Sweet Addiction: Artificial Sweeteners Not So Sweet After All

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Sweet Addiction: Artificial Sweeteners Not So Sweet After All

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Sugar substitutes were first developed in the 1950’s when a clinic

director worked to develop a sugar-free diet for patients suffering from

diabetes

and other chronic conditions. The industry took off, and today diet sodas

and sugar substitutes make up a huge part of the market.

The idea that sugar substitutes are healthy alternatives is rooted in the

American psyche, no matter the evidence to the contrary.

Worse yet, the prevalence of artificial sweeteners, corn syrup and refined

sugars in the majority of American foods have created a country of

sweet-addicts.

We are wired to crave some sweetness in our foods, especially during the

winter and in childhood. This craving was meant to drive us to take in

healthy carbohydrates in the form of naturally sweet plant foods.

Due to the extravagant amount of sweeteners in the majority of our foods

and their extreme levels, many of us can no longer detect natural sweetness

in healthy plant foods.

We’re not wired to handle this exorbitant amount of sweetness. This excess

triggers unhealthy food cravings and addiction.

The craving children have for natural sweetness (for growth and

development) would normally wane in adolescence. Instead, this waning is

defeated by

sweet addiction.

When we eat refined sugar or artificial sweeteners, our brains believe

that we’re getting nutrients we need. Instead, we don’t get any real

nutrients, so appetite and food cravings are re-triggered. Our bodies aren’t

looking for more sweetness necessarily—they’re looking for real food!

Furthermore, when we take in these low-nutrient foods and drinks, we have

less room for the good stuff.

Diet Sodas and Drinks

Diet soda has been linked to kidney damage and diet sodas and sweetened

water beverages are linked to weight gain!

At the University of Texas, diet soda drinkers prove to be heavier than

non-diet soda drinkers. Lead researcher Sharon Fowler says, “There was a 41%

increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft

drink a person consumes each day.â€

Purdue University scientists have found that in a rat study, artificial

sweeteners increased caloric intake, body weight and body fat percentage.

And addiction? Cocaine-addicted rats choose saccharin-sweetened water

above and beyond cocaine-doses, even when the researchers upped the drug

levels!

Sweetened food and drink actually changes the taste buds, creating

cravings for more sweetened foods.

One study looked at brain activity in women that ingested water sweetened

with sugar and that sweetened with sucralose (what you might recognize as

Splenda).

Both sweeteners activated pleasure centers in the brain, but sucralose didn

’t produce as much satiation. The craving wasn’t really satisfying and so

triggered increased cravings for more sweet stuff.

The nutrients that many sweetened waters are said to contain are often

present in only the most miniscule amounts or are in forms that our bodies

can’

t make use of. Isolated vitamins and minerals don’t have the beneficial

health effects that those in whole foods do. It’s the whole package—the

combination of protein, lipids, carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals—in

plants that produce positive health effects.

Dangerous Chemicals

The following are some of the most common (and most dangerous) food

additives used today.

Acesulfame K

This brand-new artificial sweetener is 200 times sweeter than sugar.

Little research has been done yet but early studies have linked it with certain

cancers and thyroid conditions.

Artificial Flavoring

Artificial flavoring can mean that a food or beverage contains any one of

3,000 allowable chemicals, many of which have negative health effects.

Aspartame (Equal, Nutrasweet)

Aspartame is 180 times sweeter than sugar. The FDA file of complaints

concerning aspartame ingestion includes reports of dizziness, headaches and

memory loss. Some studies suggest it is a carcinogen.

Benzene

Benzene is produced by the bottling process of many beverages. It is a

noted carcinogen that has been linked to heart rate issues, infertility and

seizures.

Cyclamates

Cyclamates are among the first artificial sweeteners used in diet drinks.

They were once banned by the FDA because of suspicion of their link to

cancer but they are once again up for FDA approval.

