Nutrasweet: The Nutrapoison

Deep Politics ^ | Alex Constantine

[hardhead]

Would anyone want to take bets that all studies supporting the safety of aspartame are by the drug companies and/or the government?

[big bad easter bunny]

It isn't a drug it is a sweetner.

[Itzlzha]

Testimonials are ussually void of fact. They tested the **** out of the stuff. I believe it is safe.

Do you normally use the word "safe" to describe a genetically engineered chemical that converts to FORMALDEHYDE is the human body as a by-product of digestion?

I do not. Nor do I like the fact that as a "food additive" they skirt rules that help the consumer.

Remember the saccharin scare? These folks had a hand in saccharin being labeled unsafe, yet their product is a "food additive"!

I'll stick with Stevia and Splenda...both of which are A-OK when heated...NutraSweet should not be cooked with...that "Formaldehyde" thing, y'know....

[Petronski]

I think "allergic reaction" is an excellent description of the phenomenon. Some people have severe problems, others have minor issues (like me), and many people can drink it without any issues at all (except maybe the aftertaste).

[willieroe]

I seem to remember some years ago that Pat Robertson did an 'expose' of this very subject on the 700 Club.

Heh... I've watched the 700 Club maybe 20 minutes in my lifetime, but 8 years ago, while changing the channels, Pat was talking about three common side effects of aspartame: depression, heart arrhythmia, and memory loss. At that time, my doctor had just ordered me a 24-hour Holter monitor for arrhythmia, two months after partial hospitalization treatment for depression - and I was also noticing some short-term memory loss (in my 30's?) I also consumed at least 40 ounces of Diet Coke a day. After reading a bit more, I ceased use of aspartame, and saw a noticable decrease in the intensity of the above problems.

No data points included - just a personal story.

[coder2]

I too had experienced severe migraines when I switched from regular Coke to diet Coke (a very short period of time). Never had one before, and never had one since...

I stay far away from nutrasweet... The memory of feeling a cleaver going through my head has not faded much over the past 13 years...

[spoiler2]

You're probably well aware of this already, but here's the latest report for your file.

[PatrioticAmerican]

EVERY food that you eat converts to some form of poison.

[Petronski]

Do you normally use the word "safe" to describe a genetically engineered chemical that converts to FORMALDEHYDE is the human body as a by-product of digestion?

If I recall correctly, an intermediate product of the metabolism of alcohol is aldehyde, and if the liver becomes exhausted of certain B-vitamin-compounds, an excess of aldehyde can be left behind, resulting in more intense hangovers.

[hardhead]

I just did a Google and these are only a few from the extensive list:

Aspartame!  Nein!

The Dangers of Aspartame

The Dangers of Aspartame Poisoning

Mary Nash Stoddard Research Findings on the Danger of Aspartame

[rustbucket]

There was an article in the MIT Technology Review on diet sweeteners maybe 10 years ago. As I remember, it pointed out that these unnatural compounds concentrated in your brain. I stopped drinking diet drinks after that.

[The Coopster]

Splenda does NOT taste like sugar. You're fooling yourself if you think it tastes like anything other than crap.....

If you don't believe me, do a taste test with regular and diet V8 Splash. See if you don't gag.....

[hardhead]

I'm very sorry, I don't know what crap tastes like.

[dennisw]

And there is no evidence coming from the medical community that it is causing a problem.

You would have to pay me to consume that garbage. Why would I even want to? Meanwhile some freeper posters say they feel a lot better not consuming it. I believe them over any study.

[gitmo]

You would have to pay me to consume that garbage. Why would I even want to? Meanwhile some freeper posters say they feel a lot better not consuming it. I believe them over any study.

Excellent point! Anecdotal information is much more conclusive.

[The Coopster]

Well, obviously "crap" is a euphemism. LOL!

To me, Splenda tastes as bad as what I imagine crap would taste like.

Better?

[hardhead]

Not being a medical or pharmaceutical researcher, I don't know what they base their research on.........however, look back through this conversation string. Could all these symptoms or effects be nonsense? I don't think so because they are being related by different people over a wide geographical area and age range.

[hardhead]

Good point but to some people Coke tastes better than Pepsi, and vice-versa. I am only relating my own perception.

[Bluntpoint]

I just did a Google and these are only a few from the extensive list:

This is the definitive site:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000609.html

[Bluntpoint]

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000609.html