieve my allergies but at what a cost!) Then recently a friend suggested that I take Loratadine. She offered me one of the OTC tablets she had with her. It was amazingly effective. I remarked on that - and added "I wish I had known about this - I cannot use CLaritin because of the side effects it causes me." I then explained to her about the weird brain-nervous system disconnect that I felt when taking Claritin. She repleied "Well, they are one and the same thing. If Claritin bothered you, I imagine that later today Loradatine will affect you too." As it turned out, it did not bother me at all. And later when I got to the store and checked out the respective labels of the two products -I found out that in the version of Loratadine I was taking, the manufacturing company did not add in Aspartame. But in Claritin, guess what? Aspartame is added - and you pay extra for that as well. ---------------------- To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Joint Pain Date: 8/21/2006 10:07 AM Dr. Martini, I've come across some of your work as I am investigating my own strange "illness". I am currently an M.D./Ph.D. student at xxxxxxxxx xxxxx University and have been having these weird symptoms that no one can seem to get to the bottom of. It began back in January. While studying I started having trouble gripping my pencil. My right thumb (DIP joint) almost needed to crack into place before I could write. I didn't think anything of it. It persisted. Slowly the joint began to swell and was quite painful. My mobility was nearly completely lost. I had trouble doing almost everything with that joint. I took plenty of NSAIDS and finally after months took the time to go to a doctor. I have since been in 5 times, always told to take Ibuprofen and come back if not better. X-rays are basically normal but there is clearly a large "lump" of some sort on the joint. A recent visit to a hand specialist left him stumped. He too tells me to wait. I thought about what this could possibly be due to and the only thing I can come up with is Splenda. I eat it like crazy. I put it in everything. When they came out with the large bags (for cooking I guess) I started putting it in so many of my foods. I finally decided that I would quit eating it about a week ago. (I couldn't quit, but cut WAY down and my thumb has already gotten smaller. Not normal, but better.) I thought things were improving until yesterday I woke up with bad knee pain. This morning it is completely swelled up and has limited mobility. ???? There has been no trauma. My question is....in your experience have patients with Splenda toxicity had joint problems? If so, why would a new problem arise once I cut down. ???? If you had any thoughts, I would love to hear them. [Continued] To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Joint Pain Date: 8/21/2006 12:45 PM Thanks for your quick and informative reply. I can't tell you how many of those symptoms I have/had. The skin reactions in the past, chronic dry eye, doctors have looked into Sjogren's a few times, dramatic visual changes with no cause found, unexplained joint pain....... I can't believe it. No one ever asked about artificial sweeteners, I never thought about a connection until recently. I thought I was really healthy. I exercise daily, eat very healthy, diet soda and Splenda were my only vices. I didn't think they were great for me, but I had no idea. I didn't consider it to be the cause until no one could figure out my thumb. When my plans to become a surgeon were jeopardized with the immobility of my dominant hand, I started looking into possible causes myself. Thank you so much for your time and your knowledge. I really appreciate it! [Editor's Note: Diet soda with aspartame.] [Continued] To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Joint Pain Date: 9/12/2006 1:01 PM Dr. Martini, Again, thanks for sending me this information. I have quit all artificial sweeteners and my thumb is almost 100% back to normal!!!! I am so amazed!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! ------------------ To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame - joint pain and irritable bowel syndrome Date: 9/12/2006 10:19 AM I began to experience back pain associated with sitting down about six years ago (2000). The pain became progressively worse as time went on. Because I sat at my job all day, the situation was becoming unbearable. I went to a back specialist who arranged for an x-ray, which showed no significant problems with my spine. Nonetheless, I went to physical therapy, which provided limited relief. About a year ago, I began to experience symptoms of colitis. I again went to a specialist and had a colonoscopy. The doctor reported that there was no apparent damage, but that the colon was swollen over its entire length. He could offer no explanation for the swelling. The diagnosis was therefore “non-specific colitis”. Later, I began to notice that the pain in my back seemed to correlate with the amount of diet Pepsi I was drinking. So, I decided to stop drinking it for a while. To my surprise (and great joy) the pain in my back began to subside and is now nearly completely gone. As an added bonus, the symptoms of colitis also subsided. I have celiac (allergy to gluten ­ e.g., wheat) and I learned that aspartame might cause symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I think that the aspartame caused my colon to swell significantly, which caused the symptoms of colitis. In addition, the swelling must have put pressure on some nerves in my back. When I stopped drinking diet Pepsi (aspartame) the swelling went down, the pressure was relieved and the back pain went away. This allergic reaction to aspartame may be linked to my celiac or it may be just something that happened to me. If it is related to celiac, it is important to note that celiac is under diagnosed. Approximated one in 130 to 150 Americans has celiac. It is also important to note that I drank a lot of diet Pepsi for many years (about four 12 oz cans per day) before these symptoms emerged. -------------------- From: xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx To: Bettym19@mindspring.com Subject: Aspartame ..should be illegal for innocent children PLEASE help protect the kids Date: Sat 9/9/2006 10:31 PM I am VERY upset about the legalization of this horrible substance,I do believe my very severe migraines ,borderline narcolepsy (even falling suddenly asleep while driving)weight gain, depression,depression about my weight gain, low thyroid,food addiction,memory loss,and while having severe migraines my eyes were so blurry I litterally couldn`t see,stress from the beleif that my migraines were going to KILL me,and poor night vision (inability to see distance and very dry eyes). I seriously believe all of these things listed have been directly caused by ASPARTAME that was in my Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper,I drank these things thinking they are "ok" since they ARE legal totally unaware of the horrible effects,I even allowed my daughter to chew gum and drink soft drinks with aspartame . I beleive this not only because of learnign about what it REALLY is but also because I did NOT have any of these problems until after I started drinking Diet Coke ,I know exectly when I started drinking diet coke because I had a step-grandmother who drank it (she was lead to believe it is Good for her since she was a diabetic) when her son married my mom ,we started buying Diet Coke and I started drinking it,not knowing any of the TRUTH about aspartame I kept consuming this poison that is brand named ASPARTAME. .... ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 11:48 PM To: marystod@airmail.net; mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame questionnaire Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Questionnaire Name xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx___________________ Age_32___ Sex: M__F_X_ Medical problems that you believe are caused from using aspartame: Seizure disorder, hypoglycemia, numbness in limbs, paresis in limbs, ringing & numbness in right ear, heart arrethmias, migraine headaches, arthritis. Why do you believe aspartame caused these problems? I use to drink 24-30 diet coke sodas daily. I had gastric bypass surgery and gave it up. I lost the weight and started drinking diet soda again. I started having problems that they doctors were unable to pin point the reason for. Spent several days in hospital. I stopped drinking soda again and was symptom free during that time. I started drinking the diet soda again and the symptoms started again. Did the symptoms go away when you stopped using the products? yes Did you see a Doctor about symptoms? yes Did Doctor think it related to aspartame? I haven't told the doctor about my find yet. Will do so this week. Did you report your symptoms to the FDA (Food & Drug Admin.) or any other group? No, this is my first bit of research What specific products) containing aspartame were you consuming when you experienced these symptoms? Diet Soda, ( Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke) On the average, what quantity were you consuming (how often, how much each time, etc.) Before the Gastric Bypass I was consuming 18-30 diet cokes daily for years. I stopped for 2 years and started back up about 6 months ago. Average consumed 6 to 8 daily. How long had you been consuming these products before you experienced the symptoms? Before the bypass, I didn't have many symptoms but obesity, headaches, arthritis. After bypass, within 6 months. FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT WEIGHT: Did you begin using products with aspartame when you began a restricted calorie diet? Yes Did you use aspartame products only for some of your meals to save calories? No mostly in drinks Did aspartame seem to help you lose weight at first? NO What were the long term weight loss effects of using aspartame. Gain FOR THOSE WITH DIABETES: Any trouble controlling blood sugar while using aspartame? I do not have diabetes.. But I am hypoglycemic. My blood sugar drops reactive and fasting. Did using products affect the types of food you selected to eat? NO How? Did aspartame affect your desire for sweet tasting food or drink? I have a serious chocolate craving and other sweet or salty cravings. I have them more when I am drinking sodas -------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 8:47 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame withdrawal symptoms I am a 38 year old diabetic woman (been diabetic since giving birth to my seven year old daughter). I have been drinking diet pops, mainly diet coke or pepsi max, for most of the last 25 years. I started drinking diet pop when my mum used to tell me about the ill effects of ingesting sugary drinks. I must admit that I drank up to 2 litres of pop daily for a lot of years, containing both aspartame and coffeine. I heard of an Italian research into the side effects of aspartame, and desided last year that I would reduce the intake of diet pops to be only for festivities. Then in about April this year I started feeling quite depressed, nauseated, irritable and I felt that my heart seemed to be beating harder, and went to the doctor. She suggested that because of my last few years,- loosing my husband, father-in-law and grandparents, breaking up with my new partner, desiding to move back to Norway to my own family etc. would all be contributing factors of my feeling "down". But I am not the depressive type, so when I went home, I looked up on caffeine on the internet, to see if that could have anything to do with it, which it had in a big way. I'd stopped drinking it approximately 3 weeks previous. But to my horror it also stated that aspartame as a sweetener could also make me feel this bad. I asked my doctor about the effects of aspartame in the body a year ago after reading about the Italian research, but he laughed at me and asked where I'd heard of that, and said anything in moderation is fine. I went home and continued drinking diet pop, but not as much as before. However I stopped drinking that and coffee at the same time,- went cold turkey, and got the withdrawal from both at the same time. I went through hell, but i made it through to the other side feeling on top of the world, and I only have small periods of "depression" if I drink big amounts of pop in one day. A few days after drinking a lot of pop, I get one or two days feeling a little down again. But the biggest proof I could get came when I had my 6 monthly diabetes checkup. Every time before the nurse asked me if I drink a lot of alcohol which I do not. Nevertheless the liver tests they do has showed up that my liver is abnormal, and showes symptoms as if I drink a lot. Every test that is, apart from the one taken approximately 3 months after stopping drinking diet pop. Now my liver is normal. I told the nurse I have stopped drinking diet pop, and she agreed with me that it could well have been the aspartame, and that the doctors don't know everything. The Italian research showed among other things that aspartame could turn into some form of alcohol in your liver...!!! I think that just prooved it in my case. I also had a lot of problems loosing weight before when I drank diet pop, but when I stopped I lost nearly 5 kiloes in 2 months. I also feel like I have a lot more energy, I don't snap at my daughter as much, I am over all a lot happier and feel great about life in general. So aspartame really played a big role in my life making me feel lethargic, out of puff and short tempered, and also gave me a lot of tummy problems. I've got IBS, but sinse I stopped taking aspartame, my symptoms have reduced a lot. I say "taking" on purpose, as I now class it as a type of drug. But be aware all you people out there, there are other sweeteners on the market which can be just as harmful as aspartame, so be very careful what you switch over to. The only one that I have found so far that can seem to be safe at the moment is STEVIA which is an old plant which the Japanese have used for nearly 20 years, and people in Brazil and Paraguay have used it for hundreds of years. I have a sister who is a homeopath, and she recommended stevia to me a little while ago, as an alternative to aspartame and other sweeteners. ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxxx Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 11:33 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Affected by Equal I have had many of the same symptoms as listed in the other letters including headaches, muscle weakness, short term memory loss, depression. But what really gave me a wake up call was the Bells Palsy. Bells Palsy is the unexplained paralysis of one side of the face. I started using Equal when it first started getting popular. I started with the headaches, then the short term memory loss and depression but not wanting to link it to Equal. Then the muscle weakness started with tingling in the back of my head and I started thinking it may be linked to the use of the equal but still continued to use it. Then (about 5 years ago) I woke up one morning with no control of the left side of my face. The Doctors diagnosis was Bell Palsy. They said they don't know what causes it. Since then I stop using Equal and the headaches stop, my short term memory has improved, the depression has stopped, the muscle weakness has stopped, the tingling is gone and the facial paralysis is 95% recovered. Unfortunately the facial paralysis will not 100% recover. After some time had passed since I had stopped using Equal I was curious if it really had something to do with the things I was experiencing so I started using it to see if it was all in me head. Within a few days I started having the headaches and tingling in the back of my head again. I know it's not in my head now it definitely is the Equal. ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 2:12 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Severe reaction to aspartame Hi my name is xxxxx xxxxxx, I'm a New Zealander that has recently moved to xxxxxxxxx to persue my accounting career. I have had severe reactions to aspartame over the past 6 years (since I was 21 years old) and have always wanted to contact an authority to let them know of my reaction but was unsure about who to contact. I have just been doing some research on the internet as I have recently bumped into an old friend who also has severe reactions to aspartame, this prompted me to do some investigating re how many people this effects and to what severity. I have accidently ingested aspartame twice since my initial reaction - as I was unsure about what caused it untill I narrowed it down to Diet Coke (and equal). The reactions I have had have been severe and life threatening and combine seziure, tachychardia, heart arrhythmia, sudden drop in blood pressure, chills, vomiting, nausea, dizzyness, surreal feeling, shock, severe sleepiness/drowsiness following attack, as well as headaches, inflammation and fatigue. I on constant guard when eating any processed food as I feel that I may not be lucky enough to survive the next reaction. I would like to know if it is compulsory for food manufacturers to label any products containing aspartame? I avoid any sweet food that I have not made myself from raw ingredients but would like to be able to eat out more. Prior to these reactions I had no history of bad health or any health problems and had no food or chemical allergies. Since the reactions I have become quite sensitive to some chemicals, things like petrol. ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 10:03 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame Good evening. I was on the web searching for something not even pertaining to Aspartame. I know that i was meant to read your article,and testimonials from all of those men and women. Oh my gosh! I am not a pop drinker diet or other wise. But i consume a lot of yogurt. I was eating regular yogurt,no fat free etc.. When i came down with double pneumonia this past January,i had to go home with someone to take care of me. I have ill health due to some illnesses. My daughter eats Yo plait,fat free so i started eating that instead. I continued when i returned to my home. About a week ago, i realized that i was having headaches which i never get. And i had gone to my Dr. a couple of weeks before that, and they detected an irregular heart beat. I was shocked. I have a good heart. So i tried to figure out what i was eating that was different. And after reading the ingredients on the yogurt,i knew it was from the Aspartame. I immediately quit the yogurt. I haven't had a headache since which is a relief. When i go for my Dr. check up,i will find out about the irregular heart beat. Thank you for having that web site. A relieved reader. ----------------- Case from United Kingdom newspaper http://www.shropshirestar.com/show_article.php?aID=40475 December 19, 2005 Eve walks again after diet change A Shropshire woman who spent a year without the use of her legs has said she can now walk again after cutting the artificial sweetener aspartame from her diet. Eve Terry, 24, of Main Road, Pontesbury, is convinced that avoiding certain food and drink that contain the ingredient — such as low calorie yoghurts and soft drinks — has led directly to her remarkable recovery. In April 2004, Mrs Terry's face swelled up and drooped and she often felt tired, but doctors were at a loss to tell her what was wrong. "I looked like I had had a stroke and people kept coming up to me to ask me if I had," she said. "Then about three months later I woke up one morning and my legs just felt as if they wouldn’t hold me up." But in April of this year, Mrs Terry was referred to Dr Sarah Myhill, a GP based in Knighton, Powys, who immediately told her to cut aspartame out of her diet. Within six weeks, she had regained the use of her legs and her face was almost back to normal. Dr Myhill diagnosed Mrs Terry as having Bell’s Palsy, which is a disorder of the facial nerves. She was also found to have Gillian Barre Syndrome, which causes nervous system problems. ----------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Date: 02/24/2006 02:37 PM To: Subject: Thank GOD, I am alive! Dear Mr. Jacobson, IF I live till March 7th 2006 I will be 71 years old! I will not attempt to hold you for too long, but PLEASE listen to my TRUE story. ASPARTAME, EQUAL, and NUTRASWEET is not safe for human consumption! I started to use EQUAL in early 1990's. 6 months into using Equal as a sugar substitute, I started to have seizures, somtimes twice a day. I went to 3 different doctors and had all kinds of tests run. All the tests came back that I was in good shape! I asked the last doctor, Dr. Xxxxxxxxx at the xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx Clinic, If I was in such a good shape, why was I having seizures, my hair falling out, my eyesight gone bad, and to make matters worse, I was losing my memory! I did not drive my car for over a year...for two reasons, I was afraid of having a seizure and hurting myself or someone else or killing one or the other, and because my memory was so bad I was afraid of leaving my home and not knowing where to return to my home! After three different doctors told me "I was in fine shape". I am a saved by the GRACE of GOD person and I began to pray to the LORD to help me solve this problem. My idea came from GOD by installing in what little brain I had left from using Equal, to start eliminating my foods one by one to see IF I could tell what was wrong! I told my hubby I was taking something into my system that was not agreeing with me....or I had cancer and not one test was finding it! So, the elimination started. I kept having the seizures, and etc.. I had been using Equal for 4 years by this time. In the process of elimination I only had one other to eliminate and that was Equal. I did not believe the FDA would approve something like that so destructive to mankind untill I quit using EQUAL and I quit having seizures! Never had another seizure....my hair quit falling out...my eyesight returned, and THANK GOD my memory returned. I called the consumer 800 number on the back of the Equal box and told the lady what I had lived through! She said " well you can't prove that because it (Equal) don't show up in the blood work". Well...I knew then that tests had been made to see if all the chemicals that makes up Equal would show up! Monsanto Chemical Company made sure when they put that chemical out to the public as a sugar that they would be protected! I know that when I quit using that "horror" called sugar substitute I got well again!!! You, the FDA and all that is involved will answer to The GOD of heaven one day and give an account for all the people that has suffered and died from the lies that you tell. Do you know what would be nice....IF YOU could help take it off the market!! Start telling the truth...what would you give in exchange for your SOUL???? There are 3 things MONEY can't buy HEALTH, HAPPINESS, and HEAVEN. My health has returned to me and I am not on any type of medication. THANK GOD, I am alive today to tell you my story. Won't you please help others? ----------------- Sierra Sun Readers write: aspartame http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20060223/Opinion/102230006/-1/OPINION Beware of aspartame February 23, 2006 I just read Henry Kliebenstein's article ("Steer clear of those artificial sweeteners" Sierra Sun page B2 Feb. 17) on artificial sweeteners and thank you for getting the word out. Just Google aspartame and poison and you will have a lot to write about. A year ago I thought I was going to die. I put everything in my wife's name and I had been feeling sick for a few years. I was getting allergies I never had before and highly sensitive to formaldehyde, which is in plywood and I work around. I could smell it across the street and had to stay away from it or have allergy symptoms. Last November I was starting to have debilitating pains in my hands. I thought I would have to stop working all together. I had poisoning symptoms so I Googled formaldehyde to see how bad it was in the products I work around and aspartame came up. I had been using aspartame in my coffee and everything you would put sugar on for four years and I was floored to find out it metabolizes into formaldehyde. I also saw stories that paralleled mine. I stopped taking this drug (aspartame) and all the symptoms went away - thank goodness. But I still couldn't get away from it. I was chewing gum with it and I found out we were giving chewable vitamins to our child that also contained the poison. Do you know there are about 500 products that have this in them? So do some reading online and get the word out please. ---------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 4:53 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Fwd: Are you going lite? 92 symptoms on aspartame! I wanted to let you know that I was totally addicted to the "blue stuff." this year! It felt like my head was going to just EXPLODE! I have been on the stuff, for 10 years I realized. I went COLD TURKEY, and got to exerance withdrawls. I know I should not drink coffee, but I still do. I don't smoke, drink or other silly things. I also consider myself not to be to extreme "HEALTH NUT," because I try to make it all work together, my herbs and my modern times life style. I was raised on a farm, and could not get to the store. So we did everything we could on the farm and went to the store when we could. We lived a healthy life except when we got to buy stuff from the store which was a treat! Junk food to me is still a treat! I know a lot about herbs, such as STEVIA, and Pau d'Arco and Uva Ursi. Those are my three favorite herbs! I have since switched to Stevia. (http://www.owlsnestplantation.com/stevia_herb_stevia_powder_stevioside_bulk_stevia.asp) (I bought a pound, which is really lasting me!) I was in MAJOR PAIN, just shoot me kinda pain! Why do I blame the "blue stuff" because I took the blue stuff right in the middle of the worse of the withdrawls to see if that was "really it," IT WAS! I felt better! I won't touch that stuff anymore! I think took me nearly 3 weeks to really get over it! Maybe because I did see if it was the "blue stuff." ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Please Help Ban Aspartame from New Mexico's Foods To: xxxxxxxxx@state.nm.us January 23, 2006 Dear Respected Person, I am a xx year old Middle School Counselor that works with youth ages 11-14 here in xxxxxxxx, New Mexico. I see an average of 30 students a week in individual counseling sessions dealing with issues ranging from peer conflict, effects of family's drug use (methamphetamines in particular), all the way to suicidal ideation and clinical depression. The last two issues are the ones I would like to emphasize in this letter, as they deal directly with the effects of aspartame ingestion. Aspartame Suppresses the Levels of Serotonin in the Brain Serotonin is a naturally produced brain chemical that is necessary for healthy functioning and emotional well-being. We know that low levels of seratonin correlate with depression. When interviewing students on the circumstances surrounding their depressive symptons, I inquire about the ingestion of sugar-free gum and diet sodas, both of which contain aspartame. 9 times out of 10 the students indicate regular aspartame ingestion... I inform them on the effects of aspartame ingestion, and ask for them to discontinue use of products containing aspartame. During follow-up, all complying students report a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. According to one recent report, 5 suicides have been linked to aspartame ingestion. Please do all you can to pave the path to ban aspartame from our food, drinks, candy, and gum. We must look out for the well-being of our unsuspecting youth (as well as others). It is our moral, ethical and legal obligation to do so. As a person of power within our govenmental structure of our great state, please do your part to protect our citizens. --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: 08:19 PM 12/26/2005 To: WNHO-Aspartame-Information@yahoogroups.com Subject: Atypical Facial Pain Hi Everyone, My name is xxxxx. New member. I've been consuming NutraSweet for 2 1/2 years and suffer from Atypical Facial Pain (one of the 92 side effects of Aspartame. After reading an article online about Aspartame and my condition I stopped drinking diet pop 3 weeks ago. The pain is decreasing. I take 1/2 of the medication that I was for pain. I haven't been able to locate any information on how long it takes to recover from the side effects of Aspartame or if the condition I have will be permanent. Has anyone in the group recovered from their side effects? Any information would be very helpful to me. Thank you. --------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 3:01 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Testimonial From Los Angeles, CA In 1985, I was a sophomore at the University of California, San Diego. That's when I began drinking diet coke regularly. I didn't drink coffee. By the spring of 1986, I was starting to notice that my health and mental abilities were deteriorating. My illness escalated rapidly one evening when I was struck with a strange high fever, unlike anything I had experienced previously. My neck was swollen out to my jaw line, and I was shaking all night. In the morning, I went to the student health center. The nurse who saw me said, "It looks like you have a healthy case of mono." However, the mono test came back negative. Next, they tested for strep, and that was negative, too. On a third visit, they sent me away with a diagnosis of tonsillitis. I knew it wasn't tonsillitis, but I did not seek further treatment at that time. I never really got better. Over the next several months, I continued to grow increasingly ill in some alarming ways. What I noticed first was that I had a constant sore throat. I also had chronic severe headaches and low-grade fevers. I was profoundly tired all of the time. One morning, I woke up with a stabbing pain in my eye. It was bright red. Again, I sought treatment at the student health center. They gave me drops for conjunctivitis, despite my insistence that this was not pink eye. A few days later, the pain was unbearable, and they referred me to a specialist who diagnosed iritis, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the iris. Untreated, it can lead to blindness. My eye responded to treatment, but I began having unusual eye infections and irritations fairly regularly after that. In the fall, I had a painful outbreak of shingles at the base of my spine. It felt as if my body were falling apart. I slept much more than my friends, but I rarely felt rested. I started having one strange complaint after another. My hair would come out and my toenails would fall off. I was sensitive to bright light. I developed mild mitral valve prolapse (a type of heart murmur). I had one vaginal infection after another for no apparent reason, and my urethra was frequently irritated. My bowel movements were never "normal." I either had diarrhea or constipation or strange ribbon-like stools. By early 1987, I was starting to experience severe depression and memory problems. I had always been a top student, with strong verbal skills. I was a literature major, and I knew something was going horribly wrong when I began having difficulty retrieving words. Thinking I might have pms for the lack of any other plausible explanation, I went back to the health center. They referred me to the on-campus psychological counseling office, where I was diagnosed with depression. I had sensations that my body was not quite solid, as if I were dissolving. However, I knew that was I was experiencing was not primarily a mental health problem. It's as if I had suddenly gone from being a 20-year-old active co-ed to getting stuck in a 90-year-old's failing body. I was an athlete in highschool and had always been quite physically active. I had been an honor student since junior highschool, and was always involved in lots of extracurricular activities. However, as my physical deterioration continued, even light exertion could cause me to drop to the floor from dizziness and exhaustion. As things progressed, I developed fibromyalgia. I remember telling my mother, "I feel so tired that my bones ache." I had recurring laryngitis, conjunctivitis, yeast infections, bladder infections, and fairly severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). My throat was nearly always painfully raw. I started having outbreaks of eczema and strange rashes that no one I consulted could diagnose. I continued drinking diet coke and chewing gum with aspartame throughout college, but I never suspected a connection with my illness. In graduate school, I would attend classes in the evenings, but I had no energy for anything other than struggling to keep my grades up despite the "brain fog" that was almost always present. I was a member of Mensa, and had always been a top student. However, by this point, it was a real struggle for me to string two thoughts together. Under stress, I'd stammer and struggle to say what I was thinking, which was a dramatic change from how I'd been previously. My roommate attended class, held a part-time job, and had an active social life. Whereas, I'd sleep in 14-hour stretches and wake with barely enough energy or focus to complete my studies. Writing was excruciating because I so uncomfortable, tired, and mentally slowed. My frequent visits to the on-campus health services continued for persistent infections, inflammations, and other mysterious complaints. I graduated in 1990, and started my career. When I saw the first reports on television about Gulf War Syndrome, I told my mom, "I know this sounds crazy, but I have what those guys have." Their testimonials matched what I was experiencing so closely. I felt strongly at the time that there must be a connection. A couple of years later, as my aspartame consumption was tapering off, I had a bout of episcleritis. It's similar to iritis but less serious. The ophthalmologist took a health history and recommended strongly that I consult a rheumatologist. After an extensive round of tests, she diagnosed me with CFIDS and fibromyalgia. The only lab results that came back abnormal on a regular basis were my sed rate tests. She assured me that my symptoms were not "all in my head." Upon receiving the IBS diagnosis from a gastroenterologist, I stopped drinking sodas. From that point on, my health started to improve. For years, I wondered what had made me so sick for most of my twenties. I thought I might have been accidentally exposed to an experimental pathogen or toxic weapon because that sort of research was conducted in the area where my college campus is. I even had a titer drawn for brucellosis because they manufactured a weaponized version of it near where I lived. (They sold some of it to Sadam Hussein, so I took this possibility seriously.) However, my test came back negative. I turned 40 this year and now enjoy excellent health. I feel ten times younger than when I was in my twenties. I attribute this improvement to cutting out aspartame entirely when I started working with a naturopathic physician three years ago. I sleep, exercise, socialize, work, think, and feel like a "normal" person again. I feel as if about 95% of my mental capacity is restored. NOTE: I think it's interesting that La Jolla, the location of my college campus was when my illness started, has been identified as a "hot spot" for the CFIDS epidemic. We would get our diet coke in cases from the Price Club (before it became a Costco). Is it possible that diet coke sold in the area sat in some hot warehouse to a point where the beverages became toxic? I'll be glad to answer any questions or provide more information in support of raising public awareness of the severe threat aspartame poses to those of us who have adverse reactions to it. ---------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx To: Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum. [Bettym19@mindspring.com] Subject: aspartame and other poisons Date: 02:41 PM 4/5/2006 sorry, but i'm not very good at computer mail yet.in the spring and summer of 2004 i became very sick.after doctor and er visits and an overnite hospital stay, i found the cause of my illness.thanks to you and my computer i learned about aspartame poisoning. i dumped the poisonous garbage and got immediately relief.now i have a very severe sensitivity to the poisons (i'm not going to be politically correct and call them toxins) in all products containing fragrance. apparently aspartame opened the door and renuzit air freshener was the trigger. i'm writing a book that could possibly blow the lid off the callous, despicable disciples of satan who put these debilitating concoctions on the market. if it's as good as the people who've read some of it, it'll certainly have people talking. it will not be like anything written in the past, not even close. hopefully my health will allow it to be finished in a month or two.it will be titled xxxxxxxxx. i truly believe GOD put HIS hand on your shoulder and told you to do everthing in your power to alert people to the dangers of aspartame. i also believe HE put HIS hand on my shoulder and told me to write my book. i'm not a "writer" and never in my wildest dreams did i think my little world would come to this. they poisoned me the first time and i let them slide. now, after they poisoned me again, it's high time they were made to pay up. i won't close with GOD BLESS YOU, because he already has. ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2006 04:58 PM To: Dr. Betty Martini Subject: Aspartame and New Mexico Glad to hear you are also aware of this problem. I have am allergic to aspartame also. I have to be so incredibly careful what I eat but unfortunatley I injested diet pop in an alcoholic beverage a few weeks ago sending me into emerg at a local hospital. Seems each time my reaction is more severe. My parents heard that Mexico is going to ban it so if you have any information on this please forward it to me. People need to know what it does !! ---------------- Home » blogs » Paula P.'s blog Can Diet Soda and Sugarless Gum Cause Cancer? http://www.progressiveu.org/150845-can-diet-soda-and-sugarless-gum-cause-cancer I've been avoiding aspartame ever since I figured out that it was giving me migraine headaches. I had heard that there were thousands of complaints of adverse effects almost a decade ago. My daughter developed a blister under her tongue after chewing sugarless gum. Thank God this gentleman in Italy researched the use of aspartame more thoroughly. He very well may be saving thousands from suffering and death. Aspartame is made from toxins. Avoid it like the plague. Read it here for yourself and you decide. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/business/yourmoney/12sweet.html?_r=1&oref=slogin --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 12:16 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: nutra sweet poisening Dear Mark, i found the site on the internet and just need to share my story. About 6 weeks ago, my boyfriend came home from the grocery with a box of 100 packets of Nutra sweet for our coffee. Usually I use Splenda and have had no adverse reaction to it. Closing in on Thanksgiving, i noticed i was developing lower back pain, joint hip pain and an overall sense of not being able to get out of bed in the morning. I related it to shoveling snow...maybe i strained muscles...but it continued and began to scare me. Was i sick? Right before Christmas day it occurred to me it was getting worse...deep, arthritic pain (i'm 46) and although i do have some degenerative arthritis...the onset was so sudden and strong....i knew it had to be something else. It came to me just after Christmas day....the nutra sweet. I immediately stopped drinking it in my coffee and with in TWO DAYS the pain was completely GONE....i am convinced it was the nutra sweet poisening me....just wanted to share this with someone who is aware of it's dangers. thank you, ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Tumor, memory and vision problems Date: 10/15/2005 12:10 PM I'm new to the group and still trying to learn how to communicate with other members. Please forgive me if I am posting this to the wrong address or in the wrong place. (My email is xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) I recently reported my memory loss and vision problems caused by asprtame to the FDA Medwatch. I wanted to thank you for all of the good work you've done to educate the public about aspartame. I'm still learning how to comm I've consumed high levels of aspartame for years became I believed it wouldn't have gotten FDA approval if it wasn't safe. About a year ago I started to notice that I was having word finding difficulty and frequent lapses in short term memory. As this became progressively worse I became worried about my ability to remain gainfully employed. While researching memory problems I found various articles written by you and others about the dangers of aspartame usage. As an experiment I stopped using aspartame for 2 months. Within the first 2 weeks my carbohydrates and sweet cravings started to diminish. But the biggest surprise was the drastic improvement I've seen in my short-term memory and visual acuity. I've had various health problems since I started ingesting aspartame. I developed a non-malignant cranial nerve brain tumor in 1990. It was growing inside the cranium at the root of the 7th cranial nerve. The excision caused the left side of my face to be permanently paralyzed. My question is...Is there a connection between heavy aspartame use and non malignant neurolimas, neuromas or crainal nerve tumors? Thank you for all the work you've done to spread the word about this poison. You've greatly improved the quality of my daily life! ------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 6:21 AM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Re: Aspartame I too experienced joint pain in my elbows and my thinking and eye sight were greatly effected by Aspartame I used to drink six cans of diet Coke a day and could not figure out what was happening to me I could not sleep at night I was making alot of mistakes doing order picking at work I could not remember things very well, now I don't even want to touch a diet soda. ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 1:09 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Use I was a person that used aspartame regularly in everything as a sugar substitute. Coffee, soda, cakes, pies, even gum. Over time I became very very ill. I didn't know what was wrong with me , doctors didn't know what was wrong with me. I was slowly increasingly getting sicker. I had extreme joint pain I could barely walk from the parking lot at work to my desk. I'd have to leave 30 minutes earlier than usual just to allow the time to walk in. Elderly people at the stores would pass me. I was slowly deteriorating. Some doctors thought it was fibromalagia in which there is no cure. I had no energy, I was always feeling nausea I am only 37 years old and I knew there was something wrong but I didn't know what. I began feeling very sick instantly after drinking or eating aspartame. I decide to stop using aspartame because that was the only change that I had made previous the onset of my condition. I began to drink detox tea and went back to using sugar. I immediately felt better and as time passed the joint pain has stopped. Still to this day if I accidental consume an aspartame product I feel the effects immediately after ingesting the substance, so quick that I don't even have time to finish the product before I discard it because of feeling ill. I was feeding these products to my at the time small children and I'm so devastated to know that I may have hurt them. I thought that I was doing something healthy for them. I didn't know that this substance was unsafe. I believed that if it was being used in a product that it was tested and approved to be safe. Our lives were definitely touched by aspartame and it will effect our household always in the way we eat, drink and buy products. We will always use sugar from now on. I hope that my feedback is not overlooked and that action would be taken to remove aspartame from the market. I may have very well continiued wih the consumption of this product without second guessing my diet decisions. --------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx To: bettym19@mindspring.com Date: 01:58 PM 11/18/2005 Subject: Aspartame and MS Understand you are compiling a list of aspartame victims - my husband spent most of last hear flat on his back , had tons of tests with all convinced he had ms until he had clear mris...eliminated aspartame and he has had only one more "bout" in 8 months - which we think we can track to accidental aspartame ingestion. If you know of anyone doing anything to combat the sale and use of this horrible drug in America, please let me know. ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 4:26 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Toasted my brain on aspartame Hello, I'm a former National Merit Scholar and University Student. I say "former" because aspartame has utterly butchered my brain. That's right. I was a 21 year old with a bright future and an even brighter mind. Traditionally, I've scored anywhere between 130-150 on IQ tests with ease. On a recent exam, I nailed just 98 -- with difficulty. My mental capacity has been severely, dramatically, and -- perhaps -- permanently altered due to excess consumption of this chemical disaster. In the midst of a severe depression, I swilled the stuff in ridiculously extreme amounts. Three 44oz drinks a day were not uncommon. Looking back, it's easy to conjecture that Diet Coke actually instigated and aggravated my psychological problems. As a statistic of one, I offer the following observations about my experiences, written as honestly as I can muster. In the beginning, I was an extraordinary skeptic. Diet Coke was my favorite drink, and I trusted the industry funded studies above all alarmist "nonsense". People I knew warned me about how my habits could affect me, especially given my talents, but I shrugged them off. "MIT dosed people with 14,000 grams of the stuff," I'd say, "it's safer than water!" How wrong I was. I thought my addiction was merely caffeine, but caffeine never satiated me. I always craved the sweet fizzy brew; a chemical junky, always on the hunt for my next brain fix. Over the months, as my appetite and consumption of aspartame increased to absurdist levels, I noticed the following: 1. It caused me to stop thinking. I recall having an exceptionally clear mind -- sharp, precise, and swift. After drinking aspartame, I noticed a very clear annihilation of my memory. I could not broach topics or relate ideas. People would ask questions like "What was your favorite movie with actor X?" I simply could not link those words to a face or picture in my mind. It's as if someone were speaking Spanish. You do not know how disconcerting this is until it occurs. 2. It gave me neurological and heart disorders. At the height of my consumption, the ring and pinky fingers of my left hand went COMPLETELY NUMB FOR TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT. Simultaneously, I experienced a discomfort and thudding sensation in my chest, as though my heart were overworked and on the verge of failure. As is usual with these circumstances, physicians could find "nothing wrong with me". I've NEVER had conditions like these in the entirety of my life, and WHAM. 3. I became profoundly forgetful and dissociated, as though I were walking through a dream or under heavy medication. Daily events and situations ceased to have any personal meaning to me. It's as though I'd taken a novocain shot to the cranium. 4. I sunk into the darkest depression I've ever known. My emotions were so out of control I'd get dry heaves, have suicidal ideation, sit motionless for hours, lock the door and stay in bed, etc. etc. Had this happened before? Did I have a history of mental illness? No. All of this and I hadn't even hit the ADI! My doc says many of my cognitive difficulties were probably due to the huge amounts of caffeine I was consuming. Bullshit. Ladies and Gentlemen, I've imbibed every caffeinated concoction on the planet in copious quantity: coffee, tea, regular cola, cappucino, hot chocolate, whatever, and NONE of them have given me symptoms like this. On the contrary, they usually offer a temporary nootropic affect, giving me better focus. If you're considering drinking the stuff, consider this: if any ONE of the three deadly toxins in this hell-molecule lives up to its potential, you're causing slow, irreparable damage to yourself. Not just your body but to YOU, your mind. Aspartame wears things away, erodes them at a level you can't perceive. One day, you could conceivably wake up and feel 75%. Or 60%. Or 20%. After four months without, I still feel as though I'm recovering from a traumatic head injury. My physical symptoms are long gone, as is my depression. My slowness of thought and memory have markedly improved. Overall, I can only pray that my mind will completely recover with time... if not, I'm purely thankful to have abstained when I did. I very much appreciate life now. There's a humble old adage that applies very, very well here: "Where there's smoke, there's fire." And there's a good damn deal of smoke around. BURN MONSANTO! [Followup] From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2005 10:26 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Re: Toasted my brain on aspartame Mark, .... Thanks for your reply and your work. :) My memory and mental clarity continue to improve on a day-to-day basis. I simply cannot express how disturbing my inability to think was... and how utterly pleased I am that a road to recovery has opened. --------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 8:13 AM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame symtoms Hello. Great Website! People need to be made aware of the dangers of aspartame. I am 25 years old and reside in England. I used to drink bottles and bottles of aspartame sweetened cooldrink, eat aspartame sweetened yoghurt ect. Ha, ha, I thought I was helping myself lose weight. The worse of my problems was symptoms of diabetes. I was certain that I had diabetes and had myself tested. According to my first test results I was diabetic, then I learned about the dangers of aspartame, cut it out of my diet and everything returned to normal. The symptoms I had was: * Excessive depression * Extreme hunger (resulting in a 12 kilogram weight gain) * Symptoms of diabetes (drastic drop in bloodsugar levels making me shaky untill I eat something sweet) * Extreme, unexplained, tiredness (I used to get up at 6 am, I worked part time untill 13h00, then came home, had lunch and go to sleep untill 17h00, had dinner and went to bed around 20h00, many times even earlier) * Uncontrolled Uretera infections * Drastic drop in body temperature, making me shake with shivers in the afternoons even though the heating in the house was running. At 24 I thought that my life was basicly over, because I had no normal life anymore. Untill I learned about aspartame. Now that I have cut it out of my diet all these symptoms have disappeared. I am living a normal life now, keeping up with a full time job and other activities. I am not controlled by hunger anymore, have lost all the weight I gained and I don't feel depressed anymore. No more shakes and shivers! What a difference it made! ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxxx Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 10:50 AM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: My experience Recently my sister forwarded to me an email about the dangers of using artificial sweeteners. I wanted to share with you my recent experience. I have been using artificial sweeteners for many, many years...but in moderation. Recently however I starting drinking 4-6 glasses of Crystal Light, plus drinking diet pop in the evening. I was attempting to lose weight. However I started to experience severe vertigo, stomach aches and some other symptoms. Vertigo runs in my family so I didn't think too much about it except that it seemed different from other times. THEN, I read the article that had been sitting in my in basket. I was so surprised about the dangers of aspartame and what I was doing to my body. Coincidently I also had run out of my Crystal Light so I went back to drinking bottled water. All of my symptoms, the vertigo, stomach aches and asthma went away. I will now try to completely eliminate this poison from my diet. I am now spreading the word to my co-workers and friends. Thanks -------------- I didn't read the email but..... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx HealthyMOM Forum http://www.teachingmom.com/boards/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=5&msgid=8409 Posted at 1:12 pm on Feb 17, 2006 I do know that I get very sick when I have aspartame and that I'm not the only one. Of my own personal friends I know *at least* 8 of them have serious health problems if they have it. Some of them have seizures, others vomit, some just have minor symptoms. I avoid it as much as possible and I won't touch diet pop. xxxxx ------------------------- To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Email To all xxxxxxxx residents Date: 12:54 AM 8/4/2005 Please find below a copy of the email I sent to a very wide xxxxxxxxxx based audience earlier this evening . The response in the last hour has been incredible. I hope many will take the opportunity to research for themselves further the issues on aspartame. -- .... Just four days ago I received an article in an email from a close friend. The wife of a former Army Air Core Helicopter Pilot who served during the 1982 conflict. The report was about the use of sweeteners that is found in many food and drink products. Because of my ongoing search for answers as to why my wife Mandy developed a life threatening brain tumour which required urgent surgery to remove and why our daughter Rachel has suffered from epilepsy since she was just 3 days old, I decided to check out the information given to me. I was horrified at what I discovered. I have since become a member of "Mission Possible International" and will begin to inform my fellow country people of the serious potential risks associated with Aspartame. Now I do not wish to bore you all with personal grievances, but the following might surprise you. Since we learned about aspartame and its deadly toxins, we did a search of items in our home and was amazed at just how many products contained aspartame. We decided to stop using any products immediately, that was four days ago and the results have been quite striking. Rachel as mentioned has regular night time seizures and until four days ago I personally do not remember a single night in the past 18 years that I have not had to attend her, usually several times in a single night. Well since we removed the aspartame products, especially the instant chocolate and diet mineral water. Rachel has not had a single attack in four consecutive nights. This is short of a miracle. I learned that aspartame can seriously affect the ability of regular prescribed drugs and it is highly probable that Rachel's medication was being affected. It also makes me wonder if Mandy's tumour was in fact directly linked to aspartame, it is certainly something we have to consider. .... ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2005 04:13 PM To: Bettym19@mindspring.com Subject: Re: Personal Aspartame Story - Has to use epipen Hi Betty my name is Teresa France, I have had an known allergic reaction to aspartame since 1991. I stop breathing withing 6-10 minutes. Because of this I always carry an Epipen with me. everyone including my 5 year old son knows how to use the Epipen. If you would like more information, from my first black out in 1991 to me almost losing my life in 2002 from acciedently getting a diet drink from a major fast food place please contact me and I would be happy to share my story with you in an effort to get it off the market. I have been telling people for years that if they knew what I knew about it they would not touch it with a 10 foot pole, much less put it into there bodies. ---------------- The Willits News http://www.willitsnews.com/Stories/0,1413,253%257E26912%257E3053840,00.html?search=filter Richard Larson: At war with ASPARTAME By FaeWoodward Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - Staff Writer Struggling with his diabetic diet, Richard Larson, Willits resident, discovered a diet root beer that appealed to him and there were times he would drink a six pack in a day. That has all changed. I began having terrible headaches, he says. Finally, after seeing his physician and then checking out aspartame, a sweetener used in diet drinks, he eliminated what he calls a serious poison from his diet.. To say I was scared was the very least, he says remembering going for a CT scan to see if there was a brain tumor. Larson came to Willits 10 years ago with his father, the late Glen Larson. The two loved to hunt and fish. Glenn was a widower and son, Richard, had experienced a divorce. Arriving here in 1995, the pair settled on Pine Mountain and shared the outdoors activities they enjoyed. Today, Richard Larson is producer of redwood planter boxes, hope chests and bird houses, when he is not on the internet researching aspartame. Just call up aspartame (or aspertame) and headaches at Google on the internet, he invites. .... --------------- From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Subject: aspartame Date: Thursday, September 22, 2005 1:18 PM My husband is a vet and he was told a story by a client about someone who was diagnosed by the doctors with MS. A friend told her about aspartame which she stopped and all the symptoms disappeared. I had been suffering with mild dulling headaches for sometime, I stopped having aspartame and I haven't had a headache since. Not enough people know about the dangers of aspartame, it is all around us, it is very difficult to buy some products eg fruit squash, without aspartame. I will try to raise peoples' awareness of this problem ---------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 5:53 PM To: 'mgold@holisticmed.com' Subject: Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Questionnaire3 Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Questionnaire .... Q. Medical problems that you believe are caused from using aspartame: A. Hair loss, flicker vertigo, panic attacks, SICCA syndrome and chronic eye twitch. Q. Why do you believe aspartame caused these problems? A. I had none of these before Aspartame was introduced to the market. Q. Did the symptoms go away when you stopped using the products? A. They are all improving. No more flicker vertigo, hair is filling in, eyes feel better, decreased panic attacks. Q.Did you see a Doctor about symptoms? A. I was diagnosed with SICCA syndrome between 1985 and 1986. I did not See a Doctor for the flicker vertigo or panic attacks because they came on gradually over ten years and I was becoming accustomed to them until they got so bad I couldn't drive on the freeway. I started taking the canyon roads to work and back commuting 90 miles a day. I felt like I was going to fall off the face of the earth. I feared I'd never get to see my mom or dad before they passed away or go to the beach again and surf. I couldn't even handle being a passenger on the freeway at times. Q. Did Doctor think it related to aspartame? A. No, at the time it was new to the market and I had just used it daily but did not tell the physician. Q. Did you report your symptoms to the FDA (Food & Drug Admin.) or any other group? A. NO Q. What specific products(s) containing aspartame were you consuming when you experienced these symptoms? A. Mostly diet Cola and coffee. More recently Diet Coke from fountains. Q. On the average, what quantity were you consuming (how often, how much each time, etc.) A. In the mid 1980's I used about three packets of equal and drank at least six cans of Diet Cola a day. I quit around 1986 and sometime around 1990 I started drinking it again and had no eye twitch so I kept drinking it. I drink about 12 oz. a day at lunch and on the weekend would drink a 44oz. each day and sometimes get a refill. I would drive to do errands and shop without AC in the summer with the drink in my truck and I would drink it with the ice melted. Q. How long had you been consuming these products before you experienced the symptoms? A. The eye twitch and SICCA Syndrome developed within months of use after it was introduced. A year later I still had the twitch and out of desperation I stopped consuming Nutrasweet since I had heard it cause seizure activity in lab test on animals. The twitch went away and I attributed it to Nutrasweet. My concern was that I do not tolerate sugar. If I have a candy bar or a cola my face will break out with pimples and that will last me a week. As long as I avoid sweets my skin stays clear. In regard to weight, when I quit consuming aspartame (approx. 