Food Coloring

Many food colorings are linked to ADD/ADHD, asthma and cancer. Although

several of these are banned in other countries, the US commonly makes use of

Blue #1 and #2, FD & C colors, Ponceau, Red 2 (Amaranth), Red #3

(Erythrosine), Red #40 (Allura Red), Tartrazine, Yellow #2G, Yellow #6 (Sunset

Yellow), Yellow #23 (Acid Yellow).

Saccharin (Sweet n’ Low)

Saccharin is 300 times sweeter than sugar. The public stopped purchasing

products made with the sweetener when they learned of it’s possible link to

cancer. Studies didn’t ‘prove’ this link, so it is once again common in

many artificially-sweetened foods. Saccharin is linked, however, to addiction

to sweetness, obesity and overeating.

Sucralose (Splenda)

Sucralose is 600 times sweeter than table sugar. Sucralose was an

accidental discovery: it was originally part of a new insecticide compound.

Chlorinated compounds such as sucralose were thought to pass through the

body undigested. Recent research has found that up to 40% of chlorinated

compounds become stockpiled in the intestinal tract, kidneys and liver.

Chlorine has been classified as a carcinogen.

Reversing the Addiction

We can reverse our addiction to unhealthy sweeteners and restore our

ability to taste the natural sweetness in whole foods over time. It will seem

difficult at first, but I can’t encourage you more strongly to put down the

diet sodas and the colored sweetener packets! These chemicals are foreign to

our bodies and will not help you achieve any of your health goals.

Replace artificial sweeteners (and refined sugars, high fructose corn

syrup, etc.) with natural sweeteners like stevia, xylitol and small amounts of

agave nectar or raw honey. Stevia is my personal favorite, as it is a no

calorie, natural sweetener from the stevia plant. You will want to make sure

you use a high quality brand that has not been overly processed. Stevia is

also a great option for people dealing with diabetes, as it will not spike

your blood sugar levels.

In the long run, your best bet is to use very little of even these natural

sweeteners so that your body’s cravings, food triggers and metabolism are

restored to healthy functioning.

Dr. Axe's Action Steps

1.Step away from the diet sodas and the colored sweetener packets!

2.Replace artificial and refined sugars with healthy alternatives like

stevia, xylitol or small amounts of raw honey.

RELATED ARTICLES

Aspartame interacts with all drugs and vaccines:

_http://www.wnho.net/aspartame_interacts.htm_

(http://www.wnho.net/aspartame_interacts.htm)

In 1995 FDA listed 92 symptoms from 10,000 volunteered consumer complaints

including 4 types of seizures, sexual dysfunction, dozens of neurological

problems, comas and death.

_http://www.mpwhi.com/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf_

(http://www.mpwhi.com/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf)

Increasing Brain Tumor Rates: Is There a Link to Aspartame?

Oney, W. MD; Farber, Nuri B.; Spitznagel, ; Robins, Lee N.

Abstract

In the past two decades brain tumor rates have risen in several

industrialized countries, including the United States. During this time, brain

tumor

data have been gathered by the National Cancer Institute from catchment

areas representing 10% of the United States population. In the present study,

we analyzed these data from 197S to 1992 and found that the brain tumor

increases in the United States occurred in two distinct phases, an early

modest increase that may primarily reflect improved diagnostic technology, and a

more recent sustained increase in the incidence and shift toward greater

malignancy that must be explained by some other factor(s). Compared to other

environmental factors putatively linked to brain tumors, the artificial

sweetener aspartame is a promising candidate to explain the recent increase in

incidence and degree of malignancy of brain tumors. Evidence potentially

implicating aspartame includes an early animal study revealing an

exceedingly high incidence of brain tumors in aspartame-fed rats compared to no

brain

tumors in concurrent controls, the recent finding that the aspartame

molecule has mutagenic potential, and the close temporal association (aspartame

was introduced into US food and beverage markets several years prior to the

sharp increase in brain tumor incidence and malignancy). We conclude that

there is need for reassessing the carcinogenic potential of aspartame.