1 year ago) I was 5' 11" and weighed between 183 and 186. Now I weigh 175 lbs.and I have not implemented an exercise routine although I felt I was able to reduce my consumption on the weekends when I have heavy gardening, lawn mowing, etc. without feeling like I was getting low blood sugar and that is how I felt when I was drinking Diet cokes. I felt as if I ate a little less, I could not perform the work without experiencing hypoglycemic symptoms. I am an LVN so that is why I have used common terminology. The term flicker vertigo is new to me since I have been informed of the dangers of aspartame. If I had recognized dizziness I would have seen a physician but this is much different than dizziness. I developed a fear of heights and the sensation of driving was not too bad but the flickering of shadows passing by at high speed and cars passing, trees passing became like an information overload and it felt like the road and the car were giving me so much sensation I was afraid to turn my head because if I turned it to look behind it meant I had to turn back which added more flicker vertigo and I would start to panic and slow down. When I slowed down more cars would come from behind and pass and I would have to get off the freeway at the very first chance I had. That is why I stopped using the freeway. My wife was having a problem with hair loss and when she went to GNC to find something to help with her hair, their salesman told her about aspartame. I was lucky to hear from my wife what she was told because it made me curious and I looked it up online. When I read the common effects of Aspartame toxicity I immediately realized what was wrong with me and quit all Aspartame consumption. I no longer experience flicker vertigo and I do have some left over anxiety pangs in certain situations on the freeway. I was shocked I could drive from one onramp to the next offramp without an attack. I drive on the freeway now with confidence, but I'm not quite the same as I used to be. I am seeing improvement much of the time and I hope to forever lose the freeway phobia aspartame toxicity has burned into my memory. I have restored hope in a future of being with loved ones and having fun going places again. I used to worry about my career being destroyed over my transportation dilemma and losing my house and wife and nobody knew what I was going through. Now I tell everybody I can about this. ------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2005 3:40 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspatame poisoning Dear Mr. Gold, Several years ago I was doing a Weight Watchers diet program. I developed terrible abdominal pains, as intense as labor. My doctor did all aorts of tests and found nothing except my wallet. He kept asking me what I was doing different and of course not realizing it was aspartame I could think of nothing. Eventually I quit the diet, lost weight but was always bloated. I figured I was just getting old and losing my shape at 40 something. Out of the blue months later I figured out and I don't know how--that it was the diet stuff. A few years later my son went to the hospital with terrible abdominal pains and vomiting. About a year later he consumed 2 liters of pink diet grapefruit juice and had a migraine so bad he crawled to our family car. He was 16 at the time. They found nothing wrong with him. Since then we realized since I had "allergy" to it, apparently he does also--some allergy--it is just plain poison. He has gotten into it several times at picnics with diet jello stuff and Crystal lite. He gets migraines and his face and tongue go numb. He has to cook all his own food at college because his roommates will not quit using the garbage and he gets terribly ill. When I started studying aspartame more, I discovered that when I was using it I had developed large fibroid tumors resulting in a hysterectomy. I also had blurred vision, a feeling of spaciness, leg twitching, headaches, lip twitching, and bloating. I never realized until later that all those things were most likely caused by "the poison" I was consuming. This is a crime that the FDA does not take this hideous garbage off the market--the health of our American people would improve greatly just by not using aspartame. Seizures and headaches alone would probably come down greatly. .... ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 1:52 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Poison Mark, Seven years ago I went on a diet and lost a lot of weight one of the things I did was add all diet drinks and sweeteners to my diet. Shortly after starting this new eating lifestyle I started having the following symptoms; Headaches/migraines Menstrual cramps Fatigue Memory loss Tingling hands Heart palpitations Depression Stomach pains Insomnia Gastritis Eye twitching Back pain Joint and muscle pain Allergic to all antibiotics (started 5 years ago almost killed me) Sensitivity to all medications My dr. thought I was a hypochondriac I was constantly in his office with another complaint he tested me for lupus, ms, fibromyalgia, lymes disease, arthritis and depression. They found no positive results. It left me for years just treating the symptoms with medication and then 5 years ago I started have allergic reactions to every medication they put me on. Is this a common symptom? I have been aspartame free for 2 months and feel much better. I tried to drink a new Coke zero this weekend and I have been sick since. I know it’s the aspartame that has poisoned me. ----------------- From: xxxxx@xxxx.xxx To: Dr. Betty Martini,D.Hum. Subject: [Apartame Lawsuit MS symptoms disappeared off aspartame] Date: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 1:00 AM Betty, I am overwhelmed by all the stories on the Internet on aspartame poisoning. I live in the Tulsa area. Is xxxxx xxxxxxx really the attorney for this suit? I believe aspartame made me have MS or appear to have MS. Has it been proven that aspartame causes brain lesions? Within 6 weeks of giving up diet soda, my MS symptoms disappeared. .... --------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, October 24, 2005 12:51 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Hello, I just thought I should share my reactions to aspartame with you. At first I would just get headaches from it. Then I would leave it alone and try it again at a later date. Well, my reaction in the past 2 years have been something altogether different. If I have any slight bit of aspartame, I have severe pain in my abdomen. Followed by an hourly vomit session until all of my stomach content is expelled. I seem to have an excessive amount of bile in the vomitus. Anyway, that's been my experience. -------------- Forum: Homesteading Today > General Homesteading Forums > Countryside Families Subject: Another vote against nutrasweet http://homesteadingtoday.com/vb/showthread.php?t=100652 From: xxxxxxxxxxx Date: 10/05/2005, 06:30 PM For a few years, my doctor has told me I have Diabetes type II. I had gestational diabetes with three of my children and they said I basically "kept" it afterwards. After reading some things people posted here about Nutrasweet, I figured I better stop using it. Well, ever since I STOPPED using Nutrasweet, my blood sugar has been totally normal. PERFECTLY normal, not even a hint of diabetic tendency. Its been over 2 years now and its been the same way, no nutrasweet - no high blood sugar. I dont know if that was causing it or not, but I will never use it again! --------------- Forum: Homesteading Today > Country Living Forums > Cooking and Crafts http://homesteadingtoday.com/vb/showthread.php?t=100388 Date: 10-03-2005, 06:33 PM From: tinetine'sgoat Subject: Sugar alternatives??? I need to find some alternatives to white sugar that are lower calorie... I have quit using sweetners because I was feeling awful all of the time. I started reading everything I could get my hands on and found out what these sweetners break down to once they are in your body. It scared me bad enough that I no longer have any desire for a diet soda. And believe it or not my aches and pains are disapearing, my mood is improving and I'm begining to feel really good again. My concern is that I love my coffee with sugar and tea, lightly sweetned, but I'm not wild about switching to sugar now especially since I struggle with hypoglycemia and my families history of diabetes. Do you guys have any suggestions? I've heard that there are products available, but I'm not wanting to waste alot of money trying things that taste nasty. [Continued in another thread] Forum: Homesteading Today > General Homesteading Forums > Countryside Families Subject: Another vote against nutrasweet http://homesteadingtoday.com/vb/showthread.php?t=100652 From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: 10/05/2005, 08:08 PM I have already posted some of this on cooking, so if you read it there bear with me. I was feeling AWFUL, hypoglycemia, had no energy, headaches all the time, muscle aches and pains, and Galactorreah (unexplained lactation) the whole ball of wax. Anyway, I went to the dr. had to do tons of tests and MRI junk, they thought it was a pituatary tumor, they found nothing, so my doc tried to diagnose me with depression. She gave me prozac, muscle relaxers and Ambien I was astounded that she had prescribed this after just 2 visits with her. Anyway on the way home I thought, I'm not depressed just stressed . I did not fit any of the criteria for depression that wasn't on the list of things for someone needing to relieve stress. So I didn't take any of the meds and would hate to have to start any. ANYWAY, I started reading and came across some articles related to sweetners and how they react in your body . I was amazed at what I was reading. So I decided to quit all sweetners. I feel like a different person. I dont have the sweet tooth that I did before and my "brainfog" is gone, I am sleeping better, the headaches are gone. I cannot believe the changes that I am feeling since I eliminated them. Anyway that is my .02. --------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 5:13 PM To: mgold@tiac.net Subject: aspartame I just read your article on dorway.com regarding aspartame. 9-10 years ago, I was diagnosed with “undifferentiated connective tissue disease” - whatever that is (a big name for something causing me a lot of pain, and no real idea what). Subsequently, I was diagnosed with Reynauds disease and fibromyalgia. I lived on the highest does of every nsaid out there. Had to take Darvocet or Vicodan at night for pain. Lived on antidepressants. My mother read several articles about he effects of aspartame - and knowing that I have drank only diet sodas since she can remember (I am now 41 yrs old), she urged my to stop using anything with aspartame in it. I told her she was crazy, but that I would give it 3 months. I saw my rheumatologist in July of 2004. On that day, he drew blood (as usual) and I told him I was going to give up anything with aspartame for 3 months. I then wanted to redraw my blood and see if there was a difference. He told me it was a waste of time. He had never heard of such nonsense. I went home that day (July 15) and gave it up. By the 3 month mark I had set for myself, I was able to cut my meds in half - completely eliminating my meds at night. I decided to continue since I did see a change. To this day, I am off everything. I have an occasional Aleve for “old age” pains, but no nsaids, no narcotics/analgesics, no antidepressants. I have not been back to me MD to tell him, but plan to soon. I truly believe it was the aspartame. Two months ago, I started dieting. I read labels for aspartame. I never thought yogurt would have aspartame in it, so I didn’t look. After eating this type of yogurt for 2 weeks, I was developing my old pains - hips, knees, neck, shoulders, fingers, etc. I decided to check the label and what do you know - aspartame. I stopped immediately and within one week, I was feeling better. .... ------------------- To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Another aspartame statistic vision problems, diabetes, etc. Date: 09:56 PM 5/31/2005 Dr. Martini, I was fortunate to have begun my own internet search for info about aspartame, in early December 2003. It only took a few hours to find enough evidence to convince me to totally abstain from this toxic substance. A recovering alcoholic (drank very heavily from adolescence to age 27), I had developed "reactive hypoglycemia" in 1981 (blood glucose level 34 mg/dl @ 3-1/2 hours into a 5 hr. GTT). To "treat" the hypoglycemia, I eliminated simple carbohydrates and sugars from my diet, and substituted sugar-sweetened sodas with diet drinks. The symptoms of the hypoglycemia abated, but within 7 years I became a very labile diabetic. I continued to use the aspartame-laden products for several years. My diabetes was extremely difficult to control, and other changes took place. After a bout with a bacterial pneumonia in the summer of 1991, with which I lost about 40 pounds, I have never been able to get my weight much above 150 lb. (I am 5' 10"). In 2001, I mysteriously developed high blood pressure, though my cardiac & circulatory condition proved excellent, and cholesterol and triglyceride levels were very good. The hypertension was treated successfully with lisinopril, for about a year, when the blood pressure began to increase again. The lisinopril dosage was doubled, and again the hypertension remained in control for about another year. At that point, my endocrinologist tried an array of antihypertensive drugs, from Clonidine to Lotrel and diuretics. The lack of any logical explanation for the high blood pressure caused me to take a careful look at my lifestyle. I had quit smoking cigarettes (April 1983), and the levels of stress were not significantly changed. The one thing that came to mind was the fact that I consumed moderately large quantities of diet soda, and other products containing aspartame. The aforementioned internet search soon took me to the Dorway website. After reading much of the info on that site, I immediately stopped using everything containing aspartame. At 3 months, one unexpected benefit was a complete disappearance of shoulder pain, formerly diagnosed by an orthopedic surgeon as "diabetic frozen shoulder". I can now actually shoot baskets with my daughter, and the range of motion has returned to almost normal. Also, my vision has actually improved, documented by semi-annual visits to my ophthalmologist. 20/55 left eye and 20/50 right eye has improved to 20/25 and 20/20! My intraocular pressure (22-23 in 2003) has dropped (17-18 in Feb. 2005). My complaints of "bright spots" diminished to almost nothing, but the Dr. is monitoring "background retinopathy" and a nevus near the optic nerve of the left eye. I shared with him my certainty that the improvements in vision are a direct result of stopping the use of aspartame. Other effects, unfortunately, have not subsided. At age 50, I suffer from moderately severe ED. The new drugs for treating this disorder have not been effective, nor was a trial of transdermal testosterone patches. My diabetes is still difficult to control, but better with an insulin pump (I am considered type 1, as there is no evidence of pancreatic function). The blood pressure continues to fluctuate at times, and I have difficulty with fatigue and inability to focus on my work (I am a manufacturing engineer). All this said, however, I can only consider myself fortunate to have learned of the dangers of aspartame when I did. I am certain that I would now be in much worse physical condition, perhaps even dead. I would guess that there are many thousands of people who have been permanently impaired and physically compromised by aspartame poisoning. Nonetheless, I am offering use of my information by you, or anyone else who is able to use it, for the furtherance of the cause of banning aspartame. It seems that the love of money truly is the root of this evil! ----------------- To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame Seizures Date: 9/9/05 7:14 PM I am e-mailing you because I don't know who to turn to with my problem concerning Aspartame Seizures. I wrote to xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx and I never received an answer back from him. I AM NOT A SPAMMER. I have had Aspartame seizures off and on since year 2001. I first experienced the seizures when I bought a box of Slimfast bars to eat at work. I am a janitor and I work alone. I felt fine before I ate the Slimfast bars, but than all of my left side including my face and tongue went numb and tingling. I thought I had a stroke until I spoke with one of the ladies who works at the building I clean, and she gave me an article on Aspartame. I also made another discovery with my Estrogen pill "PREMARIN" it also has Aspartame in the dye. I was getting petite mals in the stomach until I quit taking it. I didn't my doctor know any of this until I spoke to a lawyer. When I didn't receive an answer back from xxxxxxx xxxxxxx I went to see a lawyer in [Location] where I live, and he said, " I have to let my doctor know about this and be tested." My doctor knew nothing about Aspartame. He didn't know Aspartame causes seizures and brain tumors. Thoughts were running through my head, "OH G-R-E-A-T here I go educating another doctor!" I have an appointment set up with a Neurosurgeon for September 22, 2005, and all the research I have done on Aspartame I made sure I dropped copies of information off at Dr.Bakkers office ahead of time. On August 10th 2005 I went to see a diatition, and she knew "NOTHING" about Aspartame. I took a binder of information in with me, and the Diatition replied,"It's better for you to rely on the computer for your information than to talk to me because I know nothing about Aspartame. I sharply replied, "So it's better for me to go All Natural than to take my chances on the food industry? The Diatition said,"All her clients respond with the same attitude as mine when they leave her office also." i buy only ORGANIC FOOD, and I do not eat in restaurants anymore. Since I have gone all natural I have been seizure-free. I would like to file a class action lawsuit against the Aspartame Company. My Family Doctor said if I go through with this Aspartame test and have a seizure I could lose my driver's lisence, and than there goes my live-li-hood because I operate my own Janitorial Company myself. I need all the advice you can give me including on How To Deal With The Doctors Here In [Location] Concerning Aspartame. Having to deal with Aspartame Poison has limited me to the "Do's and Don'ts." Could you please help me with the class action lawsuit or give me some guidance on how to go about taking action against Aspartame. --------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 7:07 PM To: Betty M; M Gold; Mary Stod Subject: RE: Article at: http://www.HolisticMed.com/aspartame/ Both my wife and I have numerous symptoms and have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Arthritis. She has MS and was almost to a point that she could not walk and her pain was almost unbearable for her. I have PseudoTumor Cerebri (over production of spinal column fluid that builds up in the cranial cavity). I was a Diet Pepsi addict, that is all I drank, and often would drink over a gallon a day. My wife only drank one to two bottles a day. Both her MS and my PTC were out of control on this chemical. Since we stopped drinking and eating the Aspartame, the symptoms of our Fibromyalgia and Arthritis are very rare occurrences. Both her MS and my PST have gotten better. We have been working for over 5 months now trying to detoxify our bodies. -------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 7:57 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: re: Aspartame Poison Why isn't there a warning label in diet soda or the packets of that poison? I had many of the symptoms as most that I have read here and as soon as I realized that the coffee in the morning, diet soda in the afternoon and evening was making me crazy. I had blood work for years and my DR's said there was nothing wrong with me and I thought feeling like crap was the new normal. Try feeling like crap everyday for fifteen years then finding out that it was the poison in the diet soda and the sweeteners in my coffee that was making me sick. I also don't understand why this is not or hasn't been a huge story on any or all the network news. There must be thousands of people suffering and NOT knowing that its in the diet soda or the sweeteners in the coffee that's making them deathly I'll. Someone needs to break this story. -------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx To: bettym19@mindpsring.com Subject: Acute Onset Dizziness - Lasted 7 Months Sent: Sunday, June 6, 2005 I was driving my truck on night and had to pull over with an acute bout of vertigo. I'm a physician and was not immediately alarmed, rather, annoyed. From that point on, every 4 or 5 minutes, I developed a sense of disequilibrium with occasional bouts of vertigo. This lasted every waking hour for more than 7 months. With the typical, "Physician, heal thyself," mentality, I did NOT want to go through the typical route of over investigation so prominent in our current healthcare model. At the point leading up to my initial onset of symptoms, I was drinking 1200 - 1500 mL of diet pop daily. I had been doing this for more than 20 years. I had increase my consumption to almost 3 Litres of diet pop for about a 2 month time period leading up to my symptoms. As I had no other neurological signs or symptoms, I started looking to things like aspartame. As an easy test, I discontinuued use of all diet pops and anything sweetened with aspartame. Over about 3 months, my symptoms went away. Not conculsive, but certainly welcome results. About 2 months after my symtoms went away, I began drinking diet pops again. About 2 weeks after I began consumption of them, my symptoms returned at which point I ceased consumption all together. Within three days, my symptoms also went away. As I realize that this is, by no means, conclusive evidence of aspartame toxicity, I personally believe it did. Mine is a simple "n of 1" study of which I was an unwilling participant, but I have NO signs or symptoms associated with the whatever was plagueing me, SINCE I discontinuued use of aspartame. I just thought I'd share my experience with you. ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 11:19 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: My story Hello, I would like to provide my story so it may help someone out there. I have drank a lot of diet cola for about 20 years. Symptoms started when I was 25 (9 years ago). I was an avid skiier, pretty darn good I must say. Instead of getting better every season, as all people do, I was getting worse. I would tire quickly and get a rash on my face and go home after a couple of hours, feeling ashamed that I could not keep up with my regular crowd of friends. I also had shoulder pain and headaches. I thought that I was just getting old. I could not keep up with my college classes, my memory was awful, I had to drop out because my grades were not good enough to receive loans anymore. (My GPA was 3.4 the first 2 years). I became too tired to be social, only had one or two friends. A few years later I was numb on my left side. An MRI showed a lesion in my spinal cord, the neurologist thought it was MS, but not enough proof to diagnose me yet. A few years later I went numb again. 2 lesions on my brain this time, unexplainable. I was so tired and depressed I couldn't function. The anti-depressants didn't help at all so I quit taking them, against my doctors advice, I felt a little better actually. I started taking "speed" like drugs because caffeine wasn't doing it for me anymore and if I didn't take them, I was afraid I would need to be hospitalized (fatigue), and my kids would be taken away from me. Luckily, before I became addicted or strung out or "tweeky" my mother in law e-mailed me a story about aspartame because it sounded just like me. I quit drinking diet drinks about 6 months ago. I take no drugs anymore (except caffeine). I can function now. I can take my kids to the park and clean the house! I feel like I am about 85% back to normal now, hopefully I will keep improving. I still want to learn to surf, a year ago I thought it would never happen. I now annoy and pester anyone who drinks or eats artificial sweetner to stop. Most do not listen or care, but if I can even help one person it will be worth it. Thanks for reading this! ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 3:16 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame toxicity reaction I started using Aspartame when it went into all the diet sodas on the market and I had severe headaches and stomach pain on the day that I started drinking the soda with this sweetener in them. I proceeded to have very severe memory problems - I could not remember even small normal words such as cup and pen- I knew that I knew the word -but I could not pull the word out of my brain to use it in conversation. I would be talking and in the middle of a sentence stop talking because I forgot what I was talking about and I could not remember - the harder I would try to remember the farther away it seemed to go. Someone could tell me what I was talking about and I could maybe finish the sentence or 2 or three sentences. I would be driving along and a 6 to 8 foot section of the road would just disappear I could still see the road further ahead of that section but if I moved my eyes up toward the section of road that was still visible it would disappear also. I had to try to stay within the lines on the sides of the road by using -what I guess would be peripheral vision. I could not sleep and even when I thought I was asleep my husband and daughter would walk into a room and start talking to me - when I asked why they insisted on talking to me when I was asleep - they told me I was laying there with my eyes wide open. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2005 10:06 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame I just found your website and would like to share with you the problems that I had from drinking diet pop with aspartame in it. I had joint and muscle pain, tingling hands, fatigue and insomnia. I could hardly stand to use my hands, I felt like a cripple. I went to the doctor he tested me for lupus, ms, fibromyalgia, lymes disease, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and depression. He couldn't diagnosis anything, what I had was a mystery to him. I had to wear braces on my arms for 6 months. Eventually all symptoms subsided and my life got back to normal and I never figured out why the symtoms came or why they left, that is until I hear about aspartame. I now know that the symptoms went away because I stopped drinking diet pop every day, I just never put the two things together. I never dreamed that I was causing the problems myself by drinking several cans of pop a day. I am very careful now about aspartame now that I know what caused the problems and they have not returned. ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx Sent: Monday, February 14, 2005 To: bettym19@mindspring.com Subject: Diet Coke MS and Lou Gehrigs symptoms I just read your story about Diet Coke. I had several symptoms of MS and Lou Gerigs disease. My doctor asked me to stop drinking diet pop and in thwo weeks my symptoms were gone! Unreal Keep up the good work. J. S. [More Details...] From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 3:58 PM To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: FW: Diet Coke MS and Lou Gehrigs symptoms Sorry for not getting back to you with my symptoms. First of all...I have spinal stenosis. Those symptoms are lower back pain, numbness after standing for a while and neck pain. Occasional hand tingling.....really no big problem. But here were my ASPARTME symptoms: ALL MS / ALS symptoms!!!! 1. Muscle twitching@!! 2. Dizziness (not related to sinus pressure) 3. Feeling like I was in a psychedelic scene of a bad horror movie 4. Problems swallowing...very scary!!!! 5. Muscle contractions that made my whole body contract!!!! 6. Hoarse throat 7. Sporadic finger twitching When my spine doctor tested my strength he said I was "a bull", which was a good sign against neuro-muscular disease....he asked my about Diet Coke and I had been consuming high amounts. I stopped and my symptoms disappeared in two weeks. I still want to sue Diet Coke for the scariest two weeks of my life! -------------------- Worldwide Church of God Alumni Forum Forum: Alumni Discussion Topic: Nutrasweet From: compassion Posted on 7/3/05 12:20 pm http://p069.ezboard.com/fworldwidechurchofgodalumniforumfrm10.showMessage?topicID=1185.topic&index=2 Yes...I lost 30 lbs. using Nutrasweet many years ago, and my kidneys almost quit on me. I had very painful kidney attacks and I knew it was the Nutrasweet. When I cut it out, the pain went away. Splenda is manufactured under an outright lie..."Made from sugar so it tastes like sugar". No it doesn't. When you use it in anything, it tastes like what it is...a chemical. And it "foams" when mixed in liquid. And it "foams" in my stomach, whatever it is mixed in. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 11:00 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame I have never been able to eat or drink artificial sweeteners of any kind. A mint or a piece of gum causes me to be nauseated, dizzy, confused, severe migraine, panic/anxiety. My symptoms are severe and I have to be very careful about what I eat or drink. I was prescribed cough syrup by my family doctor and couldnt use it because it has nutra sweet in it. What about our children who have allergies nutra sweet and dont know. Liquid penacillin,cough syrup,vitamins, what can we do about it? Do we have any control? ---------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 12:18 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: My niece went into respitory arrest Dear Sir, I have never liked nutrisweet but now none of my family uses it. My niece was only two years old when she started having seizures. They took her to the xxxxxxxxxxx clinic and determined that it was not epilepsy. At one point she went into respitory arrest and almost died if she hadn't been in the hospital at the time I believe she would have. They put her on dilantin which made her a zombie and she still had seizures. One day when she had another seizure my brother called me asking me what he could do (she had passed out again). Out of the blue I remembered that when nutrisweet first came out that seizures in epileptics and young children was a possible side effect. I asked him if she had been having any. They had been giving her nurtisweet popsicles because they were concerned with how many she was eating (more than 4 a day). I told him what I remembered and they took her off the dilantin and nutrisweet. She only had one more siezure (we think she got some sugar free jello at a picnic). She went from having seizures that could not be controlled to no medication at all in a matter of weeks. The doctors did not want her taken off the meds. They would not listen to my brother about the nutrisweet connection. Now she is a fine and healthy second grader. I know of many diabetics drinking diet sodas. This is a known hazzard and has been from the start. When will our medical community start to listen? How many children are having seizures now due to nutrisweet? And it seems that every eplileptic I know is using nutrisweet because their doctor says it is Okay to have it!!! ( at least 4 people) Thankyou for being out there to inform people. I just wish more people would listen. -------------------- To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Subject: Date: 5/16/2005 09:54 AM Hi Betty - How are you? Hope everything is well - its been awhile since we've talked. I just wanted to let you know, I'm doing so much better since we last talked. I was in desperate need of help - I'm sure you can imagine since I called you numerous times for support. For some people, just getting off aspartame is enough to recover from problems they may be suffering but in my case, it took a lot more. My first "episode" was a lot easier to handle - I just stopped using the sweetener and within a couple of weeks, I was a new person. At the time, I wasn't aware how harmful aspartame was - I just knew I was sick and assumed it was something I was doing. . . and I was right. I was I would have followed my guts. A few months after that, I went to the doctor for a physical and mentioned my experience w/aspartame - I thought she would be happy to hear I figured out the problem since no one could seem to figure out what was wrong with me. Instead, she laughed it off and said it was impossible. The doctors thought I was a hypochondriac and actually diagnosed me with a mental problem. They prescribed me all kinds of mental drugs but luckily I didn't take any of it. Taking her word, I started drinking my diet sodas again and within several months, my symptoms came back and this time it was severe. I had all the tests you can name, they couldn't find anything wrong with me except for what I was telling them. They finally diagnosed me with depression! I have lost all my faith in doctors. I thought I was going to go crazy - none of them would listen. That's when I found all the info on aspartame and talked you. It was a rough time - I visited Dr. Harding (she a blessing) and she worked miracles for me - god bless her! .... ------------------ To: Bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Date: 09:34 AM 4/14/2005 Subject: Victim of Aspartame Poisoning - Cerebral Aneurysm, Seizure In my mid thirties, I begain drinking diet sodas to lose weight. After 2 years of initial use, I began having headaches and dizziness on a daily basis. Over-the-counter medications did not improve my symptoms. Then I began experiencing chronic fatigue, extreme weakness, body pain (flu like), \'head in a fog\' thinking, back pain, irregular, painful and debilitating menstrual cycles. I also experienced hypoglycemia symptoms, bloating, breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, excessive thirst and hunger, severe itching, nausea, numbness and tingling of extremities, night sweats, tremors and blurred vision. At times I actually felt as if I were being poisoned. On Sept 22, 2004, I had a seizure. After all the doctor visits and medical tests, it was determined that I was very healthy, with the exception of an incidental finding, cerebral aneurysm. My PCP prescribed Zoloft for panic attacks, which did help to relieve my symptoms temporarily. I continued to struggle through each day. I knew I was dying, and was ready to go because I was so miserable. Several weeks ago, I learned that 2 of my neighbors, both female, have been sick with the same symptoms. We had our well water tested, heavy metal screening, looked into the possibility of toxic mold in the homes, until I discovered the toxic effects of Aspartame poisoning. I confirmed with my neighbors and they in fact consumed large amounts of diet soda (Nutrasweet) as well. I am now 2 weeks without Aspartame in my diet...and I am beginning to feel much improvement in my health. Most of my symptoms have improved tremendously, or disappeared. Even those around me have noticed a difference in my behavior, focus, and particularly my energy level. I am convinced that I am a victim of Aspartame poisoning. Thank you for taking my story. ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, February 27, 2005 2:50 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: re: aspartame I am someone who has a story about aspartame. I think I went to the Dr. about 5 yrs ago because I had a numbness and tingling in my face which I thought could be the start of a tooth nerve dying. Ex-ray said no. I think that was probably the first experience I had w/numbness and tingling which progressed to a full body flush and tingling which happened about 20 - 30 times a day. It seemed to occur in parts of my body where I had an injury of some sort - a broken bone in my foot etc. These symptoms lasted for about 30-60 sec. and did not knock me off my feet but sometimes, if it included a vision problem in my left eye, I had to consciously make and effort to stay in control of my body. In the fall of 2003 I went to my family Dr. who sent me to the neurologist. Of course they looked for things like stroke, MS, epilepsy etc. I had an MRI of my head, a carotid artery test, ex-rays, saw the opthomologist, orthopedic surgeon and the neurologist 3 times. He could't find anything - I think he thought I was making this up. All he said was if it was still happening in 30 days I should come back. Well, I was seeing ads for food which said "no apartame" and I began to wonder. I drank diet ice tea and used other food products since they came on the market. I consumed a large jar of diet iced tea every 2 wks in addition to diet soda etc. I decided to eliminate aspartame from my diet and after about 2 wks the numb/flushes started to subside. It took almost 6 mo. before they were gone entirely. It hasn't happened for 6 -7 mo. I received your e/mail address from my daughter who is a professor in the science dept. at xxxxxxxxxxx State because I have been wanting to tell this story to someone because I felt it had some significance for others who have undiagnosed neurological problems. ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.wanadoo.co.uk] Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 12:54 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame poisoning Since I can remeber I have always drunk diet drinks had sugar free sweets and other food products. About 6 years ago I experienced severe fatigue, loss of feeling and tingling in my fingers and down one side of my body. I even experienced paralysis in my legs. I was sent to see a neurologist and he put me through lots of tests suspecting that I had MS. All tests came back negative. My Mum then met a lady who had MS and told her about aspartame. I then cut it out of my diet completely and my symptoms disappeared. I have been fine since. --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, March 21, 2005 2:38 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Dear Sir, I only have a few moments to write you a quick note. But I first and foremost would like to thank you for all the information I have obtained through your website about the toxicity of aspartame. I have been experiencing strange symptoms pertaining to my health for quite awhile, that I couldn't put my finger on. I will go into details at a later time, but last week it all came to a head with one piece of sugarless gum. I have been drinking a diet iced-tea with aspartame for quite some time, and never put two and two together until this past week with an awful reaction to one piece of gum. The day prior to this last episode, I had a slight feeling in my throat as if I had suddenly got an awful sore throat, which went away, and that night I drank some iced tea. The next day, the only thing I put in my mouth when this reaction was set off was a piece of this sugarless gum, and I felt the most awful pain like a firecracker went off in my mouth, and I believe my throat was closing up, my throat hurt incredibly. Dr. said it sounded like and allergic reaction, and I took benadryl which really didn't help completely, but the symptoms subsided. Since that day, last Tuesday, I have had no aspartame at all, and I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel. I have people telling me it's to soon to tell if that was really the problem, but as it stands right now, I truly believe I have been a victim of this monster called asartame. If possible could you let me know if you think that small amount of time could make such a marked improvement in my overall health. I feel 25 again, not 65, and I am 42. I can't thank you enough.. I wish more people would look to additives as a source of problems, I know I will be spreading the word. My vision is improved, my eyes don't hurt, I slept better than I have in months. Thank you , Thank you! ---------------------- Re: Iraqis left baffled as 'Don' Rumsfeld drops in for a chat (Score: 1) by scritch on Thursday, May 01 @ 14:55:42 EDT http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?thold=-1&mode=flat&order=1&sid=11234#63527 A little OT, but NutraSweet has been implicated in a lot of adverse reactions. My wife's reaction was so severe that the doc's thought she had multiple sclerosis for a while. Then she gave up gum with NutraSweet (Aspartame) and voila! no more symptoms! There's been not a little bit of coverup for this chemical. ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2004 10:08 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame reactions Hello mgold, I grew up drinking Diet Dr. Pepper in the 80's (I think when it was still saccharin). In the mid nineties I was a college student. I started having memory problems. I've always had wonderful short-term memory and did some of my best studying right before a test. But suddenly I was forgetting everything I had just studied. I was actually in danger of flunking a difficult class. I was also getting very bad headaches. A friend of my parents told us about an actress he knew who stopped drinking diet sodas a month or two before her play would start. It was late in the semester but I stopped drinking Diet Dr. Pepper and stopped eating diet popsicles. The headaches went away. My memory improved a lot and I managed to make a high enough grade on the final exam to get a C in the class. I tried to stop drinking Diet Dr. Peppers completely, but I seemed to be addicted. It wasn't until after I was married that I kicked that habit. And my husband could always tell if I drank a Diet Dr. Pepper - he said I started noticeably forgetting things. During my days of Nutrasweet, I gained weight, got headaches, developed eye migraines, developed hypoglycemia and had memory problems. My memory has never recovered 100%. At this point, I am completely off of all artificial sweeteners. I tried Splenda when it came out, but I seemed to develop an addiction to that as well. .... ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 12:07 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Our experience with poison #%%% I mean aspartame! About 15 years ago I worked in a warehouse that was not air conditioned and I was drinking sodas all day long. Needless to say I started to gain weight, so I made some sugarfree Kool-aid to take to work. Well I got a headache that felt like the top of my skull was being crushed in all the way around the top. The next day more kool-aid and the very same headache. So I have never used anything with aspartame in it since. Guess what I have never had such a monster headache like that again. But my real story is this, my mother was using nutra-sweet in coffee and tea and drank diet coke. In March of 2000 she was having a dry cough so I had taken her to the hospital doctors office and while she was there she had congestive heart failure. It was caused by a buildup of fluids around her heart. So this ment her kidneys had gone bad. Then she had to go on dialysis 3 times a week. One morning about 2 years ago she was so sick, I took her to the emergency room and they ran all kinds of tests on her, Xrays, blood work, EEG, EKG and found nothing. 2 days later the same exact thing again emergency room and all the tests again. The doctors found nothing. Then I remembered my own experience with aspartame and did a web search and found your site. I couldn't believe the number of people having such a wide range of problems after taking something with aspartame in it. Well I threw eveything with aspartame in it away and got her to understand she could never have diet coke again. It took about 3 to 4 months before her problems went away. She has not had anything with aspartame in it and guess what she has not had those same problems since. There is no way for me to prove it, but I believe it was the aspartame that destroyed her kidneys and caused the need for dialysis. This is a woman that did not drink or smoke or use anything to excess, so why would her kidneys fail? There are lots of other people that are her age and do not require dialysis. It doesn't take a PHd or a rocket scientist to see a connection here. So my advice to everyone if you have just half a brain you won't use any kind of artifical sweetner esp. aspartame. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 5:52 AM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Here is my story: Here is my story: I recently moved to a new apartment, and before my kitchen was functional (a period of 6 weeks) I was eating out. Breakfast and lunch each day was purchased at a local petrol station food store, and included iced teas, cool drinks and similar. At that time I was not aware that Aspartame was contained in these drinks. There may have been other poisons in the "freshly made" plastic packed sandwiches which I am still not aware of. However, I now know that there were artificial sweeteners (not otherwise specified) in some of the drinks I was purchasing. My symptoms included dull feeling in the head, growing confusion, dizziness, numbness in my fingers and toes and clumsy behavior (all of which I recognized as neurological symptoms). I started dropping things, banging myself and injuring myself while working on the new apartment. This was dangerous since I was using power tools, and at times was working at height. I was so disoriented and unaware of my surroundings at one time that I drove into a post and smashed the front end of my automobile. My fingers became so insensitive that I started having trouble typing (I am normally a very fast touch typist) and considerable trouble playing the piano (including pieces I know well and generally have no trouble with). I was puzzled to find that I was having trouble with relatively simple mathematics; I am a product designer and must often use applied mathematics consisting of simple differential equations and routine techniques for analyzing material strengths and so on, and also relatively straightforward hypothesis testing statistics. Why, I asked myself, were these things becoming so difficult? Reading became difficult. It was partly a cognitive problem, so that when I could see the words I found difficulty understanding what was written. More and more I was re-reading sentences to catch the meaning. I was also having visual problems, and had my eyes tested for new reading glasses - which it turned out were not needed. I then blamed the Chinese restaurant for putting too much MSG in my food; without a kitchen at home I was going there three or four times a week. The owner responded to my complaints by reducing MSG in general and serving me with MSG free meals. The symptoms did not improve. I then supposed that my problems may be related to a blood condition, and had extensive tests done, including tests for rare conditions such as G6PD activity deficiency, and cytochrome P450 enzyme activities. (Was I a so called "poor metabolizer"?) These tests all proved to be normal. Finally I realized that the drinks may be poisoning me. I investigated further and discovered that some of them probably contained Aspartame. Of course, I immediately stopped consuming these drinks. My kitchen is now operational and I cook my own food from fresh vegetables and organically grown produce were possible. In the several weeks following cessation of purchasing drinks from the station, my symptoms largely cleared up. However, not everything is back to normal and it is clear that I have been neurologically damaged. I have recurrent tinnitus, in the form of a constant hissing sound in the background - at times a whistling sound. This was present before moving house, but is now significantly worse. It spoils my music listening pleasure, and sometimes keeps me awake at night. I also have damaged sight. I printed out an Amsler grid and tested myself. I could see some slightly wavy lines and other patches which were blank (not black, simply empty where the lines should have been visible). These are diagnostic for macular degeneration. My reading is still somewhat hindered by patch vision in the foveal centre. I shall now start on a course of AREDS supplements to slow down the visual loss; presumably once macular degeneration has started is continues into age related macular degeneration (AMD). I conclude that the Aspartame in the drinks is responsible for the episodes and for the neurological, auditory and visual damage I now suffer. My life has been irrecoverably reduced because of this misadventure. Alas, nothing shall be done to redress this situation as long as Bush remains in the Whitehouse. And (many Americans do not realize how forcefully their domestic affairs impact other peoples; I am Dutch) nothing shall be done in this country until the US had legislated Aspartame out of legal use. -------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2004 4:47 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame I had always practiced a healthy lifestyle so when aspartame came out I wouldn't have anything to do with it. Then due to a health problem I suddenly gained quite a bit of weight. I went to a Dr. who put me on a diet that include several sugar-free foods & drinks. Reluctantly but to help lose the weight I consumed them. 2 weeks later I was overcome by dizziness, and felt like my head and ears were going to explode, it was debilitating. I went to vertigo specialist at a top medical facility and they couldn't find any explanation for my vertigo. I was placed on many medications with no relief. My mother found on the net that aspartame caused vertigo. I stopped using it right then and within a few days the dizziness stopped but will come back with a vengeance if I even accidentally get a stick of gum with aspartame, I get so dizzy it is like I am drunk. I feel my equilibrium is permanently damaged because of it. Before I could watch TV and enjoy a movie. Now, I can't because the movements make me motion sick. My whole family has had reactions to this poison aspartame. My Father loses his memory, My sister get hives on her tongue, My aunt went deaf until she stopped drinking diet coke, and my mother has memory loss & hives from it. I tell everyone that it is a toxin and to please not drink it, but sadly most don't listen. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, October 08, 2004 4:51 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: TOXIC DRUG - ASPARTAME Aspartame's deadly effects are most certainly true. I am living proof, that if I had not heard about Aspartame 8 years ago and discontinued its use, I would have been dead by now. I used to drink diet soda's about 4-6 cans a day, and used all diet products because at 120 lbs. I thought I was fat. (soda, gum, jello, pudding, hot chocolate, Crystal Light, kool-aid, etc.) All diet products used aspartame for a sweetener. Even though I was using all these "diet" products, I kept gaining weight. I thank God daily that 8 years ago my son brought home an article sent by his science teacher about the effects of nutra-sweet. At that time, I was experiencing many of the symptoms described in the article, heart palpitations, dizziness, brain fog, memory loss, extreme fatigue, depression, blurred vision, muscle soreness, and worst of all, I had a large mass in one of my breasts (my breast had become very deformed, sore and so much larger than the other that I couldn't even find a bra to fit). I had a biopsy done and it was not cancerous, so I was supposed to go back for a re-check in 6 mo. (I did not go back in till 18 mo. because of fear). During that time, I got rid of everything that contained Nutra-Sweet, started drinking mostly purified water and some coffee or tea). I worked at drinking a lot of water daily to try to flush my system out. What I had done in those 18 months seemed to work because when I had the re-check done, the mass was gone! The heart palpitations were gone too. The doctor and radiologist said whatever I was doing, to keep it up. They were amazed that a mass that size could go away on its own. Today I am 47 years old and I believe that I still suffer from depression, fibromyalgia and I have recently been diagnosed with thyroiditis, because of my diet soda intake and other diet product usage from years earlier. But, I know that Doctors will never admit my problems are caused from aspartame poisoning. Not when Monsanto keeps donating huge sums of money to the American Medical Association. The doctors will keep their mouths shut, at the expense of us! They're some doctors that are speaking out against aspartame, but they are few. I am one of an ever-growing number who have educated themselves on diet and nutrition because I choose to live! I will not sacrifice my health or life for a Diet Pepsi! I would like to see this TOXIC DRUG removed from the human food chain. And if possible, I would like to be a part of the law-suit against Monsanto. ---------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 4:56 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: My Experience with Aspartame During the past few years I became somewhat "addicted" to Breath-Saver mints. I typically ate 4 or 5 a day, and bought big packages of them at Costco. I also drank four or five diet pepsis a week. Symptoms came on gradually, and I never made the connection to Aspartame. They included attacks of gastritis, extremely painful episodes that woke me up at night. Doctor prescribed Prevacid which helped, but I had never before had such painful stomach troubles. I am 53 years old. I also seemed to suffer more from headaches, depression, and fatigue. About a year ago I began having severe joint and tendon pain in my shoulder. Popping and grating sensation whenever I moved my arm in certain ways. Went to physical therapy, didn't help. Had MRI which showed tendonitis but no joint deterioration. I became unable to sleep on my right side. Chiropractor could not help. Cortisone shots did not help. I work at a desk, and some days were so bad I could hardly function. Took lots of Advil. Certain activities such as bicycle riding and running aggravated the pain and I had to stop doing them. A couple months ago I somehow began to wonder about aspartame and researched it on the internet, and quickly found your informative website. After reading many of the articles you have posted, as well as other people's experiences, I decided to completely stop my aspartame consumption. It has had amazing results after fairly short time. My shoulder pain is 90% abated, hardly noticeable now. I stopped having gastritis attacks. Other symptoms have improved. I am convinced I was being poisoned by aspartame. I do not pretend to understand the physiology of how it was affecting my shoulder, but if aspartame did not cause the condition, it apparently made it much worse. My chiropractor was very interested in my experience, and is mentioning it to many of his other patients. He finds my recovery fairly remarkable. Thank you for your good work in informing the public about this harmful product. ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2005 11:11 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Last year, I had been drinking Diet Coke constantly in a new job that I started last May, ...breakfast, mid-day, evening...probably 4-6 cans a day. Then I decided I liked coffee and started drinking coffee with Equal (aspartame) in it. Sometime in September I began being very dizzy when I woke up in the morning. A few weeks later, it progressed to the point that I was dizzy most of every day and it became severe whenever I would lie down. I went to see an Ear Nose & Throat doctor and went through many tests. Nothing could be found to cause the dizziness. He prescribed valium and a fluid reduction pill. I never took the Valium... dizziness continued...rolling over in the bed caused violent dizziness...and resultant nausea. Shortly after the doctor's visit, I had a friend tell me to just try cutting out all aspartame for a while. I had my last Diet Coke/coffee with Equal on a Wednesday...it took until Sunday before it was out of my system, but on Sunday I woke up and was not dizzy at all and have not been dizzy since. I think that the HOT coffee broke down the aspartame into methanol and was the final toxic blow. No artificial %$#% is going into my system any more (as much as I can help it). -------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2004 2:09 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame caused problems I am glad that I found this site and have been reading through most of the case histories. Artificial sweetener have caused so many problems for me I don't even know where to begin. I started out by using Aspartame in my coffee. I used to drink 5-6 cups of coffee and drank 3 tablets in each cup. I kicked my coffee habit later on but started drinking artificialy sweetened carbonated drinks. Approximately 6 - 8 cups a day. I also ate yoghurt with aspartame in and other products like sugar free chewing gum. I suffered from imbalance in my hormones which could not be explained. I just later on accepted that it will never change. I started having frequent infections which could not be cured by antibiotics. I suffered from very bad depression. I also gained a lot of weight which I just could not get rid of and I suffered from all kinds of cravings, specially sweet cravings. I used to crave sweets so much that I felt like I was going insane untill I ate 2 - 3 bars of chocolate or Ice cream. I was tired all the time and had frequent mood swings. I also got blurred speech at times and was unable to concentrate. My husband told me that my weight problem was caused by the artificial sweetener and I did not want to believe him. Finally I decided just to prove a point that he is wrong I will stop using artificial sweetener. My whole life changed after that. I have lost 4 kilograms in the past two months. I have completely stopped having cravings. My hormones are balanced and I'm having my preriod regularly and on time. I have no more infections. My mental health have improved so much that I feel like a completely different person. I will never used artificial sweetener again. --------------------- Armageddon Online - ASPARTAME (the silent killer) http://forums.armageddononline.org/showthread.php?t=4172 02-27-2005, 07:22 PM #7 Emerald_Dragon Elder Posts: 746 i didn't know why i was getting headaches until i started digging around. Aspartame causes "brain lesions". I stopped eating/drinking nutrasweeted/aspartamed products and my spontaneous headaches stopped. Don't imbibe it. If you don't notice a headache, its probably too late.... --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 3:25 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame poisoning In 1998 I switched to diet coke because I am overweight. Also in 1998 I started having bouts of Vertigo. The very first one was not severe, but lasted about a month. After the first one, I would have bouts that were so severe I could not get out of bed. If I did, I would throw up from the motion sickness. Last year it was so bad that I was constantly "dizzy". If I looked up, turned my head, laid on my left side, etc. I went to a neurologist and while she was taking my history she asked me how much caffeine I consumed. I told her that I drink probably a 12 pack of diet coke a day, not to mention the ones I drive through McDonalds and get. She told me to immediately quit drinking diet coke because of the nutrasweet and to switch to regular to ween off it completely. She was concerned about caffeine withdrawal so she wanted me to drink regular coke so not to have the withdrawal headache. I quit drinking the diet coke in May of 2003. From June, 2003 til now I have not had one episode of vertigo. Today I am having a bout with it and have determined it to be because I have been chewing alot of sugarless gum. I will now throw it all in the trash. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 7:17 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Sucralose/Splenda .... I am someone who has known about the poisonousness of aspartame all along; being I was fortunate enough to have a chemist as a friend. I was dumb enough to recently ingest it for a week when starting a diet not long ago, and suffered for it. It aggravated arthritis IN MY EYE, along with headaches... --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, April 29, 2005 12:53 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Artifical Sweeteners Hello! We were e-mailed some information about aspartame this evening, and the other "artifical" sweeteners by my husbands uncle, so we went on-line to investigate the rest of the answers that we had questions for, needless to say, what we've found, is quite hair raising , and made me so mad, I could spit rocks. When someone is told by our tv ads,or a personal friend, that there is one sweetener that is better then the other one, you start using it, because you really want to believe it, main reason is that there isn't a PH.D around that would tell you anything different, just that my blood sugar is high, my ears ring, my joints ache, I get dizzy quite often, I have mood swings, I get heart palpitations that just almost take my breath away, & that I retain water, but the Dr. says I'm "normal???" & I am given no other answer, except if they think that a pill can fix it, they are right there to give you a prescription for it, they smile, and get rich!! As of tonight, we went through our cupboards, and pantry, and poured out all of our "diet drinks", and everything in the frig. that had any type of artifical sweetener in it, and we were really shocked to find out how much junk stuff, that even is in yogurt, not all of the yogurt, just some of it,that we had to throw out. I will let you know how long it takes for me to feel like I'm back to normal, or just about, because I used to have a lot more energy, I didn't have blurred vision before, & I just had my eyes check not too long ago. We thank you for your fantastic articals, and all of the other information we found, and have learned a lot from them. If it isn't organic,or when we read the ingred.label & it has an artifical food color, or sweetener in it, we will not buy it. We don't get addicted to a soft drink; we just will make sure it won't kill us, or make us feel like we are almost dead. We have a family member that is dieing from brain cancer, and I don't know if it was the diet drinks or not, but we aren't taking any chances, we like life, we've been educated real fast, and will always remember. Thank You [Below is a response after 2 weeks of aspartame detox.] From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 8:30 AM To: Mark D. Gold Subject: Fwd: RE: Artifical Sweeteners Good Morning Mark!! This is xxxxxx xxxxxx: I would like to tell you that so far, I am feeling quite good!! my right wrist is even getting better, no dizziness, which I think is great !!! I even seem to have more energy also, I'm not getting as tired so easy, no hot flashes either.. When I want to sweeten something, I use either orange blossom honey, or evaporated cane juice, which we buy at our local health food store. I hope you have a great day ! --------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, August 13, 2004 2:12 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Appalled that so many are still suffering because of this poison! Dear Mark, My list of health problems grew longer and longer over the course of drinking diet sodas for 15 years. Never did I imagine it was all related to the diet sodas. I have been very angry since this discovery, as I still have severe memory loss - at times struggling for words just to finish a sentence. I had severe insomnia for years. I experienced the spots, floaters and chronic fatique, tingling in my hands, eating binges, and headaches with blind attacks. Toward the end I was having severe muscle spasms/contractions in my legs constantly - I thought I was going to reach the point of not being able to walk at all. Fortunately, my mother had received an email with a list of the negative reactions caused by the consumption of aspartame/sucrolose. I immediately stopped all use of any fake sugars. All of the symptoms I have listed above eventually went away, with the exception of, as I stated earlier the memory loss. It is very embarrasing and I work hard at hiding this problem from my friends, family and colleagues - I know there are times my husband genuinely worries and is perplexed by the memory loss. He, as well as many others think I am crazy when I tell them the cause. I discovered this 6 years ago and am appalled that so many others are still suffering because of this poison. I want to thank you for your efforts in educating the public - you are doing a great service! ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 6:20 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: poison I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT 3 1/2 WEEKS AGO , I QUIT ALL ASPARTAME AND ANYTHING DIET. 24 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH MY SECOND CHILD MY DR. TOLD ME TO GO ON A DIET BECAUSE I GAINED 13 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH. I SWITCHED TO DIET SODAS AND ANYTHING THAT WAS "DIET". IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS I WAS DIAGNOSED HYPOGLYCEMIC AND ALSO WITH HYPERTENSION. I AM 45 YEARS OLD AND WAS ALWAYS HEALTHY. 6 MONTHS AGO I KEPT GETTING LIGHT-HEADED AND FEELING LIKE I WAS GOING DOWN. SINCE I AM A SERVER IN A RESTAURANT POURING COFFEE 8 HOURS A DAY, THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. I HAVE A MIDDLE EAR PROBLEM SO FIGURED THAT IS WHAT IT WAS FROM. THEN THEY TOLD ME AFTER TESTS THAT MY BLOOD SUGAR WAS 53. THEN I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT NO DIET ANYTHING FOR 3 WEEKS AND I AM BACK TO 90%. ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 10:50 AM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: my Nutrasweet story About 5yrs ago, I was buying Nutrasweet at Costco in the box of 500s and using it like crazy in coffee and iced tea. I also drank alot of diet pepsi. I started to have memory problems and work and my boss threatened to fire me for being too slow. I would get lost driving in my own city doing errands. I forgot to pay the mortgage twice and left a gas stove going all day. I saw my doctor and he sent me for a CT brain scan and they found nothing wrong. Soon after the test I read in Prevention magazine that Nutrasweet can cause short term memory loss. That next morning I used no Nutrasweet in my coffee and noticed a huge difference! I wasnt foggy headed and could think so much clearer! So now I use Stevia in my coffee... xxxxx ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 12:00 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Hi; Several months ago I started a diet, it was wonderful and I lost 25 lb. The book that help me with this diet told me not to drink any soft drink with Aspartame, but since I needed something sweet, I figured out that it was OK. After 3 months of dinking soft drinks with Aspartame I started to feel very tired, my muscles hurt a lot and I was very stressed. The funny thing was that I was very tired during the summer, and, since I am a teacher, I do not work in the summer. Why was I tired and stress out? Why was my neck very tense and my legs hurt? I got an email from my brother in Mexico about Aspartame, I read all the symptoms that Aspartame cause according with this letter and I realized that I was suffering from intoxication caused by Aspartame. I decided not to take Aspartame anymore. Now I am feeling a lot better. I believe Aspartame was intoxicating me. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 7:18 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: I was reading your toxicity reports on Aspartame and was grateful someone out there is informing the public about this harmful chemical. As a child I had many side effects associated to this chemical. Headaches, Dizziness, Fatigue. I was taught never to eat it no matter what the circumstances. I have found many new chemical names on “Sugar-Free” products over the years and try to avoid “Sugar-Free” anything due to my reactions and knowledge of chemicals including Saccrin and Aspartame (NutraSweet). I am curious if you have noticed Phenylalanine which from my research is just another name for aspartame that has been used in “Sugar-Free” candies, gums, and even Fitness Supplements. Check out this link http://www.sweetpoison.com/phenylalanine.html Thought you should probably add that to your list since they are one and the same and this stuff is nasty. Brain Damage is not something we need our country to have a high dose of. I want to thank you again for keeping this info on the Web ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 2:56 AM To: mgold@tiac.net Subject: Aspartame Poisoning This letter is in response to your requests for information regarding my symptoms to what I believe is Aspartame poisoning. My symptoms first began in early 2003. In late 2002, I began to gain weight. My diet included approximately 8 liters of Pepsi per week. As part of a strategy to combat this weight gain, I switched from regular Pepsi to Diet Pepsi around the end of 2002. Soon after, I began to notice my feet felt unusually cold at night. This progressed until I was soon too uncomfortable to sleep at night without wearing socks. By late February 2004, a second symptom arose. At this time, I began to notice that my left eye would become numb and unresponsive whenever I would relax or prepare to go to sleep. This partial paralysis was upsetting to me, and I soon began to consult eye doctors. Several months and three eye doctors later, I was referred to a general MD. This MD’s office diagnosed me as most likely having MS. This precipitated a number of expensive tests for MS at a local hospital. These tested included a CAT scan, an MRI, and various blood work. All came back as negative for MS. At this point I was frustrated with paying for expensive tests and consulting lots of doctors who seemed to have no idea what was wrong with me. I stopped seeing any doctor at all. My symptoms slowly, but undramaticaly, progressed. By early Summer of 2004, however, a new symptom arose. At this time, I began experiencing tremors. At first I simply had strange feelings at time. Soon, however, I noticed visible shaking. This occurred mainly when I was relaxed or waking up in the morning. This shaking quickly progressed over the span of 2 or 3 weeks to the point that considerable shaking and even facial spasms were waking me up in the morning. I told a friend about my situation and how I didn’t have the time and money to be wasting on doctors who couldn’t tell what was wrong with me. I was scarred however, and announced my intention to start seeing more medical professionals. My friend commented that I might be a victim of Aspartame poisoning, and that I should stop drinking Diet Pepsi. I took his advice. Within a few days, my symptoms of a year and a half were noticeably better. Within a month, all of my symptoms were gone. Following this, I unknowingly began using some other products containing Aspartame. My symptoms began to return. After realizing that Aspartame has many names, I ridded myself of these products as well. My symptoms once again subsided. All of this has left no doubt in my mind that I have been a victim of Aspartame poisoning. I am looking to stop Aspartame use nationally and to recover my considerable expenses, both emotionally and financially, in having to go through all of this. Please keep me up to date on any pending class-action lawsuits. -------------------------- Museum of Hoaxes Aspartame Disease http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/forum/forum_comments/1747/P0/ From: Diva Date Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 | 07:28 AM As with many of you, I am a skeptic. It is difficult to make me believe something like this. But...I will speak from my own experience. Not the tale told by a friend of a friend, but me personally. Up until 2 days ago I've been drinking Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper. Probably 3 or more cans a day. Progressively, i've felt worse and worse over the past several months. I also started drinking more and more diet drinks. My niece warned me about Aspartame. I didn't listen and kept on drinking the Diet sodas. My symptoms included declining eyesight, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, aches in my neck, overpowering stress and a feeling of desparation. I did not want to get out of bed in the morning, I could have slept all day. Two days ago I stopped drinking the sodas. It is the first time in over a year and a half that i've gone this long without a diet soda. The day after I stopped, I woke up feeling better. This morning, it is twofold. I feel better than I have in months. I've got a great energy level. I can breathe better, see more clearly, think clearly and I hopped out of bed. I ask myself...is this merely coincidence? There is nothing else i've changed in my diet or routine. If I was hearing this from a friend then I may doubt some but this happened to me...just this week. The energy I feel is natural, not that of any stimulant. My attitude is that I could conquer the world and I have my confidence back. This experience is enough to make me never consume Aspartame again. When I see a diet coke, it looks like a skull and crossbones to me...and I don't miss it at all. ...just my own story... ----------------- Museum of Hoaxes Aspartame Disease http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/forum/forum_comments/1747/P20/ From: xxxxxx xxxxxx Date Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 | 06:05 AM Funny how the sites that claim aspartame is harmless somewhow have more credence than the ones that come out against it. I'll go with my personal experience. I had about 10 symptoms, stopped using NutraSweet, and voila! Doing much better. ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2005 2:43 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame reaction Hi, I just found this website and thought I would send you my story. I grew up in the home of my granfather who was a diabetic. As a result to only sodas in our home were diet and as this was back in the 70's and early to mid 80's they were sweetended with saccharine. I used to drink to least one to two 12 oz. cans of diet 7-UP a day and I couldn't stand the overly sweet taste of regular soda. In approximately 1985 or 1986 (I believe the same year 7-UP switched to aspartame) I started experieincing debilatating migraine headaches. These migraines would begin with me seeing little flashes of light (I believe it is called and aura) and then such extreme pain that I could not work or even move. At the time I had also started taking oral contraceptives and my gynecologist thought that was the problem. I promptly quit taking the contraceptves and the migraines continued daily, usually lasting for several hours each day. Becasue the ceasation of the contraceptives had no effect on the migraines, my gynecologist thought maybe I had a vascular problem (his code name for an anyuersim) or a tumor. He decided it would be best that I go to a nuerologist for further testing. Fortunalty my insurance provider required a return trip to my family doctor before going to yet another specialist and my family doctor was a very practical man who understood that many migraines are actually reactions to food. For the next month I was placed on an allergy diet. Basically I was allowed to eat nothing except boiled potaots or plain rice. I was allowed no coffee, tea, wine, chocolate, cheese, and absolutatly NO SODA, diet or otherwise. Within 4 days the migrianes stopped and I was told to add one food at a time to my diet and see what happened. Lo and behold the only thing that triggered my migrianes was the diet 7-UP. At first it made no sense, because I had been drinking diet 7-UP for years, and then I discovered that they had replaced the saccharine with this new so called wonder sweetener Nutra-Sweet. I then conducted one personal experiment with Nutrasweet and that was to eat a breathmint sweetened with it. At the time I had been given a wonderful drug called Ergostat that would stop the migraine if taken when I had an aura. So I ate the breath mint and within 5 minutes I had an aura, took my medication and blocked the migraine. I have never purposefully eaten anything with Nutrasweet in it since and the only migraines I have had in the past 20+ have occurred when I have accidentally consumed NutraSweet. I feel lucky that my family doctor had the good sense to suggest I had an allergy or food reaction and not just ordered a battery of tests that would have found nothing. Becasue of this I did not continue using the poison and I have sounded off to anyone who would listen about what a vile horrible product it is. --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, August 20, 2004 11:06 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Toxicity Information My mother and I always drank diet everything, so when aspartame took over, we had no choice. Two years later, my mom began having grand mal seizures (and I developed migraines). They did all the tests, and found nothing wrong. We had heard about a connection between aspartame and seizures, so we stopped using aspartame. After a year of being seizure free, a friend gave my mom diet soda in a glass. That night she had another seizure. That was it. Aspartame was banned in my house. Fast forward to two years ago. My husband, myself, and my two sons were on our way to my sister's house for Christmas. Half way there, my 9 year old starts seizing. A grand mal. Take him to the hospital, they find nothing wrong. I found out the day before, he had consumed 10 diet sodas at his friend's house. It scared everyone so bad that now they listen to me when I tell them not to use aspartame. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx To: WNHO-Aspartame-Information@yahoogroups.com Subject: Migraines and Dizziness Date: 07:36 PM 8/2/2005, Hello, as one of the new members Betty is refering to, i thought I would introduce myself. I'm Jennifer. I began suffering from dizzy spells in elementary school. Doctors did test after test to no avail. At 12, I began to suffer from crippling migraines as well. I totally cut aspartame out of my diet at 16. You should understand that prior to this, the only aspartame I had may have been a piece of sugar free candy or gum. I had only consumed one diet beverage outside of possibly a sip of someone elses. I bring this up to point out that a toxicity level for is ridiculous. Any level is too much. I am 26 now. I still suffer from migraines, but the frequency and intensity has decreased dramatically. I haven't had a bad one in more than a month. At sixteen, I got them at least once a week and they were bad enough that I would black out. I've been trying to convince everyone I care about for years that the stuff is dangerous. There are campaigns everywhere telling us how horrible tobacco is and yet it looks like some kind of vitamin supplement when compared with aspartame. More people need to know. -------------- xxxxxxxxxx T-Tapp.com : Better Body Basics Forums All Forums: Off Topic http://www.t-tapp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32146&FORUM_ID=34&CAT_ID=1&Topic_Title=Can+Nutra+Sweet+cause+bladder+infections%3F&Forum_Title=Off+TopicPosted - 09/17/2004 : 09:28:02 AM Subject: Can Nutra Sweet cause bladder infections? I also know people to have been personally effected by those poisons, me being one. I got a positive for Auto Immune disorder last year on my blood test. I stopped drinking diet coke and chewing diet gum and things got better. I also noticed a difference in my memory and a lot of muscle pain. .... --------------- To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Subject: aspartame,diabetes, UK Date: 04:09 PM 8/11/2004 Hello My name is Cindy I am from the UK. I have a 13 year old daughter, who is diabetic so drinks lots of sugar [free] drinks. This year she has been ill and i was told she has chronic fatigue syndrome. But i have been hearing some bad things about Aspartame and wondering if it could be linked to my daughters illness. At the moment i have stopped giving anything with Aspartame in. but i am having lots of trouble finding sugar free drinks without it so she is now only drinking water and not happy. if you have any information on this i would be very grateful to hear from you. I would love to see Aspartame banned in the uk. [updated] From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 5:33 PM To: Mark Gold Subject: RE: aspartame,diabetes, UK Dear Mark Thank you for you email. My daughter Amber is already feeling much better. She has more energy and is a lot happier. The change in her has been wonder. I cant believe something this damaging is still allowed to be used. When we found out Amber was diabetic we thought sugarfree was wonderful. How wrong i was. --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 12:24 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame reaction. Some years ago I discovered that I have a highly toxic reaction to Aspartame. I would often get headaches and dizziness after drinking a diet soda, and realized the connection. Not considering this, I tried a liquid diet drink to help me lose weight. The reaction was almost immediate. My breathing became labored and the dizziness was overwhelming. I don't remember anything after that except waking up on my kitchen floor with my 18 month old having been left on his own for the two hours I was unconscious. I was told that it was anaphylactic shock caused by the aspartame, and for the remainder of my life I must carry an Epi-Pen at all times as a life saving measure. Just recently my niece made me a cup of tea the pack of Equal she was using passed over my cup. I woke up at three in the morning barely able to breathe. The sensitivity to aspartame is terrifying, as it is found in so many foods as a flavor enhancer. Now I read ALL of the ingredients, even if the list begins with "sugar." --------------- http://www.collegesports.com/sports/c-swim/stories/081304aaf.html Dumais Brothers Take Act to Athens Texas' Tandem, Justin and Troy, take their talents to the men's synchronized springboard final Aug. 13, 2004 By Stephanie Berlin Daily Texan AUSTIN, Texas (U-WIRE) - Two years ago at the NCAA Championships in Georgia, the entire University of Texas men's swimming and diving team stood on the first-place podium. Among them were Justin and Troy Dumais, two brothers whose spectacular dives helped Texas win its ninth national title. The two stood with their team on the podium, horns held proudly in the air. "They were enjoying that moment as a team," Texas men's and women's diving coach Matt Scoggin recalled. "Not as brothers or individuals, but as a team. That was a great day." On Aug. 16, the Dumais brothers will try and reach the top podium once again, this time in Athens and, this time around, as their own two-man team. Justin and Troy are taking their talents to the 2004 Olympics together in the men's synchronized springboard final. .... But the rise to the top hasn't always been easy. Justin, who had been ill since early November, just recently became healthy enough to train for the Olympics. "He lost his energy," Kathy said. "Blood tests showed his thyroid was a little high, and they started treating that. It turned out he was poisoning himself with aspartame." Aspartame, which can be found in everything from diet drinks to protein shakes, is a popular artificial sweetener. Doctors found that Justin was very sensitive to the sweetener, and once he stopped using it, his health vastly improved. .... ©2004 Daily Texan via U-WIRE. ---------------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2004 7:29 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame .... I have trouble with aspartame myself it causes me to intraoccular migraines-I get visual disturbances but no headache-and msg also does this to me. Needless to say, I stay away from aspartame. I had been on Weight Watchers and was drinking 2-3 quarts of Crystal Light per day-lemonade-and started having the intraoccular migraines. Now all I have to do is have about 1/2 of a cola or yogurt with aspartame and there goes my eyes again. I have learned my lesson, no more aspartame for me. ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:51 PM To: marystod@airmail.net Cc: mgold@holisticmed.com _________________________________________________ Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Questionnaire Name__xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx______________________________ Age_36_ Sex: M___F X Address_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx _________________________ City__xxxxxxxx_____________________________________State_xx______________ ___ Zip_xxxxxx________________ Tele xxxxxxxxxxxxx Medical problems that you believe are caused from using aspartame: Severe hair loss, unable to concentrate, I attend management meetings weekly (I am an Operations Officer at a bank), I am unable to find the proper words, have a dyslexic mouth (words actually come out backwards), slurring of speech, feeling lethargic, in a fog, dazed, severe short-term memory loss (must write everything down), migraines, fatigue, seeing bright flashes of light, ringing of ears, and my average weight has always been around 130lbs., I eat healthy, stay away from sugar and fat, work out frequently, and for the last three years I mysteriously gained 30lbs now weighing 150lbs. So, I'd add weight gain to the list. Numbness of hands and feet, severe muscle cramps in feet and legs, heart palpitations, irregular heart beats, insomnia, panic attacks, severe menstrual cramps, excessive thirst, bloating, Why do you believe aspartame caused these problems? I've been to the doctor in the past for the heart palpitations, and stressed feeling and they couldn't find anything physically wrong with me. I've been several times for the menstral problems and they just prescribe medications to make it easier. I've had a couple of phyiscals over the last few years and with two different doctors and they both find no indication of my feeling so bad and anxious. After reading the side effects on your website, that was my answer to several years worth of struggling with the fact I may have to face the fact I may be mentally unstable. Did the symptoms go away when you stopped using the products? It has been three weeks now since I've had Diet Pepsi and I can say that my period was almost painless this month, my short term memory is coming back. I'm not as fatigued as I was, I don't feel as though I'm walking in a fog as much, it is subsiding slowly, but, my hair is still falling out (this scares me). Did you see a Doctor about symptoms? Yes. she said the medical community did not see asparatame as a risk. That we should check for hormone levels. Did Doctor think it related to aspartame? She said the medical community did not see asparatame as a risk. That we should check for hormone levels. I asked her about the formaldehyde levels and she said that our bodies metabolize it. She's one of them..... Did you report your symptoms to the FDA (Food & Drug Admin.) or any other group? No What specific products(s) containing aspartame were you consuming when you experienced these symptoms? Diet Pepsi On the average, what quantity were you consuming (how often, how much each time, etc.): I would consume 3-6 cans per day. On the weekends, I could go through a whole two liter in one day without any problem. I was craving that stuff. How long had you been consuming these products before you experienced the symptoms? I started consuming Diet Pepsi when I was about 19 or 20. The symptoms didn't start until I was about 24 or 25. That I could tell. They came on so slowly until they all came to a head all at once just recently and now I'm 36. FOR THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT WEIGHT: Did you begin using products with aspartame when you began a restricted calorie diet? I always used lite pancake syrup. Aunt Jemima light or Hungry Jack Light. Besides chewing gum...Extra. Did you use aspartame products only for some of your meals to save calories? Yes Did aspartame seem to help you lose weight at first? I've never been overweight. I've always been healthy with a good BMI. What were the long term weight loss effects of using aspartame. It seems that over the past 3 years I've gained 20 pounds slowly and it's stabled at 150. I couldn't seem to lose it. We'll see what happens now that I'm off Diet Pepsi for good. [update] From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 8:45 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: RE: aspartame Mark, Thank you for your e-mail. I just want you to know I feel like a different person now. I have detoxed my system with vitamins and French green clay (I read Dr. Janet Starr-Hull's Detox book). I have found that I am a morning person. It's unbelievable. No more fog, no more depression or anxiety. I get out of bed feeling good in the morning, not like I have a hangover and sluggish. Out of all the symptoms I listed below, the only ones remaining are: My hair is still thinning, but not as bad. It is improving with the vitamins. I was depleted in selenium. I've lost 10 pounds, I think a lot of it was bloat. My shoes are all too big for my feet and I can actually see my ankles for the first time in years. I feel great. I had Jell-O at a reception not too long ago and later that day I had heart palpitations, my feet were cramping, and I felt awful all night. I found the Jell-O was sugar free. I avoid the stuff like the plague and I have to ground my 15 yr old son for chewing juicy fruit! Not smoking or doing drugs or anything bad like that, but for chewing gum that is not sugar free but contains aspartame. Too sad! Short term memory has dramatically improved. I am getting better at finding words, but would like to see more improvement in that area. I'm sure with time and continued supplements I will improve. ----------------- By: Nutrition Counselor and Fitness Consultant Subject: Engineered Foods: Are meal replacement products good for you? Website: http://www.allyourstrength.com/nutrition_0802MRP.html .... I can also speak on a personal level about aspartame. Once I weaned myself from it, which took six months, my lingering depression vanished. My short-term memory drastically improved. .... ------------------------- The Wendy Williams Experience Forum Index -> Wendy Williams Experience Public Forum http://www.thewendywilliamsexperience.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=102&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 Maria Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 11:17 am Post subject: CAUTION TO ALL DIET SODA DRINKERS LISTEN YA'LL. Over the past week, I have been detoxing from serious toxic posining from the Aspatame in Diet Soda. I was drinking Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi 2-3 times a day for 3 weeks and I had the following symptoms: Blurry vision, left side of face hurting, burning traveling mass moving from left side of upper back to left brest and chest area, pinching and feeling like something is crawling under the skin in my legs, ankles, feet and the back of my arms, increased cellulite on thighs, weight gain, lower back pain and spinal acheyness. All of these symptoms happend to me over a 3 week period and I think I had an extreme reaction because I never drunk diet soda before in my life. The scariest thing was when I felt something moving up my spinal cord and then blow up and burst like a bubble in the back of my neck then all I felt was heat traveling to the bottom of my BRAIN. I went to the dentist, OB/GYN and the my PCP and they all found nothing! My PCP tried to tell me that it was "all in my head" so I took my life into my own hands and thought about everything I had eaten in the past few weeks. The only thing new and different was those damn Diet Pepsi's. So I went on-line and began to do research on the dangers of Diet Soda. Basically I found out that when the Aspatame (artificial sweetner) hits your body and the temparature is greater then 86.7 degrees, it changes its composition to FORMIC ACID. Formic Acid is what FIRE ANT'S VENOM is. It further breaks it down into Fermeldahyde. Isn't that a chemical they use in removing paint or preserving dead bodies at funerals? I can't remember? But this is crazy. And all of this effects the nervous system in a toxic way, which is why I was feeling the pinches and burning etc. There are dozens of websites that give you the symptoms of Aspatame poisining and the ones I described above are just a few. Some people have reported tumors in the neck, breast, and BRAIN. I went to have a colonic on Monday and as I laid on the table on my back, there was so much acid raising to my throat that there was a smokey fog coming out of my mouth. I was forced to lay on my side and cough it out. Fortunately, I am into a lot of herbal things and I now a Medicine man in harlem from Ghana. I went to see him on Wedensday evening and began doing what he told me and talking the things he recommended. I want everybody to know, especially women because we get brain washed by commercials and what other women do to loose weight. Diet Sodas make you fatter and crave more carbohydrates. I know I felt something going on with my ovary, so if you are a women, and having issues with fertility, mensturation etc, look at your diet and see if it is due to some product you are consuming that contains this deadly poison. I still feel little pulses going on, but I feel much better then I did last week My medicine man friend saved my life again. The first time was when I caught Malaria when I came from Africa in 1999. (And you know, there is no cure for Malaria). So, love yourself and tell everyone to stop drinking poison diet soda!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and this is what he told me to do: Eat: cucumbers/yellow and green squash raw spinich Mineral: You have to see him for the liquid minerals. 1 cup of 2 bottles every morning. 1 teapoon of choraphyll 3x's a day. 1 teaspoon of apple cycle vinger 2x's a day. 1 cup of Daily Detox Tea (apple/Cinnamon) 2x's a day Put ground Flax Seeds in everything I eat. And drink 2 gallons of distilled water a day. Juice: 1 green/yellow apple 1 stalk of celery 1 beet root 1 bunch of parsley (alternate) ginger/garlic 1 3 inch slice Maybe this is why everyone is getting cancer. My father has Prostate and Colon Cancer and he was a Equal addict forever!!!! My mother died 5 years ago of Cardiac issues and she was addicted to Sugar-Free Jello (which has artifical sweetner in it) before she passed, one day, she just stopped walking. That's what it was. It all makes scense now. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND DON'T FEED YOUR KIDS THESE SWEETNERS EITHER BECAUSE IT MAY BE WHATS CAUSING ATTENTION DEFECIT DISORDER, ETC. As other people post, I will post the URL's so you can go to the websites for more detailed information if you still don't believe that this stuff is poison. PEACE ------------------- UKCultivator > The Chill Out Room > General Chat http://ukcultivator.biz/showthread.php?t=10174&page=4&pp=10&highlight=white coca cola/soft drink, drinkers, chewing gum chewers, read this for better health 25th March 2005, 12:20 PM frobisher's Avatar frobisher frobisher is offline ASPARTAME = poison. Worried about the amount of sugar I was consuming I switched to Lite/Max sugar free type colas. Within an hour of drinking a can of Pepsi Max I would get a headache, took me a while to work out what was causing them. Blaming VDU screen, to much weed the night b4, etc. Feel so much better for ditching anything with aspartame in. Water is the way forward . . . ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 2:15 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame It is amazing how many of the symptoms mentioned on your website I can relate to, memory loss, floaters, chronic fatigue, dizziness, numbness, depression. Up until July 2004, I had been consuming Aspartame products for 20 years (I'm 36 now), pop, yogurt, gum, you name it. It was only when I started waking up at night with my legs and arms numb feeling completely paralysis, did I realize something needed to be done. I had been to the Dr.s complaining about some gradual numbness in my limbs, she ran a gamut of tests with no visible results, but prescribed me a arthritis type medication for relief anyways. Only when the medication provided no relief and the Dr. had ran out of test, I turned to the web and started doing my own research and was astonished at the amount people complaining about similar symptoms and relating them all to Aspartame poisoning. Within a few weeks of totally eliminating Aspartame from my diet the numbness in my limbs went away, but I still have frequent severe headaches, memory loss and occasional dizziness. Why is it Dr.'s don't ask or mention the possibility of Aspartame consumption? And with all of this compounding information related to Aspartame poisoning, how can this product still be on the market? .... ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 10:21 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Breastfeeding Dear Mark, I may have missed it, but I have not seen anything on the web so far about NutraSweet inhibiting breastmilk production. Only my sister and I have noticed that drinking diet drinks while breastfeeding decreases milk supply, almost immediately. Within the same day of drinking more than one diet drink, our milk supply will go down. If you know of sources on the web that talk about this and if you have time, please e-mail the link to me. If not, please get something going. I am passionate about breastfeeding and I meet mother after mother who "didn't make enough milk" despite having done the usual things to increase milk production. I myself had problems once I started drinking diet drinks, but found that the elimination of NutraSweet or other artificial sweeteners almost immediately brought milk production back up to what it was before. ----------------------- To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Subject: Personal Aspartame Story - Seizures Date: 12:31 PM 8/30/2004 Betty, I've sent this in before but I'm not sure that I sent it to this site or to you. My daughter, Xxxxxxxx, had Petit Mal or absence seizure from the time she was about 3. Another child born to her aunt had seizure from birth. Xxxxxxxx's seizures, and her cousin's seizures, were controlled with medication until Xxxxxxxx was about 12 or 13. By that time she had begun to have a Grand Mal seizure per month in conjuction with her menstrual cycle. Gradually she started having more and more Grand Mal seizures, Petit Mal seizure, complex partial seizures, seizures of every kind. This was just about the time products with Nutrasweet were released into the market. Being a teen-aged girl, naturally she watched her weight, as did I, and we both drank only diet soft-drinks. By the time Xxxxxxxx was 17, she was having between 150 and 200 seizures in a 24-hour day. She had a partial right-frontal lobotomy at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx hospital to remove the focal point of the seizures and, hopefully, control them. Her doctor, Dr. Michael S., said the portion of her brain that they removed didn't even have obvious grooves any longer due to the number and strength of the seizure she'd been having for so long. To our dismay, the surgery did not stop the seizures. It did slow them down initially. Then we watched as they began to escalate again. During all this time, she continued to use products with Nutrasweet. We had no idea of any connection. Finally, when she was about 20, she entered the drug trials for Lamictal. For the first time, she was taking a drug that offered some seizure control without sedating her. (She'd been taking 185 mg of phenobarbitol per day WITH 700 mg of dilantin.) When I asked her doctor how this medication was different than the rest in it's mechanism, he just told me I wouldn't understand. By this time the internet was now generally available, so I looked the drug up there. I found that among other things the drug prevented the uptake of ASPARTATE, which is the metabolized form of aspartic acid. I called Dr. Smith to ask him in what way aspartate was related to Aspatame. Again he dismissed by saying that just because the words were alike, didn't mean the drugs were. Well, I'm a mechanical engineer and had 4 years of Latin language. I knew that if the names were similar there was a reason. So I continued to research and began coming up with all of these horrible stories. Worse yet, I found that the executives at Searle, and subsequently at Monsanto, knew about the potential dangers, especially to those who already had epilepsy or a genetic inclination to it. They'll have to stand before God one day and answer for this evil they perpetrated, for money, against their fellow human beings. I immediately took all products that might possibly contain Nutrasweet away from Xxxxxxxx. Her seizures stopped that week. She remained on Lamictal, but she was able to get off Dilantin and Phenobarb. We did have to add Topamax to the Lamictal but she's living a much better life than previously. The surgery affected her short term memory, her cognitive ability, and her developmental functioning. She's now 30 and she's living in a residential facility about 90 miles west of Chicago. It took me a long time to let her go but she's much happier there, more independent and living her own life. However...before her seizures began to escalate so drastically, she was a year ahead of her age-peers in math and reading. She was an exceptionally bright and talented child, attending a special school for children gifted in the arts. Now her IQ is 74 and functionally she's reached an age-level of about 17. We don't know how much farther she will progress. And it's a huge credit to her courage, strength of character, and personal determination that's she's come this far. I won't say that Nutrasweet, Searle, and Monsanto ruined her life because she's made her life over with purpose and grace and courage. I just can't help but wonder what her life would have been like if she'd never tasted the stuff. She'd have epilepsy, yes, but we would have been able to control the seizures right from the beginning. She'd have been able to finish high school, gone on to college, have a career, a marriage, children, drive a car. None of this will ever be now. I'm grateful to God that she's accomplished what she has. I work hard not to dwell too much on what might have been. Ultimately, we're all in the hands of God and I have to believe there's a reason for what happened to her. Her doctor has subsequently become a believer and now tells all his patients not to touch Nutrasweet. None of us ever should. It's poison for everyone. I hope you nail not just the companies, but the executives as well. They bear a personal responsibility for their decisions and it's time they were made to accept that responsibility. Based on the people who've died and been crippled for life, they're guilty of manslaughter at the least. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 11:57 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: apartame My experience with aspartame started about 3 years ago. As a cyclist and avid athlete I was looking for a way to keep my weight down during the winter months when I was not riding. I started drinking Diet Dr. Pepper because I saw it as a way to eliminate a lot of calories from my diet, as I liked to drink pop all day. That is when I started to feel exausted all the time. At the end of the work day I would go home and fall asleep immediately after I got home. I would sleep about 3 hours, wake up and eat then go to bed. The next day I would wake up feeling absoulutely exausted. Like I hadn't slept at all. The whole school year went by and I was in a daze. I felt like a zombie and the whole day felt almost like an out of body experience. My training that summer was aweful. My performance was poor, I had terrible problems with body aches on my bike, and I continued to be tired all the time. After a year and a half of living like this I read an article about some reported side effects of aspartame. I quit drinking diet pop and within a week I was feeling a tremendous difference in the way I felt. I have no longer had any problems with fatigue and I happy to say my bike riding is coming back into top form. ------------------- http://homesteadingtoday.com/vb/showthread.php?t=43196 Homesteading Today > Homesteading > Homesteading Questions A giant thanks for saving my life 03-22-2004, 09:40 PM hoosierwife because I was SERIOUSLY ill and doctors didn't have a clue. They knew it seemed a lot like lupus, MS, fibromyalgia, or a degenerative disease, accompanied by extreme fatigue, memory loss, brain fog, and depression. I am not a person who was ever depressed! Farm woman, for heaven's sakes, too busy to be depressed, but gradually got really, really bad. Felt toxic, poisoned, hands tingled and went numb, could not climb up or down stairs except at a pace rivaling my 103 year old grandma (she probably could have beat me on a flat stretch). So after no idea from various docs, I remembered a post a couple of years ago about the dangers of diet soda. I was a diet Pepsi-aholic!!!!! Would have 4 to 6 of them a day! And gaining weight with it, too. Anyway, after searching the net for articles about diet pop, found I might have just as well gone over to the funeral home and asked them to pour me a big glass of formaldehyde, and then throw in some wood alcohol, and then drank that!!!! (also NutraSweet, another name for aspartame) Within a week of quitting completely, I was much better, and now it's a month later and life is so much better. I didn't realize how sick I was until I quit, just knew I felt totally awful and couldn't even remember what it ever felt like to be energetic or healthy. For a visual methphor, those of you who know what a tractor pull is like? I was like the tractor when they've piled another ton of concrete blocks onto the sledge - slower, slower, stopped. I now tell everyone I know to run far away from it - it'll kill you. And to those who think they can't give it up, like I did (I lived for the stuff, it got me going in the morning, perked up my day, etc.) it is not hard at all once you realize what it has done to you. Especially dangerous for diabetics. Go to these websites for info: http://www.321recipes.com/aspartame.html or http://www.anxietypanic.com/aspartame.html or http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html So THANK YOU to whoever posted about this, you are a life-saver!!!!! ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 1:51 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Nutrasweet Reaction Dear Mr. Gold; I came across your email address on holisticmed.com asking about Nutrasweet reactions. I believe this is what was happening with me. I have had some serious symptoms, sent to numerous specialists and found nothing, the only factor that improvement my symptoms was a pregnancy where I did not consume Nutrasweet. After nursing my baby I returned to drinking diet soda and my symptoms came back just as before. They got so bad one night my MD thought I was having a stroke. Do you have any information on how to definitely tell if you are having a Nutrasweet reaction. I have vowed to never touch the stuff but my husband is a diabetic and many sugar-free foods contain it so we are trying to avoid as many processed foods as possible for him. [update] From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 3:05 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Re: Nutrasweet Reaction Dear Mark, Wow, thanks for replying. Yes, I eliminated Nutrasweet and I noticed a big improvement. I'd say it was coincidence but the few times I have tried it thinking maybe it was coincidence I ended up with migraines and muscle spasms so now I am convinced. My husband has not really found anything to replace it since Nutrasweet or sucralose are the main sweeteners in many commercial products for diabetics but he has changed his diet to reduce the amount of artificially sweeted items. This has greatly helped his memory. In fact lately he's remembered things that I had forgotten. What a relief! ------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 3:56 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: artificial sweetener reply Finally, I have found others who feel like I do! I had numerous stomach problems about 8 years ago, and could not figure out the source of it. I finally self-diagnosed that it was the artificial sweeteners because nearly everything I consumed that was not fresh fruits/vegetables/meat was sweetened artificially because I was calorie-conscious. I went to the doctor, and consulted my family and friends - and no one believed me! To this day, I'm not sure they entirely believe me. But indeed, on my own, I figured out that when the ingredients contain things like phenylalanene, phenylketonourics, aspartame, Nutrasweeet, even Splenda, it makes me so sick. I get so bloated that I feel and almost look like I'm pregnant. I feel lethargic and gross. I think it's akin to what lactose intolerant people experience...but worse. Artificial sweeteners are bad news! I'm confident that sometime in the future, this will come out. Unfortunately for now, the companies that produce it are hand in hand with the FDA and it continues to be in so many products you would never even suspect - like sushi rolls at Trader Joe's! I always have to read all the ingredients, and only shop at stores like Whole Foods Market. Thanks for making this information available. It is reassuring to know there are others just like me! ------------------------- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/message/17302 From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx Date: Sun Aug 29, 2004 6:56 pm Subject: My first confirmed save! About 3 weeks ago, I related to a co-worker (actually we work different shifts, but cross paths often) my story of how seizures from aspartame ruined my professional life.(I was a driver) He confessed to me that he drank rather prodigious amounts of Diet Croak, and, yes, he had frequent headaches and soreness in his arms and shoulders. Thankfully, I was convincing enough to talk him into stopping his intake, at least for 2 weeks, and let me know what happens. I finally had my first chance to talk to him today. He admitted the the headaches on the first two days were hellish (the dreaded chemical withdrawals) but, thank God, he stuck it out. Now he has no headaches or joint pain, and he thanked me profusely for telling him about this poison. In return,I made him promise to pass the word wherever he could. I have to admit, as I type this, I'm on such an incredible natural high for improving somebody's quality of life. It definitely makes the dozens of people I tell my horror story to well worth it! As that old commercial says,"you tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends, and so on, and so on ..." P.S. Don't forget to warn them about Neotame! --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, September 17, 2004 2:43 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame First, I wanted to thank you for your web site and all the interesting entries. I have had a symptom I call "floatiness" - it's not quite vertigo but as I walk along all of a sudden I will feel as if I'm going up on a wave, like riding a wave at the beach. A kind of lifting up feeling. It is specific to this product which I no longer use. I found your site when I wanted to look up Sucralose... now I'm afraid of it also. I have a friend who has ended up in the hospital twice with an electrolyte imbalance -- perhaps due to diet soda pop. He has collapsed and then recovers in about a day or two in the hospital. No one ever asked if aspartame was the culprit. I have also heard of someone who was terribly unfocused in thinking and talking who was able to recover in about three months... like a different personality! ------------------ To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame itching Date: 11:17 AM 8/24/2004 Over the last 4 years I have had a severe body itch with no rash, while dieting and drinking 4-6 cans of diet soda daily, which contains aspartame. I have spent thousands of dollars on blood tests and doctors trying to find the cause of the itch. I have stopped drinking all of those beverages and other products with aspartame in them and my itch quickly vanished. Please do what you can to make the medical community and public aware of the awful problems aspartame causes. ----------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 3:06 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET I would just like to add to the million of other people who have suffered from the use of aspartame that I, too had symptoms. My sister told me to begin a carb-diet, therefore, encouraging me to drink diet sodas. I started off drinking Diet Dr. Pepper on a Thursday. Then I bought some Diet Caffeine-Free Sierra Mist soda on Friday and enjoyed 3 cans of the soda. Saturday, I again had 3 cans of the Sierra Mist. By Sunday, I had 2 cans and around 7pm, I began to get a migrane headache (I get migranes and even have medication for my headaches). I decided to go to bed instead of taking any medication - - just to sleep off the headache. By 1am, I was thirsty and went downstairs to get a Diet Caffeine-Free Sierra Mist. I had a few swallows downstairs before going back upstairs. As I was heading up the stairs, I became disoriented and my head hurt terribly. My headache was back just that quick. I told my husband about my headache and laid back down to sleep it off. By 4am, I had to run to the bathroom as I had diarrhea. Then I began to gag as if to throw-up, but nothing would come up (I thought it was my acid-reflux flaring up). I gagged for about 5 minutes and my stomach was burning. After that, my heart was palpitating rapidly. My husband didn't know what to do. I felt terribly and all I could do was call work and tell them I wouldn't be in and tried to nurse myself back to health. It was after 12-noon on Monday that I realize that it was the soda that had made me feel so horrible. Likewise, they need to take this aspartame as well as acesulfame potassium off the market as soon as possible. Just take all products made with this stuff off the market. It's not something I'd give to a child or an elder for fearful of death. With the headaches, diarrhea, heart palpitations and gagging, this is nothing to fool around with. I'm just glad I didn't drink anymore and glad my husband still has a wife ... otherwise he'd be suing the pants off the makers of this product. TAKE IT OFF THE MARKET!!! ------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 4:34 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame I sufferred sudden heart arrythmia. The cause was 2 packs of nutrasweet in my coffee 2x per day for a month. My doctor said my heart was healthy, however 6-8 x per day my heart would skip beats. When I stopped the nutrasweet my skipped beats went away. I get a skipped beat once every 2 months now instead of 6-8 daily ---------------------------- OverTheRhine.COM -- Orchard > OverTheRhine.COM > General Chatter http://www.overtherhine.com/orchard/index.php?showtopic=1678&st=100 Subject: Starbucks Anonymous, Coffee Culture (is it culture?) xxxxxxxxxx Aug 29 2004, 09:40 AM QUOTE (DustyVolume @ Aug 29 2004, 09:08 AM) Turns out Nutra sweet or more correctly, Aspertame, or Phenylalinine, is the culprit. Aspertame KILLS neuron connections in your brain. Thus causing short term memory loss, headaches, on down the line. I don't ever drink or eat anything that has Aspertame in it, it causes me to have migraines and dizziness. Plus, I think it tastes terrible, anyway, I have heard that it stimulates appetite so if you are dieting that is the last thing you want to happen. --------------------- BrainTalk Communities - Sweetener may contribute to obesity http://brain.hastypastry.net/forums/showthread.php?t=4956 04-08-2004, 09:28 AM Location: England, UK I find that a certain sweetener ( Asp******) - I do not want to be taken to court- causes me to have cystitis, so I avoid all sweeteners when possible. --------------------------- Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2004 10:35:13 -0500 From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.gov Subject: Re: A testimony to be shared from one of our own EPA co-workers. I've been reading all these articles and I've started to limit my use of Aspartame.....no more in my coffee and only one diet drink a day. The fluttering of my heart which use to occur frequently through the day when I used Aspartame daily,sent me to a cardiologist for numerous tests earlier this month. Luckily, my heart is o.k. but I was told......since I have panic attacks.....I was experiencing one when I had chest pain and fluttering of my heart. That is not true. I was sitting on my couch w/ my puppy watching a movie. However, I had drank alot of coffee w/aspartame that a.m. and was drinking tea sweetened w/aspartame when I had chest pain and my heart began to flutter and hurt. Since I have limited my use of Aspartame in the last three weeks......my heart does not flutter and I have not had chest pain either. Testimony - xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx, yes, you may certainly share this with anyone you wish. I am so grateful for all the information you have shared with me. I hope my short declaration was clear as I wrote it in such a hurry. Something else I thought you might be interested in........I saw my Internal Medicine physician yesterday and shared this information with him (e.g. my limiting or stopping the use of Aspartame in my diet) and he was amazed that my heart symptoms had disappeared. Then he told me he had a patient that if she drank even one diet drink or anything with Aspartame in it, she immediately passed out within minutes of consuming the product. I'm a believer. Thank you xxxxxx. I am now spreading the word about the dangers of Aspartame. Have a great day. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 12:58 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: I wrote too soon, after reading the last entry.... "Last year, my health felt like it was going down hill in general. I had abdominal pains, acid reflux, and worse, my neck started making a "Grinding" sound when I turned it!!! I have had the same exact symptoms for the last 4 years, I attributed my acid reflux from caffiene, but I would comsume diet products with caffiene. When I stay away from these types of drinks I am fine. My abdominal pains I have been experiencing lately. A burning at times accompanied with diarea. And my neck grindes all the time. I actually can grack my neck without force, by just turning it. I feel that if I crack it it will ease my head strain. I went to a chiropractor for it, thinking that had something to do with my headaches. I will stop comsuming aspartame completely. Yikes! [update....] From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 10:14 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Re: Aspartame It has been three weeks since I stopped consuming aspartame products. My memory is clearer, I do not crave food as much as I did, and I am having regular bowel movements. -------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx To: bettym19@mindspring.com Subject: Aspartame Date: 03:31 PM 8/9/2004 I have four children. I drank diet Coke mildly during the first pregnancy, very heavily during the second pregnancy--no consumption of aspartame during the last two pregnancies. I read the warning on the side of the cans and asked my ob/gyn if aspartame was safe to consume during pregnancy. He said yes. My oldest has a heart condition (MVP) as well as asthma. My second daughter has epilepsy. I stopped using aspartame when I read a report about seizures in lab monkeys when given aspartame. Since I stopped using aspartame, my hair stopped falling out and I feel better than I have for years. My older sister also stopped drinking diet drinks. Her hair stopped falling out and she says she also feels better healthwise. I have contacted you in the past (some years ago) but I was just learning about the danger of aspartame. It makes me angry to finally realize that my family has been poisoned with the approval of the FDA. I hope aspartame is taken off the market but when money talks, a lot of time integrity is pushed aside. -------------------- Re: aspartame causes many problems! http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040704/msgs/364032.html Posted by xxxxxxx on July 8, 2004, at 11:38:56 In reply to Bipolar II and avoiding aspartame, posted by sac on July 8, 2004, at 9:27:50 It's hard to say how Aspartame will affect you. After drinking the "NEW Diet Coke" many years ago I began to feel strange. I had tremors at times and began to feel weak when I hadn't eaten recently. I was diagnosed with Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and placed on a special diet. A year later I still had similar problems but they had worsened (if I didn't eat something every 2 hours I was a mess). I went to an endocrinologist to confirm my diagnosis, he concurred. 8 years later I went on a real diet finally giving up Diet Coke and Aspartame. Within a week and a half ..ALL.. my symptoms disappeared. I haven't had anything containing Aspartame since, nor have I had those symptoms return. I drink Coke Classic now. My advice... avoid Aspartame aka Nutra Sweet. PS A symptom of low blood sugar can be mood swings which I also had occasionally back then. ----------------------- Bipolar II and avoiding aspartame http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040704/msgs/363987.html Posted by xxxx on July 8, 2004, at 9:27:50 After a five year struggle with what was diagnosed as Bipolar II and various failed trials with mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics I was finally fed up. I had read many times about aspartame causing mood problems but I suppose I was in denial since I was a 5-6 can a day diet coke addict. I couldn't imagine something so seemingly benign as aspartame could be causing my downward spiral with regard to mood instability over the past several years. It has only been one week since I quit ingesting aspartame and my moods are completely stable! I am taking it one day at a time to make sure I am not jumping to any conclusions but I really believe that this is significant. Has anybody else experienced this? ---------------------------- http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=80414&whichpage=2 xxxx Posted - 13/05/2004 : 22:00:03 United Kingdom I used aspartame in large quantities for 6 years mainly in the form of diet soft drinks, usually at least a 2 litre bottle a day of diet coke. I recently had to stop because of dizziness and balance loss which lasted for two weeks, when i stopped drinking diet drinks and switched to drinking water on the suggestion of someone i met in a chatroom my balance loss and dizziness cleared up within three days. I thought this was probably a coincidence so about two weeks later i started drinking diet drinks again, the next day all my previous symptoms returned. I have never touched aspartame since. ------------------------ http://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50518 Location: Greensboro, NC 11-27-2003, 12:59 PM xxxxx I had been using products with aspartame to help me cut down on calories and lose weight. I had been using those products for a couple years and didn't seem to be having any problems. Then I started having a lot of trouble with joint stiffness. Someone pointed me to information about aspratame and it's bad effects. It talked about having some effects that caused arthritis like symptoms. I stoped using it, and after some time the stiffness went away. Not being able to use that was disappointing ~ it was such a great help in lowering the calories. .... --------------------- http://www.lhj.com/lhj/dgroups/viewThread.jhtml?forum=794&thread=7312829 Subject: Excema and dry skin patches Posted by: xxxxxxx Date: Jun 24, 2004 10:08 AM Message #6735704 Hi. I just want to post this as I think I have found a solution to the dry itchy skin that I was having on my arms, and want to put the info out there so it might help others. I had never had excema before, so it was really bothering me, as I know it's effected a lot of you out there too. I have recently looked into aspartame, the artificial sweetener, and have found that there are many levels of reations to it, one of which is excema and/or increased dryness of the skin. On this note, I have cut out EVERYthing with aspartame in it: diet sodas, lo-cal everything, and including my childrens' Flinstone's vitamins (why they put it in kids vitamins I'll never know)! Well, my dry patches are going away, the itchiness is leaving, and the skin on my arms is getting SOFT and clear again. The thing is, in layman's terms, it seems that aspartame is tackled by your liver, which works hard to handle this kind of odd molecule created by man, and then your overworked liver doesnt handle other things as well. Your liver is directly related, of course, to your other organs and glands, and so your thyroid can be effected (hypo-thyroidism), which can cause you to have weight gain (even tho you're eating all diet foods!