© 1996 American Association

_http://journals.lww.com/jneuropath/Abstract/1996/11000/Increasing_Brain_Tum

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ates__Is_There_a_Link_to.2.aspx)

TWO NEW STUDIES ON ASPARTAME AND DIET DRINKS CONFIRM SOURCE OF OBESITY,

CANCER/ MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOR EPIDEMICS. NEUROSURGEON SAYS BAN TOXIN FROM

SCHOOLS!

_http://www.wnho.net/new_aspartame_studies.htm_

(http://www.wnho.net/new_aspartame_studies.htm)

NEW STUDIES IN GREECE HAVE IMPLICATED ASPARTAME WITH NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS

(LEARNING AND MEMORY PROCESSES)

_http://www.wnho.net/new_greek_aspartame_studies.htm_

(http://www.wnho.net/new_greek_aspartame_studies.htm)

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From: Mark D. Gold

Aspartame Toxicity Information Center

12 East Side Dr., Suite 2-18

Concord, NH 03301

603-225-2110

==> I have been told that there are no controlled human studies

==> showing that aspartame causes adverse effects. Is this true?

I am afraid you have been given completely inaccurate information.

In many cases, persons who perpetuate these myths are simply

ignorant of the scientific literature. Unfortunately, some of these

persons are journalists who spread inaccurate information. In some

cases, however, blatantly false implications that aspartame has not

been shown to cause problems in controlled human studies come from

Monsanto, friends of Monsanto in certain government agencies (e.g.,

FDA), and public relations organizations that receive large sums of

money from the manufacturer (e.g., IFIC, ADA).

The following controlled human studies have shown that aspartame can

cause adverse changes or health problems: Camfield (1992), Elsas

(1988), Gulya (1992), Koehler (1988), Kulczycki (1995), Spiers

(1988), Van Den Eeden (1994), Walton (1993). Therefore, if you read

statements implying that there is no controlled research showing

problems with aspartame, you can rest assured that the writer is

completely ignorant of the scientific literature or simply relating

public relations nonsense.

==> I ran a medical database MEDLINE search and found several

==> abstracts that demonstrated no problems when aspartame was

==> ingested in large amounts. Why is that?

Before this question can be answered, it is necessary to discuss the

overall findings of the scientific community. Recently, Dr. Ralph

Walton compiled a list of all of the controlled human and animals

studies looking for the effects of aspartame (Walton 1996). Out of

90 independently-funded studies, 83 of them found one or more

problems caused by aspartame. But out of the 74 studies funded by

the aspartame industry (e.g., Monsanto, G.D. Searle, ILSI, etc.),

every single one of them claimed that no problems were found. It

is important to note that some of those few " indenpendently-funded "

studies that found no effects were funded by organizations that have

recently shown have been or were being run by persons with very close

ties to the aspartame industry.

Only the most gullible individual would believe that it is a

coincidence that all industry studies found no effects and almost all

independent studies found adverse effects. This is reminiscent of

the " safety " seen cigarette " research " during the 1950s.

For more information of abuse of the scientific method related

to Monsanto/NutraSweet research, please see the following web page:

_http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/_

(http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/abuse/)

References Cited

----------------

Camfield, PR, et al., 1992. " Aspartame exacerbates EEG spike-

wave discharge in children with generalized absence

epilepsy: a double-blind controlled study. " Neurology,

Volume 42, page 1000-1003.

Elsas, Louis J., F. Trotter, 1988. " Changes in

Physiological Concentrations of Blood Phenylalanine

Produces Changes in Sensitive Parameters of Human Brain

Function, " Presented at " Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain

Function. " Proceedings of the First International Meeting

on Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function, Washington,

D.C., May 8-10, 1987. Center for Brain Sciences and

Metabolism Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 64, Kendall Square,

Cambridge, MA 02142. Reprinted in " Dietary Phenyalalnine

and Brain Function, " c1988, Birkhauser, Boston, MA USA,

page 187-195.