--Catch22)! There are tons of websites about the harms that aspartame can do, and then one big website by the aspartame producers who say that "nothing is proven and so leave us alone". This topic is huge, and I dont think that I have done it justice, but I wanted to let you all know to maybe do a little research and see if this is for you. I'm usually not very political, but I think that this is HUGE, from everything I've read, and you might want to try to cut out all products for 2-4 weeks and see if this is for you too! So, lol and have a great day! ------------------------ All Forums A.B.C.D... Selected Forums Newsletter Archive Re: 13: My Personal Experience, Healing Multiple Sclerosis http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=83&i=36 Subject: Re: 13: My Personal Experience, Healing Multiple Sclerosis From: xxxxxxxx Date: 7/16/2002 11:41:00 AM Karlen, in 1995, I too was diagnosed with MS. My Neurologist ordered an MRI, which came back CLEAR, which surprised everyone. Continuing to try and convince my I had MS, my Dr. said I was one of the 5% of people whose MS does not show up on MRIs. After my "diagnosis", I was poking around in a junk store one day and found an article in a 1960 issue of "Life" magazine. It was written by a Doctor, and was about Aspartame. I was in school that year, and the furnace was not working right so we'd all sit in class and freeze. When school would let out, I'd go back to the apt. and study and drink HOT COCOA, lacing it with ASPARTAME!! I'd consume several cups over the course of the afternoon of study. SEVERAL. When I read that article, I was just stunned. I IMMEDIATELY stopped all ASPARTAME consumption, and my symptoms ceased. At once. My neurologist never even asked me what I was eating/drinking. He could see the crippling effects of MS, and that was all he looked at. Using ASPARTAME will cause symptoms that will mimic MS, and that was what was happening to me. Later on, I found that the inventor of ASPARTAME was horrified to find out that his product was being used for human consumption. He intended it for use in anti-freeze. I've since realized too, that healthy people don't need Doctors or Drug companies. Why should they want us healthy? --------------- http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=156088 July 18th, 2004, 10:56 AM xxxxxxxx the stuff is poisen. it causes me RLS. I drank that stuff from the age of 16 to 40 or maybe a little older. and too, when I did drink it, I could only drink pepsi or coke (diet) not all the off brands. I'd get a headache in my eyes that was horrid. nothing would help the pain till it left. I wont touch it now. --------------------------- http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=156088 July 18th, 2004, 03:06 PM xxxxxxxxx I also got bad headaches when I used to drink diet pepsi and my heart would beat really hard. I heard a guy on the radio say that brain tumors have increased 6x times nutra sweet came on the market, but scientists were trying to blame it on cell phones. He said that a lot of these tumors were in children who didn't use cell phones. This guy also said if you feed your kids more than 2 hotdogs a week it puts them at a larger risk for leukemia... FYI... --------------------- From: Bob [xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx] Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 10:16 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: I need to submit this to you.. I'm a 36 year old male, that has been in very very good health my entire life. About 2 years ago I started using Aspartame quite regularly, and ever increasing my usage of it. Drinking in upwards of 5+ cans of diet soda per day. Last year, my health felt like it was going down hill in general. I had abdominal pains, acid reflux, and worse, my neck started making a "Grinding" sound when I turned it!!! Doctor after doctor examined me, did batteries of tests, and found nothing wrong. I had a CAT Scan of my abdominal region, and nothing was found. Blood work was all normal. I went to 3 different chiropractors about my neck for a period of time, and nothing helped! Then my mom, convinced me to stop using Aspartame, that it might be causing my health issues, so I quit using it cold turkey about 2+ months ago, and i'm writing you today, to tell you that *ALL* of my chronic problems are gone.. The neck grind is gone, acid reflux is gone, and i've not had the chronic abdominal pains for several weeks - thats the first time i've not had the pain for more than a DAY... I feel I was poisoned by it, and my body is finally recovered from it, at least symptom wise. I'm unsure of the long term effects this will have on my body, but its clear I was POISONED by it, and i'm *NOT* a happy camper right now. How would YOU feel if something thats supposed to be safe, is poisoning your body? I feel as if someone tried to murder me, thats how angry this makes me. GET OFF ASPARTAME NOW if you have *ANY* health problems and use it. I'm convinced, it worked for me, now i'm mostly recovered I think, and lets hope nothing long term comes of this. PS: I ran across this website because I wanted to see if there was anyone else that found out they were being poisoned, and i'm shocked at the amount of people that are posting here! --------------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx To: Subject: [Aspartame Support] (unknown) Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2004 11:41 AM Hello I am a newcommer. My name is Mike G and I am an aspartameaholic. I am amazed that I am still alive. I have been all over the web latley and am greatful for the help that I have received. My eyes are now open. I have been on ASP since the beginning. I started drinking diet coke and pepesi in the late 70's and continued up until July 4th 2004. I was a teenager when I started to drink diet soda because the regular soda made my face break out in pimples. I never drank it for the diet effects. I have always been slim but acquired a taste for it over the years. I am currently 41 years of age. I figure I have been poisened for over 21 years. My unexplained medical problems began in the mid 80's. I was hospitalized for urinary retention, neurological problems, Heart Pains and as things progressed into the mid 90's I was seen for psychological problems. Neurologists,Urologists and general practicioners could never explain the problems I was uncountering. They said it was stress related. I thought it was brain damage. I had multiple MRIs, EEGs, EkGs, CT Scans, kidney probes, spinal taps and many other various tests with no explaination other than "it is stress related." Psychistrists told me I sufferd from Chronic Generalized Anxiety/Panic Disorder and depression. I sure as hell did, because I was now drinking diet code and pepsi by the case. What is worse is by the late 90's I aquired a taste for warm diet cola and started drinking my coffee with flavored creamer and equal. I kept diet soda in my car, garage and under my desk at work year round and took it everywhere I went. I estimate my average intake of caffine free diet soda was 128 ounces a day (I drank 32 ounce plastic bottles) plus 4 to 10 cups of decaf coffee a day. I gave up caffine in the mid 90 because I thought it was part of the problem and it did exagerate my anxiety, panic and phobias. I drank more coffee in the cooler months and more diet soda in the warmer months. I have lived in Virginia Beach since 2000 and lived in San Diego for the most part of my adult life. I do not feel like I have had much of an adult life because I have been in a deep depression riddled with panic and anxiety for a large part of it. I cannot even drive my auto on the highway because of phobias. I just wanted to feel normal, ever since I can remember. I have also had many medical problems that could not be explained. I lost almost all faith in doctors. I did however manage to strengthen my relationship with God. I prayed last Monday morning (July 5th) for God to lead me to the cause of my unexplained problems. I assume He decided to answer "Yes." I was on the internet looking at Panic Disorder sites and saw a link for Aspartame. I had no idea what it was, but I clicked on it and was amazed by the FDA list of symptoms. Never before had I come across a complete list of my symptoms. Any diagnose made by a doctor only covered part of my symptoms. I was amazed to say the least. I started the 60 day free program straight away. It has only been 8 days now and I am convinced that aspartame was pickling my brain. Every single symptom I have has disapeared or is greatly reduced. I can see light at the end of the tunnel and hope I can drive again on the highway soon, its just a mental thing now, not a chemical thing. No muscle cramps, no restless legs, no insomnia, no heart pains, no panic attacks, no urinary tract problems, no confusion, increaded memory, reduced anxiety, reduced tingling and numbness in my head, reduced depression and that is just to name a few. It is like never before, I feel great! I have many mixed emotion about the state of the government and the health of the nation. Why is everyone so blind....I know it comes down to power and money, but how could you live with yourself.....this is like dropping a NUKE on your own people. I am still learning and have my eyes and ears open. I do not like to take injustices laying down, but It all seems so hopeless. Guess I will stick around and see what happens. ------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Jul 24, 2004 10:11 AM To: newseditorXXXXX@XXXXXXX.xxx Subject: comment on aspartame Dear editor, The report on aspartame confirm the whole story of chronic problems occurring with a great amount of users of this food additive. In our clinic we registered over one hundred cases of serious problems, including convulsive fits, migraine, insomnia, loss of weight , weight gain, loss of vision. The findings confirm entirely the clinical observations of H.J.Roberts, MD, author of the book Aspartame, is it safe? Best regards, xxxxxxxxxx,MD ---------------------------- To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: [Aspartame Support] Aspartame and blood clot question? Pseudotumor cerebri Date: 03:58 PM 7/25/2004 Because I believe that the DVT (blood clot) I have was caused by the Aspartame use! I developed a clot in October of 2003 and was taking Aspartame till April 23, 2004 and as of now I still have some edema on my left leg. I also believe that the Aspartame kept me from healing properly. Normally should heal from a blood clot in six months for me it's been 9 months now, but its getting better. Also as of last week I virtually off Dimox medication to control my head pressure for Pseudotumor Cerebri or Fake Tumor, and I feel great finally! I use to take up to 1000 mg's (about 4 tablets) a day of Dimox! I have been tapering off it! I at about 60 mg's (about a 1/4 of a tablet) a day! I'm going to stop taking it some time this week. God willing I be OK!! The only thing that is bothering me is the edema I have on my leg. And soon that will be gone, god willing. All my Pseudotumor Cerebri symptoms are virtually gone just minor soreness here and there that does not compare to the worst pain I ever felt with headaches, vision problems, dizziness, heartburn, IBS, depression, ringing in the ears, heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, and so on, all gone!!! Thank you for your help. I keep you posted on my PTC (Pseudotumor Cerebri) I think I never had it was only Aspartame disease!!!! PTC has a lot of the symptoms of Aspartame disease, and a lot of doctors are not informed of what Aspartame can do to people, they just missed it with me. ---------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 5:17 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: ex- aspartame user Hi, just want to let you know that I drank diet soda(pepsi) for years, and had headaches for years, assuming they were allergies and migraines with no real cause for concern, I would just pop some motrins and be fine...until I started having tingling in my arms and severe pain grew from that in my left arm to the point that I could not steer my car with it, I could only hold it in my lap and every position hurt.I also had severe memory problems and lightheadedness. I just wanted to cry. I had tests also, I had an MRI, with negative results for MS, which they thought was a possibility with my memory problems and the Vertigo(dizziness) which came and went. I decided to quit drinking Diet Pepsi because I had heard that it can cause such problems and I started feeling much better in less than a month...My arms took several months before they felt normal again and now I can't stand the taste of diet sodas and if I drink even a small amount, I get a headache. So, to all my former docors who would look at me as though there was nothing really wrong and it was in my head, THANKS for nothing! And there was one who thought I might be RIGHT in my assumption that it was the aspartame making me ill, THANK YOU for really listening and not brushing off the idea that something not researched enough or long enough can and does cause illness in people, as it should not have been put on the market until they studied it for a much longer period of time!!! I dont really understand the FDA, and I wish they would be more careful. ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, June 04, 2004 3:23 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Poisoning I was a pilot in the USAF and was drinking a liter of diet pepsi per day for several months and developed daily headaches. I went to my flight surgeon and he told me to get off aspartame as it is toxic to large numbers of the general population. I have been off it since 1990 but if I have even a small amount of nutrasweet, I develop a terrible headache. So does my wife who was on it too. Monsanto must be made to pay for poisoning millions of people. ------------------------------ To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Date: 11:52 AM 7/7/2004 Subject: Re: Hi Eye problems, black spots and floaters and jo... Hello everyone. I just wanted to say it is a year since I came off Aspartame and my black spots and floaters have gone completely, I also had blind attacks and am back to normal now, no headaches & my arthritis is hardly noticeable now but not done any decorating yet. thanks to all the members who contacted me and gave me support from last July 2003. ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 2:23 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Side effects of Aspartame I was trying to lose weight and started drinking the flavored water from Wal-mart. I started getting dizzy spells and felt my strength being zapped from me. I am a very active person and could not figure out what was wrong. I went to the doctor 5 times in one summer trying to figure out what was wrong with me. It was to the point it was affecting my coordination. My left leg would not work right. I lost a whole summer because I just felt horrible. I gained 10lbs. Someone told me about the aspartame side effects so I checked them out on the net. I immediate stop drinking the flavored water within a month or so all of the side effects were gone. The only thing I notice is I have problems with my equilibrium that I never had before this. My ears just don't feel quite right. I believe there was some damage done by the Aspartame. It bad stuff I will never knowing use it again. ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 9:39 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame About a month ago my mother sent me an email warning about the dangers of Aspartame. I believed it to be a usual internet hoax and called my mother to discuss it. After we talked for a while, she asked me what I had to lose by giving up products with aspartame for a while. I did it thinking I would prove that it was a hoax. Then I started researching it on the internet and was overwhelmed by all the sites extolling the poisonous nature of aspartame. I have given up the product. I am no longer tired, I no longer get headaches or chest pains and I have stopped snacking constantly. My fiance has also noted that I am less irritable. This is a truly harmful product and it is frightening that it is so widespread. We, as Americans, need to exercise our right to free speech and work to get this product banned. ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 3:35 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: FW: Aspartame Victim Below is a letter I wrote my doctor regarding aspartame. I thought that I would share this with you. I am a very healthy adult and couldn’t believe the symptoms that I was experiencing. I am 41 years old and very fit. My parents never experienced this chronic pain. Please read below. Thank God that I got a call from my brother. I only drink water and indulge in coffee or tea every once in a while. I will never use any artificial sweetener ever again. Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 3:23 AM To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: I am a patient - here is some info Dear Dr. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxx and I will be coming in for our annual check up in July. I wanted to get the word out on my condition so everyone knows to get people off “Nutrasweet or Aspartame.” Since I have last seen you, I developed fibromyalgia and was in chronic pain. It was horrible. I thought I might be over training at the gym but I was only working out 4 days a week. I started to scale back my workouts until my brother called me one day and told me about the side effects of Aspartame. I got really scared. I thought my aches and pains were due to me getting older, because I was literally shuffling to the bathroom in the morning, like an 80 year old man. Since I have purged all aspartame from my diet, all my pain miraculously disappeared!!!! All the stiffness in my neck, upper and lower back and joints have totally subsided. I am sending you this link, because I think every health professional should be warning their patients about this horrible substance. I will be filing a complaint with the FDA on the effects. I have purged all of this out of my kitchen and refuse to take any artificial sweetener. Since I have stopped this, I have lost 10 pounds and my cravings for carbs (every hour, like a mad woman) are gone. I finally am at the point where I can make wise food choices (where before I was like a ravished wolf) without having this chemical drive me to the cupboard every hour. Here are a couple of links. Please urge all your patients to get educated. (When aspartame is heated to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, it turns to formaldehyde in the body). http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-organizations.html http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-detox.html Just type in sweet poison into any search engine and read. I bet you will find that there are certain patients who can benefit from this. Any headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, grand maul seizures, fibromyalgia, even vision problems and hearing problems. Go check out the list. Anyway, I feel I have a new lease on life!!! I feel back to normal and 20 years old again. I am drinking a ton of water and eating balanced meals with simple carbs. I am happy. Thanks for being such a great doctor!!!! --------------------- http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=233132 Subject: Re: caffeine-free diet coke: hydrating or dehydrating? From: trueparent-ga on 21 Jul 2003 00:37 PDT Please be advised, Aspartame is pure poison. For some reason(s), it appears that governmental corruption has continued to allow this toxic substance on the market. For info untainted by extreme governmental bias, start with the URL: The symptoms of this poisoning are so varied, and so profound, and yet, it's so difficult to know they are from the Aspartame. My personal experience, was that I read an obscure article about Aspartame, stopped drinking the more than a quart a day I sometimes was consuming, and immediately got rid of some really debilitating numbness in my legs. I'm very sure it was doing a lot of other bad things to me, that were not as easy to identify. [continued] http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=threadview&id=233132 Subject: Re: caffeine-free diet coke: hydrating or dehydrating? From: trueparent-ga on 25 Jul 2003 22:43 PDT It's my pleasure, juggler-GA. If you are over a certain age, you tend to believe that government agencies, (i.e. the FDA in this case), are trying to protect you, to the best of their ability. In the case of Apartame, I can hardly believe my eyes, when I see what murder the FDA seems to be getting away with. The FDA has always been bureaucratically heavy-handed, I think, but this appears to be a case of outright, blatant corruption. I did not intend to give any impression that I was improving on your answer, since you already covered the fact of health concerns about Aspartame. But because of my personal experience with Aspartame, and because I feel so incredibly betrayed by the FDA, I had to emphasize what you already covered. ------------------------ To: bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame in prescriptions Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 My little 9yo son takes 4 asthma meds daily. I was noticing horrible behavior issues with him. He is sweet and docile and kind....fights with his siblings....but relatively fabulous. Well. we were trying to figure out why the kid would fly off the handle sometimes. Just get horribly angry. kick things in his way. Very unusual. I told my husband perhaps what we thought was "jsut the way he is" was drug-induced. He's been on lots of meds for years. Perhaps what we thought was normal for him was really the drugs talking. WELL--I looked at his Singulair prescription that he hadn't been taking for long. it was a fairly new prescription for him. That got us wondering how long his outbursts had been going on. Were we just used to them? had they always been this bad? This frequent? Has he always had them or did they jsut start? When you live with something, you don't always see when things start. or remember! The Singulair had ASPARTAME. ooh, I was soo mad! so I switched his Rx to adult pills and I cut them in half. NEW BOY> no more outbursts. Thanks be to God. I was starting to think we had done something wrong. that he'd end of some wife-beating out-of-control nut. I have my baby boy back. Julieb ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 1:14 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame dear mr. gold a friend told me that aspartame was very bad. i didn't quite understand since i thought that diet sodas were calorie free and loaded with caffeine as a stimulant for energy. so i searched the web and came across your site. needless to say, after quitting my daily 3-4 litres of diet coke for 2 days, i have more energy, no longer need 2-3 hour naps, no leg numbness, wake up feeling refreshed and have a clearer mind. i just want to thank you for taking the time to educate people about the harmful side effects of aspartame. you have my support in your cause. ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, June 25, 2004 2:21 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame I had many side effects from using Equal (aspartame). I suffered with migraine headaches daily (previous diet pepsi drinker). I also began to experience lower abdominal pain and I was eventually diagnosed with interstitial cystitis. I did research on aspartame and learned that IC is often complicated by use of aspartame. Sure enough, as soon as I stopped using Equal, all my IC symptoms completely disappeared. Unfortunately, in the last couple of years I have been using Splenda sweetner. I suffered with abdominal bloating, tenderness, weight gain, lethargy, and many other ailments. I had a hysterectomy performed in Nov. 2003 due to the abdominal bloating. I had endomentriosis and adenomyosis along with ovarian cysts. I was assured by my doctor that the hysteretomy would be the end of my ailments. It was not. I continued to gain weight with no explanation. I have spent thousands of dollars on doctors, MRIs, CT scans, x-rays, brain scans, ultrasounds, etc. Ironically, three days ago I stopped using Splenda and today is the first day in years I am pain free. My huge pregnant looking stomach has went down tremendously, I feel alive and energetic. I feel like I am living in someone else's body today! I am convinced these sugar substitutes have been the cause of all my problems. I will never touch anything but real sugar again. I hope this helps you in your studies. -------------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 10:24 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartme I have been reading your website and it is comforting to know I am only one of many, many people who "diagnosed" themselves with an aspartame sensitivity and was correct in this assumption! Many people really seem sceptical when I tell them about the negative effects aspartame has had on my body and mental condition. I have suffered with almost dailey low-grade headaches for years. These headaches would at times become so excruciating I would vomit and be unable to function at all. I also had felt fatigued and at times I would have memory problems, mostly in trying to grasp a word I wanted to use. I decided to stop drinking or eating anything containing artificial sweetners and any alcoholic beverages. I have not had one headache in the last three months except for the two times I ate ice cream containing an artificail sweetner. (That Phenalkaline ? stuff, something like that!) Both times I had low grade headaches the entire day following the ingesting of the ice cream. I have witnessed a drastic improvement in how I feel, even my hair is not dry anymore which is really weird but I wanted to put that in because it was a very noticable change as soon as I kicked my diet soda habit! I wish the general public could be more informed on the toxic effect of this stuff. I have tried Splenda and have not had any side effects from it as it is in a more natural form, as I'm sure you know! I really think we are damaging our children with these supposedly healthy sugar replacements, and are really being misled by the comercials, generally showing a thin woman enjoying herself as she eats a low calorie yogurt laced with toxic aspartame! Then the announcer tells us she's doing something to make herslf more healthy! It is such a scam. I only hope the media will someday start putting this info out there. We really know enough about which politcians smoked what illegal substance when they were in ninth grade! Let's bombard the public with some useful facts for a change! This would hugely improve the condition of a vast number of people suffering from aspartame related symptoms and mis-diagnosis. ---------------- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartame/message/16517 Message 16517 From: "ublala" Date: Tue Feb 17, 2004 3:59 pm Subject: I believe I am a Aspartame Poison Victim Hi I am a new member. I am a 40 year old woman with 3 children ages 17, 4 1/2 and 2 1/2. Here is my story. I have been a heavy diet soda drinker ever since it came out on the market. I was drinking 6-8 cans a day not including stops here and there for a super-sized diet drink at the local fast food restaurant when I was out and about. I also have been consuming foods containing aspartame to try and lose weight forever. About 2 years ago after the birth of my 3rd child I began having heart palpitations, dizziness, chest pains and numbness and tingling going down the left side of my body. I have been to the ER multiple times, I have had EKGs, heart stress tests, MRIs, CTs, ultrasounds, blood tests, etc.. I have seen a Neurologist, ENT, Gastrol (spelling?) doctor, Chiropractor, Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists, dentist. No one could every find anything wrong with me. Oh, wait I did find out I have Reflux, Anxiety Attacks (ya, over worrying about what is wrong with me!) and I am overweight!!! A month ago I decided to start over with a new Family Practice doctor, he told me that I had already been through the "million dollar work up" and that I should feel good to know that there was nothing seriously wrong with me. He said I was having Anxiety Attacks and prescribed Zoloft. I was elated! I finally could blame my symptoms on something! I was willing to accept that this was my problem, because my mother had suffered from depression and anxiety her entire life and it is hereditary. After time, I began to deal with daily life much better, however the tingling and numbness continued in fact it started to get worse, I still would get dizzy out of no where. I would get this pins and needle tingling that started at the top of my head and would cover my entire face and down both sides of my body all the way to my feet. I had been told by friends that it sounded like I had MS. I looked up MS symptoms on the internet and was convinced that I had it. I called my doctor and told him that I wasn't convinced that Anxiety was my problem, he told me to give it time. That same day I went back on the internet and searched for Anxiety Attacks to see if anyone else diagnosed with Anxiety Attacks experienced the same symptoms as I had. I came across the Aspartame articles and read down the 92 symptoms and could not believe how many of them I had and then I found that Aspartame Poisoning mimics many diseases including MS!!!!! I was appalled as I read on and the word "self-emballing" was used. I immediately stopped all asparatame products. It has been almost 3 weeks and my symptoms have not completely gone away, however they are less severe. I am also now finding out that the pains in my neck and shoulder have started to be almost nonexistent...I always thought I was getting arthritis. I have been taking minerals and antioxidants to help my body rid of this awful poison I have been shoving down my throat for more years than I care to say. I am also horrified to find out that I have been doing the same thing to my children. Antiobiotics, Tylenol, Benedryl, Vitamins.... they all contain aspartame!! What are we suppose to give our children!!!! My teenage son has always chewed gum, ate mints, etc... Now I think about everytime he complained about stomach aches and headaches and I would just tell him to "wear a hat", "get more sleep", "eat better". He was probably suffering from the same thing!! I drank tons of caffiene free diet soda while I was pregnant with my last 2 children, they were both born severely anemic and the doctors could not come up with an answer why.... I wonder if it was the aspartame????? I am angry that I have spent all this time worrying and not being the best mom and wife because I have had such terrible mood swings, I've been so tired that it was hard for me to get up and play, I was yelling all of the time and frustrated with life in general when there was no reason to be frustrated. I am most angry about all the money I have spent on doctors trying to find out what was wrong with me. I will tell the world how awful this poison is!!! How can they keep this on the market? I don't understand why it continues when it is obvious so many people are having these symptoms!!! I have one question that I hope someone will answer. Has anyone had the same or similar symptoms as I have, if so how long did it take you to get rid of it, if at all?? [update] Message 16574 From: "ublala" Date: Wed Mar 3, 2004 7:48 pm Subject: 25 Days Aspartame Free Just wanted to give an update. I have been off Aspartame for 25 days now and my symptoms have greatly subsided. I still have a day here and there, had a little relapse a week ago, but am back on track. I still have some tingling on the left side of my face, arm and leg, but nothing compared to how I was before. I actually had no tingling in my cheek for a short time 2 days ago!! The top of my head still feels tingly/heavy like a tight cap is on my head, but not as bad as it was. The only thing that hasn't gone is the ringing in my ears! .... [update] Message 16807 From: "Laurie Marcquenski" Date: Fri Apr 23, 2004 3:25 pm Subject: If you couldn't get to the link .... After stopping diet soda and other diet products, my MS like symptoms are almost non existent. Not too mention the mood swings and depression and anxiety, heart palpitations and chronic headaches I had for years have all subsided. I had every medical test imaginable (MRI's, CTs, EKGs, EGD, ABSCDEF) by neurologists, ENT, etc... no one could find anything wrong with me. However, 90% of my symptoms were MS-like. Now that I have stopped the aspartame, it's almost gone. .... --------------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx To: xxxxxx@xxx.xxx Subject: Re: My I share widely my post and your response, and your initial posts? Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2004 7:13 AM Health History. No major illnesses or need for medical treatment in the first 26 years of my life (except for usual childhood illnesses, such as chicken-pox). I was a regular consumer of diet-sodas, such as Diet Coke, for about 15 years, averaging around 2 litres/day during this period. On some days this might easily have been 3-4 litres. Health problems began in Sept 2002, with occasional symptoms at first, but had become more chronic and debilitating by Xmas of that year. Early symptoms included persistant vague lightheadedness/dizziness, which sometimes feels like motion sickness ( I had suffered a brief episode of this back in 1999, but it resolved itself within a few days), and also some night-time heart palpitations (hence why I've been stuck on cardiology's patient list ever since!). Further additional symptoms have been tachycardia, excessive fatigue, occasional hot flashes and night-sweats, intermittant "mental fog" and loss of cognitive abilities, classic migraines and also strange visual disturbances. These disturbances include weird "after-images" of everything I see, the shimmering of lined patterns and also the small dark spots and bright flashes reported by others. I also appear to have far more eye-floaters than usual and my eyes themselves often look tired and swollen. There have been periods during the last 18 months when I have felt bad and periods when I have felt very bad! My recent abstention (2+1/2 weeks now) from aspartame has brought the only signs of remission during this whole time. The tired eyes, fatigue and mental fog have particularly improved, as have the dizziness and visual effects to some extent. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2004 9:25 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: gum headache I read recently in a Yoga Journal that migraine sufferers should not have aspartame, that it could be a migraine trigger. I knew the stuff was bad for you, but never thought a piece of gum now and again could hurt me. And I never linked any of my migraines to asparatame until the very next day, when I had a piece of sugarless gum and within hours had a huge migraine. I'll never touch it again. And the very fact that it is legal, well that just floors me. ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 2:28 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame in chewable vitamins I am finding that the knowledge out there that aspartame is in chewable vitamins and children's vitamins is rare. Although I did not know that it was actually poison, I was made aware of Aspartame health hazards back in 1991 or 1992 after I had been consuming Nutrasweet on a regular basis, and was having increasing excruciating monthly periods. They escalated, and finally I was finding myself bedridden 3 days at a time at least once a month. I took myself off Nutrasweet, and slowly but surely, my monthly periods got much better, and I was feeling better overall. I avoided the stuff like it was poison, as I have since found that it actually is. Years later in 2001, I became pregnant with my second child and began bingeing on chewable vitamin C because of the health benefits I was aware of as I was preparing to have a scheduled C-Section delivery. 3 months after delivery, I began experiencing very similar symptoms like that of the ones I had had years ago with my period, and during my ovulations. Passing time one day in the kitchen, I for no reason happened to glance through the ingredients to my chewable vitamin C. You can imagine my anger when I saw the word ASPARTAME in my VITAMINS! I began to scour the ingredients to ALL vitamins! I was absolutely infuriated to find that nearly ALL childrens vitamins found in supermarkets, and grocery stores have ASPARTAME in them! Namely ALL varieties of the FLINSTONE's chewables ALL contain ASPARTAME! As I have explored information on ASPARTAME, I have not yet come across info discussing the fact that this is an ingredient widely used in chewable vitamins! Please get the word out! ------------------------------ To: Mark Gold From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2002 4:25 PM Subject: Re: aspartame information.... I am 25 years old, eat very well and exercise at least 4 times a week but still can't seem to figure out why I have so many health issues. As of today I plan to avoid this product like the plague and document any health changes. Could you please direct me to either a site, book or article that may begin to inform me of products containing aspartame. [Updated Information] From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 9:08 AM To: 'Mark Gold' Subject: RE: aspartame information.... Mark, As I'm cleaning out my account here, I came across this email I had saved. I don't think I ever replied but I wanted to let you know how big of a change it made for me to stop using the sweetener so much!!! The night sweats completely stopped and my headaches were reduced by about 75%! I've convinced my entire family to stop using it :) ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 10:36 AM To: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: aspartame makes me sick Hi Mark, Thanks for all the info, that will keep me busy reading for a while. Here's my story I quit using Aspartame & all other fake sweeteners in '97 when I learned from a wise lady at a health food store how horrible it is. Sometimes I get lazy about reading labels and accidently ingest some and immediately get reactions .... extremely blurred & squiggley vision, headache that lasts 2-3 days, irritability. I went to the dentist last week and got the aspartame headache, blurry vision, etc. I asked to read the label on the flavored topical they use for pre-numbing before they inject novocaine, and SURE ENOUGH it had aspartame in it. They only put a tiny bit in my mouth, but it caused this reaction. Now I am wondering if the sweeteners they use in toothpaste, even though it isn't ingested, could cause an effect from being absorbed through the tissues. The tiniest bit seems to affect me. I don't use mouthwash, but it is in that too, which again could be absorbed through the tissues. I wonder what else it is in that I don't know about? I keep trying to tell my friends and family not to use these chemicals. Now I have an arsenol of material to show them. Thank you ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2004 3:46 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Re: Aspartame Hi Mark, I have been through menopause for about 5 years and am now 60 years old. In 2002 I started bleeding and bled for months. This was diagnosed as polyps in the uterus. I had an operation to remove a large and smaller polyp. Within 6 months the same thing happened again but the bleeding was heavier. I had asked the doctor what caused them and she didn't know. After the last operation she suggested that should I get the bleeding back we should seriously consider removing the uterus. This January 2004, I started heavy bleeding and after bleeding almost every day for 4 weeks I was very disgusted and scared. In early February, I went on-line to see what could be causing the bleeding. Within 3 minutes I found the website about Aspartame. Aspartame caused multiple polyps in lab animals. That day I stopped drinking diet tonic and threw out everything in my kitchen that contained Aspartame. The next day the bleeding stopped and hasn't returned. It is now February 26th and no bleeding. I also had tingling in my fingertips and that seems to have gone away also. --------------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 9:12 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Save Yourself I am a forty one year old male. I am a police officer and an avid runner. I was addicted to a very popular and well known diet soft drink which during my last year of usage included a twist of lemon. I consumed three to four 20 oz bottles of this a day. I began having head pains on the left side of my skull. I could actually place my finger on the area of pain, right above my left ear. I also began having blurred vision, a loss for words and at times the feeling that I was about to pass out. And tingling in my hands and sometimes feet. I was very worried, and believed that I had developed a brain tumor. I underwent an MRI (Brain Scan) and blood testing. All came back with negative results. I stopped drinking diet drinks and anything containing the "A" word i.e. sugarless gum. It is now three month later and all of my symptoms have vanished. I am a believer and I feel GREAT! ------------------------ From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 2:38 AM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Personal Experience I think you are doing a wonderful service to the public, with your information - Ten years ago, I was suffering from such horrible pain, my whole body was in pain, and I would tremble, and couldn't sleep, would cry in my sleep, and I frightened the living hell out of my husband - I used to consume about a 2-litre bottle of Diet Coke per day - and day and night, I progessively was in such pain, and then I heard about Aspartame, by accident, finding a site, and read things by Betty Martini - I even emailed her, we wrote some back and forth - I printed every page of info I could find - stopped drinking diet coke, and in a while, the pain stopped, and I got better, my color came back, I'm healthier, and I know now, that I was suffering from Aspartame poisoning - I was too afraid to go to the Doctor - and I was to weak to drive there if I'd wanted to - I went into Depression, and got so angry at everything, I was miserable, and messed up a lot of friendships, but got some back, made a lot of people upset at me - I was so miserable - it took longer to get out of that depression and anger, than it did to get over the pain - it took me 10 years - I can't believe the FDA would approve us drinking poison - they just don't damn care - as long as they make money - I'd rather sit and drink a warm beer than any soda products of any kind - at least there is barley in beer!!! But I mostly drink Green tea with Ginseng and Honey - I had a health check up a couple years ago, and at 55, all vitals are normal, I am healthy - and I no longer have pain like I had then - it was pure hell - and more people need to see this information - don't give up on getting it out there - go to the Media if you have to - I think if I'd kept on drinking that vile poison, I would have died - I have been sending your site to many of my friends and family, and others I love - I don't want them to keep drinking that junk, and get sick, or worse - I was in real bad shape 10 years ago, and I was hooked on that stuff - it's an addiction, and it should be banned as a drug - like any other drug - Carry on, and get the word out - I still read labels - and I find that if 'man made it, then it's not fit for human consumption' - We can't trust the FDA - we have to trust ourselves - Thank you for your very informative site - I've been sending to anyone I care about - I have a 3-ring binder, full of information on aspartame, and I've shared it with so many people - keep up that good fight - I am glad there are people like you out there, that CARE - God Bless All of You!! ----------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 5:31 PM To: Aspartame (mgold@holisticmed.com) Subject: Aspartame Physical therapy for 3 months for "frozen shoulder" very painful to move arms due to pain in both shoulder joints. Someone sent me an article on ASPARTAME. I removed it from my diet. My shoulder problem cleared up in less than a week. Each time I accidentally eat something with ASPARTAME my shoulder joints act up. Later I trace what I ate the day before and find some product with Aspartame as the culprit. A few days of careful attention to avoiding anything with Aspartame and the joint pain is gone. I think there is a link and the articles on Aspartame poisoning are true. ------------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 2:51 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: toxicity Dear Mark: I don't have time to write a long note now, but after consuming diet drinks for many years I suddenly began experienced vision problems (blurring, double vision) which disappeared after I stopped consuming aspartame. This occurred about four years ago. I have since then recommended to several friends and acquaintances that they also stop using apartame. Everyone has had good results. .... ---------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 8:58 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Poison Last July I started having problems standing up and lying down to bed, because of vertigo problems. I actually started missing work due to these problems. After going to my doctor and ENT they diagnosed the problem as vertigo and decided that it could have developed due to some polyps in my nasal passages and deviated septum. I had the surgery and missed even more work and spent thousands of dollars to have this done. After 3 months my situation never got better. One day at the health food store I work at,this customer was complaining of the same problems I had. He had mentioned he had aspartame poisoning. That night I came home and found your website and decided I was going to cut out all Aspartame products and just see what happened. It has been 2 months since I have had a Diet drink or a problem with my vertigo. I can't thank you enough for all of your information you have given me. Thanks, Matt ---------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Date: Tue 12/23/2003 12:16 PM Subject: ASPARTAME NIGHTMARE & MORE To: mgold@holisticmed.com About 8 years ago my husband and I started the Atkins diet. We started drinking diet sodas, specifically diet Pepsi. We stopped the dieting but continued with the Diet sodas. About 5 years ago my husband started having really bad winters; his body ached, he felt like he had the flu most of the winter; and about 2 years ago it all became unbearable for him, the fatigue was debilitating and the pain in his legs was unbelievable, not to mention a whole new set of symptoms. He could hardly get out of bed, and going to work used all his energy (when he could work. Last year he became disable temporarily. The doctors could not find anything physical wrong with him. He was tested for MS, Mercury Poisoning and all the neurological diseases they could think of. He seemed to be 100 yrs old and aging even more faster. A co-worker forwarded an email about aspartame, we immediately stopped all comsumption and now 3 months later he is ready to back to work. Although, he still has some left over symptoms, he is 80% better and we think the aspartame must have done some damage to his body. Thank you infinitely for circulating this information, without it I don't think my husband would have lasted much longer. GOD BLESS YOU for all your work regarding this POISON!! ---------------------- From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 2:40 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Poisoning I posted this on the Aspartame Support Group on Yahoo. I didn't know if you kept up with it or not. I am a 40 year old woman with 3 children ages 17, 4 1/2 and 2 1/2. Here is my story. I have been a heavy diet soda drinker ever since it came out on the market. I was drinking 6-8 cans a day not including stops here and there for a super-sized diet drink at the local fast food restaurant when I was out and about. I also have been consuming foods containing aspartame to try and lose weight forever. About 2 years ago after the birth of my 3rd child I began having heart palpitations, dizziness, chest pains and numbness and tingling going down the left side of my body. I have been to the ER multiple times, I have had EKGs, heart stress tests, MRIs, CTs, ultrasounds, blood tests, etc.. I have seen a Neurologist, ENT, Gastrol (spelling?) doctor, Chiropractor, Physical Therapists, Massage Therapists, dentist. No one could every find anything wrong with me. Oh, wait I did find out I have Reflux, Anxiety Attacks (ya, over worrying about what is wrong with me!) and I am overweight!!! A month ago I decided to start over with a new Family Practice doctor, he told me that I had already been through the "million dollar work up" and that I should feel good to know that there was nothing seriously wrong with me. He said I was having Anxiety Attacks and prescribed Zoloft. I was elated! I finally could blame my symptoms on something! I was willing to accept that this was my problem, because my mother had suffered from depression and anxiety her entire life and it is hereditary. After time, I began to deal with daily life much better, however the tingling and numbness continued in fact it started to get worse, I still would get dizzy out of no where. I would get this pins and needle tingling that started at the top of my head and would cover my entire face and down both sides of my body all the way to my feet. I had been told by friends that it sounded like I had MS. I looked up MS symptoms on the internet and was convinced that I had it. I called my doctor and told him that I wasn't convinced that Anxiety was my problem, he told me to give it time. That same day I went back on the internet and searched for Anxiety Attacks to see if anyone else diagnosed with Anxiety Attacks experienced the same symptoms as I had. I came across the Aspartame articles and read down the 92 symptoms and could not believe how many of them I had and then I found that Aspartame Poisoning mimics many diseases including MS!!!!! I was appalled as I read on and the word "self-emballing" was used. I immediately stopped all asparatame products. It has been almost 3 weeks and my symptoms have not completely gone away, however they are less severe. I am also now finding out that the pains in my neck and shoulder have started to be almost nonexistent...I always thought I was getting arthritis. I have been taking minerals and antioxidants to help my body rid of this awful poison I have been shoving down my throat for more years than I care to say. I am also horrified to find out that I have been doing the same thing to my children. Antiobiotics, Tylenol, Benedryl, Vitamins.... they all contain aspartame!! What are we suppose to give our children!!!! My teenage son has always chewed gum, ate mints, etc... Now I think about everytime he complained about stomach aches and headaches and I would just tell him to "wear a hat", "get more sleep", "eat better". He was probably suffering from the same thing!! I drank tons of caffiene free diet soda while I was pregnant with my last 2 children, they were both born severely anemic and the doctors could not come up with an answer why.... I wonder if it was the aspartame????? I am angry that I have spent all this time worrying and not being the best mom and wife because I have had such terrible mood swings, I've been so tired that it was hard for me to get up and play, I was yelling all of the time and frustrated with life in general when there was no reason to be frustrated. I am most angry about all the money I have spent on doctors trying to find out what was wrong with me. I will tell the world how awful this poison is!!! How can they keep this on the market? I don't understand why it continues when it is obvious so many people are having these symptoms!!! [updated information] From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 8:27 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Fw: Aspartame Poisoning Thank you for the information, it is greatly appreciated. I have been aspartame free for almost 6 weeks and my symptoms have subsided greatly. I do have some bad days still. I am on day 2 of being off of Zoloft and am finding that my symptoms are subsiding even more. I was told by someone from the Support Group that methylcellulose is in Zoloft. I don't know what that is, but it maybe why since I am not taking it anymore I am feeling even better! Do you have any information on methylcellulose?? ----------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 9:33 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame experience I am a healthy 35 year old, healthy, fit, male. I was on the adkins, low carb, low sugar diet for a couple months where I drank 4-5 diet pops, ate numerous sugar-free (aspartame laced) foods and chewed sugar free gum constantly. I started noticing a brain fog where I actually thought I was experiencing the first signs of alzheimer's. I'm in sales where I need to be at the top of my mental game all day long and I was finding myself losing my train of thought, stuttering and sometimes slurring my words. Then one day, I was sitting down watching TV drinking diet pop and eating low carb french toast with sugar free syrup, I noticed the tips of my fingers starting to go numb with a headache that I could put my finger on. A few minutes later, I jumped out of my seat and started running for my life. I felt out of my body with a huge fear of dying. I ran around my house 5 times in my shorts, in 32 degree weather, until I felt this fear subside. I felt this surreal and scary fear a couple times over the next hour when I decided to play it safe and go to the emergency room. By the way, I am not the kind of person to cry wolf to get attention and to me, I never would have gone if I thought for one second this was no big deal. Anyway, I was driving to the hospital (15 minutes away) when IT hit me. I thought I was dying in the car. My legs and arms went completely numb, my heart felt like it was fluttering out of control. I was starting to lose consciousness or dying, one of the two. I called 911 in my car, saying in hysterical, unintelligible speech that I was having a heart attack or a stroke. They told me to pull over to wait for help, but I said I was too scared too wait. I drove 120 miles an hour to get to the hospital. I got there and to make a long story short, my heart rate was at 130 and I had trouble remembering my birth date. They didnt find anything wrong and said I probably had a panic attack. I had never had one before and wasnt really stressed or depressed about anything. I knew there was more to it. I researched panic attacks and found the aspartame link which made perfect sense, especially after reading other people's similar situations. I can attest that you dont get better overnight from stopping aspartame. I hear it can take 60-90 days to get it out of your system. It has been a slow progression to wellness. It's been almost two months since this episode and the last time I've touched aspartame and even though alot of the symptoms have subsided, I still get numbness in my hands and feet on occassion(including right now) with an occassional heart palpitation. The memory loss and the fog, however, has been lifted. I am confident in the next month or so, I will be symptom and aspartame free. What's amazing is if you go on the aspartame website, they talk about all the great benefits of their product. They say it was approved to be safe and not to believe all the internet myths saying that people are having bad reactions to it. Well, I was a skeptic too, until it happened to me and now I tell everyone I know that the victims are "the truth" and them saying it's safe is "the myth". ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 3:51 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: heavy aspartame symptoms here - how can I help? I get these symptoms off an on and recently noted it's when I've been consuming aspartame. I avoid it but get the symtoms again and find I've been consuming it without my knowledge. It use to be on the label but now I have to check the ingredients and learn the various names for it. This killer is destroying my life. My symptoms are: a very specific migraine I recognize as 'the aspartame migraine'. depression, nervousness, blurry vision, weakness in my legs and arms, lots of stupid mistakes and bad short term memory. I'm usually very with it and my IQ was 140 last checked. It feels like it would be 80 if I took a test now. I can't think. I've read up on the political beneficiaries of this additive and I'm fed up with the special interests plopping their wallet padded asses into the official seats that were put in place to protect us. Is there a class action suit I can join? ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 3:33 PM To: bettym19@mindspring.com Subject: Re: Multiple Sclerosis or Aspartame Disease Just an update from an e-mail we exchanged in February and also to MS Focus. I had been diagnosed as pre-MS by my doctor. That day I went off my diet pepsi habit of 5-8 cans a day. It is now April 19th and I am symptom free. Also my migraine headaches are gone. The only one I had since that day was the day after I went off - boy was I sick from caffeine withdrawal! But since that day I've progressively gotten better. I read to give it 60 days - by mid-March my numbness and tingling were gone, my shooting "electricity" sensations in my legs were gone, my tiredness and achiness in my legs was gone, my hearing (plugged ear) was gone, and I quit dropping things as I had begun to experience. I've replace diet pepsi with water. Regardless of what anyone says about the evidence of aspartame poisoning, I believe you. I've done my best to try to get other people to quit having it also, but I guess they have to go through it like I did to really realize what it does to you. I'm praying my symptoms don't come back, and I don't think they will. Only time will tell. ----------------- From: xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 4:38 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame HEllo I just read your webpage and I thought I was the only person with the allergy to this NASTY stuff..Cause everytime people hear about my allergy they are soo shocked and amazed ..I'm now 23 years old but when I was 10 and living with my mom she would use everything sugar free and I was at teh dr. office 2-3 per week because I was alwasy sick my face was always broken out in nasty blister looking things that would breakopen and would last 3-4 weeks if not longer..My mom thought I was always faking sick but when I moved in with my dad and step mom They NEVER used stuff sugar free.. and I never was sick with them so the Dr. told me to eat the BRAT (bread rice applesauce and toast) and start introducing back foods and when I start getting sick note what the new food or drink I had consumed I was fine with everything until I ate a desert my mom made wiht equal and I got soo sick! My dad was diganosed with diabetis in 1999 and he is also allergic to aspartame. We found a product that he can consume but I still Can not have it...SPLENDA sucralose my dad has no problem with it but I still get sick and break out...I can have NOTHING with ANY sweetners other than SUGAR in it! thought I would leave my input TY! ---------------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Subject: dermatitis Date: Wed 12/24/2003 1:05 PM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com I had been drinking diet sprite for years and years with no real problem other then panic attacks that I thought were from a neurological standpoint but then this past May 2003 I started getting a burning rash around my eyes, it would always be there for 5 or 6 months I always had it in one spot or another flaring up around my eye lids or under my eyes, that delicate area, ooh the shower everyday was a nightmare with the moist heat on it, anyway I have never had any skin problems in my life, thought it was a new allergy, since Georgia is allergy central, I thought I was developing weird sensitivities since moving here, well I switched moisturizers, base makeups, eyeshadow, eye makeup remover, mascara, all of it and nothing changed, still burning rash, dermititis, I was very concerned. The doctor had given me ellidel for it but it only somewhat eased the burning but it never went away. Recently ( 3 months ago) in my cosmotology class we had a massage speaker one night and we talked about everything, she really an "of the earth" seeming woman and she mentioned how poisonous aspartame is to the body blah blah, I didn't think anything of it at first, thought she was just hippie type organic food eater, so I went home looked it up on the internet and I was tremendously appalled that this, if this was true, how come it was not common knowledge. Well, I was researching what products had aspartame in it and found that gum did, which is odd becuase I think it was about late spring early summer when I found that pop out card gum, eclipse or trident stuff, It was so easy to pop a piece out about 10 times a day, I was going through it like crazy, so I decided to do a trial run of no aspartame in my diet, thinking that maybe the gum pushed over my limit of aspartame intake- well I am happy to announce that 2 months after stopping ingestion of aspartame I no longer have the dermatitis around my eyes, it has been a month since no symptoms and there are still no signs of it, which is amazing to me, it was definately the reason for my ailment, there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever, I am a believer, I am so happy I tell people I know not to use aspartame, stop drinknig diet coke blah blah, I realize you have to be very careful when mentioning this to friends etc, you come off seeming preachy and they automatically stop listening. I have to figure out a way to get it across to them whith out seeming like a fruitcake. They almost don't want to believe it, which I understand, it's in everything that especiallly a woman would consume, diet stuff, gum, diet drinks, they figure if they don't acknowledge it they won't have to stop. It's hard to find alternatives, really hard. Well there is my story- it wasn't as serious as a mimiced nervous system disorder or anything major, just an annoying eye rash but I had to live with it everyday and because I have educated myself on aspartame I feel like I am one up one the rest of the world and I am only better because of it ! Thank you for your time. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx To: bettym19@mindspring.com Subject: Life - Aspartame and Vision Date: 01:42 AM 6/28/2004 I also thank the Lord for the existence of that generous man, Dave Rietz, with Dorway. He helped give me information that would not have reached me in time to save my vision, if it hadn´t been for him and two other friends. I live in Mexico. I had been a daily user of Diet-Coke and Canderel for about five-six years, when one January, 2000, a friend from a big Medical Center in Mexico City called me and said, "Katina, stop drinking Diet-Coke. It´s poison." A fellow worker of hers also called me about the same time. On February 14, 2000, I got on internet and started navegating. I couldn´t find anything wrong with Aspartame, until I started looking for "Fenilalanina" (the name taken directly off the last Diet-Coke container in the house). It was like opening a Pandora´s Box of worms. The Lord has been generous to me by leading me to various changes in my life so that my health continues to improve. My list of ailments due to Aspartame could fill a book. I am lucky to be alive, sighted and with much to live for. .... I should mention that, since Valentine´s Day, 2000 [February 2000], I have not taken any aspartame. I had been going to a General Hospital here to be checked out for different situations of health that I couldn´t put my finger on why I was feeling sooooooooooooooooo bad. Among the Doctors, I dealt with a marvelous Ophthalmologist, with 40 years of clinical experience, who checked me out thoroughly. He sent me to Tests of Visual Fields many different times. Each time he checked me out on his apparatus to see inside my eyes. Each time he would shake his head and send me off to another test. This went on from August, 1999, to November, 1999. In November, my friend, the Hospital Social Worker and I cornered Dr. Durán to ask him what was up. His answer was interesting. He said, "I simply don´t understand. With 40 years of experience I´ve never seen anything like this. Her (mentioning a part of the optic nerve) is so deteriorated that she shouldn´t be able to see, but the Vision Fields Test says she sees. I don´t understand. She should be blind." In April, 2000, I went back to get a prescription for new glasses. He checked me again. I asked him how my eyes were. He said, "You don´t have anything wrong. You´re O.K." That is one of my adventures with this junk. Please send me a copy of Dr. Blaylock´s article so that I can continue to improve. I have a lot of work I want to get done and definitely want to be completely well to do it. I´m sooooooooooooo excited about the suits in California. I pray for all the people involved every day so that the TRUTH will out. God bless you, ----------------------- To: Bettym19@mindspring.com From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Subject: introdution Aspartame Disease Mimics MS Date: 08:38 PM 3/14/2004 Hi, My name is xxxxxxxxxx I'm a 28 year old mom of four children suffering from the aspartame. About one and half years ago I woke up with tingling in my feet within a week it was up both my legs and I could not feel my private areas. I had problems walking I couldn't drive and didn't know when I had to go to the bathroom. The doctors did lots of tests but had no answers then they said that I could possibly have M.S. But they weren't sure. After at least six MRI's and another one this April 1 still no answer. But I have finally figured it out on my own. Aspartame was my problem, I'm a diabetic who has been drinking diet soda for eleven years. .... It's been about two weeks and I feel alittle tired but my skin is brighter and I'm not always thirsty any more. I just want to thank everyone for getting this information out and ! --------------------- From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx To: bettym19@mindspring.com Date: 02:10 PM 3/9/2004 Subject: Deputy Sheriff Tells it Like It Is: Aspartame and Diabetes Hello, My name is xxxxxxx xxxxxx. I am a 62 year old caucasion male who retired as a deputy sheriff in 1997 and who became a xxxxxx artist. Every thing in my life was going very well health wise until about three years ago when my personal physician diagnosed me with Diabetes. From day one he advised me to use diet foods and drinks such as "diet cokes and others" as I would have to stay away from the consumption of regular sugar. I didnt much like the taste of diet drinks or diet foods but he scared me enough about my diebetes condition that I switched to only diet foods. I began my diabetes life with oral medications of Glucaphage and Avandia. A couple of years later I had continued to gain weight and I was falling apart. I had occassional headaches that I couldnt explain as I never had them before. All of my joints ached constantly especially my knees and hands. I thought I had arthuritis and the diabetes was taking hold of my health in a very negative way. Early on I started with a condition under both arms and in the groin that I considered to be "Jock itch". I started using Cortasone 10 cremes and if I used that at least every other day the condition could be controlled and if not the sores were very raw and bloody and boy did it burn. I continued to use the cortosone up until recently. Also about that time I developed a thick scaling in the scalp and around the ears that I thought might just be exzema or worse and I used head and shoulders shampoo but it didnt control it. My lower legs and feet were swelling and I could no longer wear my favorite cow boy boots and most of the time I had to wear soft slippers. Traveling became almost impossible. Besides all of these problems I had frequent urination problems and rarely got more than two hours of sleep at a time. I was becoming more and more irratable around my wife. My Doctor during this period of time was totally exasperated with me as I couldnt control my blood sugar levels and I continued to gain weight and by this time I was up to 320 pounds. About a year ago my Doctor put my on insulin in an effort to control the blood sugar levels. He started me out on low doses at first but with 3 months I was up to using 65 units of 70/30 humilin in the AM and 60 units in the PM. Sometimes I would test in the morning and I would be 105 and sometimes I would be 205. I was not eating very much at all but I could never convince him of that. By this time I was developing so many physical problems that I couldnt keep track of them all. In the morning for the first few minutes my vision was blurry as if I had a film coating over my eyes but then it would gradually disappear. I started having ringing or hissing in my ears that woulnt go away. Every morning I would run hot water over my hands so that I could close them. My knuckes were swollen and again I blamed it on arthuritis. I blamed every thing on my age and diabetes. If I got down on my hands and knees to do something I was unable to get back up without crawling over to the wall or some furniture. One day as I was driving my 84 year old mother to her dialysis appointment I began questioning her about any illnesses I might of had while growing up. "I never took you boys to the Doctor while you were growing up other than for broken bones." My brothers and I were very active living in the country. Our diet in those days was meat, potato's, fresh vegetables, fruit and home made bread and fresh milk. My Mother then said, "you worse off than me" to which I replied "He doesnt know what all is wrong with me as all my blood tests are O.K. and everything, Im at my wits end. I was getting real depressed and even contimplated ending it all. My whole life I had been very healthy and real strong and now I was as weak as could be. I then started reading books and surfing the internet. After a few weeks I found "Dorway". Long story short, I cleaned out my pantry and kitchen of all the sugar free Jello, pudding, No sugar added IceCream, sugar free cookies and Diet Drinks that contained aspertame. Within 3 days I noticed some improvement. Within 2 weeks I felt like a thirty year old again. I could drop down and do about 5 push ups and wanted to go walking around the farm. My knees completely cleared up and the head aches went away. With the help of using Aloe Vera Gel in my scalp and in my shower soap my skin condition cleared up 90 percent. I have not had one bit of under arm and groin rash since I quit using aspertame products. Did I mention that I also had been writting a book on my computer but I was unable to concentrate on spelling even the most simple of words until I got off that darn poison. I'm back to writting again. I'm now starting up in my metal shop which I stopped doing nine months ago. Now here's the good part. I went in to see my Doctor about six weeks ago about a cyst on my inner thigh that may or may not be related to Aspertame use. Anyway he had already given up on me regarding my Diabetes condition and scheduled me to see a Diabetic Specialist for the 17th of this month. I had gain 18 pounds on the last visit with him and my blood sugar levels were still out of control. He asked me in general conversation, "well how you been doing". I said "Great, never been better" By the way Doctor do you still use sugar free food and drinks? Sure, I drink diet pepsi, to which I replied, Well Doc you might consider giving them up. You see Doc, Ive had Aspertame toxins in me since you first advised me to use them three years ago. Besides feeling great now, my blood sugar levels have come down to about 95 in the morning and about 110 in the PM and besides did you notice what my weight is today compared to three weeks ago. He checked his Nurses notes and said your down considerably. about 20 pounds. I replied, Yeh Doctor and I dont even crave any thing sweet any more. Hmm, very interesting, let me know how your improving. He didnt have a clue about aspertame. I then took the new prescription and went to my trusted Pharmacist who didnt have a clue about the effects of Aspertame either. Then it hit me, the medical profession doesnt have a clue about food additives not even Aspertame. By the way I also told my Doctor that probably a third of his patients probably has Aspertame poisoning and he never knew it. To that he didnt have a response. I'm now reading every thing I can get my hands on regarding Aspertame. I've gotten three Diabetic friends off any thing sugar free or diet. If you dont remember the sixties very well there was a saying back then. "Power to the People". If I had my way there wouldnt be a congressman or Senator serving one more term unless he got on the band wagon and helped all of us victims of this terrrible injustice. We need to get literature out just before election time so any one would know how to vote responsibly. This is the only way we can get enough people educated. "I'M WONDERING, WHAT MORE CAN I DO". Should I mail all my sugar free drinks back to where they came from? No body and I mean nobody is so big and powerful that they cant be crippled legally. Forget your scientists and their truth ful results as that hasnt worked and never will. Hit em where it hurts. You have to ask your self one more question. If the movement to educated people like me is having any success then how come this ol' cowboy had to go through three years of living hell before I accidently "stumbled" across all the good word that you are putting out. I'm not going to apologize for the length of this e-mail because it all had to be said. I'm just an average guy who fought for his country and did everything asked of me only to be poisoned by my own country the good ol' U.S. of A. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Monday, April 05, 2004 1:39 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame Hi: I suffer from depression and PTSD. I started drinking diet soda to help me lose some weight. After about 3 months, I started to be plagued with constant anxiety, insomnia and irrational thoughts. I had read somewhere that artificial sweeteners can sometime negatively affect folks with mood disorders so I stopped drinking diet soda and guess what—I am feeling better, sleeping through the night and the irrational thoughts have subsided. Seems to me the artificial sweeteners were having a negative affect on my mental health. I know I am going to avoid them in the future and drink water instead. -------------------- Pocket PC Thoughts http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/printview.php?t=2505 kkyzar - Tue Jul 30, 2002 7:55 pm Post subject: OFF-TOPIC - Aspartame is deadly poison - drop that Diet Coke right now! Jason, Thanks for the post regarding Nutra-Poison. I am a physician and treat a lot of people with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Myofascial Pain Syndrome (Yes, they are real diseases in spite of what a lot of previous MDs have told some of my patients in their past search for some answers to their 'often weird' symptoms. This is a toxin that should have never been allowed on the consumer market. I see people daily with long term problems, both physical and emotional, that have a history of excess use of the aspartamine in their past. Hopefully the consumer public will become more aware of the many dietary sources of this Poison and stop using these products. The problem with using products like these is that the toxic effect is such a slow onset and with continued use, the toxic by products accumulate in the tissues (brain, blood vessels, ect) and the effect may not be seen for many months or years and then slowly, the symptoms increase, irreversably, until the patient is misdiagnosed with some disease state, whereas, they are actually developing permanant drug toxicity reactions! Please continue to spread some enlightenment on this subject. Thanks, --------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: IBS survivor Date: Tue 12/30/2003 12:06 AM Hello For years I suffered with IBS. I was a diet pepsi junkie. I stopped drinking it and any other forms of aspartame. Within DAYS my IBS was gone! By mistake, I drank a diet pepsi about a week after I had it out of my system. The very next morning, the IBS was back. NEVER EVER AGAIN will I consume aspartame. There is NO doubt in my mind that it was the cause of IBS! Has there been any research on this? -------------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 1:08 PM To: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Cc: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Nutrasweet Questionnaire I found the website aspartamesafety.com today, and thought I'd share my story, as old as it is. I'm not a pilot - but when I had my first attack, I was driving on the New York State Thruway. Fortnately I wasn't alone. The trip from upstate New York to Newton MA took close to 10 hours, and included two stops at hospitals along the way. The ER doctors assumed it was from July 4th weekend drinking with friends; but the attacks continued. I've always felt that the stuff was dangerous. People look at me like I'm cuckoo when I tell my story - all I can say was that my problem stopped after I stopped ingesting the stuff. And I refuse to give it to my kids. Good luck in your endeavors. Questionairre: Name: xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx Age: 42 Sex: Male Address: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Medical problem caused by aspartame: Extreme vertigo/nausea/dizziness Why I believe they were caused by aspartame: Because they stopped when I stopped drinking diet beverages. Did the symptoms go away? Yes, after about a month or two. For a period of some months in 1992, I had regular attacks, occurring about every 14 days, of vertigo where I couldn't stand up, I couldn't walk - all I could do was hold onto the floor, vomit, and hold on for dear life for the 10-15 hours the attacks would last. When I stopped drinking diet drinks, the attacks continued for a month or two, with decreasing severity and intensity, and the time between the attacks got longer, until they stopped altogether. I haven't had an experience like this since late 1992. Did I see a doctor? Yes. I saw an ENT who performed extensive tests, including an MRI, to rule out brain tumor or a tumor in the ear exerting pressure on the vestibular system. He also ruled out drug use, wax buildup in the ear, and other ear-related problems. Did the doctor think it was linked to Aspartame? No. Did I report the symptoms? No. This is the first time I'm reporting it anywhere. What specific products: Diet Coca-Cola, Crystal Light powdered drink mix How much/how often: At least 6 12oz cans of Diet Coke a day; several 8-12 oz glasses of Crystal Light. It wasn't bad for me, and calorie free, so what was the harm of drinking so much? How long before I experienced symptoms? I don't recall - it was 10 plus years ago, now - but probably some months. My first attack occurred over the July 4 weekend and continued into the fall. I probably started drinking the stuff as a means to lose weight - I had gained a lot over the holidays. ---------------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 10:01 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Re: Aspartame I has used the above for years and then developed Migraine head-aches. I simply stopped using it and the head aches disappeared. Sometimes I will accidentally consume aspartame and will suffer an extreme Migraine, and sure enough when I check the ingredients there it is. I do not understand with so many health problems this has caused why the heck the government has not done something. It is outrageous!! ---------------------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 10:03 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: My Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Questionaire. Hi from New Zealand Mary. You will read my story in the questionnaire I’ve submitted to you. I’m feeling well enough to concentrate and get it all down but it took awhile. Just hope this all gets better and goes away. .... Q. Medical problems that you believe are caused from using aspartame: Hypoglycemia, restlessness bordering on hyperactivity, weight loss, memory and concentration problems, back and joint pain, insomnia, chronic fatigue, change in bowel habits, frequent urination, thinning hair, extremely itchy skin (without rash), nausea, lack of appetite etc Q. Why do you believe aspartame caused these problems? I believe aspartame caused these problems because they began when I started consuming aspartame and as soon as I discontinued my aspartame intake my symptoms began to diminish and I continue to get better. Q. Did the symptoms go away when you stopped using the products? Yes. Back pain is gone after a month. Insomnia is gone and my energy and stamina is back. Bowel habits are getting back to normal. Hair is not coming out as much. The itchy skin is gone and so is the nausea. My appetite is almost back to normal. Memory and concentration is still an issue at times and I haven’t gained much weight yet (I’m 5kg underweight) but I figure that will improve with my appetite and eating healthy whole foods. I seem to have the hypoglycemia under control. .... ---------------------------------------- From: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx To: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx Subject: Pain/Aspartame Date: Tue 1/13/2004 4:51 PM .... I lost my job Sept 15; staying at home, I started drinking more coffee- my sweetener contained Aspartame. My intake went from 4 pkgs. to 8 pkgs. per day. Two weeks later I could not walk without holding on to something or if I could walk - sharp pains hit my legs causing me to scream. October/November to chiropractor and then to family doctor..no help. The word "fibromyalgia" came into the mix because I had the tell-tell symptoms with pressure points. A year before the tingling/burning was dx as Carpal Tunnel (HA!) Just on a hunch, I quit my sweetener the first of December - On Dec. 26th, I walked without pain but have a ways to go to improve because balance is questionable..tingling in arms is subsiding (was dx neuropathy) I strongly suggest others try to eliminate sweeteners with this ingredient and see if some of their ailments disappear. It won't happen overnight but when you realize the pain is gone - wouldn't the trial be worth it? ---------------- From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2004 10:10 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: (no subject) I have been doing a lot of research on the use of artificial sweetners especially aspartame. I find your information astounding. I had been a frequent user of diet soft drinks, sugar free gum, etc. I was watching a news report on aspartame 12/31/03. What i saw and heard was very disturbing. I am now 34 and have been consuming these products since I was 16. I decided to give up all aspartame containing products as my New Year Resolution. I must say that I am thinking more clearly. I would sometimes get headaches and feel like there was a "dullness", if you will, over me at times. I do not feel this amymore and have not had any headaches or a feeling of "dullness" since removing these products from my diet. I have not read all of your research but will continue to investigate. Please e mail me if you have any questions and keep up the good work. Thanks. --------------------------- Egullet.com Discussion forums eGullet.com -> Starters -> Beverages and Libations -> Coffee & Tea foodie52 Posted: Dec 27 2003, 09:59 AM http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=34041&st=0 My husband used to be a big diet soda drinker. A couple of years ago he started complaining about forgetfulness and fuzzy thinking.....it was scary. I remembered an article I had read about artificial sweeteners and their effect on brain function. I had him stop drinking that stuff and switch to water and unsweetened tea. The problem went away after a week or so. I'm a believer.... -------------------- From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, January 18, 2004 2:04 AM To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Case Histories I am writing for my husband. We have been married 15 years. When we met he started drinking diet sodas. And exclusively so. I don't drink sodas. Since then he has gained 70 lbs, even though we eat the same bascially. I do alot of cooking. He also complains of muscle and tendon aches, and always passes it as "old age". Ridiculous, I have always felt 25. He has alot of other subtle problems. Also he always wakes up in the middle of the night to drink water. He's been off sodas now for almost 2 weeks, and has stopped getting up at night to drink water. Also he's not achy any more. We will see this year how many more symptoms go away (By the way he saw 2 Neurologists who thought he was trying to get disability or just faking it!!). I am so thankful to find this site as well as the responses from people who voice the same problems as my husband. ALso, the only other product that is bothersome is when we eat out at oriental restaurants, and the MSG manifested itself in immediate scary symptoms: chest tightness, head tightness, headache, and trouble sleeping. I thought he would have to go to the emergency ward! Chemicals and pesticides and unnatural substances can pose a real silent danger to many people. Being a dental hygienist, I have seen such a rise in health issues, and yound people getting cancer. Just like cigarettes, people should be informed and let them make their own choices. ---------------------- From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2004 2:34 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Another aspartame victim checking in I was just doing some internet surfing on the wondersweetener that I hate so much, and I found your website so I thought I'd send a message and you can add me to your list of victims when you get a chance. Many years ago, I went on the NutriSystem diet. Much of the food there had aspartame for a sweetener instead of sugar, no real surprise. After I finished that diet, I was still consuming some aspartame from diet drinks on occasion (even though I hated the taste). Then one day, I started breaking out in hives. I went to the doctor, they ran some tests, and could find nothing wrong with me. I went a few times, no help. I went to a few different doctors, and finally one mentioned NutraSweet and handed me a list with more side effects than I can find anywhere on the internet that were linked to aspartame. I had quite a few of the side effects listed, if I had a list I could probably check them off one by one. Hives, dizziness, headache, insomnia, fatigue, those are the ones I remember well but I know I had many more. I felt like I was walking around in a daze all the time. The doctor suggested I avoid anything with aspartame in it, so I did. It took a while, but the hives went away. I started sleeping better. I didnt feel tired in the middle of the day anymore. Headaches were gone. This was in 1990. I havent touched the stuff since, except unknowingly or by mistake. I still know when I've had some too, I break out in hives whenever I take in any aspartame. I have to laugh at the reports I read too, that its ok and its natural amino acids with phenylalanine. Sure it is. Seems like Dr. Roberts has it right, maybe thats what it starts as, and then you put it in the body and you have methanol and who knows what else. Evil evil evil. Thats what aspartame is. Maybe someday the FDA will agree. I'm glad others are spreading the word. I've been telling my friends since 1990. --------------------------- From: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Thursday, January 29, 2004 12:42 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame / NutraSweet / Equal I experience extreme migraines anytime I have consumed NutraSweet. Elimination of NutraSweet in my diet has tremendously decreased the number of migraines I have. -------------- From: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 11:49 PM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: aspartame reactions I am a mother of an eight year old daughter. When she was 4 years old she became very belligerent, crying fits, uncontrollable, completely out of control. The behavior was completely the opposite of the sweet little girl she usually was. At the time she had an ear infection and was on a liquid antibiotic. I called her doctor, thinning it was a reaction to the antibiotic. Her antibiotic was changed and she was fine again. Three months later at a family picnic she was given a piece of sugar free gum and we had to leave the picnic as her behavior was almost instantly changed to bad, just like Jeckle and Hyde! I called the doctor the next morning and found out the 1st ingredient in the antibiotic 3 months before was aspartame. Cali now describes the feelings as though she can't control herself, that she can't think straight. How many children in this country take children's chewable vitamins from a discount store loaded with aspartame every day? It is also in chewable Tylenol, most liquid antibiotics, chewable Motrin, chewable Benydryl, chewable Advil and even Pedilyte. My daughter is a label reader now. I own a health food store and help hundreds of people every year in our community of 100,000 that are sick and find out it is from aspartame. I recently helped a woman who was on so many drugs for depression and anxiety that she couldn't work. Was disabled. After one week. ONE WEEK off of NutraSweet she was able to go back to work. I also worked with a woman who was crippled by migraines. Spent thousands and thousands of dollars on MRI's, tests, drugs t no avail. She went off of diet cola and her migraines were gone. She was furious that not one doctor she went to ever asked her if she drank any diet sodas or used artificial sweetener packets. Another man thought he was developing Alzheimer's at age 34. His doctor fortunately asked him if he did drink diet soda. Yes he did. 5-6 cans a day. Two weeks off of Aspartame completely his memory came back 100% Why is it still being sold when it is so dangerous!? People need to know. They have a right to know the truth! I believe what it is doing to our children is a crime. Some MD's still are not warning pregnant mothers not to consume it. How frightening is that? ---------------------- From: xxxxxxxx@aol.com Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 03:49:07 EDT Subject: (no subject) To: aspartame@holisticmed.com I have just discovered the horrible effects of aspartame. I have been a coca-cola drinker for years ( not knowing it contained aspartame). I also chewed Trident White sugarless gum for many years not realizing any harm was being done. In the last few years I have had severe headaches, usually on the right side of my head. Sometimes I would be driving and I would have spells of dizziness that would just appear anytime. Sometimes I felt like my mind got blanked out for a while. I couldn't explain the feeling but it felt like seizures or maybe aneurysms. It was so frightening, I went to a neurologist to get a C-Scan several years back. They saw something on my brain but couldn't explain it. I probably could attain the xrays that have these spots on my brain. Recently came severe joint pain, confusion, memory loss, numbness in the finger tips, panic attacks, chest pains, irradic heartbeats, severe stomach pains, burning urine, UTIs for no reason. You name it I was a walking health problem. I have been in the doctors office numerous times for numerous symtoms. The doctors probably thought I was a hypochondriac?! I thought maybe it was due to age. I got on the internet looking for answers, mainly to seek the dangers of aspartame and low and behold. There it was like an answer from abov3 your site and all the people who were complaining about the same things. I knew it! It was aspartame all along that was giving me these problems. So I went into detox and came the severe stomach pains, diarhea, menstrual cramps, and severe headaches. The joint pain has disappeared along with many other ailments I mentioned, which were aspartame attributed. I await to see how many more symtoms will disappear. I still have bouts with stomach problems and headaches that just don't go away. I'll have to check them out soon with the doctors. I've always had asthma, but there were times when it was really severe and I wonder if hidden aspartames in the past had anything to do with triggering these episodes. Needless to say, I am very angry that there is such a poison on the market, and its legally approved by the FDA! Scary! Something has to be done! I emailed some of the info on your site to friends to make them aware also! I'm glad I've found answers to so many questions. I would like to join the fight against Monsanto and there EVIL WAYS! -------------- From: "Theresa xxxxxx" To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: It is all true Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2003 18:31:16 +0000 I stumpled upon your web site after reading about milk and it's additives at notmilk.com. I had been using Equal for everything. I was overweight about 7 years ago and decided to follow the Atkin put me on Glucophage to help me to try to lose weight. Anyway, once I came across aspartamekills.com, they recommended your site. Sure enough, I cut out all aspartame, which I must say is very difficult, and all my symptoms are gone. I am not dizzy anymore. The feeling of "walking in a dream" is gone. My body aches and pains are gone. My chronic hip pain is there no longer. That spot on my head is even getting better. It's been 3 months since I stopped. By the way, FYI - There is ONE diet soda that does not use phenylalanine and that is diet rite. Aspartame is in everything! Every single gum I have looked at has it in there, the only one I found that doesn't is bubble yum, which is loaded with sugar. Also, I have now lost 20 of the 60 pounds I had gained over the past 2 years!!! People, please listen!!! Stevia, Stevia, Stevia is the answer! Stay away from the poison that is Equal! Theresa [continued] From: "Theresa xxxxxx" To: mgold@shelltown.net Subject: Re: It is all true Date: Thu, 06 Nov 2003 21:38:08 +0000 Thank you so much for responding, and thank you for the information you provided. I have told my doctor to keep it on record that most of my symptoms have disappeared after about 2 months of not using Aspartame I am going to do the best that I can to inform everyone about this poison. I also plan on reporting this to the FDA.& This stuff really needs to be taken off the market. -------------- From: "Jennifer xxxxx" To: Subject: Former Aspartame User Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2003 11:33:48 -0800 For the last three years, I have had severe pains in my legs and feet. I started walking daily and it seemed to just get worse. I thought it was bad shoes I have been ingesting sugar free products for 20 years, and in the last three years, everything I put in my mouth was sugar fee ( I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes) I started menopause and was becoming very depressed. I was placed on several depression medications as well as hormone replacement medications. Some days were so bad, I could barely walk from my car to the grocery store because of the pains in my legs and feet. I was constantly taking pain medication. I.e. Tylenol, and Aleve. I was beginning to think I had fibromyalgia A friend of my was experiencing pains in her legs. She ate everything sugar free as well. She was only 28 years old. I am 57. She went to every doctor where we live then finally went over to Seattle to the University Hospital because no one could find anything wrong with her. It was over there that they suggested she get off the sugar free stuff. She did and was well again. SO I thought, I would try not eating anything sugar free for a few days. It was like a miracle. Within four days, the pains were gone and was starting to feel good again. I am now off all medications, and my energy has returned. Not realizing what aspartame was in, one weekend I was doing lots of housework, it was warm and I drank crystal light all day Saturday. By Sunday I was on the couch with my feet up and in pain again. JUST ONE DAY, AND IT HIT ME AGAIN. When I read the label what a shock. NOW I READ ALL LABELS BEFORE I PUT ANYTHING IN MY MOUTH. I try to let everyone know about aspartame and what it did to me. I would probably be a cripple today if I had not heard about the affects of Aspartame. My friend told mw about your WEB site so I started reading. What a shock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the help Jennifer -------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx To: mgold@holisticmed.com Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2003 14:22:10 -0700 My husband and I consumed diet sodas for two years, trying to cut sugar from our diets. In the past few months, we experienced unexplainable symptoms. I remember seeing an e-mail on aspartame. I did some research on this and others affected or having been affected with the numerous symptoms aspartame causes. I couldn't believe it! We experienced joint pain, stiffness, fatigue, inability to concentrate and forgetfulness. We cut the diet soda and anything that contained aspartame from our diets and we feel great. We immediately saw improvement in our health. I now believe we were victims. 1 1/2 months later, we feel absolutely great. Thank you for circulating these stories. -------------- From: "xxxxxxxxxxxx, Kim" To: "'mgold@holisticmed.com'" Subject: What can I do Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 10:24:55 -0400 Dear Mark Gold, I'm 31 and I suffered for a few years because of Aspartame. I could have died and left my children without a mother if you wouldn't have put the information out there. Within a month of cutting Aspartame out of my diet I was free of my many symptoms including: Basilar Artery Migraine attacks TIA's Vertigo Numbness Staggering Gait Vision problems Droopy Eyelid Irregular/uneven pupil dilation Problems speaking (jumbled words during attacks) Loss of bladder control Nausea Depression Anxiety Stiffness/joint pain Muscle spasms Fatigue Inability to concentrate "Not real" feeling It maddens me that there are people out there claiming it's safe. I haven't filed a complaint with the FDA yet and I can't afford (financially and time) to file a lawsuit, but what can I do to help spread the word? I put some information about Aspartame on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx's web page. There are hundreds of people with similar symptoms, including seizures that are being diagnosed, or diagnosing themselves, with B.A.M. If they only knew that cutting Aspartame out of their diet might cure them. I have to find some way of helping America! Thank you, Kim xxxxxxxxxxxx -------------- Subject: FW: Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 15:34:53 -0600 From: "Amy xxxxxxxx" To: Thought I'd send this to you. I've been to the doctor on and off for the last four years, and recently went to see an endocrinologist regarding my symptoms. I wanted to get to the bottom of it as I've noticed debilitating conditions increase over the last four years. Did a 24 hour (urine) exam that I'm waiting to hear back on, but last night came across this astounding revelation that touched on all my symptoms. (I have reports from my primary doctors for the last four years with symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, joint pain, hypersensitive adrenal response, fatigue, hives, and failed cures with prescription medication. I have copies of my records too.) Today I threw out all traces of Equal. Funny how they talk about the addiction, I had a box of packets at work in my desk, and at home. .... Wow, just got off the phone with mom about this. There may be too much coincidence with the fact that I've been having 3-4 packets of Equal in my coffee every morning for the past 4 years. ...The same time that my symptoms of anxiety, join pain, insomnia, lightheadness began. I'll have to wait and see, as they say it takes a month or two to get your system back to normal after longterm intake. But already noticed, yesterday I had 4 Equal packets in my coffee and got real lightheaded in the afternoon (which I thought was from low iron and protein), so today I didn't have any Equal and what do you know-NO lightheadness?! Granted I still may have some underlying challenges, but this could have been a major contributor to my problems. If so, I'd like to sue their company. When I think of the lost productivity, car accidents that followed insomnia, relationship impact, health bills... In fact even one of the owner's of Equal, his son developed a debilitating disease that he thinks was from excessive use of aspartame. It's hushed because there's so much money gained from the product. [Updated Information] Subject: RE: Aspartame Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 09:12:28 -0500 From: "Amy xxxxxxxxxxx" To: "Mark Gold" Well, May 13 it will have been 60 days free of aspartame!!! And I'll tell ya, I have noticed an improvement so far! Severe insomnia IMPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the most part, I'm sleeping pretty regularly now. The only thing I've found is that I still seem to have blood sugar sensitivities, not so extreme as before but still seems to be underlying. Like if I change my diet it throws off my sleep, or if I stop taking chromium same thing, or exercise too much. But even so, the effects of that aren't nearly as severe as they used to be that is for sure. Joint pain GONE. Racing heart GONE. Adrenaline rushes improved (which doctors had tested me a number of times for excessive cortisol). Food allergies resulting in hives GONE. I still experience a milder reaction maybe once in a while but NOTHING like what it was!!!!! And as each day goes by, I just feel like a healthier, happier person. And I've stopped taking all anxiety medication and natural supplements that I was using to help me sleep. It's wonderful! My body just doesn't want them now. I'm still waiting to see though, hoping that after 60 days, that hyperarousal response will be cleared up completely. My mood has improved too. No more depression and anxiety highs and lows like I was having before, and panic attacks and irritability. It's remarkable. To think of all the time, the last 4 years that I just felt like hell (like I was 80), and went to see numerous doctors, and to realize I've figured out a connection at least brings tears of joy. And believe me, it's also made a difference in my relationships and work productivity. I went on the Internet and read a lot of the warnings and case histories. What was astounding to me was how many people had such similar problems and how the doctors couldn't diagnose it but just put them on all these crazy drugs for the symptoms. That is scary, and makes me want to tell the world about that stuff. And, I have told all my family and friends to stay far away from it. Who would of thought that a scoop of regular sugar or a regular soda would be BETTER for you. My goal was to feel better before my upcoming wedding this summer, and as far as I can tell, that wish is coming true. I said to myself, when I get married I want to start fresh and be able to live a happy life like a normal person without all these symptoms. Particularly the insomnia, my family was very concerned about that. And...another bonus, symptoms like being bloated and PMS have improved (in fact I hardly notice PMS now!!!). So I feel like I'm not only getting stronger but even feel more fit and trim for my big day too. Crazy, I even thought I was on the verge of Diabetes (since I had all the related symptoms) but ironically blood sugar tested fine. I've read how aspartame disease mimics so many others and I think that's also why it is so hard to pinpoint. I will read your additional resources. I hope you'll share my story. I've spent hours, days, months, years trying to get to the bottom of all my symptoms. And, now I finally feel like I'm headed in the right direction. Thank you. Keep me posted! Amy -------------- Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 21:46:53 -0400 From: "xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx" Subject: New Member Hello to xxxxxx and everyone. I wish I could say I am glad to be a member of this list but who can be glad about having their life ruined by deliberate cruelty in the name of the Almighty Dollar. But I am tremendously thankful that you all are here and that this list is here and that there is an army of faithful people devoting so much of themselves to helping others and attempting to stop this madness. I simply feel that I have to have someplace to unload something of what I feel and connect to people who understand. My history is long and complex but I will not dwell on it suffice to say that I grew up in a very violent home with two severly disturbed alcoholic parents. From that I have received the diagnosis of chronic post traumatic stress disorder...ahh how the aspartame helped me with my depression. How it took me lower and lower into the depths of a mindless black fog. And then while doing my stint in college back in the early '70's I was exposed to a massive dose of chlordane in the house where I was living. After that my health has been weird. I wasn't the only person living there that experienced lasting effects. One person developed a brain tumor. The rest of us lucky ones just got chronic fatigue and chemical senstivities. Then I was gassed with 2-4D, you know, Agent Orange, while living in newly wedded bliss at an apartment complex. Finally life in the big city was so intolerable for me, even with herbs and vitamins and organic foods, that we moved to the country. But that meant giving up a lot. Organinc foods are hard to come by and finances are diifficult at best. As we grew to mid-life and watched my husband's sisters and brothers become diabetic we switched to using Nutra-Sweet and other various forms of aspartame. This was about 1 to 1and 1/2 years ago. I started using the stuff for various reasons, not good ones to be sure and viola...memory loss-oh I can remember the horrors of childhood vividly but I can't seem to figure out which key is for the car or the house. Severe muscle and joint pain till I could barely walk. Burning pains, ringing ears to the point of hardly being able to hear, then the weird pounding noises and burning skin and then at the last migraines- this from a person who ordinarily had maybe 2 headaches a year. Also I was having some sort of siezure activity. I didn't know what it was till I described it to my husband and he as a lifelong epileptic recognized it at once. Miraculously I stumbled across the dorway website and my life has changed for the better. I am now, as far as I know, aspartame free for one month. I can walk without pain and am no longer hopelessly depressed, my old coping skills I learned through years of therapy are working again. No headaches at all unless I get in contact with outgassing such as at Wal-Mart. But I still don't feel consistently well. Today was a bad day. I have had a HORRIBLE painful rash for about a week. It is improving with creams and B vitamins. I should be feeling better. I checked your archives and found the post about aspartame being hidden in yogurt and started shaking and almost crying I was so upset. I just started using Dannon's "All Natural" plain yogurt. I was careful to read the label. Supposedly, there is nothing in it but milk, and of course bovine growth hormone, but it is the best I could find. What upset me the most is that I gave some to my beloved dogs. I want to stay on this list to keep abreast of what I can do for my family, my pets, my friends and neighbors. I have been telling everyone I know about the dangers in aspartame. Most of the time I get this blank look and then the subject is changed. Well, at least I told them. Thank you all for indulging me in this long outpouring. I pray night and day that this horrible thing that has been perpetrated on the world by Monsanto and the FDA will come to an end. M.B. in Ohio -------------- From: "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" To: Subject: Aspartame Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 20:55:13 -0400 Very poor comprehension, forgetfulness, dizziness, joint and muscle pain, headaches, fatigue, and numbness in my fingers were symptoms I experienced while consuming aspartame. For at least seven years, I tried to avoid sugar whenever I could, buying products using aspartame instead...gum, ice cream, sweet thing II, and diet coke/pepsi. While I had many headaches, the joint and muscle pain was much worse. I could hardly get out of the bed in the morning, having to slowly roll out and walk slowly. I felt old enough to retire. Trying to learn a new job was unusually challenging. My reading comprehension was severely impaired in a job where that was critical. I had trouble concentrating and was very forgetful. Reluctantly, I came to suspect aspartame. Beginning January 2003, I eliminated aspartame from my diet. Within a week, my muscle pains were easing. Nearing four months later, I wake without pain. My ability to comprehend and remember what I read has returned. I hate having to give up my diet drinks, but I feel like I've risen from the dead. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't experienced it myself. Diane D. -------------- Date: Fri, 04 Apr 2003 21:39:48 -0500 From: xxxxxx xxxxxxxx Subject: aspartame reaction To: mgold@holisticmed.com I happened upon your site looking for safety info on sucralose. Approximately 3 years ago while trying to cut back on sugar I began drinking a lot of Crystal Light Lemonade. At the time I was an RN on a cardiovascular unit. I have had very rare occassional PVC's throughout the years, but after approx 3 weeks of drinking the lemonade I began having runs of bigeminy and trigeminy (pvc's every 2nd or 3rd heartbeat). This left me exhausted and short of breath. I placed myself on a cardiac monitor at work to print out tracings of what was happening and made an appointment with my doctor who immediately sent me to a cardiologist. While awaiting my cardiologist tests results back I noticed one night that after I put a piece of sugar-free gum (with aspartame) in my mouth, the runs began. I cut out the aspartame, but it took several weeks for the toxicity level to decrease and my heart rythm to return to almost normal ( I still tend to throw pvc's more frequently than before, but no! runs). M came back normal. I mentioned the aspartame to the MD and he had no idea if this might be the cause. By the way, I had given up all caffeine 3 years before and had an otherwise very healthy lifestyle. I am very careful to avoid all aspartame and research any new sweetners that arise. -------------- From: "xxxxxxxxxxxx" To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame reaction Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 14:33:18 -0400 I was very pleased to find that your site had information about sucralose, as I have been wary of trying any sugar free products after my experience with aspartame. Last summer, I was trying to lose weight, and consumed a lot of "diet" products, including soda, yogurt, and various desserts in addition to other low-fat products. Several weeks later, I started to pass out every so often during the day, and I had an almost constant migraine headache. I eliminated aspartame from my regimen and within a couple of days, my headaches became less severe. When I consulted my nutritionist, she told me that I should avoid aspartame in the future because I was probably allergic to it. I have since avoided it like the plague. Thank you for your valuable information, and I hope my experience can help others. ------------------- Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:19:30 +0200 From: xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xx To: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame & Co Dear Mark Gold, I have been off aspartame now since 21st February 2003, being close to 5 months now. I think I'm coming back to the normal world which has been the worst nightmare for the past 8 - 9 years at least. You wanted information on developments - well - I think I tell you my complete story, as now I realise so many things that have been going on and I couldn't connect. I hope this information can also help others to get back to a normal functioning brain and life. The symptoms that have for sure weakened and almost disappeared are - heavy confusion - memory loss and disorder - chronic fatigue syndrome - bloated stomach - diarrhoea with cramps in intestines - strong feelings of panic and fear - temporary insomnia - depression - hip and joint pain - hair loss (and all this just by taking 4-8 pieces of chewy V6 a day) - no coke light, no other diet products, nothing alike) It took though over 3 months before I noticed the real change in my head, not being so heavy anymore and being able to think again and also remember things. I was so far gone that I sometimes could not remember my own address and phone number. I don't think it is necessary that I express what I feel towards Monsanto & Co. and all people involved in this, as many others have said it on your website quite clearly. I am very grateful for having found all information on your site and once again to say - You saved my life and that of many of us. Thank you so much. My life changed when I was diagnosed for hyper-prolactinemia in early 80ties and as this whole area was quite unexplored (and I had no medical knowledge as to how the human brain functions with its pituitary gland and hypothalamus), I was put on PRAVIDEL (Bromocryptine) and the dose was increased up to 10mg per day. This stuff put me so much off reality - I was just happy to survive a normal working day, and needed 9-10 hours sleep to be able to survive at all. The doctors never found a reason for this hyperprolactinemia and they could also not explain why, despite high medication intake, the PRL levels would not stay low. Thinking back now, at that time already I used "aspartame" chewing gum, maybe not so much - and I did for a period of time use artificial sweetener in my coffee (for maybe 1 year) which could well have been the cause for this disturbance in hormones. But during the treatment with Bromocryptine, I could not distinguish between the symptoms of the medication and the ones from aspartame. I was not aware of anything around me. When I was completely desperate with this medication - and the doctors said I had to take it to the end of my life - there was no alternative (I refused removal of an at the time 6-7 mm large micro adenoma), I decided in 1998 to stop all medication from one day to another, without consulting any med. advice. I could not life any longer with this strong stuff (also used for Parkinson's disease) being always dizzy and tired, etc. etc. After over 6 months of heavy withdrawal symptoms you can possible think of, and when that was over, I still remained with a very dizzy head, headaches, bloated stomach, heavy confusion, memory loss, panic attacks, etc, etc, etc. - which I thought would disappear now. The only problem that added to it - I was not drugged up anymore and calmed down. So all these symptoms were extremely strong and I could hardy bear it. After 1 year, the mico-adenoma had reduced to 1-2 mm (which it still is) but blood tests still indicated high PRL levels messing up of course the oestrogen production and all related to it. And up to Feb this year, I have been working my way through this nightmare with all above problems. The past 2 months have for me been the best ones during the last 10 years minimum. I still have high PRL, but hope that maybe the body can partly recover during the next months - I do not know to what extent the damage is irreversible - headaches GONE, the pain I had since over 10-13 years in my hip is GONE, pain in the points of the fingers GONE, pain in my neck GONE and physical body pain when waking up in the night - ALL GONE. My eyebrows have not been growing anymore for the past 15 years, and - since 3 months, they start growing back - it is simply amazing. So does my hair - I don't loose so much anymore, and lots of it grows again I feel energy coming back. And that is great. During the entire period of PRL problems, I read so many medical books on the functioning of the brain and have acquired quite a knowledge on that. But I had no reason to mistrust our food industry and all my research in finding out why the hypothalamus is completely in disorder failed due to that. It could have saved me so many years of nightmare. I have also since Feb this year read the "Exitotoxins - the taste that kills" and others on the subject and have also abandoned any sort of MSG from my food consumption which I find does me a lot of good. I noticed that when having any kind of MSG in the food, I feel very bad for the next few days, very dizzy and tired (not as bad as with aspartame through) In order to stay healthy, I have never ever smoked one single cigarette nor drunk one glass of alcohol - and then this discovery. It takes some time to deal with the fact that I poisoned my body over all these years. I will keep you informed on developments also on the prolactine levels as I know many people (not only women) have this problem - and I get the very frightening feeling that this is also partly done because of the aspartame. But I can neither prove nor completely judge it right now. I know only that I have never been so stressed that this could have caused it. Another victim was my sister - dealing with diarrhoea and arthritis in her eyes, causing serious infections that can lead up to blindness and we were so strongly trying to find out what causes it. Same for joint pains and bloated stomach. Since she stopped her 1 glass of sugar free lemonade in March this year, her intestines are back to normal and the eye infection has not reappeared so far. It is more than admirable what you do for all of us - and there will be many more that will need this info. ------------------- From: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.com To: MGOLD@HOLISTICMED.COM Subject: ASPARTAME Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 15:55:28 -0600 I was drinking the flavored water from Sams not knowing about the problems with aspartame. I started having severe dizzy spells to the point it would affect one side of my body. It was like I did not have control of my leg movement. Any movement of my head I would experience dizziness. My head felt foggy. I went to the doctor 5 times in about two months trying to figure out what was wrong. He thought it was fluid built up around my middle ear and put me on water pills for about two months. This did not help. When I would get the dizzy spells which where numerous times during the day it would drain all my strength. I lost most of my summer not feeling good. I had notice every time I would drink the flavored water I would instantly get a weird feeling in my head. I was telling someone about it and they told me that aspartame was not good. So I quit drinking it and all my systems have disappeared. I will never use this stuff again. I really believe it should be banned. My sister had been also drinking propel water and has been having problems. They are leaning towards MS. I believe the aspartame may be some of her problems also. ------------------- Yahoo Group: EntergeticMedicine From: Angela Date: Tue Apr 15, 2003 6:07 pm Subject: Re: [EnergeticMedicine] optic nerve inflammation I heard somewhere that South African adds aspertame to sugar. If that is true it is very difficult to avoid it. I am an aspertame poisioning sufferer and my headaches are on the right-rear part of my brain. Feels like swelling in my brain. I also have vision problems. The problem is that aspertame can now be put into anything without putting it on the label. ------------------- Living With Anxiety and Depression LWAAD MSN.Com Discussion Group Subject: General: Don't Drink the Diet Coke Stacy (Feb 6, 2003): I know, for a fact that diet drinks and any thing else, almost all chewing gum and candy (even the sugary kind, you have to read the labels) that contains aspartame is so, so bad for you. I have been suffering from severe panic and anxiety, dizziness all from aspartame. I recently began having severe night time panic attacks and traced them to a pack of sugarless chewing gum that I was chewing daily. I traced the diet drinks to my anxiety earlier in 2002, but didn't even consider all the other products. It's been a week since I've chewed the gum and a rash that I've had for three months has cleared up and my anxiety is steadily improving. Also watch out for MSG. I get almost the exact same symptoms. If you think about it, it's also a free form amino acid. Just thought this info might help some one. Also, if you're taking any meds for your symptoms and they are not getting any better, suspect an allergy to one of the many toxic subs out there. I figured this out when my xanax didn't help my panic attacks at all. Thanks! ------------------- Yahoo Groups: WhateverWorksWellness From: "Penny xxxxxx" Date: Thu Feb 14, 2002 10:50 am Subject: RE: [WhateverWorksWellness] Re: more on water, urban legends, smoking propaganda I get a highly uncomfortable dysphoria from consuming about half a soda drink with aspartame. It feels about ten times worse than having consumed way too much caffeine. I also get stomach pain. I avoid it like poison; to my body it is poison. Did you know psychiatric facilities do not serve it to their patients? Penny ------------------- Bodybuilding.com Forums > More General Categories > Nutrition From: xxxxxxxxxxxx (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) Subject: splenda? Date: 03-13-2003 09:57 AM Well Tank this is what I have found on Stevia. It is SUPER SWEET stuff. One puff of dust from the box when squeezed can be tasted across the room within minutes. http://www.stevia.net/ As for Aspartame, I was damn near non ambulatory with a diagnosis of beginning stage Multiple Sclerosis last year. Needing leg braces to do what little walking I could do. At the advice of a collegue I stopped ALL intake (and that isn't easy cause it's in almost everything non-caloric) of Aspartame (phenylalanine) and now, 4 months later I am 100% ambulatory without assistive devices and bulking muscle like crazy. I don't mean to knock the product but for some people with unknown PKU sensativity (ME) it can be a long term death sentence onsetting MS. I wrote a thread on this and also have some pics up of my progress if you do a search of my name. [update] http://homesteadingtoday.com/vb/showthread.php?t=43196 Homesteading Today > Homesteading > Homesteading Questions A giant thanks for saving my life 03-22-2004, 10:24 PM Lt. Wombat I was in the same boat, and I'm a physician for crik's sake. I was diagnosed with MS after no one else could explain why I had visible holes in the myelin sheath of my spinal nerves. It debilitated me from a novice weight lifter to a shaking weakling, I even had my medical license limited to observation only, no direct patient invasive procedures allowed. I quit diet anything and today (1 year later almost to the day) I am 100% back to normal and lifting heavy again. My colleagues still poo poo away any thoughts that I had aspartame poisoning. In fact anyone during medical training who mentioned the words was labeled a “conspiracy weird’o) by the faculty and shunned. While my practice is orthopedics, if I were to encounter anyone with my symptoms I would have to think really long and hard if I were going to “officially” diagnose them with aspartame poisoning; but I have “unofficially mentioned” it to some people through this past year. ------------------- [Note: Due to numerous requests, we began updating this file/sampling of aspartame poisoning case histories on April 24, 2003 after a long break. See below for several years of additional aspartame poisoning cases.] -------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxx To: aspartame@holisticmed.com Subject: Yet another case Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 22:09:36 -0600 I am a 67 y/o RN with a master of science degree in management working in occupational and environmental health since 19xx. Through diet elimination strategy, I learned that my idiopathic pressure urticaria resulted from years of ingesting diet Pepsi and ingesting other "sugar-free" products containing Aspartame. The swelling was so intense at times that cortisone was the only relief. Now I carry an Epi-pen wherever I go. My allergist is xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, M.D. at the Medical College of xxxxxxxxxxx. ----------------- Curezone.com: Colloidal silver forum Subject: Re: Diet POP dizzy spell From: xxx < xxxxxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com > Date: 19:49 Sep 20 2002 (19:49 Sep 20) I was having dizzy spells, where I felt as though I had lost my sense of equalibrium. One was so bad I had to leave work that day (I am a school bus driver). It felt as though my brain stem had seperated from my spinal cord, or a least that is the only way I can think to describe it, everything went sideways for a second, then I felt as though I couldn't regain my balance. I have a friend who has MS, she told me she had had the same sort of dizzy spells before she was diagnosed. After a while I realized that everytime I drank diet soda especially large quantities ie. fast food serving, I would get dizzy. Now I try to avoid it but it's everywhere. It does not have to say "sugar free" it may just say "light" or "no cal" so read the ingredients on everything! I also have a friend who drank crystal light instead of water when she was pregnant. now her little girl has seizures but the doctors cant find a cause. ---------------------- Klever Registered: Dec 2002 Location: England 29-04-2003 05:47 PM TheSite.org boards > Anything goes > Diet coke withdrawls Since the day I found out what aspartame is, I have tried as hard as possible to cut it out of my diet, but in this day in age it is sooo difficult, they put aspartame in anything with sweetners, in that way coke would be better than diet, but please, don't go back to drinking the diet coke. When I cut it out, it was horrible, but within a week I was fine, I hardly ever drink coke at all now, but PLEASE DON'T go to the diet coke, rainbow is right, the aspartame is in no way good for u -------------------- Robot Lounge > GR FACTORY BREAKROOM > The Chemicals Thread Giantrobot.com forums atomiclotusbox 04-11-2003 03:22 PM aspartame is the devil. i used to have temporary fuzzy blindness spells. turns out i chewed too much winterfresh gum. stopped chewing it and never had those spells again. well, until last week, that is. i bought a back of spearmint gum and chewed half the pack in like three days. what happens? temporary fuzzy blindness spell. no shit. thanks for posting those links. more people need to know about this stuff. it's agonizing to me to know how so many people could improve their lives by just being conscious of what they ingest daily. so many ignorant people refuse to admit a link between what they eat and how they feel. i mean, that's just stupid to say there is no correlation but i know many many people who do just that. --------------------- http://www.pornisbad.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8718 Porn is Bad - Adult Webmaster Hell > Main Entrance > Confession Booth > This is a little spooky!! StacyCat Sinner I gave up drinking aspartene a while ago. I realized a few months after I did that my skin had cleared up. After reading a lot of stuff on it I will never touch it again! 04-30-2003 03:42 PM ----------------------- http://www.pornisbad.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8718 Porn is Bad - Adult Webmaster Hell > Main Entrance > Confession Booth > This is a little spooky!! Tam Hell's Dictator 04-30-2003 05:34 PM > My mom is diabetic! I am just over the line with it as well! My mom has > been using aspertain for years and drinks more diet Coke in one day then I > would even try to in a month. She has not had any side affects and does > not use any kind of sugar at all! I on the other hand have been drinking > diet pepsi (and any other diet colas) for the last 6 years! and {knock on > wood} have not had anything happen or noticed anything different! Well I have migraines something horrible and for a long time I knew all my triggers and I'd stay away from them...... so for months I have been having them again...... I just started using this shit about 2 years ago again......... and for that entire time I have been trying to find the one trigger that was causing the flare ups again. I stopped eating half the shit I was eating..... you name it, I went thru it. Little did I know that it was THIS shit and I have not had a headache in the week that I have been off of it. I have been having raging migraines again and they seemed to get worse all the time. Who would ave thought the shit in my damn VITAMINS was messing with me. ----------------- http://www.pornisbad.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8718 Porn is Bad - Adult Webmaster Hell > Main Entrance > Confession Booth > This is a little spooky!! goodgirl Hells Angel 04-30-2003 11:40 PM My husband worked in the nutrasweet plant for almost a year. He always came home covered in it. He said the same plant also makes anti freeze or something like that with it. He also said every person that works in the plant are way overweight, because they eat so much of it a day while working there. And it actually causes you to gain weight because your system slows down so much from it. And he also said the company that makes it knows that. So much for diet doing anything for you. __________________ Forum Index > Random Taggings > Issues and News http://www.spankmag.com/forums/disp_post.cfm/cc.43234/clt.30/page.html -=DerTodesengel=- posted 28 February 2003 9:35 PM (23k) Cherished Spank! UltraStar Delicious, delicious karma. Positive karma that is. Heh. Hey on a completely unrelated topic, anyone think that I may be allergic to aspartame, because of the fact that anytime I drink something diet I get an unbelieivably horrid headache and dizziness? Anyone? --------------------- Homesteading Today Forum Index -> General Chat Poor memory? It could be aspartame! http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=15990 neopossum Location: North Georgia Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2003 11:24 pm Post subject: Poor memory? It could be aspartame! Have you noticed your memory getting a little fuzzy lately? Can't remember names? Forgetting what you're supposed to be doing? Losing your car? I posted most of the following under the "Alzheimer's" caption a few days ago, but very few people have looked at that subject since. This information is important to anybody who wants to live cheaply because aspartame toxicity manifests itself in many forms, and some people spend tens of thousands of dollars on medical bills trying to figure out what's wrong with them when all they need to do is start reading labels and avoid aspartame. Many cases diagnosed as "Alzheimer's" have been cured when the diet was cleared of all sources of aspartame (NutraSweet). This is a severe neurotoxin that exacerbates any neurological dysfunction. Many patients who have been diagnosed to have multiple sclerosis have "miraculously" recovered within a few weeks after they removed all aspartame from their diet. I learned the hard way about the dangers of this so-called "food additive" that the FDA was bribed to approve. Drinking just two Diet Cokes per day, I reached a point where I could not even remember my address to tell a friend over the phone. I lost a career position because I could not remember the names of my board members. This went on for about eight years. When I finally decided to see if "those nuts" who said it might be aspartame were right, within three days after getting all NutraSweet out of my diet, the fog began to clear. Within about three months, my brain was working fine. After about a year, it seemed that my memory was better than before the bout with aspartame. I have since taught memory courses. I also taught Human Development to 7th quarter chiropractic students and gave them extra credit for knowing about the dangers of aspartame. Many of the graduating doctors later told me how much that knowledge helped them in their practice to aid their patients in clearing up a huge list of mysterious complaints. With what I know now, I would rather drink antifreeze than drink a Diet Coke. The stuff is in everything, even non-dietetic chewing gum, especially Wrigley's. For more information, go to dorway.com. Once you get past the bells and whistles, you can find some good, solid evidence to back up what I'm saying. One day, the lawsuits against NutraSweet, Monsanto, and the various major pushers of this poison, such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc., will make the tobacco settlement look like petty cash. The stuff not only wrecks your memory, but also causes cancer, panic attacks, etc., and very subtly eats away at your ability to make rational, logical decisions. Thus you have what I call "the Susan Smitt syndrome." It also causes you to gain weight by increasing your appetite for sweets. And it doesn't even taste good! If you want to live economically and a full, healthy lifespan you need to read labels with a magnifying glass and avoid anything containing aspartame, neotame, NutraSweet, or anything else that looks suspicious. It's in Equal, but it is not in Sweet'n'Low, which is saccharin and a little sugar. Even that's not good for you, but at least it won't kill you. -------------------- Homesteading Today Forum Index -> General Chat Poor memory? It could be aspartame! http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=15990 trulytricia Location: West Central Wis. Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2003 10:02 am Post subject: I also had a terrible problem with aspartame. I used the stuff for many years and all during that time I suffered from terrible depression. Everyday I would at some point have an awful sinking feeling, I can't even describe how bad it really was.I don't believe in getting pills from a doctor so I just lived with it.To make a long story short I discovered quite by accident it was the nutrasweet I used daily in tea and the couple of diet pops a week I would get.Since I quit using it I have seen many times when I would buy a diet drink at a gas station the next day that horrible feeling would return. PLease people if you know anyone who is depressed ask them if they use this product there's got to be alot of others out there. Another place to watch for this is in flavored water. ------------------- Homesteading Today Forum Index -> General Chat Poor memory? It could be aspartame! http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=15990 MIFarmGirl Posts: 100 Location: Good Old US of A Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2003 11:44 pm Post subject: Ditto on all the aspartame ragging! I used to drink the stuff because I could not handle sugar, until I started getting absolutely horrible headaches. Finally made the connection one day and stopped the diet pop - and improved tremendously. At one point I started drinking the diet soda again - and the headaches returned. So I know it was the aspartame. If I feel the need for soda, sparkling water with fruit juice really hits the spot. Caution on Splenda: yes, I know it's toted as the next non-calorie, okay to consume sweetener. But it is a byproduct of chlorine, and the long term effects have never been studied, either in humans, or in laboratory animals. Short term it has been linked to cancer, neuro problems - basically your typical carcophony of artificial sweetener linked health problems. Sorry to throw cold water - I thought Splenda would be the answer for me too - until I started reading about it. Guess I will have to make do with more natural things - fruit juices, and an occasional shot of sugar when the need arises! ---------------------- Homesteading Today Forum Index -> General Chat Poor memory? It could be aspartame! http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/viewtopic.php?t=15991&highlight=aspartame Annie in S.E. Ohio Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2003 4:10 pm Post subject: Aspartame IS bad news, as little as a quarter cup of any diet drink gives me the raging migraine headaches. So I have to read all food and drink labels very carefully. I worked for an internist for over 15 years, he was always wondering what was causing the sudden increase in cases of brain cancer ( brain cancer used to be extremely rare) over the past 10 years or so, I kept telling him it was the aspartame, I think he and the medical community are starting to listen! ----------------- https://www.efa.org/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=7428&messid=68539 FORUMS > LIVING WELL WITH EPILEPSY [ REFRESH ] Thread Title: Aspartame Warning! Created On Tuesday October 08, 2002 3:39 AM erminlady Tuesday October 08, 2002 3:39 AM I hope this is taken to heart! My cousin and my niece who have the diagnosis of MS both have been taken off Aspartame with dramatic improvement in their condition! My cousin is now out of the nursing home and back at home with her husband requiring only minimal help with her daily activities. My niece is out of her wheelchair and able to cook and care for her young children again. All because they stopped ingesting Aspartame. ---------------------- https://www.efa.org/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=6425&messid=58004 FORUMS > LIVING WELL WITH EPILEPSY [ REFRESH ] Thread Title: Foods Provoking Sz's? Created On Friday August 30, 2002 9:22 PM wobblesalot Saturday August 31, 2002 2:05 AM Great in put. I didn't realize Amy, probably showing my stupidity here, that vinegar like beer is ferminted. Huh? Wowzah - that can kill me with sz's and a headache but oddly it does occur reliably with a da or two wait. I can not get into my stpid diary becaue I am on stupid Dilantini and I have stupidly forgotten my stupid password but.... I forgot these: MSG - immediate drops and other sz types but what gets me is - it sends me into lilke a spiral.I don' t just seize for awhile. Get rid of it in my system. I get set up in a spiral. Aspartane - it' s bad for me. Sssets off absences, jerks and simpes and complex partials. Like clock work. But I do oh so grave a diet coke. Twice I've chated. Twice I've suffered. .... ----------------- http://www.calorieking.com/community/forums/posts.php?forum_id=11&top_id=6511 Calorieking.com Motivation & Success Stories Forum Re: small changes Author: PaminMaine Date: 7:26am, June 27th 2002 One of the changes I made was to no longer consume artificial sweeteners (aspartame, saccharin, etc). I had read an article a while back regarding joint pain and aspartame, but it took me a while to decide to give it up. I began using stevia (only a couple of days to adjust to the different taste - KAL brand is the very best!), but within a week the aches and pains in my back and joints had virtually disappeared. I now use only stevia for sweetening and cooking. Hope this helps someone. ------------------ http://www.einthoven.com/HyperNews/patient/get/arrhythmias/ventricular-diagnosis/18/3.html Discussion Forum for the Diagnosis of Ventricular Arrhythmias Forum: Ventricular Arrhythmias: Diagnosis Re: PVC's -My experience and what I am doing about it (Harry Roscoe) Keywords: PVC Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1998 02:34:21 GMT From: Harry Roscoe It is now 45 days since I stopped using all forms of aspartame/Nutrasweet and all of my PVC's have all but gone away. I get a seldom occuring minor hit of maybe 3-5 in a 1 hour period, but I also go 2-3 days with no PVC. TRY ELIMINATING ALL ARTFICIAL SWEETENERS> Check out the web page outlined in my original message. GOOD LUCK! ------------------ fiver2000 Registered User (7/15/00 12:56:05 am) Re: Really starting to get attention TimeBombY2000 > Chemtrails > chem trails and night manuvers http://pub5.ezboard.com/fyourdonchemtrails.showMessage?topicID=29.topic xxxxx, It may be the spraying, but then again, many of the symptoms you report are also common among people with aspartame poisoning. (aspartame is in Nutrasweet, diet drinks of all kinds, sugar-free gum and mints, Equal, flavored liquid Coffeemate, in Pedialyte and Augmentin, Children's Tylenol and Kids Centrum Vitamins, Metamucil ... the list goes on and on. There thousands of products that now contain aspartame. 92 symptoms (including yours - dizziness, fatigue, bloating, headaches) have been reported to the FDA by suffering consumers. Don't expect them to ban it, though. More info: http://www.dorway.com/badnews.html Many people don't think they're eating/drinking aspartame but it's in so many products if you don't read the fine print on the labels you may not know. --- Fiver, an aspartame "survivor" - finally free of it after 18 years of hell (fatigue, dermatitis, depression, anxiety, joint pain, mood swings, "brain fog", backaches, irritability, PMS, memory impairment and more ... ALL STOPPED WHEN I STOPPED USING ASPARTAME.) ------------------- http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/9906/msg00734.htm The Ganoksin Project Forums Jewelry Making Subject: Re: [Orchid] Hand Problems From: xxxxxx Date: Mon Jun 21 19:09:08 99 Hi Folks, This may be a bit controversial, but the use of aspartame, also known as Equal, has caused me incalculable harm. I have joint pain that has caused me to becom e legally disabled. This is not only from my diabetic neurological problems, but also from drinking diet soda and using Equal to sweeten things. Dr Aspler, I know that you are a medical doctor so I am including some info for you and the rest of Orchid to check out. I have been aspartame free for over 2 years and the change is remarkable not only to the mitigation of the joint pain, but also to many other symptoms. I would be happy to discuss this problem off list with any one. .... ------------------ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/199906/msg00788.htm The Ganoksin Project Forums Jewelry Making Subject: Re: [Orchid] Hand Problems From: xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx Date: Tue Jun 22 19:16:10 99 Hi Skip, I drank diet soda when that aspartame first came out. I would go on my daily bicycle ride which was a 13 mile trip around the Ocean Drive to my house. I would take a rest and drink one soda. This caused me to get very dizzy and lightheaded and I could not figure out the cause. Then I read that the aspartame changes to formaldehyde in your system if you drink it when you are working out and overheated. And we all know what formaldehyde is used for (frogs in jars and Angel Dust). As soon as I eliminated the aspartame the dizzy spells disappeared. Haven't touched the stuff since the first year they brought it out. ----------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Blood test level question Newsgroups: alt.support.diabetes.uk Date: 2003-05-01 13:44:19 PST I wish it were just a matter of tasting the stuff (which I can). I'm one of those people for whom aspartame causes severe migraines. ---------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001238.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Diet & Nutrition what is 'aspartme' and can it be harmful? creinha From:Bloomington, IN USA posted 02-28-2003 11:07 AM I was sick for a very long time. I was experiencing daily headaches, extreme fatigue, and depression. Doctor's couldn't find the cause of my symptoms. I finally ended up visiting a nutritionist. She determined that all my problems related to use of aspartame. About two weeks after I eliminated aspartame from my diet, symptoms went away. At first, I was really skeptical that aspartame was the problem but when the symptoms disappeared, I became a believer. Some time later, I read a book concerning the dangers of aspartame and it is very scary. I truly believe that aspartame is dangerous. I will NEVER use it again. I suggest you stay away from it too. --------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum38/HTML/001238.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Diet & Nutrition what is 'aspartme' and can it be harmful? ysone From:Roseville, MN, U.S.A. posted 02-28-2003 01:17 PM I have also had a very bad experience with aspartame. I was running to the doctor regularly for several years and had all kinds of tests done. They thought I was a hypochondriac and ended up giving me prozac for depression. That only magnified the problem because my system then had to eliminate two drugs instead of only one. After hearing that aspartame caused brain tumors, I stopped drinking diet sodas and my symptoms gradually disappeared. I truly believe that aspartame is very bad for people. --------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum51/HTML/001100.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Fibromyalgia aspartame survey gracieathome From:olympia WA USA posted 05-28-2002 12:07 PM I did eventually cut out diet soda and other aspartame containing products from my diet and I did feel much better. I tried Spenda (diet rite) a couple of times and got real sick and headaches from it. Now I just dont drink or eat diet anything. I cannot tell you in words how much better I feel. --------------------- From: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2004 4:33 AM To: mgold@holisticmed.com Subject: Aspartame! Dear Mark, I just stumbled across holistic.com's website and got very excited! I'm trying to figure out what to write about in my technical writing class, and I think Aspartame and MS-like symptoms would be perfect for me. I have another story to add to this website, but first I would like to ask you for recomendations for other websites, any scientific evidence supporting this, doctors that support this theory, etc. I think it would be great to write a technical report to the FDA or other authorities on this subject. Here's my story: I'm a 28 year-old male and about a year ago I started having MS-like symptoms. It started with a numbing sensation in my lips that moved to my tongue, nose, and the point between my eyebrows. A couple days later this sensation showed up on my finger tips. I started having vertigo and I was feeling more emotional than usual. A couple times I lost my balance and fell over which was very unusual. I didn't have any pain though. The first place I went for help was a chiropractor because I thought it was possibly caused by a pinched nerve. After I realized this wasn't working I tried acupuncture and chinese medicine. Finally, I went to my doctor only to find out these were MS-like symptoms. He was pretty sure I had MS, but to prove it he ordered a MRI. The neurologist I was seeing refered me to a neurosurgion and this scared me quite a bit. It turned out that I had a lesion in the tectal region of my brain. SCARY! He called it a tectal glioma and said it was a very rare brain tumor. He then ordered another MRI for three months later to check it's status. Fortunately the lesion was gone which proves I didn't have a tumor. He refered me back to the neurologist who took my films to a neurologist convention to see what they thought. It turns out they thought it was definitely MS. Shortly after all this, I received an e-mail that described how aspartame may be linked to MS-like symptoms. I used to chew lots of trident gum before I received the e-mail, and after I stopped using aspartame, my symptoms went away and have been gone ever since. I have no idea if it was the aspartame or if I really do have MS, but there does seem to be a correlation, and I haven't had any symptoms since I quit using aspartame. I must mention that one of my co-workers is going through the same thing I went through, and she drinks lots of diet pepsi. In fact, she's going to have a very painful nerve conduction test because nothing else has proven MS. ---------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum51/HTML/001100.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Fibromyalgia aspartame survey Creeping Crud From:Indiana posted 06-16-2002 08:00 PM Update: I'm now 2˝ weeks aspartame free.. I also cut out MSG (which, might I add, was a lot more difficult considering all of the products out there with MSG in them - no more Doritos or Stove Top Stuffing or Hidden Valley Ranch dressing or Campbell's Tomato Soup for me).. Considering how small the sacrifice was, I'm feeling remarkably better.. I have more energy than I've had in ages, the fibrofog is starting to lift and I haven't been as dizzy or lightheaded (which are all major improvements in my book).. It amazes me that something as seemingly inconsequential as drinking diet soda and consuming products laden with MSG might be responsible for the degree of my illness.. Why don't more rheumatologists suggest that their patients with FMS cut out these obviously wicked substances? It would've saved me a lot of trouble and years of feeling subhuman if I hadn't had to do all the research myself.. .... ---------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum56/HTML/000100.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Gulf War Syndrome Aspartame Poisoning Symptoms kelley64 From:Reno posted 04-08-2002 02:13 PM I can add a few symptoms to your list. I can't tolerate aspartame in large quantities... I get severe kidney pain, headaches and my periods get out of whack... The doctors thought I was nuts, but when I went off diet soda the problems went away. (the kidney pain and headaches immediately!) ------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum58/HTML/000329.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Headaches Migranes and aspartime? Karla From:madison, wi usa posted 09-02-2002 11:55 AM Aspartame definetly triggers migraines in me. It is not a good substance to consume. I quit drinking/eating diet/light products. You would be amazed at the number of products this stuff is in. It greatly reduced the number of migraines I was having. Good luck. --------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum58/HTML/000411.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Headaches What Food Should I stay away from for Migraines? simeone posted 02-10-2003 07:35 PM Hi There You should stop anything with aspartame, diet products. Since I stopI do not have half of headaches I use to have. Good Luck and Take Care. ------------------ http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum90/HTML/000131.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Neuropathy Aspertame Cause?? Margo4337 posted 07-02-2002 11:57 AM My sister and I were talking a couple of weeks ago and she told me that she had stopped taking Aspertame in any food or drink because of all of the warnings and info from web sites she has read about. She encouraged me to go to any search engine and type in Aspertame and start reading. After I did, I decided on my own to stop drinking diet pop, etc. Within two days, my night time foot pain, pins and needles etc., had decreased DRAMATICALLY!! It is week 2 and still hardly any night time pain and the day time numbness seems to be slightly better. Just curious if anyone has ever related these two and wanted to spread the word in case it helps others from this horrible night time problem. Let me know! Margo ------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum123/HTML/000176.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Vitamins & Supplements Can Aspartame Cause Stoumach Problems? donnahc From:North Carolina, USA posted 06-17-2001 09:31 PM I have irritable bowel syndrome. I do not drink any diet drinks of any kind. I do not use equal, sweet n low, or anyother substitute. If I do, I will bloat and cramp really bad for the next couple of days. I drink coffee every morning with sugar. I use to drink diet dew every day, coffee with sugar sub. every am. I quit those products over 2 years ago, and I have alot less problems with my IBS. ------------------ http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/000548.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Diabetes Aspartame danger Paula Webster posted 12-30-2002 01:12 AM I wanted to warn my fellow diabetics about aspartame (NutraSweet, equal, spoonfull, etc) I loved pop and I drank almost a 12 pack a day. I became so ill while drinking diet drinks, but I didn't have any idea what was causing my problems. I could no longer walk very far. When I walked to my car in the drive way I would have to stop a rest 2 to 3 times to make it. I had extreme fatigue, extreme memory loss (I would forget easy words for things like "shirt"), I would suddenly lose my balance and stagger for no reason, I had blinding migrain headaches, and worst of all I had finally developed horrible pain in my body even my face. It was like having your hand in a vise and someone just continued to clamp down tighter. I had reached the place where I just moaned in constant pain. I never dreamed I would ever had my normal life back again. A friend sent me a article about aspartame and it's toxic effects. I stopped all forms of diet pop, food, whatever. After a few weeks, I thought I was getting better, but I was afraid it was wishful thinking. Five months later, I was walking Walmarts shopping again, I remember most words now although sometimes I have to think a few minutes first. After years of constant headaches, I rarely ever have any these days. But, best of all, the pain is gone!! I am about 98%pain free. All I changed in the 5 months was I didn't touch a drop of anything with aspartame in it. It goes under a lot of different brand names. Also, Monosodiumglutmate (MSG) is a nurotoxin that works just like aspartame in destroying nerve endings. So read your ingredients carfully. Aspartame can be listed as, "high frutose syrup" "certain numbers" "artifical flavoring" etc. Ever notice the number of electric carts that have popped up in stores for shoppers. Aspartame mimics MS, triggers diabeties, and so much more. There is no where near enough space here. Your quality of life may depend on your knowledge about aspartame. ---------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/000537.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Diabetes Sugar Free Products and Diabetes Simmer From:New York posted 12-25-2002 06:31 PM I believe that nutrasweet is dangerous to anyone not just diabetics. I used to get tingling in my hands and feel like I was on drugs when I was consuming diet soda and snacks. It was like moving in slow motion sometimes as I would move my arms. I don't take any medications so that explaination is out. It took about a week or two to get out of my system when I stopped using it cause that's when my symptoms went away. I then went to a couple of websites about it and it explained that it does have a culmulative affect and does cause such problems. One was discribed as feeling unreal. Natural furtose is safer. Even Slenda. --------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/000537.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Diabetes Sugar Free Products and Diabetes ldsbumpma From:Wise River, Montana, USA posted 01-11-2003 08:23 PM I just wanted to say that I can tell if I have had any aspartame because I immediately get a really bad headache. Someone told me that it was actually wood alchohol? Anyway, I use Splenda in moderation and have had no trouble with it but search every label to make sure it doesn't have aspartame. ------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/000443.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Diabetes Aspartame Toxicity Alohamensch36 From:Honolulu, HI posted 12-27-2002 05:20 AM [QUOTE]Originally posted by pburgbeanie: [B]Has anyone ever heard of Aspartame Toxicity? I have recently read alot about it on the web. Here's the deal, I drank diet sodas for 16 years. I would say from 2-4 liters a day. My wife made me a detox tea from herbs and stuff. Sweet Jesus have mercy, I thought He would take me then and there! Since stopping the diet sodas I have regain my memory, stamina and clearity of thought. Some can handdle that stuff, I can't. In case anyone is wondering the diet sodas did not cause the onset of my type ll. Here in Hawai'i we eat a very high carb diet. It's not a meal if we don't have a lb of rice! Hope this helped. ------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/000443.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Diabetes Aspartame Toxicity tenntod posted 11-30-2002 02:43 PM Hello, I can share a personal story with everyone about my experience with aspartame. It was about 10 years ago. I was a diet coke addict. I drank about 2 liters a day. Oh, I loved the taste so much and began noticing that I seemed more and more thirsty when I wasn't drinking my diet cokes. I'd estimate I drank this amount for about one year. Then one day I decided I was going to quit drinking diet coke. Mainly because I had read a article about aspartame tocicity. It was in a newsletter I received in the mail from Dr. Julian Whitaker. So I quit cold turkey. Within 24 hours my body began to detox. I had a headache so severe I thought my head was going to explode. I was thinking this was probably from the caffeine. Then the detox really hit me. I spent days in the bathroom with liquid green stuff coming out of my bowels. I developed a high fever of 105 degrees. The perspiration coming out of my body smelled just like turpintine. It was horrible. I saw spider's on the ceiling and wall. I went to my doctor and he said I had the stomach flu. Folks I'm here to tell you it was not the stomach flu. I was going through a very strong and horrible detox as the aspartame was coming out of my body. Pure chemical smells from the bowels to the perspiration to my breath. This put me in bed for 5 weeks. There is no doubt in my mind it was aspartame poisoning/detox. To this day if I accidently get even a super small dose of Nutri-sweet, my eyes begin to swell shut along with my throat. As far as I'm concerned it is deadly stuff. The things we read on the net are true. People call me radical as well. I'm really very conservative. If you'll do your own research with this wonderful tool we call the Internet you will learn about things like, "Monsanto (the maker's of aspartame) pay the FDA huge amounts of money to say their product is "safe." Ultimately it comes down to the fact that each individual must make their own choice whether to consume this product or not. I choose NOT! And I can't honestly say I feel the FDA has the best interest about my health in mind. Tenntod ------------------- http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/000443.html HealthBoards Bulletin Board Diabetes Aspartame Toxicity bigmomma From:Glendale, AZ, USA posted 11-08-2002 05:17 PM Splenda may not be for everyone. I have had IB problems in the past, so that may explain my reaction. I ate one "candy" bar made with Splenda and was in the bathroom the rest of the night with severe stomach and intestinal cramps. Also, my daughter who doesn't have IB problems, had one fruit flavored drink made with Splenda and had the bathroom problem too. I also stay away from aspartame. I tend to be sensitive to non-natural substances. I can tell when I have accidentally sipped the wrong soda because my tongue and lips will immediatly go numb. Kind of like medicine head and later I will become an air-head (can't concentrate). It definitely had a bad effect on my brain so I stay far, far away. ------------------ http://www.coolrunning.com/forums/Forum4/HTML/001221.shtml How bad is Aspartame ? xxxxx from Boston Cool Runner posted Aug-10-2001 12:36 PM I am "allergic" to aspartame. I become dizzy, lose the ability to concentrate, feel VERY tired, and get headaches. All within a few hours of consuming, say, a 16 oz. can of Diet Pepsi or somethign comparable. For more information, take a look: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/ --------------------- iVillage.com: Losing Weight #10570.1 http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-fblosing/?msg=10570.1 discussion title: STOP THE DIET COKE!!!!!!! message #: 10570.1 from: AKTDRUM date: Apr-19 9:16 pm From 1990-2003 I drank Diet Coke. From 1990-2003 I gained 50 pounds. I stand 5'7 with a small frame and was beside myself with frustration from weight gain. I did Weight Watchers, Nutri-System, Atkins, Jenny Craig, Phen Fen, Atkins again....with no results. Many people over the years have told me that Aspartame i.e. Nutra Sweet causes obesity. Of course that makes no sense at all, right? Well, long story short. I started seeing a neuro-muscular massage therapist in October of 2002 for constant muscle pain and numbness. I am a professional drummer and have been doing it for years, so I assumed that it was overuse of my muscles that was causing me so much pain. Anyway, my therapist told me that my muscles were completely saturated in acid and that most of them weren't even working. She then asked me if I consumed cokes and things like that. I answered yes and she said that as long as I'm drinking them, my muscles will continue to ache and not work. So, for that reason alone, I had my last Diet Coke on New Year's Day, 2003. Determined to keep the muscles pain from coming back, I stuck to it. In order to get my caffeine, I drink black coffee with NO sweetener of any kind, and unsweetened iced tea with lemon. Here is the catch....With no dietary changes other than quitting Diet Coke, January 1st, 2003 I weighed in at 149 pounds, and convinced that I would never be slim again. Today, April 18th, 2003, I weigh 120 pounds. No exercise, no dieting...NO DIET COKE. Please e-mail me if you have any questions at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. I am now a size 6, down from a 10 and I have no muscle pain anymore. ---------------------- http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-fbkathysmith/?msg=9195.8 iVillage: Ask Kathy Smith re: Does anyone else have chronic congest... message #: 9195.8 in response to 9195.1 from: visiondoc date: Mar-20 9:31 am I eliminated a lot of that when I eliminated Nutri-Sweet (aspartame) from my diet. ............ ------------------ http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-fbwwatchers/?msg=16553.1 iVillage: Weight Watchers discussion title: I have a problem, even before I start... message #: 16553.1 from: iamroxi date: 9/5/2002 12:04 pm I have a problem, even before I start...*m* What do you do about sugar substitutes you are allergic to??? Has anyone else had this problem? I break out in hives from aspartame and nutrasweet containing products ANY suggestions?? Thanks! ------------------ http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-fbwwatchers/message.asp?webtag=iv-fbwwatchers&msg=16553.4 iVillage: Weight Watchers re: I have a problem, even before I start... message #: 16553.4 in response to 16553.1 from: 9093 date: 9/5/2002 12:27 pm Aspartame gives me migraines. You can do it w/o sugar substitues (m) I am not willing to try the other subsitutes because I don't want to risk a migraine. You don't have to rely on altered products to do the program and be successful! Some of your foods will have higher points values, but that beats hives, doesn't it? Some of the WW foods have aspartame, so you have to be careful what you buy. If you want to try some of the other substites, go ahead. But I am here to say, you don't need to use sugar subsitutes to do the program and be successful. -------------------- http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-fbatkins/message.asp?webtag=iv-fbatkins&msg=33525.8 iVillage: Atkins Diet re: Diet Coke emoticon: message #: 33525.8 in response to 33525.7 from: determined2bme date: Apr-20 2:44 pm I do not advocate consuming anything with aspartame in it. A year ago I gave up diet drinks at the advice of a well-educated cousin, who warned about the harmful effects of aspartame. I was having horrible abdominal pain and had multitudes of tests run to determine the cause (I'm sure it was gallbladder related, but that could never be proven.) When I followed her advice and got rid of every single product I ingested with aspartame in it, my abdominal pain magically went away (although it took a few weeks.) I also learned from her that as aspartame is digested it turns into formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals. Since I don't need preserving just yet, I stay away from the stuff. ---------------------- AOL Health Community: Illness/Condition Message Boards / Headaches & Migraines / Migraine Headaches / Re: Food Message 2 of 10 Subject 33 of 50 Subject: Re: Food Triggers Date: 2/28/2003 10:37 AM Eastern Standard Time From: xxxxxxxxxx .... And the biggest thing I have to avoid: NutraSweet or any other artificial sweetener. I gave up diet sodas and felt so much better. Now if I even have a stick of gum with NutraSweet I get a bad migraine. -------------------- AOL Health Community: Illness/Condition Message Boards / Headaches & Migraines / Migraine Headaches / Re: Food Message 6 of 10 Subject 33 of 50 Subject: Re: Food Triggers Date: 3/5/2003 2:36 AM Eastern Standard Time From: xxxxxxxxxx I have found a trigger for me is nutra-sweet i take 2 sips of a diet pop and i'll have a migraine.New york peppermint patties trigger one for me too. ---------------- AOL Health Community: Illness/Condition Message Boards / Headaches & Migraines / Migraine Headaches / Re: Food Message 8 of 10 Subject 33 of 50 Subject: Re: Food Triggers Date: 3/17/2003 8:35 PM Eastern Standard Time From: xxxxxxxxxxx Anything with aspartane is a HUGE trigger for me. I have stayed completely clear of artificial sweetners for years. I recently discovered a natural sweetner that is considered "diet". It is called Stevia. It does not trigger migraines for me. Let me know if anyone else has used this and how this works for them. -------------- Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 14:19:04 EDT To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Nutrasweet Last night, I decided to do some browsing on the Internet concerning Nutrasweet. I have had severe problems in the past for many years with this stuff, but finally tested myself by leaving it alone for 3 wks. and found after just 2 wks. that I definitely could see a change in how I felt . My mother is experiencing health problems and my sister , who has also found that she can't tolerate it, and I started to do some research last night to find out why she is having this particular problem . .... Haven't been able to convince her of this yet. I asked her the last time I visited with her , to leave it off for 3 solid wks. and see if she noticed a change. She's reluctant to do it. I can understand it. It took a friend from October to August , three yrs. ago, to convince me to try leaving it off for 3 wks. . I'm so glad that I did. I had thought that I was dying. I could hardly function. For over 10 yrs. , I experienced chronic diarrhea , severe stomach cramping, isolation because of the diarrhea, dizziness, depression, low energy. I even had one doctor to diagnose me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was experiencing weakness all over, especially my legs. I've had two MRI's since 1988 , thinking that I might be developing MS, also. I couldn't eat out without coming straight home. If my daughters wanted to shop , I could only go to one store, and then, come home. If we went shopping and they wanted to eat out, we shopped at one store and then ate, and then came straight home. At home, when I cooked a meal, I didn't have the energy to wash the dishes until the next morning. Since going completely off that stuff, I have slowly regained my ability to walk the length of the mall, can stay away from the house for longer periods of time. I don't have to hold on to shopping carts to maintain my balance. I still have some cramping and diarrhea, but it isn't nearly as bad as it used to be. I don't break out in cold sweats anymore or feel faint , worrying if I'll make it to the restroom. Please forgive me for being so personal in this letter. No one knows how I've suffered due to this. If my letter helps one person to leave Nutrasweet alone , or help change Diet Coke , or get it off the market, it's well worth my time to write this. ----------------- From: Claire (xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.com) Subject: Re: regenerist--review Newsgroups: alt.fashion Date: 2003-04-23 08:27:26 PST I used to drink a diet soda with lunch. Then I switched to decaf diet soda for lunch to eliminate the caffeine. Did this for a few months and slept better at night. Then I switched from decaf diet soda to sparkling mineral water to eliminate the aspartame and I noticed how much better I functioned in the afternoon. It was amazing how foggy-headed the aspartame was making me. Sometimes I would give in a have a diet soda but only if I knew I didn't have any tasks to do that were mentally strenuous, because I was more focused and could think more quickly when I avoided aspartame. Now I try to avoid aspartame in everything. It is even in yogurt! .... ----------------- From: RP (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.com) Subject: Re: regenerist--review Newsgroups: alt.fashion Date: 2003-04-23 05:21:30 PST Aha! Another convert back to sugar? I actually used to think the people who warned about aspertame were neurotic and the type who were afraid of 'anything new'. I loved diet soda, using the stuff on my cereal, on fruit, etc. Well, it took a couple of years, but I noticed I was having daily headaches. I cold turkied (is that a verb :-) ?) it and the headaches stopped immediately. Can only imagine what it was doing to my internal organs (the major rant of my acupuncturist). ----------------- Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 16:48:49 -0600 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: My aspartame story. I would like to register a complaint about Nutrasweet. I have experienced headaches, short term memory loss, dizzyness, and seizure-like symptoms while consuming this product. Because of the above symptoms, I spent several years seeing neurologists who ran a litany of tests. Amazingly, all tests showed absolutely no abnormailities. According to the doctors they could not identify any reason for the seizures or other symptoms. Nevertheless, I should take the seizure medicines tegretol and neurontin. All along, I new there was a cause for the symptoms even if the neurologists couldn't find it. I am not one to give up without an answer. ...and I knew the seizure symptoms did not appear out of the blue. .... However, I remembered during a 3 month trip to Malaysia, during which I had no access to Nutrasweet, that I had no seizures, no headaches, no memory loss. Just a coincidence, absolutely not. Therefore, I decided to try a little experiment. That experiment was to end the consumption of all aspartame, and of my seizure medicine. That day was December 27, 1997, my birthday. Since this day, I have not had any seizures, any headaches, my memory has returned, and I feel 100 times better. Coincidence, not at all. I had been having headaches daily. I had been having constant memory problems which threatened the completion of my MBA. I had been having seizures regularly even while on neurontin and tegretol. Coincidence, that all the symptoms ended when I removed aspartame from my life. Absolutely, positively not. Seems to me that I may well be able to prove a causal relationship between the my consumption of Nutrasweet and my health problems. Therefore, I am in the process of searching for an attorney. For now, I realize that this is just anecdotal evidence, and that Monsanto doesn't give a damn about my health. Though in an very minute way they care about me because I will never consume that which is poison to me...Nutrasweet. ----------------- Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 15:52:36 -0400 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Aspartame Victim I would like to tell you about my personal experiences with aspartame and what I feel that it has done to me..... In the last two years I have become a *heavy* Diet Pepsi drinker (approximately 2 two liters a day, plus NutraSweet in my coffe, and many so called "diet" products once my weight gain began.... and I the more NutraSweet I consumed the more weight I put on....) hearing things about how NutraSweet was bad for you, but never really knowing the facts. I don't know exactly how long after starting to drink that much of the soda my symptoms started to appear, but I would say that it was about six to eight months. For a little over a year now I have had to deal with *tremendous* weight gain. I always had a little bit of extra meat on my body, but I was always active enough to keep it level. I never changed weight much, but in the last year I have put on approximately 70 pounds, all in my thighs and hips. (This may or may not be all from aspartame, obviously, but I don't know....) In addition to the weight gain, I have had AWFUL mood problems. I have been diagnosed as manic depressive, and have started to have anxiety attacks. I don't know how much of my other physical ailments were caused by aspartame, but before I list them let me say that previous to my drinking the soda all the time, I didn't have any of the symptoms. I was an average, mostly healthy 19 year old girl. I have always had very very minor arthritis (since I was a child) and very light athsma (never "attacks", but it made normal colds worse)...... the rest of these things, I never had ever had wrong with me until I started drinking the soda all the time. anxiety attacks/panic attacks bloating breathing difficulties/chronic cough burning urination VERY CHRONIC FATIGUE depression (Very Badly) EXTREMELY EXCESIVE THIRST AND HUNGER face flushing thinning/losing hair extreme loss of sexual feelings (has caused huge problems with my fiancee and I) inability to concentrate insomnia (Severe) irratibility itching joint pains VERY marked personality changes memory loss/poor memory/not as good as it used to be EXTREMELY MESSED UP menstrual cycles numbless/tingling of extremities EXTREME WEIGHT GAIN I am now 21 years old, and I honestly feel like I'm an 85 year old. (No offense to anyone older, but I think you get what I mean...) I just don't feel young and full of life the way I used to. I thought these things were all wrong with me because of my "manic depression" that the doctor said I had. I thought that all of it was in my head.... I have spent time actively thinking that I am an awful human being, fat and lazy and worthless. Tracing these emotions backwards, I realize that they all started after my HEAVY consumption of Diet Pepsi started. I used to be vibrant, full of confidence and able to spend a day being physically active with the best of them. Now I can't do any of those things. [update] Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: My 60 days is over!! I am just writing to update my personal aspartame story. ;) Sometime a little over 60 days ago I wrote to you with my horror story about aspartame. I am the 21 year old who felt as though I were 95. I had a list of symptoms as long as my arm, and was convinced that my entire life was on a downward spiral into destruction. But now!! 60 days later and I swear to God I feel like a new person. My personality has just changed so much!! I feel like I did years ago, before I started putting that poison into my body. The panic/anxiety and depression and nastiness has just faded away. My sleeping patterns have returned to normal. I eat and drink like a normal person now, without the excessive consumption. I can move like I used to, without the pains and aches.... Just so many things about me have returned to how they should be. I'm 21 again and just so happy I could scream!! I just wanted to write to you and thank you for all the information you have out there about aspartame. I have told friends and family, I have taken the flyer to the supermarkets and other local places and I think that people who I have talked to about it have started to listen! It's wonderful. I am a tribute to the values of keeping that junk out of your body. It's an awful good thing my boyfriend loved me enough to stay with me through all the horrible mood swings and things I put him through.... He's getting quite the benifits also, from the me he used to know before I started to become a bitter old person. Thank you xxxxxx, for spreading the word about this. I appreciate it more than I can say. ----------------- Date: Sat, 28 Mar 1998 18:50:41 -0800 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Recent diagnosis of MS Hi. Thank you for being here. I have used Aspartame since it came out. I would use at least 10 packs per day! ACHHHH! Well, I started tripping and falling 2 and 1/2 yrs ago; before that, I was told that I was an early [30y.old menopause]! Well I called the tripping part "peripheral Neuropathy". Finally, a brain scan was requested-probable MS. Then 3 wks ago, I learned that ASPARTAME mimmicks MS! I quit anf PRAYED really hard. A spinal tap was done , and there are 4 or 5 bands in my CSF. .... Oh, and ASpartmae DID make me crave sweets, and I did NOT lose any weight! [continued] To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: xxxxxxxx Date: Thu, 14 May 1998 13:10:07 -0700 I had been OFF aspartame 3mos and was feeling pretty well; THEN I had a snowball. The tingling started in my legs and feet, I lost my balance, had a headache that persisted for 6hrs, couldn't sleep and had the bathroom urges.Asparatame DID IT!!!!!!!!!! All that money and detoxers have been wasted because there was aspartame in the syrup! No MORE snowballs!!!!!!!!! If I don't prepare it, if it doesn't come from a health dood store, AVOID IT!!!!!!!!! [continued] Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 11:41:35 -0400 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: aspartame case Hi. Thanks to xxxxxx, I have been OFF aspartame for three months! I couldn't FEEL my hands and toes and would trip and fall!! Now I can feel them!!!! Chewing the sugarless gum or anyting with aspartame is really bad since it works through the amalgams and GETS into your BRAIN!!!! Then , the "doctors" will identify lesions and diagnose MS, when actually they are aspartame lesions. It is a deadly neurotoxin, and we need to get it OFF the market! EVERYONE has a side effect. Lord, help us! [continued] To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: GOOD NEWS!!!!NO MS!!!!!!! Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 15:13:55 -0700 Well, I have been detoxing from aspartame since Feb 1998, and TODAY, the #1 MS Dr. in N.O. told me that I presented as NORMAL with NO MS symptomology!!!!! ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Thank you Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 19:32:03 PDT I began to have head tremors about a year or so ago, and they were getting worse. Whenever I was tired or sitting still watching TV or (very embarrassing) in the middle of a meeting, my head would shake. To the degree that caused me great concern. I went to the doctors but all test including an MRI told me nothing was wrong. I knew better. So I got on the internet and put in "head tremors" that's when I found the aspertame reaction page. You have no idea what it was like to "Possibly" know what was wrong. After 2 months of giving up aspertame, my head still shook and I was about to give up, thinking I must be wrong, but into the third month of not drinking my usual 3 diet cokes a day, not only have the tremors let up, I can actual think much, much clearer and don't forget what I'm saying in the middle of a sentence. I feel like the "fog" I have been in has lifted. But that's only the beginning. Ten years ago I almost died... are you ready for this from seizures that had no cause, no cure. Back then I drank diet soda constantly also and gave it up during one of my "hospital" stays. They never did find out what was wrong with me. I was on medication like you would not believe when I was sent to a doctor at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT who decided to remove me from the unbelievable amounts of medications the previous doctors had me on to start from scratch. I was even scheduled to have surgery to have a part of my brain removed to stopped the seizures. But as she began to lessen my medication, I was able to stand up and walk across the room without having a seizure, I was able to remember who had just visited me, I could go on, but you get the picture. The final diagnoses because there was no other answer was and I quote "convulsive syncope brought on by non-epileptic medicines". I went from an invalid who could not move to an unbelievably busy person. When the tremors started, so did the fear. I will never know if it was the aspertame that almost killed me, all signs point to that fact, but I do know for a fact, that the aspertame caused my tremors and brain fog. Thank you for spreading the word, I look forward to feeling better and better every day. And please encourage people to not give up, the poison takes time to get out of your system. ----------------- Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 11:46:27 -0500 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame Illness Diagnosed............ I am a type II diabetic and had been taking Nutrasweet for years. I had noticed that stress and anxiety in my body, specially in the morning on waking up and stretchy legs at night. I felt uncomfortable with this unexplained stress but the doctors could not identify it. I had also noticed over the last several years difficulty in memory and attributed it to old age. I am 48 and thought that this is what starts happening when you get old. Oh yes, I had also noticed severe joint pain specially in shoulder, hips, and knees. I recently had some intense periodontal work done and was put on tetracycline medication for infection. Within one week I had an acute vertigo attack. I thought I was having a stroke and was whisked to the ER at the hospital. I was told by doctors that there was no explanation for this and given medication. The vertigo subsided as I told the doctors of my now morning stress and anxiety, and that my body was telling me something. About a week later the morning anxiety got so bad that I had to go to the ER again and beg for help. A triage nurse talked to be and both her and the doctor tried to convince me that since I was recently looking for a new job, the anxiety was in my head. They put me on Buspar. I kept on saying something is not right and even though the Buspar took the edges off the anxiety or panic attacks I felt like life was soon coming to an end. Very scary and depressing. Searching the net with my symptoms I started to see a pattern and then one morning last weekend a got a severe anxiety surge just after I had eaten some cereal with Nutrasweet spinkled on it. Could it be that I am allergic to Aspertene? I stopped using it and within several days felt like a new person. I can sleep at night and life is looking great. I thought I would pass this on to you. You can repost it or use this information at you see fit. Please in return let me know of possible organizations or others, specially diabetics that I can pass this on too. I wish I had known sooner, since I would imagine that serious damage has been done to my body and I am sure overall affected my life span. I am angry at how such a damaging product is still being used. [continued] Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 17:48:28 -0400 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: So much improvement off aspartame. Just thought I would give you an update. I don't know if this is important in your records but I thought I would pass it on. When I had my acute vertigo attack and thought I was having a heart attack, I noticed a slurring or drooping of one side of my mouth, I think it was the left, but not sure. I told the doctors that I had this sensation and the looked puzzled since it is not common with a vertigo attack. It was temporary just during the initial attack. I have never had, and hope I never again, another vertigo attack so I really cannot compare the severity of my attack with anything else. It seemed to me that I was having a heart attack. Also, the vertigo attack and anxiety attacks were worst in the morning when just getting up. Just thought I would pass this on since you seem to be the center of data collection. Right now I feel great. My energy level has skyrocketed and my daughter who is 21 complains when she visits now because we are always walking or going somewhere. She used to like coming over to visit because we would just sit and veg. Have already lost 15 lbs in the last couple of weeks. It will be time for some new clothes pretty soon. This reversal in my body in no way can be a coincidence. Enjoy your list messages. ----------------- Date: Mon, 23 Feb 1998 11:13:01 -0500 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame reaction I found your site just in time and it has stopped me cold. I no longer use anything with Aspartame. In 1992, I was diaganosed with Severe Hypoglycemia. I was told to not ingest any sugar whatsoever, and I was put on a strict diabetic exchange diet. Months went by and in october I began finding a bunch of sugar free alternatives to those things I loved so much - ice cream, candy, hot cocoa etc. Well, after several months I began to develop acne. Keep in mind that I had never had a pimple in my life and I was 22 at the time. Well, I tried ewverything - accutance, retin a, euryderm etc. - It helped a little. Then in 1995, I began ingested a lot more nutrasweet - on my cereal, in my tea, several diet cokes a day. Well, I began to develop anxiety and sleep disorders - I did not sleep for a week. I became obsessive and plagued with worry. I thought it was caffiene - si I stopped it. It became a little better. Well, I still had pimples and in 1996 I got cystic acne and was still wired. After going from doctor to doctor and having my hormone levels checked and told that there was nothing wrong - I became frustrated. My face looked like hell - swollen and oily and it hurt - my self esteem was in the crapper. I needed to do something - so, I thought about the time when this started coming around. I traced it back to when I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia. That is when I started with nutrasweet - so in december I stopped. WOW, My face cleared up in about a month - totally. I have slept through the night for the last two months - no anxiety - nothing. I am happy to say that after having quit music from "performance anxiety" that I am able to do that again. Another thing I noticed was I no longer have back aches and my PMS is not as bad. Pretty amazing huh? And they say this stuff isn't bad for you. Well, I am living proof, as are all of the other people on here, that it is bad - VERY BAD - even life threatening. Thank you ----------------- Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 06:20:01 EST To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Final submission - Symptoms complete This is a very accurate account of my life on aspartame. Seems to me that anyone who is using aspartame and having problems could find correlations with their symptoms as I did with mine. I connected dates with employment and events that I was certain of dates and that is how I have develped this list of symptoms. Symptoms of Aspartame Poisoning Actual Case History Seizures and Convulsions - First grand mal nocturnal seizure was 01/96, then: 03/25/97, 03/29/97, 04/29/95, 10/25/9 (two during the night), 01/05/98. Dizziness & Tremors - Severe dizziness and unbalance at my mother and father's 40th Aedding Anniversay mass--brother caught me from falling (that was 1990). Intermittent unbalance and dizziness from 1993 to 1997. The symptoms disappeard afer April 1997 after completley quitting the ingestion of Nutra Sweet. Severe Headaches - Yes - For 15 years I thought I had sinus headaches. Generalized in the post-surgical area on the left side of my head. Occasionally, the headaches would involve either my whole head, my frontal region or just the left side. Headaches severity subsided after April 1997. Became intense after that, but completely went away after January 25, 1998 to the present. Memory Loss - Yes - very noticable in 1994-1997, especially when I worked for an attorney's office Disappeared after April 1997. Slurred speech - Yes - very noticable in 1994 - 1997, especially when I worked for an attorney's office. Disappeard after April 1997. Confusion - Yes-occasonally since 1993 -- totally disappeard after April 1997 Numbness or Tingling of Extremities - Yes--occasional - totally disappeared after January 25, 1998. Chronic Fatigue - Yes--very noticeable from 1993 to 1997. Still lingered after that but not as severe. Most severe when working in the Attorney's office. Subsided after April 1997, but totally disappeared after January 1998. Depression - Occasionally down, but not extreme--seems to be gone also since January 25, 1998 Insomnia - Severe since 1993. Severe up until January 1998. Very infrequent now. Irritability - Yes--I blamed it on the career change from 1993. But I still was irritable doing what I loved doing for a living--being an artist. I didn't understand. Some still lingers, but a noticeable positive change since January 25, 1998 after quitting the creamer. Panic Attacks - Yes - severe at night upon awakening and right before I would have a grand mal seizure. It was so much improved since April 1997, but still present until January 25, 1998--once I quit the creamer, this symptom has occured one time without the threat of a seizure. Marked Personality Changes - Yes--most noticebly withdrawn (so one family member noticed) and didn't feel like I fit in since 1993 - the career change into being a full-time artist in 1997 helped improved that, but I still knew something wasn't completely right. My shyness was to a greater degree. I feel like I am the person I once was before 1993, but I am still very shy and intimidated at times, but all of that seems to be better since January 25, 1998. Phobias - YES--extreme---afraid of going to sleep because I thought I would die during a seizure. After January 25, 1998, that symptom completely disappeared. Rapid Heart Beat & Tachycardia - YES--very extreme at different times since 1993. This symptom didn't disappear after April 1997. It got so severe at times, I was over 120 BPM, and my blood pressure was very high. This symptom completely disappeared after January 25, 1998. Asthmatic Reactions - Yes--in the form of sneezing and apparent sinus congestion. Would wake up sneezing, and discolored drainage from my nose was present most of the day. Sneezing very infrequent since January 25, 1998. No change in this symptom after April 1997. Still severe up until January 25, 1998. Now moderate drainage remains. Chest Pains - yes-- off and on since 1993 - Completely disappeared after January 25, 1998. Hypertension High - First noticed March 1997 - 144/96. Only one time was it critically high, and that was in October 1997 - 168/102. It has been low since January 25, 1998 - 120/84. Nausea or Vomiting - Yes-only nausea - Usually accompanied the low blood sugar reactions I seemed to have during different time throughout the year of 1997. My first clue should have been years ago when I tried Diet Pepsi--I got nauseated right away and didn't know why. Diet Pepsi is the only product that gave me immediate nausea. Diarrhea - Yes--very noticable after a meal, but not frequent. First noticed in early 1997. .... Blood Sugar Control Problems - Yes--severe, even though I am not a diabetic. Approx. 4 times during 1997, I had severe low blood sugar reactions where I would start shaking and have to stop and get some sugar in me. Craving for Food - Yes--always wanted something, but never knew what I craved. Mostly since 1993. Since January 25, 1998, I have not had cravings. Now changing over non-processed foods. Weight Gain - Yes - 30lbs in the last 3 years. I never ate that much and rarely snack, but my body just gained the weight which was and still is impossible to lose until I detox my body from the formaldahyde I feel. Hair Loss (Baldness) or Thinning of Hair - Thinning of my hair has been very noticeable since 1995. [snip lots of symptoms: severe infections, itching, burning urination, excessive thirst, etc.] Joint Pains - Yes---As far back as 1993, I remember having joint pain every day and feeling like I was "old" at the age of 42. Since January 25, 1998, that all disappeared unless I eat something that contains MSG or hidden NutraSweet. My immediate reaction to those things is first sneezing, not feeling well and joint pain the next day. April 1997 was a significant time for me, because after 3 grand mal nocturnal seizures in less than 45 days, I completely quit ingesting nutra sweet in all foods and beverage. Throughout 1997 and as late as January 5, 1998, I had nocturnal grand mal seizures after not ingesting nutra sweet for all those months. That led me to believe that there was a real physical problem present OR it led me to believe that I was still ingesting nutra sweet unknowingly. The only thing I was still ingesting that DID NOT state anywhere on the container was the Nestle's French Vanilla Creamer. Afer completely quitting that on January 25, 1998 (I had enjoyed it since 1993), most all of my symptoms immediately disappeared and I have not been having any seizure activity. Though it is too early to tell, I have a hunch that the creamer does have nutra sweet in it, even though the company denies that it does. ----------------- Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: ASPARTAME -- PROOFS OF HARM Unfortunately, my own husband, Ken, was one of them. Late last summer he was having a bad headache located mostly on one side of his head. He went into the Univ. of Utah Medical Center for an MRI. They discovered a mass, more like a brain lesion. The Dr., who first examined him up in Payson (a town located between us here in Price, and closer to Provo) is a specialist in those sorts of problems, and recommended the MRI. .... Anyway, Ken cut out drinking the diet Coke, or anything at all which contained Aspartame or other artificial sweeteners. His headaches soon stopped, and when he went back for another MRI in early Feb. everything was clear,--no more brain lesion, or beginning of a tumor or whatever it was. When I contacted the Dr. again by E-mail about a month ago, he said that several of his other patients, who had also stopped drinking any diet sodas, had all of their similar problems cleared up, too. There are several other articles which I posted last fall, perhaps when you were away from the List. Among them was one describing how Japan had banned all Aspartame for the last 10 years or longer. STEVIA is being used instead, and Japan is now cultivating the sweet-leaved bushes there. ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame---Nutrasweet Date: Sunday, March 22, 1998 10:37 PM Had to send in my personal experience before stumbling off to bed.... I did have neurological symptoms that I feel were the result of consuming sugarfree desserts and drinks sweetened with aspartame. I had muscle tremors that made it feel like we were having an earthquake when I was trying to go to sleep at night. Since I completely stopped consuming any of these products the last 5 years I have had no shaking sensations... My son gets zero of these products. I noticed that when I ate desserts sweetened with aspartame the tremors returned. I think the stuff is VERY questionable. ----------------- Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 23:48:33 GMT To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspertame Adverse Reaction I would like to add my own story to that of the growing list of people who have suffered adverse reactions to aspertame. My story is actually an old one. Back when the cola companies first started putting nutrasweet in their drinks I decided that it was a good time to begin the use of artificial sweetners. Up until then I had avoided diet sodas because I didn't like the taste of sacharin. Well, I came home with my first can of diet Coke. I drank it with dinner - around 7 p.m. At around 10 p.m. as I lay down beside my husband to go to sleep I bagan to feel strange. It felt as if electricity was building up in my limbs and the next thing we knew I was having seisures in both arms and both legs. My limbs jerked around uncontrollably. My head swung from left to right as I lay on the bed. My husband was very upset; so was I. The seisures continued intermitantly for two hours, lessening with intensity as the time went by. I told my husband that I thought it had to be the soda doing it to me because I'd never had any kind of seizure in my life. Needless to say I did not have any more of the Diet Coke. I allowed a month to pass. During that time my husband waited to see if the seizures would reoccur. They did not. I, was convinced that it was the aspertame; he was not convinced. As an experiment, after one month had passed, I purchased a diet-Pepsi. I drank it in the presence of my husband one Saturday afternoon. The adverse reaction proceeded just as it had the month prior with the diet-Coke. After wating a few months I tried diet 7-UP. I really did want to lose weight without giving up sodas. Again, the same reaction as the first two instances. ----------------- Subject: Re: Do you drink crystal light? Date: 27 Mar 1998 12:58:40 GMT Newsgroups: alt.med.fibromyalgia >NO!!! I sure don't! I did when it first came out(I was in about 10th >grade),and it made me very sick. I was using it in everything-"Diet >coke" "Extra" gum "Equal",etc..... Finally my doctor figured out that >I was most definitely allergic to it. It gave me intense >headaches,blurred vision,balance problems(which was very embarrassing as >a member of a dance company!) and many other problems which I can't >remember now due to the "fog" in my head! Anyway, I abruptly stopped >using it and felt much better immediately. I avoid it now for those >reasons, but I don't entirly trust it as "safe" either. That's my >personal opinion. I'm not a person that trusts chemicals much,drugs, or >altered food. So that's my 2cents! I don't use anything with Nutrasweet either - soon after it came out, I tried it and twice got quite sick from it. Once waas a headache, body aches and the other time, it made me throw up! So I think I'm allergic to it. We just don't *know* longterm what the affects of that are. I discourage my hubby/kids from having lots of the stuff too. Real sugar has been around a long time, so we know more about that! I really don't like soda/pop at all - don't like the bubbles. I'm still on my apple cider trend adn thinking that the FMS might be causing that. As long as the store keeps carrying it - every half gallon I wonder if that'll be the last, but they still have it, so I'm thankful for that!! ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Questionairre Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 16:13:00 -0600 Medical problems that you believe are caused from using aspartame: I have experienced severe abdominal pain, bloating, feeling of being tremendously full all of the time even though I would hardly eat. Pain to the point of not being able to bend over. Regurgitation of food. I would become tremendously gassy. Why do you feel aspartame caused these problems? Because this went on for over one year. I thought I had a food allergy. I slowly began to eliminate foods that I felt could be causing it. I eventually had eliminated almost everything. It was by accident that I did not consume any asparatame one weekend, and felt better than I had in over a year. I thought it could be it, and completely stopped consuming it. I have not had one symptom since. Did the symptoms go away when you stopped using hte products? Yes, 100%. Did you see a doctor about symptoms? Yes, they ran numerous tests. Sent me to a digestive healthcare clinic. Put me on medications that required me to take up to 12 pills a day. I am not one to take medication, so I continued to attempt to figure it out on my own. Did Doctor think it was related to aspartame? No, I did mention it one time, but he did not feel that was it. Did you report your symptoms to the FDA or any other group? No, I have read a lot about affects of aspartame since I was so sick, but did not know where to report to. Specific products I was consuming: Crystal Light approx. a pitcher a day NutraSweet in every cup of coffee I would drink (2-Cups/Day) Trident ( I would chew a lot of gum) (1/2 pack/Day) Equal - on my cereal in the morning (1-Bowl / day) Sugar-Free Jolly Ranchers Sugar-Free Frozen Yogurt (1-Cup per day) I have since found other products (ie. gum) that is not sugar-free but contains asparatame yet. I look at every label now. I probably started experiencing these symptoms soon after using the products. I am very health conscious, so I began adding more to my diet over time. The symptoms definitely got worse overtime. I have consumed on occasion without my knowledge, small amounts since I have given it up. I can tell immediately, that my body cannot tolerate it. I am so against the use of it since I became knowledgeable of it making me so miserable for so long. I would just cry because I was so uncomfortable at times. It began to interfere in things I would do, I wouldn't go places. I truly believe that this product should not be on the market. I would be interested in any information related to my experience that you might have. ----------------- Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 08:38:43 -0500 Newsgroups: alt.support.diet Subject: Re: Nutrsweet Lies hi...i read your post and thought id tell you my story the short version.I drank 5-6 16oz of diet soda a day im small 100lbs (not anymore but i was)ive been doing this for atleast 3yrs.anyway about 8 months ago i got ill dizzy,weakened immune system trouble swollowing,tired etc...drs couldnt find anything so i took it into my own hands i was havind tachycardia so i gave up caffiene still drank diet sprite nothing well time went by and tuesday i gave up nutrasweet well can i tell you my dizziness thats been plaguing me day and night is almost gone of course my immune sys. is still shot but i heard it can take 60 days to detox im taking detox herbs to speed it along this cant be coincidense.just wanted to tell you my story (as you can tell by my spelling my fog has not tottally lifted yet) ----------------- Subject: Re: xxxxxxxxxx approved in U.S.! To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Date: Thu, 2 Apr 1998 21:03:22 -0800 Newsgroups: alt.support.diet I don't know about Nutrasweet being bad for every one, but I know that it makes me deathly ill. Headaches, sick to my stomach, really raunchy taste. But I am one of those that just can't stomach it. My mom has been using saccharine and aspartame for years and she is just fine. ... When I was 16 my step mom told me that I had to drink it, and told me it was a matter of taste and sat me down and made me drink a 6 pack of diet Pepsi...I ended up in the hospital with gastric distress, that was the last time I willingly drank it. One sip and I am wanting to heave. ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: aspartame problems Date: Fri, 13 Feb 1998 18:46:06 -0600 I am a 37-year-old teacher, who has always been in good health. .... I eat healthy foods, but I have one bad habit. I began drinking Dt. Coke three years ago, and I am up to two 20 oz. Diet Cokes per day. I don't drink coffee or tea, so my Dt. Coke habit began as a want for caffeine. I switched to caffeine-free Dt. Coke after one year of the regular diet kind. Unfortunately, about six months ago, I began having terrible headaches. I would go to sleep with one, and wake up with one. I didn't seem to have any organic reason why I was having them. Everyone seemed to think they were stress related, BUT I really felt happy - my career and colleagues are great, my husband and kids are fantastic, our money situation is better than ever -- why would I be stressed? On a hunch, I gave up pop. Within 10 days, my headaches went away. After being headache-free for a few weeks, and I guess, finding it hard to believe that pop could cause problems, I went back to drinking caffeine-free Diet Coke. Then three weeks ago, I began to have light flashes occur in my eyes. I thought it was our fluorescent lights we have in our classroom, which seem to shine brighter on dark, dreary days, and the reflection off of the dozens of mostly white papers I grade on a daily basis. My eyes need a rest, I thought. Then it happened two more times, once when I was at home. When the flashes occur, I can't see in the center of my eyes, only around the edges, and the flashes are as bright as photographic bulbs. I have a check-up next month, so I thought I'd bring it up then, since otherwise I was O.K. It was strange, too, and I didn't want anyone to think I was hallucinating, etc., etc. This week, I have had constant heart palpitations. These frighten me, enough that I mentioned it to family members and even a colleague of mine. I have no pain -- just frequent heart "fluttering." I have read enough to know these symptoms are related to certain health problems (and my brother is a doctor, which helps!) I have no thyroid problems and my blood sugar level is fine. I have a doctor's appointment in a few days, but, being a teacher, I'm naturally curious. So I thought about my lifestyle (I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs), my eating habits, etc., and looked for excesses. Dt. Coke, of course! I followed a hunch and did a search on "aspartame." I'm going cold turkey on the Dt. Coke. I'll let you know when or if the palpitations stop, or if another cause is found. I would have never thought that diet soda could be toxic. I guess I'll find out first hand if my fears are correct. Why hasn't this been brought out before? I'm beginning to feel like a victim. [update] To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 20:19:27 -0600 I stopped using all products containing aspartame on February 11, 1998, after suspecting caffeine-free Dt. Coke was making me sick. I drank some as a "test" on Friday, February 20, and got really sick. I also tried tea (not herbal) on Feb. 25 to see if it triggered anything. It didn't affect me. Still thinking it a coincidence, I tried caffeine-free Dt. Coke again on March 9th, but only four sips. Yikes! Was that a bad decision! I'm just glad I have strong willpower, because I feel now that I was addicted to Dt. Coke. This and the fact that it has made me so sick, has frightened me enough to give it up for good, plus other aspartame-containing products. I've never drank alcohol or tried any addicting drugs, but I feel that Dt. Coke is as addictive and dangerous. I'm telling everyone I know to be careful of what they eat and drink. My colleagues cannot believe this has happened to active me. I still have some heart palpitations now which occur randomly (not specifically after exercise or eating, they just occur in an irregular pattern) even though I am now on 200 mg. Lopressor per day. My memory is improving slightly, although I think I may be compensating for my problem somewhat (more lists, sticky notes to myself, etc.). The sensitivity to light, and light flashes have stopped so far. My doctors want to do another thyroid scan next week. I'll update you. Thanks for the information! I'm glad there are people out there who care! ----------------- Subject: [LC] aspartame dangers Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 19:32:11 -0800 Mailing List: LOWCARB-LIST@maelstrom.stjohns.edu > If you do some searching on nutra sweet you will find many articles > detailing the side effects of aspartame including increased risk of > brain tumors, and numerous other health problems resulting from > methanol and formaldehyde released during digestion of nutra sweet > or aspartame. Last year, I developed Bells Palsy (I did recover) and then I got Shingles. both of these have to do with nerves and run along the path of nerves. You only get shingles when extremely run down such as the elderly or cancer patients. I was 36 years old. this scared the s?&* out of me. I started doing some research and discovered all the "BAD" things nutrasweet can do. It can mimic MS which both Bells and shingles are symptoms of. I did have an MRI which ruled MS out. I stopped it cold turkey. .... I was drinking gallons of diet iced tea a week. enough. Never again! I also felt like a cloud had been lifted off of my brain within a few days of stopping it. ----------------- Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 14:31:19 -0500 (EST) To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: You're a victim of mass poisoning I am SO angry.... I and my 10 year old son have been off of this since August and almost all my symptoms are gone! He no longer has asthma and now no longer needs to wear glasses!!!! I don't have to wear glasses either!!!! But those are minor. I have been using Nutra Sweet for at least 7 or 8 years!!! I had gained weight! I now only weigh 118-120 (I am 5ft 2in), I have been up to around 200 lbs, and using this to LOSE!!!! I had Endometreosis and Menstrual problems...Had a Hysterectomy at 24, developed Hyperglycemia and so increased the Aspartame intake. Soon after I started having bladder and bowel problems. Had a colonoscopy...to examine my insides and bladder surgery to diagnose. I was told to have Chronic Spastic Colon Problems, and that I no longer had a bladder lining...a condition called Interstistial Cystitis. The symptoms are blood in the urine...pain...and no infection. I have been treated for all of the above for 7 years. They only worsened. Then about 4 years ago I started have major muscle problems. I was constantly in a fog, and falling down and running into things. My legs would give out while I was walking. My knees could not hold me up. At this time I only weighed about 145 lbs. Finally, I was pre- diagnosed with MS. I was sent to a Nuerologist for extensive tests. Including a spinal tap and MRI and Brain electrode testing. MS was not the problem. My muscle Spasms in my back got so bad that I was bed ridden and having to be carried to the bathroom. The pain was almost unbearable. I was then diagnosed with Fibromyalgia by 3 separate Drs. My memory loss became a joke to the whole family. And I use to sit down and feel like I was in a well looking out into the world...a sort of sur-real feeling. I was lossing hair, and having allergy problems, and constantly in pain in my abdomin and back. I finally decided to get healthy and started "working out". I ended up in the hospital for heart palpatations and chest pain. I would have tremors that no one could control. I was told they were panic attacks, but over what, I would ask? I would be asleep and wake up in tremors! Someone mentioned this info to me, and so I cut down on the aspartame, just because I was willing to try anything. I joined a weight loss class called weigh down. She said that your body basically metabolizes everything natural and to just try to eat "Real" food and not the diet foods with artifical fat and sweetners. This would allow your body to work natuarally. I started this in June. I finally quite all nutrasweet in August. By December I am almost totally well. I am no longer in pain and not in need of ANY medication except for hormones for the hysterectomy. I am 32 now. This has made me so angry! I am warning everyone, and intend to contact my insurance company....since they have helped me foot the bills. No one can however give me back the quality of life I lost during the last few years. Nor can they make up for all the pain and the tests I had to endure. I feel betrayed, and yet I am so glad that there is information out now before it is too late. I am thankful my son is off of this stuff, and I pray he will be ok in the future. Thank you for all you are doing. Let me know what I can do to help. ----------------- CompuServe Natural Medicine Forum, Corner Juice Bar[1] Re: Aspartame: Nutrapoison? Mon, Dec 15, 1997, 8:20 PM Message # 274332 I was intrigued by the posting for the conference Aspartame:Nutrapoison??, unfortunatly I was unable to make it. However, I have had personal experiences with aspartame that I would like to share. About 10 years ago my grandmother became ill and the illness progressed until it became so violent that it forced her to the emergency room. It began with flu like symptoms and progressed to the point of effecting her vital signs with boughts of extreme stomach illness. At the time of her hospitalization they were unaware of the cause of her illness because the symptoms disappeared shortly after her hospitalization. The correlation was drawn to aspartame when family members brought in "diet Ginger Ale" and the illness returned. At this time they determined that she was "allergic" to it. I had assumed at this point that it was not harmful to everybody, just her because of some rejection by her body. I myself was unaware of its negative side affects until recently when I had to seek several forms of treatment for debilitating migraines. It wasn't until a mere coincidence that my eye doctor warned me that the cause may be aspartame. I immediately stopped consuming diet soda and have been migraine- free for 8 months!! I have grave concerns however, because I have seen several primary care doctors and not one of them warned me of the possible aspartame/migraine correlation. Is there anyway that this information can be educated to the public, especially the physicians? ----------------- Date: Fri, 06 Feb 1998 15:54:15 -0500 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Aspartame + Epileptic Seizures My little girl was seven when she started to experience problems. She is a tubbly little thing - it runs in our family and always has. When I was expecting her I stuck to low call drinks and food. As she grew so did her wieght and one day I had a call from the school nurse about it. She referred us to a hospital dietician and the diet sheet told us to switch to low call drinks and low call foods. I followed all of this with gusto and got some artifiical sweetner as well. Within a short space of time she started to be not so well. Somethimes she was not with it and sometimes she would look real bad. She started to have funny turns and would lose the muscle power to one side of her face and loose her speech. Eventually she had a full blown fit that was very bad indeed. When all your information arrived it prompted much discussion. My eldest child told me that my daughter loved the artificial sweetner and if may back was turned she would help herself to a couple of spoonfuls at breakfast time. She always had her fits in the late morning! EEG's and Brain Scans produced no sign of any problems but she was and still is diagnosed as Epileptic. They gave her medication but it did not seem to have much effect. My daughter was pale with dark circles under her eyes and a blue tinge to her lips. She did not seem to be with it and she became breathless very easily yet they could not find anything wrong!! Life was awful but then xxxxx xxxxx Asked a question on the Net about this subject and you replied. When I read all the information you sent I was horrified. I threw out any and everything that had Aspartame in it. Three weeks late I was looking at a healthy alert child with vivacious bright eyes, rosy cheeks and red lips. She has never had a fit since and needless to say she now avoids anything with Aspartame in it. My daughter felt the improvement so much that she is convinced that this awful substance caused her problems. She has only ever been on a low dose of seizure controlling drug and we are finding it very hard to get the medical authorities to recognise that there is a realy high probability that this was the cause. Our family are convinced of it because we saw no improvement for some time after she started on medication but a wonderful improvement when we started the no Aspartame regime. Im sorry to have taken so long to let you know the outcome of your efforts. I have just gone on the net and the first thing I did was look you up. I just wanted to let you know that you have restored peace of mind for my daughter and myself and that I support your campaign to the full. Once again thank you so very much. [Update] Date: Sun, 08 Feb 1998 19:42:57 -0500 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Aspartame + Epileptic Seizures Thanks for your note and all of the information - You will never understand just how grateful I am for the trouble you took on that one night to send that information. I suffered post traumatic stress syndrome for two years after my daughter had her first fit and I am so convinced that we have the cause that I can now sleep at night. My eldest child has just had an eeg and guess what? it is showing irregularities - I feel so guilty because I used to drink this stuff when I was pregnant because I was always being nagged about my weight. I refuse to buy anything with it in and I now write letters of complaint to all those manufacturers who insist on putting this rubbish into non low cal products ie. normal orjage drinks etc. We only have mineral water and fruit juice in our house and I take every opportunity I can to recount our story to whoever will listen. As a result our local schools no longer give the children anything with Aspartame. So many people on this Island now are aware of the dangers of this substance. I will keep fighting the good fight and will continue to do battle with our local hospital - can you believe it? THEY ACTUALLY GAVE ME A DIET SHEET FOR MY DAUGHTER WHICH STATED THAT I SHOULD GIVE HER LOW CAL PRJODUCTS!! .... ----------------- Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: I took the test! Aspartame On Jan 1, 1998, I quit eating anything that had Aspartame in it. It used to be an important part of my diet since I have always been horizontally gifted. My first recollection of Aspartame was when Tab was removed from the market and replaced it with Diet Coke. (Who even remembers how long ago that was?) Since I have quit Aspartame I have noticed that my headaches have gone, my memory has improved and I think my current food management plan is successful because aspartame is no longer part of my diet. .... ----------------- Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1998 06:07:05 GMT To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame My story? I was drinking a lot of Ribena light (a reduced sugar blackcurrant drink) and using a lot of low sugar chewing gum in January this year. I started getting severe heart rhythm abnormalities (known as "ectopic" beats) which have stopped since I removed all Aspartame products from my diet. I feel I have a duty to let more people know about this poison. Do you have an info pack you can send? Is Monsanto likely to take legal action (or have they done so) against people campaigning against Aspartame? I'd be interested to take this one to court... ----------------- Subject: Re: [EARTHSAVE] Weight gain and aspartame Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 10:55:11 -0600 Mailing List: EARTHSAVE@maelstrom.stjohns.edu I don't know whether Aspartame weight gain was psychological or actual. I do know that I developed increasing headaches and vision problems due to Aspartame which I stopped consuming over a year ago. In its place, I simply changed my diet. That change did not mean drinking sugared Pepsi instead of Diet Pepsi. It meant changing from junk food diet drinks to a more natural diet without any added sweetener. I stopped consuming soft drinks, tea or cofee, and drank herbal teas that did not need sweetener, Mountain Valley Water (which I use for all cooking and beverages, even for my pets) . I've returned to eating fresh fruits and fresh fruit juices or shakes and avoiding anything with sugar or artificial sweeteners. Since I've stopped using Nutraseet, my vision is becoming better and the headaches have seized. In fact, I can now see with eye glasses that I used 6 years ago. Whereas, when I used Equal, I was contantly getting new prescriptions. Since I rarely buy food at the grocery store, the food I am able to buy is not yet contaminated with artifical ingredients. And, although I've had a weight problem for years, it is not due to buying natural food, but rather what I had eaten while also consuming Equal. I'm losing weight now. In the last two weeks, I've lost about 8 pounds. ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Nutrasweet Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 15:37:16 EST I just read your long article on Nutrasweet. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which I attribute to chemical/pestacide poisoning which altered my immune system so that I was susceptable to the yet to be discovered virus that causes CFS. That's my educated guess after over a year of "internet study and research". Nevertheless I do have a Nutrasweet story. When Nutrasweet first came on the market in the '80s, I was drinking Diet Pepsi with nutrasweet and noticed migraine headaches were increasing in frequency and severity. On mother's day 1987 I had such a severe migraine that I thought it was a stroke. I was in my 30's so you can imagine how worried I was. I had a CT scan at the Wellington Regional Medical Center in West Palm Beach, and it was negative for a stroke, so they gave me some pain medication and sent me home. I have never had nutrasweet since then, and have been a fanatic about keeping my young children off of it. As the years have gone by, whenever I read something negative about nutrasweet, I am not surprised. It is sickening that most children's medicine has nutrasweet in it. It is a crying shame that you and others have been/are going through such hell, and ill health. All because of corporate greed on the part of Searle. ----------------- Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 20:51:36 CST To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re[2]: sendme: brain-cancer Yes, I got the information I wanted. Yes, I am a victim and I have known that for over 10 years now. However, I was unaware of the awareness groups as well as the other major side effects. As a child, I was misdiagnosed with hypoglycemia due to vertigo I experienced due to aspartame in diet soda. I was only 11 and they put me on a low sugar diet, meaning I actually consumed more NutraSweet and the dizziness continued. I finally lied to the Dr. because I was sick of appointments and being treated like a freak. I said they had stopped and went back to eating normal. After I stopped consuming NutraSweet, the dizziness stopped. ----------------- Subject: Re: Nasty lil toxin Date: 1998/03/16 Newsgroups: soc.singles.moderated Yup. Both with having side-effects and with digging through long list of ingredients to make sure that something I'm going to eat doesn't have aspertame in it. (A good indicator is if it warns phenylketinurics (sp) not to eat this.) My side effects varied. From food and sodas, I get nasty, nasty headaches. I really think it's had a negative effect on my memory, too. For awhile I tried to do the SlimFast thing, and the powdered mix gave me the most bizzare sensations--like I was kinda drunk but with a serious caffeine buzz. My insides just quaked and I could feel my blood rushing through my veins with each pump of my heart. After the second "meal", I stopped. (Note, though, that the pre-mixed, canned stuff doesn't have aspertame, just the powdered mix.) I even get headaches now from breathmints or chewing gum that has aspertame in it. My suggestion for you (if you have to beware the stuff) is to avoid anything that has the word "lite" in it. Nine times out of ten, it'll have nutrasweet in it. You'll have to learn how to diet without using those products. (Which sucks rocks if you want my opinion, but, what else can you do??) ----------------- Subject: Re: please help Date: 7 Mar 98 16:15:54 GMT Newsgroups: sci.med I suffered for about a year with what my doctor thought was some kind of "chronic mono" or "chronic fatigue symdrom." In addition to fatigue, I had extreme difficulty concentrating, and felt like I never came completely awake all day. It turned out that my symptoms were caused by aspartame when I switched to diet soda, and went away within 48 hours of ceasing to drink it. The suggestion that it might be the diet soda came from a coworker, and I never expected it to turn out to actually be the cause. ----------------- http://www.wdworkshop.com/wdwd_frm.htm Re: Diet cokes SODAPHOBIA Date: 06 Mar 1998 Time: 23:51:39 xxxxxxx, You may be skeptical of the research and comments made on that particular web site - and sometimes I am also skeptical of everyone who always seems to want to be suspicious of EVERYTHING - BUT - I truly believe that aspartame is a bad thing for me.- and I no longer use it in any way, shape or form, nor do I allow anyone in my family to use it! I began drinking diet coke about 2 years ago - because i wanted to save some calories - even tho it tasted awful - i got used to it and really enjoyed it - then about 1 year ago i began having horrible headaches, foggy thinking even optical migraines (lost my vision for short periods of time) I never, never had a migraine or foggy thinking before - anyhow, did a lot of reading up on aspartame - and decided to give up my diet coke - this wasnt easy - i craved it - 3 different occassions i have tried some diet coke and all three times within an hour or so i developed a sever migraine and/or the foggy brain thing! that's all the research i need to know i will stay away from it forever!! sorry so long - but thought you might be interested in hearing from an "average woman" not a crazed person out to find bad in everything Praise the Lord for the wonderful things He has done in my life through WDW!! In His Love ----------------- Subject: Re: Ginea Pig Volunteers Wanted Date: 2 Apr 1998 12:09:55 GMT Newsgroups: alt.support.mult-sclerosis Thats a great idea, xxxxxx. I for one can vouch that aspartame played a major part in some of my health problems. I was a heavy user in that I don't really like hot drinks and I lived on Diet Cola. I actually felt it took a few months to wean myself off it. I missed it a lot. And an extra point, some chewing gum and sweets contain aspartame as well. I found mints that I never knew were sugar free and they had aspartame. So check the labels on stuff as well. ----------------- Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 14:02:44 -0500 To: aspartame Did anyone use alot of > this before CFS? Not before but after in attempt to lose all the weight lying in bed created. I got major urinary pain, but the urologist couldn't find anything. He even did a biopsy, because my bladder was covered with red spots like the beginning of lesions. He said, "It's going to turn out to be an allergy, I bet, but to what, I have no idea." By process of elimination, I discovered it was NutraSweet. No symptoms since. ----------------- Subject: Off Nutrasweet for two months.... Date: 26 Feb 1998 16:46:32 GMT Newsgroups: alt.support.inter-cystitis I had an epiphany about nutrasweet and quit using it two months ago and guess what? the tiny flareups i had a night are gone, gone, gone. not a twinge. just want to let you-all know... i observe all the other nutritional no-nos but couldn't say goodbye to nutrasweet. i have replaced it with the herb STEVIA which research shows to actually balance blood sugar, not wreck it! and i lost five pounds...wow. ----------------- Subject: Re: effects of aspartame? Date: 2 Mar 1998 16:20:42 GMT Newsgroups: rec.drugs.smart :Does this stuff give you somewhat of a mental block? :I'm hypoglycemic and i can't have anything with a lot of sugar in it.. :Around last october i started drinking lots of Sparkling soda, ice cream, :candy..etc. sweetened with aspartame.. and the last few months i've :been kinda.. blank.. unable to come up with new ideas and stuff, and :just bored. The same thing happened to me. I also after several months began to get slight dizzy spells. 3 or 4 days after stopping, I felt brighter, less bored, and the dizzy spells vanished completely. Now I use Sweet&Low with no ill effects. Unfortunately there's no ice-cream with S&L instead of sugar, so once in a while I indulge a little. It's still better than using aspertame. ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 23:05:22 EDT Dear Dr. Friedman: My beloved wife Kelli died last month. She was 37 years old. She left behind an 8 year old daughter. Kelli died of a brain tumor. She was a heavy user of Aspartame. On a typical day, she would consume between 6 - 12 cans of diet cola. I used to joke to her that she drank so much diet Pepsi, that she should cut out the middleman and have them deliver the stuff right to our house. Her use of Aspartame did not end with diet cola. She consumed it in many products every day. Like most women, she was obsessed with watching her weight. I have heard representatives from Monsanto claim that the product is the most widely tested and safest product on the market. It's not a coincidence that the studies they quote to support their claim were funded by Monsanto. There are so many doctors and scientists who are questioning the safety of Aspartame, that it is time the FDA took action. I'm not a scientist, and don't claim to understand all of the studies. However, it seems to me that when you can find a direct correlation between the introduction of Aspartame into the market and a sharp rise in the number of brain tumors, it's more than a coincidence. It needs to be investigated. Lives are at stake here! I do realize that it's too late to bring Kelli back. I can't tell you the hell we went through for the past three and a half years. Her illness took a toll on our entire family. We will suffer from her loss for the rest of our lives. Dr. Friedman, please have the courage to stand up against Monsanto and the other big business interests trying to hide the facts. Get Aspartame off the market! ----------------- Subject: Re: Aspartame question... Date: Sun, 3 May 1998 08:13:20 -0700 Mailing List: ATKINS-NEW@maelstrom.stjohns.edu >Has anyone else on this list experienced headaches or a feeling that your eyes >were going to pop out of their sockets at night (when you're trying to go to >sleep). This latter symptom has happened to me twice and it doesn't hurt but >it is extremely uncomfortable and makes me feel like I have to hold my eyes in >w/ my hands! I toss and turn and can't go to sleep when this occurs. Very >strange! I had the same problem. At one point I was consuming either two glass or diet soda or copious amounts of powered drink formulas, all laced with aspartame. The headaches got so bad that it took two aspirins, twice during different time of the night, just to get a decent night's sleep! Finally, I researched the matter on the Net and found PLENTY of reports about the same thing. I immediately quit ANY drink, mixture, or envelope containing Aspartame or Nutra-Sweet. The headaches stopped and haven't returned. That's all the proof I need! As for Stevia, don't give up! Go to Web and look of "Paul on Sweetners" at http://www.split.com/fat/sweet.htm. ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Aspartame Poisoning Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 02:48:38 EST I am off this poison and feel much better. However, my friends son is 37 and has been rushed to the hosp. twice now for severe chest pains and was just told that it is not a heart problem. He drinks too much diet soda. Hve you heard of Aspartame causing heart pain? I told my friend to tell her son to speak to the DR. about this. I understand he drinks at least 5 cans a day to control his weight. ----------------- Subject: Re: Other days off ......{was:NOT AGAIN!} Date: Wed, 01 Apr 1998 14:11:49 -0800 Newsgroups: alt.support.childfree > Not everyone has the option of "take a water pill and a couple of > advil" - I was originally put on the Pill because I had to spend the > first 48 hours of each period _in bed_ with what my gyn basically > considered labor pains while I bled through a "super" tampon and an > "overnight" super-maxi in an hour, passed huge clots, spent hours in > the bathroom with vomiting and diarrhea, fainted when I stood up. Boy, did this bring back horrible memories. I went through very similar months while I was in high school. What a nightmare! It turned out that it was my body's recation to aspartame (nutrasweet) and Diet Coke had just come out. ----------------- http://wdworkshop.com/_wdwd/00002f6f.htm Re: Daily Headaches Date: 28 Jan 1998 Time: 15:12:30 I am wondering how Cindy's cat scan turned out. I know she didn't mention anything about Nutra Sweet, but for those who did, I also have had an experience with it and it was most unpleasant. It was about 8-10 years ago. I had been drinking diet soda for a good while when I started having these spells. The closest thing I can think that they would be like is a stroke. I would start to get a headache, then become dizzy or light headed and pretty quickly too. Then my speech wouldn't cooperate with me. I could think of someone's name and see their face, but not say their name and I felt slurry too. I also would have pain in my left arm. I know this sounds crazy, but I experienced it. I stopped drinking diet things and it stopped. I don't have that happen anymore. I have to give God the credit for me being able to find out what it was. It had to be His hand and I sure do thank Him for it!! When I read these other posts about the Nutra Sweet, I thought I would share. Hope it is of some help to someone. ----------------- Subject: Re: Nutrasweet Date: 13 Jan 1998 23:43:03 GMT Newsgroups: alt.med.fibromyalgia Hi, I also do not have concrete info on nutrasweet. I know for me I get horrible headaches, extra foggy, and horrible pains in my stomach with any artificial sweetener. I finally talked my husband to try not drinking diet pop for one month. I just figured all his weird symptoms----rash on face at all times, constant sinus nasal drip, and bad breath had to be connected. Well, one week off of diet soda and it all went away. He has not had any diet pop for over a year now. I do not believe that putting that chemical in your body is good for you. ----------------- Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 01:53:27 -0500 Newsgroups: alt.med.cfs Subject: Re: MED: other: chat Aspartame Unfortunately - tis the truth. I have a HUGE file on this stuff - BAD NewS! Avoid it like a STD! I fouled up back in the hot summer of 92, and was consuming a 24 pack of diet pop a week - tried to give up coffee - what a dope! After about 6 weeks of the diet pop - I found myself going down hill and it was only the beginig of July - This was NOT supposed to happen to PWC's at that time of the year.... the downward spiral is due here mid November - not mid July. I quit the diet pop, and within a couple of weeks was BACK to the level of activity I was accustomed to that April, May and early June. It you want a copy of the aspartame file let me know back channel - but I warn you - it is HUGE, VERY HUGE, HUMONGOUES even - really - it is one big blighter! Best wishes for an improvement once you quit poisoning yourself with EQUAL, (AKA - Aspartame)!!! ----------------- Re: MED: Aspartame Date Fri, 2 Jan 1998 14:12:21 -0500 Newsgroups alt.med.cfs I know from personal experience that aspartame, nutrasweet etc. gives me horrible, and I mean dreadful, migraines. Aspartame also stimulates appetite, I don't know where I read this, but I have read it in a paper or somthing. I have heard anecdotal that when aspartame heats up, it can become toxic to your body (like when the truck delivering bottles of diet Coke gets hot). I have also heard, on some tv program that it is causing serious eye problems. I will never touch the stuff again. ----------------- Date: Tue, 2 Jun 98 17:33 BST-1 Subject: Aspartame... the BAD news! To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx I'm 42, male, in reasonable general health (if slightly over weight) and run a small computer company near Oxford, U.K. I switched to Aspartame-based sweeteners in tea and coffee several years ago. Over the past 9 months I've been suffering from bouts of diarrhoea on an approximately twice-weekly basis usually without any apparent cause. Over the past two months these had been getting more severe with bouts lasting several days. Unpleasant and uncomfortable but not accompanied by vomiting or feeling really lousy as one might normally expect from food poisoning or a stomach bug. I tried various modification of diet (already having excluded almost all prepared foods in favour of a low-fat diet of fresh fruit, vegetables, chicken and fish) and exercise which made little difference Three weeks ago I read 'Aspartame... the BAD news!' and decided to stop using artificial sweeteners or products containing them. Here in the UK this was a pelleted and Granular sweetener marketed as 'Canderel' plus the occasional diet Pepsi or diet Lilt. I did this just as an experiment (I'm a bit of a cynic about 'Internet Scares' I'm afraid!). The diarrhoea stopped within a day and hasn't (fingers crossed!) returned. Bowel motions are now more normal than they have been for many months. I still have some digestive problems; I hope these will improve as the effects of Aspartame on my system dissipate and that there is little or no permanent damage. .... ----------------- Subject: Re: Anybody take this? Date: 16 May 1998 19:56:48 GMT Newsgroups: alt.support.mult-sclerosis I cut that garbage out of my diet in December. I found the dizzy spells I was getting have almost disapeared! I never heard of swelling as a side effect of apspartame, but I wouldn't doubt it! Dizzy spells, headaches, stomach problems. . .and now edema. That stuff is poison. ----------------- Subject: Re: ASPARTAME? Date: 09 May 1998 13:55:16 GMT Newsgroups: alt.med.fibromyalgia My own experience with aspartame (Nutrasweet) is that is gives me screaming headaches. Several years ago when I was dieting and constantly complaining of headaches, my neighbor (a nurse with an epileptic son who was also affected by aspartame) suggested that I eliminate the diet pop I was drinking . Lo and behold, that particular type of headache disappeared. ----------------- Subject: Re: Anybody take this? Date: 16 May 1998 07:24:43 GMT Newsgroups: alt.support.mult-sclerosis I found this spring that my feet were swelling for the first time in my life. My internist suggested I walk more (this during the rainy spring we are having in NYC--rain makes my legs feel like each one is encased in a 75-pound concrete block). I followed his advice, but the swelling persisted. Then I found the cause: diet colas with Nutrasweet, which I had just begun to drink. As soon as eliminated them, the edema (swelling) disappeared. I later read that aspartame (Nutrasweet and Equal) causes foot edema in some people. ----------------- Subject: headaches, non-migraine Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 09:51:06 -0800 Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs Aspertame (a.k.a. nutrisweet) gives me unbearable headaches -- it started slowly, and built up with my use of any diet substances containing aspartame. Within the first month after it was introduced, the insides of my elbows and the backs of my knees would be speckled with bruises if I had anything with aspartame in it, even one stick of gum. Needless to say, I do not use anything with aspartame!! ----------------- Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 17:59:06 +0530 Newsgroups: alt.support.diet Subject: Nutrasweet...my experiences I have struggled with weight all my life and I have tried most every type of diet out there. I have found that I have one really big problem with Nutrasweet. Every time that I use it, I get really bad migraine headaches. I have tried lots of different products containing it and they all have the same effect. I have family and friends that have the same problems with it. I know that if something gives you a bad side effect such as headache then it can't be that good for you! ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: l-phenylaline ? Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 17:57:47 -0500 xxxxx, this is very interesting to me. I react badly to aspartame/NutraSweet. It makes me feel (mentally) something like a combination of caffeine overdose and a "fever delirium." High-speed, jumbled thoughts, with (physically) twitchy nerves and jerks... the mental part is similar to a "moderate" Anxiety episode. Any thoughts on this? ----------------- Subject: Re: Aspertame...??? Date: 1998/03/21 Newsgroups: alt.sport.weightlifting I lived for the best part of a year with an allergy no doctor could explain,a skin crawling and sometimes pins and needle itch you would not believe.I went everywhere to find the problem,I was told to just accept it and get on with life.I was taking antihistamines which made me drowsy and apathetic. I had lived away from home for years and the trouble started soon after moving back. My mother was putting EQUAL (a artificial sweetener)in my tea. My father had some put in his tea by accident and he got the symptoms. It took me a few days without Aspartame and antihistamines but the problem slowly went away.FREE AT LAST. ----------------- Subject: Re: Aspartame and MS Date: 26 Mar 1998 11:59:25 GMT Newsgroups: alt.support.mult-sclerosis Aha, panic attacks. Mine are gone (fingers crossed) and I gave up aspartame about three months ago. I'd been taking it in Diet Coke for a good few years. Don't miss it one bit. ----------------- Subject: Re: Nasty lil toxin Date: 12 Mar 1998 21:55:49 -0500 Newsgroups: soc.singles.moderated A headache? What I got was a technicolor headache with vision impairment and a feeling that I was going to die, die, die, and an emergency trip to the doctor. *Just* a migraine. (and now there's olestra) ----------------- Subject: Re: Melatonin (was sleep) Date: 25 Mar 1998 05:14:06 -0000 Newsgroups: alt.support.menopause I've had two classic migraines, including aura, both triggered by aspartame. Bleah. I now occasionally have a sinus headache morph into a migraine, less severe than the aspartame ones. ----------------- Subject: [LC] MSG/Aspertame ... long Date: Fri, 6 Feb 1998 09:53:47 -0800 Mailing List: LOWCARB-LIST@maelstrom.stjohns.edu [i] .... Ok, now to aspertame. While surfing the net about MSG, I ran across a site about aspertame and it's affects. Yeah, I've read that there are lots of controversy over this product, and I don't want to start anything with anyone about it, but I'm just going to state what this product does to ME and how it affects my life. In addition to all those nasty side effects *dizziness, brain fog, blacking out,* (I have experienced these effects personally) I have also found that the maltodextrin used as the filler for aspertame converts to MSG when ingested. SOOO, with that in mind, it is very frustring to also find that Sugar Twin (and the guy from the Stevia page has told me that the free sample that he is sending me) has that as it's first ingredient also. .... ----------------- Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 19:39:29 -0500 (EST) To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: RE: Headaches and aspartame Thanks for your email. I have been meaning to write to you. My wife has been off aspartame for approximately two months and has noticed a significant reduction in her headaches. The few that she still gets are much less severe. There was a definite change immediately after she stopped using the aspartame. The list of alternate sweeteners was also very helpful. It will take a while before all of the aspartame is out of her system. I am sure she will continue to improve. We'll keep in touch. ----------------- Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 15:32:18 -0700 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: re:aspartame I just received your story and was amazed. My husband drinks at least a 6-pack of diet pepsi a day and has no effects. However, since I quit nursing our son I felt free to again drink caffeine and started to drink diet pepsi. I didn't drink it every day and also drank regular pepsi. After a few weeks I noticed I started to get headaches, had trouble focusing my eyes and was getting dizzy. I at first thought that it was from the caffeine since I hadn't had much for a couple of years. I then noticed I only got symptoms after drinking diet pepsi. I wondered why but didn't think much of it, I just quit drinking it. Now I know why and it scares me because my husband and I have both allowed our 2 year old son drink small amounts of diet pepsi. Not to mention other drinks and foods containing aspartame. ----------------- Subject: Re: Aspartame Poisoning Date: 1998/02/25 Newsgroups: alt.support.eating-disord Nutrasweet has Aspartame in it, and Aspartame< thins out the lining in the blood vessels. For those who suffer from frequent headaches or from migraine headaches, this can become a serious problem, as the thinning of the blood vessel lining will produce higher levels of pressure in the blood vessels - especially those in the brain. I suffer from Migraines, and I'm Hypoglycemic. It took a couple of years to figure out why I was getting headaches after meals, et al. Fortunately, I did the research and consulted my doctor before I ended up blowing a blood vessel. ----------------- Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 17:23:15 -0400 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Problems with nutrasweet Dear xxxx, how in the world do we get the word out about the harmful effects of aspartame? I have had many symptoms for over a year now and I am doing better since I stopped using this poison. The national news media won't touch it , do you have and ideas? I am telling everyone I know and I am making copies of info off the net for anyone who will read it. Please advise, and thanks for all that you do on this issue. ----------------- CompuServe Natural Medicine Forum, Corner Juice Bar[1] Re: Aspartame test Date: Tue, Dec 16, 1997, 3:11 PM Message # 274430 About 10 years ago I participated in a double blind study of the effects of Aspartame at Duke University. I was asked to be included because I had complained to the FDA and some medical doctors interested in the substance's side effects. At the time I was previously very healthy, and I was consuming 10-20 ounces of Diet Coke daily. I started having migrane headaches (I didn't know they were migranes until my doctor diagnosed, I had never had them before), confusion, dizziness, memory loss, and I just felt very "old". I was only 25 yrs old at the time. I read an article about the "possible" side effects of aspartame, and it sounded just like me so I wrote to the doctor who wrote the article, explaining my experience. It was several months later that I went to Duke for the study. I was very concerned about the effects of Aspartame and wanted to contribute what I could to the cause, in this case I contributed my body! They checked me out head to toe, inside and out first, then gave me capsules to take each day. Some with Aspartame, some without. Then each day they ran many tests on me again. The results showed that I have an allergy to some chemical in it. I guess it is a common allergy, many people have it, therefore many people can have side effects to Aspartame. I believe this is only one problem with Aspartame, it is very much a poison to our systems, and should be avoided at all costs. Every person who knew me at the time I had the symtoms now avoids Aspartame, they saw what it does to a healthy person. ----------------- Date: Fri, 8 Aug 1997 07:09:40 -0700 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: ASPERTAME/NUTRASWEET STUDY We tried the NO ASPARTAME TEST! Here are two results: A. My brother is a company president, used to drink 4 to 6 cans per day at work, of diet soda. After I forwarded him your info, he quit. Then he thanked me, saying, I used to get KILLER headaches every day, now they are completely gone. B. I myself used to drink 3 to 4 cans per day, thinking it would help me lose weight. I quit and guess what, I LOST WEIGHT. What happened was, my stomach was no longer irritated by aspartame. When I drank diet coke, I would get a caffeine high and also a stomachache. To soothe my stomach, I would eat. Guess what, I have lost about 15 pounds without trying, because my stomach does not ache any more from the aspartame! ----------------- Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 02:04:50 -0500 (EST) To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: personal experience, Mission Possible Finland Hello xxxxx. This is xxxx from xxxxx. I wanted to share a personal experienre concerning aspartame. A couple of weeks ago I bought this rasberry juice concentrate. A week later I started to feel weird. I was tired out of my mind. I had problems with my longvision (it took time to focus my eyes on the object that I was looking at). I thought I was getting something. Then when I reread the label of the concentrate to my astonishment I noticed that it had sugar but it also had aspartame. I poured it down the sink and in a few days time the symptoms disappeared. I failed three of my exams besause of this. I was sitting in the examroom looking at my exampapers. I knew I could do them but somehow I couldn't get my thoughts organized. I think this was due to aspartame I was prepared for the exams so it wasn't because I hadn't read enough. I've known the negative effect of aspartame for a long time but this kind of personal experience is frightening and it motivates me to try more here in xxxxxx. ----------------- Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 23:27:54 -0400 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: I am convinced I have been off diet sodas, diet anything with aspartame, for three months now and I can really tell an improvement in how I feel. I have now convinced my great aunt, daughter and several of my daughter's friends to get off the stuff and I no longer have it in my home. My aunt was having the classic symptoms you described and since she has been off it, she has not had a single headache. My daughter was a little reluctant, but being 23 has to be difficult, I think I can remember that far back. The one thing my daughter noticed immediately was the loss of water retention. Her face has now broken out, but mine did too. I told her that I thought it was the toxins coming out because after around 10 days, my face cleared up. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for informing me and others of what this horrible chemical was doing to our bodies. I salute your work and may God's blessings be upon you. ----------------- Subject: Re: Caffeine, Eggs, and Brie Cheese Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 19:27:10 -0800 Mailing List: LC-DIABETES@maelstrom.stjohns.edu I must beg to differ with you. There is something terribly wrong with NutraSweet. I drank lots of Diet Sodas for a long time, and always had terrible migraine headaches. I couldn't figure out what the problem was. I went to drs. and then to a Special Chiropractor to fix me up. Nothing worked. Drugs just took the edge off. To no avail. Then one day my very concerned husband said stop drinking diet soda for a while. Guess what. My headaches went away. They have gone completely. When I try to drink something like Crystal Lite, the next day the headache is back with a vengance. ----------------- Date: Fri, 2 Jan 1998 06:58:32 -0500 Newsgroups: alt.med.cfs Subject: Re: MED,CHAT: Aspartame I have found that anything with Nutrasweet (aspartame) I think it's pronounced as/par/tame, gives me a"blow my brains out" headache. I can tolerate one diet coke or anything with Nutrasweet in it, without the headache, then real trouble. It has always made my sister very dizzy and she does not have CFIDS or anything else, Thank God. ----------------- To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 14:48:18 -0500 Appreciate your commitment to aspartame and its inherent problems. I worked for Coca-Cola for 25 years and understand what is happening. With a young family, soft drinks in the house was not a luxury but a necessity. We drank Coke and subsequently Diet Coke as a matte of fact. Sure I was aware of caffeine but as a devoted coffee drinker I certainly had no problems with the caffeine that was part of any Cola drink. I became addicted not only to Coca-Cola but most important Diet Coke. Inherent problems were written off as old age. I did not realize until I started reading articles on aspartame that there could be a problem. I quite drinking Diet Coke and my life changed. ----------------- Subject: insomnia and antioxidants Date: 1998/05/27 Newsgroups: alt.support.sleep-disorder .... For instance, MSG and Nutrasweet cause insomnia for me. .... ----------------- http://slashdot.org/articles/9806110829247_F.shtml Thursday June 11, @08:53 ... it's sugar free. And aspartime gives me a headache (as well as a bad aftertaste). If it were available w/sugar, I'd definitely buy some. --- Thursday June 11, @09:08 Finally, I don't have to worry about getting confused while popping Altoids and Vivarin and chewing the Vivarin...believe me, it's not an experience you want...I'd order a case if they came with sugar...Aspartame makes me nauseous... --- Thursday June 11, @09:56 These mints look promising but for two things. A) They're sugar-free. Aspartame is legalized poison. B) They couldnt possibly be as strong as Altoids. --- Thursday June 11, @11:44 Aspartame gives me severe migranes (about the only way I ever experience them!). Damn shame about these neato mints- I guess I won't be buying them any time soon. .... It's this witches' brew of poisons that actually tastes "sweet", not Aspartame itself. It's amazing what the FDA will approve for public consumption, isn't it? --- Thursday June 11, @12:07 I too suffer 12 hour migraine headaches after drinking a single diet soda. The first time it happed was after staying up all night playing "Empire" on the VAX-750 at Interactiv Graphic Systems back in 1984. When the sun came up, I got up from the ADM-3 terminal and raided the fridge for something to drink. The only choice was "Diet Dr. Pepper." I guzzled the 12 ounce can and started to drive home from Woodland Hills, California to Northridge, California. About five miles down the road I started to experience the worst headache of my life. I thought that I was going to die. But I made it home alive. I simply cannot believe that Aspartame is legal! Yet it is. --- Thursday June 11, @12:33 The engineering students at the university I atteneded would never drink the stuff. They called it "NutriStupid", because they could tell the effect that it had on their mental performance. I never touch it either, and you'll never catch me eating olestra, either. "Anal leakage" just doesn't sound like a pleasant side-effect. --- Thursday June 11, @02:26 Where can I find more information about aspartame and its nasty effects? I've stopped drinking Diet Coke (used to down at least 6 a day) and I feel much better for it, but I'd like a little more information to help my friends quit their "Diet Coke habit". ----------------- Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 20:09:09 EDT To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: aspartame Thank you for the aspartame information. I have migraine headaches when I ingest aspartame thus I try to make certain I do not eat or drink anything with aspartame. ----------------- Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 10:50:19 -0400 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: STAR list and Restores As I originally told you, each morning of my life for approx. 15 years, I consumed an entire pot of coffee with approx. 3-5 packets of NutraSweet or NatraTaste or Equal in each cup per day. Along with a high consumption of fat free yogurts, ice cream, etc. It is true, I craved sweets constantly. Since not using aspartame, I don't even use or want sugar or sweets. I actually don't even drink coffee anymore. My system is so clean, it only wants the purest things. ----------------- Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 16:23:40 EDT To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: I have no problem accessing your site. I just wanted to applaud you for revealing the problems with aspartame. I KNOW I have problems. I would be willing to submit to tests just to prove it. I have replied to several newsgroups about this poison, and hope, as I am sure you do, that I have stopped even one person from using this stuff. It should be labeled with a skull and crossbones, because it is a killer. ----------------- http://wdworkshop.com/_wdwd/00002e91.htm Weigh Down Workshop Encouragement Re: Daily Headaches Email: none given Date: 25 Jan 1998 Concerning your headaches...have you considered a possible allergy to Nutra Sweet? I experienced migraine headaches for many months, often drinking a diet soda when the headache started, thinking the caffeine would help the pain. A friend suggested the headaches might be related to an allergic reaction to Nutra Sweet. Apparently they were. I stopped using it in any form and the headaches stopped. ----------------- Subject: Re: Nutrasweet Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 20:40:28 -0600 Mailing List: ATKINS-NEW@maelstrom.stjohns.edu [i] To my point, in desperation I decided to ditch all discernable forms of nutrasweet, and am amazed at how much more my food cravings have let up (haven't thought about pop tarts all day long!). ----------------- Subject: \Re: Atkins Diet - Feel Sick - HELP Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 14:01:16 -0800 Newsgroups: alt.support.diet The nutrasweet and coffee might also be a problem. They can both be trouble for some people as they are very sensitive to it. I cut out the nutrasweet and went to stevia and I immediately dropped weight. ----------------- Subject: Re: Migrane sufferer Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 17:36:39 -0700 Newsgroups: alt.support.headaches.migraine Welcome to the newsgroup! I hope this finds you well. I too have a problem with nutrasweet, but not with my migraines - I break out in a strange rash around my neck from it. ----------------- Subject: Re: caffine Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 14:48:54 -0500 Newsgroups: bit.listserv.autism Whenever we give Nathan a regular soda (not often) he is a super great angel, behaving and sitting and happy. The nutrasweet in diet cokes is BAD and gives an adverse reaction. ----------------- Subject: [LC] equal knocks me out of purple Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 15:33:12 -0400 Mailing List: LOWCARB-LIST@maelstrom.stjohns.edu I had the same problem. My stepmother is a herbologist and acupuncturist and says that the nutrasweet can also stunt your weight loss. I don't have any real scientific evidence to support that, the fact is I lose more when I don't use equal or nutrasweet. Stick to stevia. ----------------- Date: Mon, 30 Mar 1998 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: tamoxiphen I guess that is the test i am talking about....I don't think it is a problem with me though because I can not take anything with nutri-sweet or anything like nutri-sweet...It gives me severe headaches...So needless to say i stay away from anything like that...Also MSG gives me headaches...So i watch for that also... I am just learning about the milk...i have gone to soy milk... ----------------- Date: Mon, 02 Feb 1998 23:03:18 -0600 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: aspartame/phenylalanine I tried to quit diet Pepsi, cold turkey, and almost died when my metabolism essentially shut down. I was taken to the emergency room at a local hospital, and no one knew what was wrong with me or why I was drifting in and out of a consciousness. I'm now on oral phenylalanine (of my own doing) which miraculously reversed an almost comatose state and brought me back to where I am, now. I'm trying to get off of the phenylalanine as fast as I can; it seems like a horrible drug addiction. I've never taken any "drugs" in my life, but this seems as serious as any drug adiction I've heard of. ----------------- Date: Wed, 06 May 1998 21:58:37 -0400 To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: nutrasweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i to chring at the thought of people drinking/eating stuff with the ingredient known as aspartame............i find it to trigger my headaches...............besides people should realize that it leaves an after taste in their mouths as well...................alot of people still do not understand that nutrasweet is bad stuff especially ones that are prone to seizures too.............it's a chemical that our bodies can do without........the less chemicals the better off our bodies will be...........i'm a very concerned professional(health field)................ ----------------- Subject: Re: Aspertame (Was Re: Caffeine, Eggs, and Brie Cheese) To: xxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 17:12:36 -0500 .... I must tell you and others that had it NOT been for the aspertame discussion, *I* would not have found out what was triggering my desire for carbs...it was the diet sodas. There have been topics of discussion that did not affect me either, but I am sure *someone* was helped by reading them! ----------------- Subject: Re: Atkins and diarrhea Date: Thu, 8 Jan 1998 01:18:19 -0500 Mailing List: ATKINS-NEW@maelstrom.stjohns.edu My gastro doctor told me several years ago that many people have a hard time digesting NutraSweet. At that time I was chewing a lot of sugarless gum (w/ Nutrasweet)....it bloated me and cramped me. When I switched to regular gum (pre-Atkins), I fared much better. ----------------- Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame I wrote you in August. I got off of aspartame on August 22nd. It just sent FDA a message, I hope it got to the right place. I couldn't find what I wanted. It had a comment page that I sent but I think it was for comments for Internet page. Here is what I sent to them: I am sending you notification that I think that aspartame is a very dangerous substance. It is what caused me to have slurred speech, lost most of my reflexes, dizziness, hives, balance and coordination, my heart would pound hard when I would be sitting, I had trouble sleeping, nightmares, I had to have help tying my shoes. I was having a terrible time concentrating. I had to have my daughter do my bills at work. I was tested for all kinds of things. I was checked for stroke, heart trouble, Lupis, Multiple Sclerosis. I had a Cat Scan, and a MRI. I had about $5000 dollars worth of tests, and the Doctors couldn't figure out what was the cause. I have fibromyalgia, and aspartame made it much worse. I have been in terrible pain for years. It took me about 70 days to get aspartame out of my system and now I am in less pain than I have been in for years. All of my symptoms left except one, I am still having difficulty concentrating. Please consider taking this hazard off the market. Since I have been free of aspartame, my husband and many other people have noticed that I am able to do many things that I haven't been able to do in YEARS! I had drank aspartame in diet drinks evetry since it came out. I had no idea that aspartame was what was causing most of my problems until I started doing research on what could cause slurred speech. I don't want anyone to go through what I have been through. I thank God that I found out before it was TOO LATE! ----------------- Date: Thu, 30 Oct 1997 18:40:35 -0500 (EST) To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: nutrasweet/hypoglycemia/seizures I am 26 years old and I have never had a serious medical condition in my life. Recently, I began having blackouts, feeling rather run down, and I was having frequent mood swings. I consider myself to be in excellent physical condition and watch my diet religiously. Not very long ago, I was taken to the hospital while having one of my supposed seizures, or blackouts. I tend to stray away from "seizure" because as soon as the word is brought up you are labeled epileptic. While at the hospital, I was put through all of the usual tests when someone is said to have had a seizure. The tests, C-T scan, MRI, and ECG, did not reveal any obvious problems. So, for lack of anything better, my brilliant(Hahh!!) neurologist diagnosed me with epilepsy. At the same time I was also having problems with my blood sugar being too low. He didn't even try to link either of my two problems together into a feasible diagnosis. You can understand that I was feeling angry, depressed, and thoroughly confused. It wasn't a week after I had been released from the hospital and I had another "seizure". My girlfriend and I thought back through the events of the prior days and nothing seemed irregular. While in the hospital my physician placed me on Dilantin, an anti-convulsive medication, and it was supposed to alleviate my problem. Obviously it wasn't working. My girlfriend and I then began thinking of anything that we had changed in our lifestyles in the last six months since these problems occurred. We found an article on the adverse effects of nutrasweet and became very curious. Then we discovered it. With our efforts of keeping a strict diet I began consuming large amounts of Crystal Light. I liked the powdered drink mix because by the package I just assumed it was flavored water. I never drank any diet sodas so I really never encountered Nutrasweet to a very high degree. Soon I was consuming 6-10 gallons a week along with my normal water intake. I did not experience any immediate problems, at least we don't think so. Then came the problems that I have discussed. Since then I have found a doctor that believes in my reaction to Aspartame, and has discontinued my medication. I am now trying to restore my life to the way it was before my Nutrasweet problem. Due to my seizures, my driver's license has been suspended for six months. ----------------- Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Legal Action against Monsanto I have been off aspartame for some time now and I have been under the care of a fine doctor to rid myself of the chemical. My confusion (getting lost on the way home) disappeared as soon as I stopped consuming aspartame. But it is apparent that brain damage has been done, because my memory has been seriously reduced. I have difficulty remembering the names of my students, or any other new information. I am considering a suit against Monsanto and/or the FDA seeking damages, but have not yet consulted an attorney. Are you aware of any law suits by individuals like myself against Monsanto or PepsiCo? I would appreciate any information you have that could be of assistance to me in this effort. Thank you for everyting you have done. If it weren't for you I would still be doing brain damage to myself courtesy of these criminals. ----------------- Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 11:07:52 -0500 Subject: Aspartame To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Let me first commend you and your "partners in crime" for the work that you do in reference to aspartame and it's ill effects on the human body. As a sufferer of aspartame poisoning, I feel quite strongly that you and your people may have gone as far as saving my life. At the least, you people are responsible for improving my quality of life by an exponential amount. I was diagnosed with type II diabetes a little over 3 years ago. Like a scared little diabetic, I was concerned for my health enough to make several changes in my lifestyle, to improve my overall health and to try to keep my diabetes under control. I began using Equal in my coffee,(4 cups/day) and I began drinking diet Pepsi, about 4 per day. I tried to use as many products with aspartame as possible. During the next 2 years, I lost 55 lbs, much to the delight of myself, my family, and my doctor. But during these 2 years, my health began to suffer, and I started experiencing many problems that no one, including my doctor, associated with aspartame useage. As a matter of fact, everyone, including myself, thought that most of my problems were my "advancing age" (46 now). The problems I had were as follows; indigestion (used Rolaids like candy), headaches, almost every morning,(used Advil almost everyday). severe mood swings, memory loss (mostly short term), my vision deteriorated, insomnia, and finally vertigo. When I began the dizziness associated with vertigo, I again went to the doctor thinking maybe I had a clogged artery to my brain. My doctor could find absolutely nothing wrong with me. He scheduled me for a "fasting" blood test the next morning. The next morning I took a thermos of coffee sweetened with aspartame in the truck, to drink on the way to work after the blood test. That morning, I felt great...no dizziness and no indigestion. When I got to work, bam...I had a dizzy spell. I thought for a minute as to "what did I do from the time I left the lab, until now?"....it hit me like a ton of bricks....an almost forgotten memory of the controversy over the approval of aspartame. I searched the Web and ended up at your sight. The rest is sort of history. I stopped using aspartame products, and all the symptoms went away, almost immediately, except...I fear my eyes are permanently damaged, and my short term memory has improved, but is a long ways from what a man my age should be experiencing. I am now on a "one man" crusade in work, to educate my fellow workers and friends to the dangers of aspartame. I have been successful with 4 individuals, who are now on the mend, and who also NEVER associated their medical problems with their use of aspartame. ----------------- Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 08:09:41 GMT To: MSLIST-L@techunix.technion.ac.il Subject: Re: Effects of alcohol? Now also Diet Coke I have had more than 1 doctor warn me about nutrasweet. Funny, I don't use it anyway... because my first time ingesting it resulted in hallucinations and the most incredible anxiety I have ever experienced. I ran into my mother's bedroom crying and insisting that my room was haunted. I told her that things were flying around and my digital display on my clock had changed from green to blood red and was dripping. Thing was.... I didn't even know I had had nutrasweet. A friend of mine had made kool-aid with it, and we had gone for a picnic at a fishing peer. I asked her if she had put "anything special" in the kool-aid and she said.... just "equal." I put it in the back of my mind, until one day (about a week later), I hear on the radio that there were people having bad reactions to nutrasweet, including hallucenations. I called the FDA that afternoon. They sent someone over to interview me, and gave me Searle's address (the manufacturer). I sent for more information and FDA reports and such. This was before the internet and before they began putting it into every diet food on the market. What I read about aspartame (nutrasweet) astounded me, and I never touched the stuff again. I got very habitual about reading labels and asking people if what they had given me had aspartame in it. I also made a point of educating people about it, as much as I could. My sister has had a seizure disorder since she was a child. The constantly told her it wasn't epilepsy. Oddly enough, her new neurologist and a second opinion just confirmed that it IS epilepsy. ROTFL (as if we didn't know). Anyway, she had been on her usual "epilepsy" meds for her seizure disorder (that still cracks me up) since she was in 3rd grade. Only one grand mal seizure when she was about 13. We felt that had to do with her getting her period the first time and the hormonal changes affecting her brain. From the time she was 32 or so, she started to have petit mal seizures again. No one could figure out why. Then, one day, about 2 years ago, she revealed to me that it was very common for her to drink 3-5 diet cokes a day. I was so upset. Here she was... just the person who shouldn't be drinking that poison!!!! and now she is having small seizures again? I asked her to promise me that she would quit the diet cokes and drink regular ones for 2 weeks.... just as an experiment. She hasn't touched one since, or had any seizures at all. .... ----------------- To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Aspartame Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 13:14:02 -0400 (EDT) Yes I am off of Aspartame completely!! Have been feeling good. Haven't had any seizures and have been able to cut back on my Dilantin. I am also cutting out caffeine now. Of course my neurologist won't admit that Aspartame has anything to do with seizures, he just laughs when asked that question. But I do know that I didn't have seizures until I was 19 years old, (after I started drinking diet soda) and am not having them now (off of diet sodas and all other Nutrasweet). My CT scan and MRI were both normal and doctors can't explain why I had seizures. EEG did show seizure activity, so I know I was not just crazy. I would be curious to see if my EEG is now improved. But that costs a lot of money, so I guess I'll just enjoy my new and improved lifestyle and keep my fingers crossed. Cutting back on the Dilantin has also given me more energy! ----------------- Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 22:54:11 -0400 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: xxxxxxxx Guestbook I have been plagued with unknown health problems for 3 years. Been to several doctors, had all kinds of tests run, and after the tests confirmed I had nothing wrong, and I was still having seizures, I begin to eliminate foods from my diet, I still had all kinds of problems, such as fatigue, heart palpitations, hypertension, abdominal pain, hair loss, memory loss, vision loss, to name a few, but the seizures were the worst. When I eliminated Equal from my diet 6 weeks ago, I have not had another seizure, and all other ailments except the irregular heart beats have improved. I wish I knew the long range damage of Equal to my body, and I might have a better outlook on life. Do you know a lawyer working on this for the people with damage to their health from Nutrasweet, and where can I contact them. ----------------- Date: Fri, 7 Nov 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Detox update - good news! I just wanted to let you know how I'm feeling after two weeks away from Nutrasweet. You may remember I had spoken to xxxxx xxxxxxx about a non-pharmaceutical for my excruciating insomnia - well, I no longer need one, as I sleep through the night now. The only lifestyle/dietary change I've made is the elimination of aspartame (Diet Pepsi, more specifically). I still consume caffeine every day. I was very concerned about gaining weight, because of my history of eating disorders, but so far, so good. I think I'm eating more, but haven't gained an ounce. The flashing lights in my eyes have settled down, and I can't wait until my retinal specialist examines me Monday - he's skeptical about the aspartame link, but when he sees my improvement, perhaps he'll be more convinced. My kids have noticed changes in my demeanor - I meet them outside when they get off the school bus, rather than them finding me exhaused in bed at 3 p.m. I'm also much clearer in the morning, and not prone to agitation. I'll keep you apprised of my progress along the way, and thank you so much for all the valuable information to which you have directed me. [update] Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Aspartame December 25 marked the last day of my 60-day withdrawal from aspartame, and I just wanted you to hear how things are going. I'm still having an awful lot of vision problems - legally blind. What is now apparent is that this particular part of my affliction my be life-long, because of damage to the optic nerve and retina that is irreparable. My eyesight "waxes and wanes", and the flashing lights sometimes make me feel like going insane! However, on a more positive note, I am sleeping so much better, and I do not feel the rage and ensuing depression I felt when I was using aspartame on a daily basis. My heart has stopped fluttering, my mouth doesn't burn any more, and I feel a little more "there" I have not experienced any more grand mal seizures, either ( you may recall I had four in the period between 1994-1997 with no history of epilepsy, tumors or massive head injuries) Monsanto has used the general population as guinea pigs, as far as I'm concerned. And in light of Fen-phen, Rezulin, and other drugs approved, then abandoned by the FDA, I am a firm believer that the FDA is not qualified to be a regulatory body when it it comes to the public well-being. To me, FDA approval is meaningless - as they say, you can put syrup on it, but that don't make it pancakes! ----------------- Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 16:56:50 +0800 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: allergic to sweetners I found your list of reactions to nutrasweet while searching for something else. I thougt I would let you know i finnally discovered the cause of my terrible itchy skin afer 4 monthes of lotions potions doctors and even a naturopath. No one could help it was only after discussing with someone the possiblity of it being something I was eating that I began a process of elimination. After one week of no I felt better after 2 no more symptoms. So now to loose weight I am exercising more. After reading your list I will now stop all my family having any. ----------------- Date: Fri, 26 Dec 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: apertame >im a long haul trucker whos been driving safely for 20 years.last year >i was in a accident caused by a dizzy spell or seizure.i would drink >large amounts of coffee with a aspertame sweetner along with chewing >large amounts of gum containing aspertame.usually 8 to ten packs a >night.i believe my accident was a result of aspertame [updated] Im sorry i just read your last e-mail. I am fine. I dont use aspertame.honestly Im not happy about the lack of awareness about the problems with this piosen. im going to restart looking for a lawyer again in a last ditch attempt to hold them responcable for the dizzy spell that i had.I dont think the law firm Ive got for my workers compensation thinks its worth his time.but I know what happened. i know what i did to stay alert [chew lots and lots of gum with this product.and drink diet sodas .but in the end if it fails at least [thanks to your web sites] i know what caused my dizzy spell and also my wife and kids avoid this poisen to. ----------------- Date: Wed, 29 Oct 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame and choking I try not to eat anything, chew gum, or drink anything that contains NutraSweet. A few years ago I realized that sometimes when I chewed gum, I would choke and lose my breath for several seconds, which is VERY scary. It then became apparant that it only happened when chewing gum with NutraSweet in it. I know only one other person that this happens to--we call that kind of gum "choker gum". Do you know why it affects some people that way? I read what you had to say about phenylalanine on the internet. Why isn't it banned?! It's disgusting! ----------------- Subject: Re: Aspartame Date: 1997/12/22 Newsgroups: bit.listserv.autism I also was interested in the aspartame post. I've taken myself off it for years because it caused migraines, irritability, cloudiness in thinking. I used to consume large amounts in college when I was trying to conform to the anorexic body image prevailing at the time. Now I wonder how many people out there are drinking diet Coke while conversing with their shrink! ----------------- Subject: Re: Aspartame Date: 1997/12/22 Newsgroups: bit.listserv.autism Thanks for the info. I took Logan off it totally about a year and a half ago, and his language and "with-it-ness" increased dramatically within a week. Been suffering ffrom depression for a couple of years now. Don't know why I didn't think of it. I am addicted to diet coke. Guess I am now "on the wagon" ----------------- Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Aspartame Poisoning? I have spent much of this afternoon reviewing, with interest, the material on your web site, along with that on the xxxxx web site and that of xxxxx, as well as the xxxxxx Web Site. This was prompted by a several weeks of ongoing severe headaches and throat irritation that had gone unexplained. I had come to the conclusion that perhaps allergies were at play, and started to watch for what brought on the symptoms. The last two evenings, symptoms were brought on severly by the same apparent cause: extra large, fast food Diet Cokes! Over the past 3-4 months, I moved from my prior job to create a startup business. I am a software designer and developer and have spent a great deal of time at home creating a new software program. As a result, my intake of Diet Coke has increased dramitically. However, I did not begin to expect this was a problem until the past two evenings. I have cut out these drinks as of today, and will monitor whether this causes the symtoms to subside. If you would like, I will report back to you after a period of time. Thanks you for your efforts to make this informaiton available. The first site I found was the xxxxx site. I was quite discouraged as I though I had identified the problem. Only when I followed my other search links did I realize the whole truth might not be there. [update] Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Aspartame Poisoning? Thanks for the follow up. Yes, I have sworn off aspartame since my first message on 6/22/97. My symptoms disappeared and have not returned. Frankly I was amazed. This has caused me to look more carefully at other stuff going into my body. Note that I did not give up coffee initially. This was on my list of possible causes also. Much later, I did give it up, but long after (months after) my symtoms had disappeared. ----------------- Date: Thu, 30 Oct 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: NutraSweet victim some very disturbing information on Nutrasweet on the WEB a few months back. After reading the information I stopped drinking Diet Coke and diet sodas immediately. I had been drinking Diet Coke for about four years or so, pretty much on a daily basis (Meaning one or two a day). For about the last two years I had some increasing pain on the inside bone of both elbows. I thought it may have been an old hockey injury. I started to get very concerned when the pain was persistant and seem to be getting worse to the point of having great pain when lifting not so heavy objects. I remembered when I had started drinking diet sodas. That was the only constant variable in my diet in the past years. The pain got to the point of being too severe to ignore. I happened to look up on Nutrasweet on the WEB and found an abundance of negative information. One particular report mentioned that sore joints was one of the symptoms. I have not injested diet sodas since then and am happy to say the pain is 90 % gone. Coincident? Maybe.......I don't think so. I hope that I haven't done anything too irreversable at this time. I did coincidently drink a couple of quarts of freshed squeezed vegetable juice each week during those years. A friend of mine owned a juice store at the time and (like a bar) I would stop in a couple of nights a week for a :drink". During that time (approx. 5 years) I only had the flue once. (note: I am not a health or excersise fanatic) I am sorry about the long winded note, but I thought you might like to hear my story. ----------------- AOL/Allergies, Immune Disorders/Food Allergies Subject: Re: "Diet" Drinks Date: Tue, Dec 23, 1997 9:40 AM However, I have had a different encounter with Nutrasweet and all aspartame- based products. This summer I was diagnosed as not only having asthma/allergies (already knew that) but also chemical sensitivities to phenol & formalin (formaldehyde precursor). In my reading, I found an explanation for the aspartame reaction I had. Once ingested, there is apparently a reaction with aspartame in the intestines which produces formaldehyde. Even a small breath mint with Nutrasweet can make my bronchii inflame to the point where I can't even get enough air to speak. My face turns grey-blue, I get agitated (I usually stay calm during an asthma attack), and I'm exhausted for several days. Once I cut out all Nutrasweet, it stopped. Although you have not run into this extreme, you may want to look into chemical sensitivities. It's possible that you have run into a chemical sensitivity rather than a straight allergic reaction. ----------------- AOL/General Health Discussions/NutraSweet Subject: Help re: PKU sensitivity Date: Tue, Dec 23, 1997 4:05 AM I have had several episodes of sensitivity to Nutrasweet. I try to avoid it but have accidently ingested it in punches that contained diet sodas. It seems to affect my brain function & I feel irritable & edgy. ----------------- Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Looking for brain tumor information Since that day that you wrote me I stopped completely the use of neutrasweet. My intake per day of this molecule was huge. Now, the dizziness is gone I hope that it did not kill too many neuron cells or created any genetic damage. What is very interesting is the participation of Dr. R. Wurtman in this issue. As long as it was politically convenient for him he helped the struggle against the FDA. When he needed approval from them for Redox (another medical disaster), Neutrasweet became O.K. It makes me very angree when he appeared on the CNN after 24 patients already were diagnozed with valve damage and stated that Redox is the safest drug on the market for this purpose. At the same time the damage to the neurns was showed in tissue culture. I am a scientist myself and I know how political and monetary advantages can change their scientific opinion and kill many people. ----------------- Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 21:16:50 -0400 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: aspartame Thank you very much for your time and devotion to this cause. In the first week of August, I was searching for a cause for my mom's neuropathy and abdominal pain. Thanks to your website I have an answer. I can't convince mom's doctors that this is the cause. Most doctors seem to be brain dead. They just think it is normal in diabetics to develop severe abdominal pain. Since I am convinced, I am going full swing into educating the public. I am going to hand out flyers entitled DIET COKE ALMOST KILLED MY MOTHER at the store where mom bought her poison as well as picket the FDA. My parents live about 5 miles from the FDA. I don't want to step on anyones toes. Let me know if you would like to in anyway coordinate my efforts so that I don't go off half-cocked so to speak and do no good! Mom has passed the 60 day mark with little improvement except her arthritic pain is gone and her B/G level is much more stable. She still has severe abdominal pains which is treated by percocet and weak legs. She is using about 1/4 as much insulin. She is confined to a nursing home because it became impossible for my 76 year old father to care for her. I have talked to so many people who are affected by this poison. I rarely consumed it but couldn't understand about 8 months ago feeling very strange every time I ate dinner at my folks. At one time I had to stop my car on the way home because of a rapid heartbeat. Thought I was having a heart attack. While writing this letter, I went outside to talk to a friend, a junk dealer named "Popeye". He told me about getting tunnel vision and convulsions after consuming crystal light at his brother-in-laws house. ----------------- Date: Wed, 22 Oct 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: nutrasweet danger I AM xxxx FROM MEXICO CITY, SORRY FOR MY BAD ENGLISH, ALL I WANT TO SAY IS, I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING IN THE WEB, FOR THIS POISON CALL ASPARTAME. NOW I KNOW MANY THINGS ABOUT IT, I AM AN HYPOGLUCEMIC PERSON, BUT I ALWAYS REFUSE TO TAKE NUTRASWEET. IF I HAD JUST ONE DIET COKE, I FELT REALLY BAD, CAFFEINE AND NUTRASWEET ARE LIKE A BOMB FOR ME. I AM AN AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR, AND I LOVE TO SEARCH FOR NUTRITION FACTS. WHEN I TOLD MY CLIENTS ABOUT THIS, THEY QUIT TAKING NUTRASWEET, AND BELIVE IT OR NOT NOW THEY IMPROVED, AND NOW THEY CAN FOLLOW THE CLASSES AND THE RUTINES MUCH BETTER. ----------------- Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997 16:30:01 -0500 Newsgroups: alt.support.epilepsy Subject: Re: Warning to all with seizure disorders I don't know how it works with seizures but eliminating aspartame from my diet made my migraines go away..from an average of 3-4 month down to none ----------------- Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 20:06:49 -0400 (EDT) To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: So glad you're better When you last wrote I couldn't see any change in my health. Shortly after that, about 80 days after stopping aspartame, I am feeling much better. I may still have seizures, but I'm managing WELL on only 400 mg. dilantin daily. Before even 500 mg every other day was not helping. I hope to decrease the dilantin sometime and see if, by any chance, the seizures are gone. I will do that under my neurologist's direction. Right now, I do not feel like changing anything. Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 00:01:09 -0500 (EST) To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Re: Nutrasweet/seizures Got off Nutrasweet and am MUCH better. Thanks. Letitia ----------------- Date: Tue, 25 Nov 1997 To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Aspartame keeps diabetes out of control This is not very scientific but I wanted to write to you about my mom's experience with aspartame. She takes medication to control her sugar and never is able to get it under control. She also drank lots of diet soda and ate things with nutrasweet, jello, pudding, cookies, etc. The doctor told her to give it up and start taking shots. She decided to find a new doctor. About this same time. (Last April, I think) I got your articles via e-mail after reading about you and immediately called my mom. My dad answered and I told him about it. From that moment on no diet soda etc. And immediately her sugar count began going down and came under control. About 2 months ago she drank Crystal Light for 3 days. Because she had it around for my nephew and she thought what the heck. Well her sugar went sky high, so she stopped. Two weeks ago she had 3 diet root beers in one evening. The next morning, it was sky high again. I think she is now convinced. I wish we could convince my sister to stop (weight problem) and not allow my 3 yr old nephew to drink it. But she said she is cutting down. I did share the recent article with her about it affecting conception, as she is trying to get pregnant again. At least she didn't drink it while pregnant. Thanks for all your information and I hope this helps prove even more what you say. My boyfriend is a pilot and he has quit drinking any diet soda. He never ate foods with it, and he is sharing that info with other pilots. Keep up the good work and have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Blessed Holiday Season. I hope my story makes sense. I am not a great writer. ----------------- Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 11:57:39 -0800 Newsgroups: alt.med.fibromyalgia Subject: Re: Caffeine, aspartame and sugar. Thumper I get a horrible headache and diarrhea from nutrasweet. It took me a long time to trace it back to diet pepsi. I read an article a few years ago that suggested nutrasweet had been linked in some way to some type of neuro problems. I don't remeber if it was brain tumors or strokes. Headaches were a symptom though. It seems to me that saccharin causes bladder cancer in rats. But like you said, the human equivalent was an outrageous amount. I don't recall the human equivalent in the nutrsweet tests. It is probably the same way. ----------------- BiSleep Discussion Forum http://bisleep.medsch.ucla.edu/discussions/clinicalP/messages/msgs00179.html RE: Subject:Nutrasweet & Vitamin B 12 for DSPS I would be interested in the Nutrasweet correlation myself. I have insomnia and a digestive disorder, The digestive problem got lots better when I stopped Nutrasweet products. The insomnia is always worse when my digestive problem is active so . . . I just am very curious. ----------------- Subj: Re: Aspartame and Immune Disorders Date: 97-07-14 23:27:10 EDT To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx I have not had aspertame for at least 6 months. I do drink regular sweetened drinks and overall feel better than before, hard to explain, but definitely there is a difference. ----------------- Subject: Re: Aspartame Date: 1997/12/22 Newsgroups: bit.listserv.autism I am allergic to Aspartame (I have CFS or ME) as is my son with autism. We both get a bad sore throat. ----------------- Subject: Re: Skipping Beats Date: 1997/12/18 Newsgroups: sci.med.cardiology Funny you should mention them going away. It seemed to me at the time, that they [the PVCs] occurred sporatically throughout the year. I went through the Holter monitor test and the doctor pretty much said that I didn't have anything to worry about. Since then, I started surfing the web and various other journals in the library. I have all but eliminated the following two chemicals from my diet; phosphoric acid (found in cokes, diet cokes and pretty much any caramel colored soda pop) and nutrasweet (equal, etc). The PVCs rarely occur these days (that was a year and a half ago). I still consume caffeine (2-3 cups per morning) and I exercise moderately 2 to 3 times per week. I am 34 years old and have a history of heart trouble (I was born with a hole in my heart - the hole was repaired but a severe murmur remains to this day). ----------------- Date: Fri, 31 Oct 1997 23:11:24 -0600 Newsgroups: alt.support.crohns-colitis Subject: Re: Nutrasweet question I was a frequent user of Diet Coke and used Equal for sweetening breakfast cereal. I gave it up about 4 yrs. ago. It seems to aggravate my guts and I have some very frequent, severe headaches. I seldom get the headaches now, but the gut problems come and go (CD for 18 yrs.) ----------------- Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 14:37:05 -0400 Sender: Low Carb Support List Subject: Re: artificial sweetners > I seem to have an intolerance to Nutrisweet whereby I break out all > over when I use much of it. I don't break out, but I have found that if I use more than a couple of packets a day, my gums will bleed. If I stop using it, the bleeding stops. I've decided to switch to stevia. .... ----------------- Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 20:22:46 -0700 Sender: Low Carb Support List Subject: Re: Headaches If I were you I would look to aspartame. It gives me terrible headaches - but it took forever for me to make the connection because they show up during the night after an indulgence and they feel a lot like sinus. I take one feverfew capsule every day now because I believe that the aspartame triggers the migraine type pain. .... ----------------- Date: Sun, 26 Oct 1997 21:44:53 -0500 Subject: Re: [FIT-L] Aspartame and appetite To: FIT-L@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU I too wrote a couple of postings to this list regarding the same subject. I am an active male, age 50, non-drinker, physical fitness devotee. I quit drinking four to six(average) diet soft drinks per day. I lost ten pounds! ----------------- AOL/General Health Discussions/Nutrasweet Subject: Serious side effects Date: 23 Jul 1997 01:32:50 EDT I had a very bad experience with Nutrasweet--it caused severe headaches, visual disturbances, hemispheric numbness and parasthesias in my face and head (one side only). It took me quite a while (and a complete neurologic work-up) to figure out for sure if it was the aspartame--but when I figured it out and tried Nutrasweet by itself I knew for sure. I felt really terrible while using it. I think it is a dangerous chemical--and have since read that there have been convulsions and deaths from using it. I won't touch it ever again--nor do I want my children, or grandchildren consuming it. [Followup] AOL/General Health Discussions/NutraSweet Subject: I have Mastocytosis and Nutrasweet is poison Date: 23 Jul 1997 01:53:17 EDT I have mastocytosis, mast cell disorder--due to to the degranulation of mast cells in my blood and in various organs, I have weakness, parasthesias, fatigue, pain, facial swelling, respiratory problems, hypersensitivities (looks like severe allergy) to food additives--and NUTRASWEET IS the VERY WORST, followed closely by sensitivity to MSG. Both these chemicals trigger mast cell degranulation for me, which if severe enough, leads to anaphylactic shock. If I do not treat the shock symptoms immediately I could die rather quickly. I also have had severe neurologic problems from these chemicals which mimic stroke. I hate Nutrasweet and the companies which are putting it into the food chain. We are going to have millions of people so ill they will have to live in nursing homes before they are old--if we do not get the POISONS out of our food chain, starting with aspartame, and monosodium glutamate. ----------------- Subject: Re: Alzheimers/NutraPoison Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 16:48:12 -0600 (MDT) To: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxxxx.xxx I think the people who have immediate reactions are indeed "lucky". I had a friend who drank several NutraPoison sodas every day. She developed severe, debilitating headaches but never made the connection to the NutraPoison. Over the course of a year she spent thousands of dollars on specialists and tests (she even had a brain scan). Spent hundreds of dollars on different kinds of drugs to alleviate the headaches, all to no avail. Someone mentioned to her that NutraPoison has been known to cause headaches, so she decided to stop ingesting it. Her headaches stopped 2 days later. A couple weeks later she tried drinking one soda and got a horrible headache. She then became an anti-NutraPoison activist, trying to warn others. Too bad I didn't listen. She told me she started doing research on how dangerous it was and practically begged me to get off it, but I just didn't want to listen. I kept saying that it was only bad for certain people, but I "obviously" didn't have any problems with it, so I kept on drinking it. I wish I had had a severe reaction so I would have realized how damaging it is. I kept drinking it for years, thinking all along that I just wasn't "allergic" to it. My family and friends were all worried about my NutraPoison intake, but I kept telling them it was certainly safer than sugar. Finally I decided to try to stop drinking it for awhile to see if there was anything in what people were telling me. After being free of NutraPoison for 2 weeks I noticed that I wasn't tired in the morning anymore (didn't need caffeine to wake me up), I stopped craving sweets, I lost weight, and I felt better. A few weeks later I decided to try it again. I had muscle aches, joint pain, and I almost threw up. It tasted like poison. I used to actually crave the taste, but now it just tastes like the poison that it is. > It converts to > formaldehyde even in the retina of the eye and has caused enough blindness > that in l986 the FDA was petitioned to ban aspartame for this reason. > It ravages every organ in the body. I just found out (at only 43) that I have glaucoma, even though I don't have any risk factors. Perhaps its from my years of drinking NutraPoison? > Also, the wood alcohol in aspartame literally destroys the immune system. > Would you get up each morning and take a little pill that you knew little > by little would breakdown your immune system? I also got MCS, FM and CFS while drinking NutraPoison. My liver simply doesn't do phase II detox anymore. Maybe NutraPoison didn't directly cause these illnesses, but I do know that it added to my total toxic load. > I can think of no redeeming value for NutraSweet except a good rat poison. I think I remember reading somewhere that given a choice, rats won't eat NutraSweet (or maybe it was cockroaches?) so it may not even make a good rat poison. > No redeeming value does NutraSweet have. It is addicting and it makes > billions for Monsanto. I'm sorry to say that for years I helped support Monsanto with my NutraPoison habit. I cringe at the thought today. I can't believe I wouldn't listen to all those who were trying to help me. ----------------- Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 14:24:11 +0100 (BST) To: xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: re: toxic reaction to aspertame The following is my brief account of recent experiences of a toxic reaction to aspertame and/or acesulfame k. I had never heard of aspartame (or acesulfame k) and recently suffered my first ever panic attack. More than anything else I could not understand why or how this could possibly happen to me since I am very fit and a reasonably calm person who performs well under stress. Then, thanks to reading an account on the internet, mentioning aspartame, I did an analysis of recent changes in my diet. To my surprise and horror I discovered that I had been taking some chewable vitamin C tablets (purchased at Boots the Chemist here in the U.K.) which contained both aspartame and acesulfame k. I had consumed 35 tablets at the rate of one a day. I was immediately convinced that this was the source of the problem since my usual diet never includes anything containing artificial sweeteners or other artificial substances and I have always kept a close watch on my diet. Of course, I stopped taking these tablets and within days my symptoms changed dramatically. I had suffered palpitations and tightness across my chest and the bridge of my nose, and my anxiety level was extreme. After stopping the tablets the palpitations came less often and were less profound and my anxiety dropped considerably. As the days have gone by I have felt continually better. I cannot believe that this wretched substance is out there in so many products just waiting for the next unsuspecting victim. It really is time for the big food giants to admit that aspartame, acesulfame k and products like them, are not fit for human consumption. If aspartame can do this to me (and it really was one of the most harrowing and nightmarish periods of my life) then what is it doing to our children. Here in the UK more and more children are suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome... How do the scientists know that this is not a side effect of the consumption of aspartame in diet coke and other products? Clearly, there is more to aspartame and acesulfame k than we are being allowed to know. Many people's experiences are more tragic than mine and if it were not for the access to information via the internet I may never have known what the source of my problem was. ----------------- Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 23:20:59 -0400 (EDT) To: xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Subject: Thank you so much! After reading your web page, I have finally figured out why I have been feeling so weird. Mood swings, panic attacks, heart palpitations, chest pains, and since I have cut out aspartme and any other artificial sweetners, I feel like a new person. You never hear anything about this in the media, and the only reason I figured it out is because I am a vegetarian, excercise like a banchee, drink tons of water, take vitamins, am 5'6 and weigh 112 pounds, and Diet Drinks were my only vice. I feel like a totally new person after cutting them out of my diet. Thanks for you information! ----------------- To: xxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx Date: Thu, 11 Sep 1997 19:44:47 -0500 Subject: Aspartame I found your name & address on Internet today. I wanted to share my experience. Several years ago I started drinking a lot of Diet Coke. Gradually I began to feel tired all the time. I am a librarian and by noon every day all I wanted to do was sit at my desk and close my eyes or stare into space. Not only was I tired, my back hurt all the time. And it was like my brain was in a fog. I was in my early 40's at that time and had decided I would never be able to learn much of anything new. Then one day I was reading magazine at my desk because I was to tired to work. I don't remember what magazine - only that is was a woman's magazine. There was an article about nutrasweet possibly causing loss of brain power. (That might not have been exactly how it was worded) I decided right then to quit drinking diet Coke and see what would happen. It only took about a week and it was like the fog lifted from my brain. And gradually my energy came back. And my back quit hurting all the time. Now I can work all day with out excessive fatigue. And I have learned how to use a computer - something I might not have wanted to try a few years ago. I did not realize I had Aspertame Disease. I did not even know there was such a thing until my mother taped a radio program about it. I recognized my systems from among the many! I have not drank diet drinks in over years five years. I plan to tell others about the danger of aspartame. ----------------- AOL/General Health Discussions/Nutrasweet Subject: Re: Blah, blah, blah Date: 20 Jul 1997 06:56:34 EDT I feel I must repond here. i have been having problems craving diet foods like diet pop and iced tea that contained nutra sweet. However, at the time I did not realize it, was sick, and the doctor brought it to my attention! I quit consuming it just to see if it made a difference and it did! I have a problem with the seratonin and dopamine neurotransmitters. Noone will ever convince me otherwise. My family saw the change in me and they even voluntarily cut it out of their diet! ----------------- AOL/General Health Discussions/NutraSweet Subject: Re: Nutrasweet Date: 13 Jul 1997 16:40:07 EDT Nutrasweet! Bah, I hate to even see the word. It made my life so miserable for 10 years. I thought when it came out it was the best thing that ever happened. I could drink all the pop I wanted with nutrasweet. I got daily migraines. Had every kind of medical test to try and figure out what was causing the migraines. Finally when the headaches were coming 4 times a day and I was banging my head against the wall because I was so frustrated, I start