Gulya, A. nna, Roy B. Sessions, R. Troost, 1992.

" Aspartame and Dizziness: Preliminary Results of a Prospective,

Nonblinded, Prevalence and Attempted Cross-Over Study, " American

Journal of Otology, Volume 13, Number 5, pages 438-442.

Koehler, SM, A. Glaros, 1988. " The Effect of Aspartame on

Migraine Headache, " Headache, Volume 28, page 10-14.

Kulczycki Jr., , 1995, " Aspartame-induced hives, " Study

described in Letter to the Editor, Journal of Allergy &

Clinical Immunology, February 1995, page 639-640.

Spiers, P.A., Schomer, LuAnn Sabounjian,

Lieberman, Wurtman, Duguid, Riley McCarten,

Michele Lyden, 1988. " Aspartame and Human Behavior:

Cognitive and Behavioral Observations, " Presented at

" Dietary Phenylalanine and Brain Function. " Proceedings

of the First International Meeting on Dietary

Phenylalanine and Brain Function, Washington, D.C., May 8-

10, 1987. Center for Brain Sciences and Metabolism

Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 64, Kendall Square, Cambridge,

MA 02142. Reprinted in " Dietary Phenyalalnine and Brain

Function, " c1988, Birkhauser, Boston, MA USA, page 169-

178.

Van Den Eeden, SK, et al., 1994. " Aspartame Ingestion and

Headaches, " Neurology, Volume 44, page 1787-1793.

Walton, Ralph G., et al., 1993. " Adverse Reactions to

Aspartame: Double-Blind Challenge in Patients From a

Vulnerable Population, " Biological Psychiatry, Volume 34,

page 13-17. Also see followup: Volume 36, page 206-210.

Walton, Ralph G. 1996. Interview by Mike Walace on CBS News, " 60

Minutes, " broadcast December 29, 1996.

Dr. Ralph Walton on 60 Minutes on Dec 29 said that out of 90 independent

studies 83 showed a problem with

aspartame.

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A Neurologist discusses Nutrasweet/Aspartame

In a letter from neurosurgeon Blaylock, M.D., to a Neuropathy

Association dated February 10, l999 he said: " .. recent findings have shed

some light on the elusive compound (aspartame/Nutrasweet) and its deleterious

effects of the human population. .. Aspartame and L- aspartyl L-

phenylalanine methylester, is composed of two amino acids, aspartate and

phenylalanine, linked by methanol. Inside the gastrointestinal tract, especially

in the

stomach it is broken down into its constitutent components . In some

instances the dipeptide is lysed within the cells of the gut. As a consequence

the methanol is rapidly absored and distributed throughout the tissues of the

body. Within the tissues substantial amounts of methanol's two metabolic

breakdown products (formaldehyde and formic acid) have been shown to

accumulate in many tissues. "

Further he said: " These breakdown products, formaldehyde and formic acid,

have been shown in several important studies, to be extremely toxic to

tissues in very small doses. In fact, even small doses of formaldehyde are

considered to be carcinogenic. A recent study by Trocho, Pardo and co-workers,

have demonstrated that following aspartame ingestion, significant amounts

of formaldehyde accumulate in the tissues. Formaldehyde is known to bind

strongly to proteins and nucleic acids , forming adducts that are extremely

difficult to eliminate through normal metabolic pathways. "

" In this study, they demonstrated that labeled methanol (as formaldehyde)

accumulated in high concentrations in the liver (50%) and in lower, but

substantial, concentrations in the kidney , adipose tissue, brain and retina.

Within the cell, they found large amounts located within the DNA. It was

interesting to note ethat these doses were lower than that used in toxicity

studies. Previous studies have shown that very high doses of aspartame may

not cause acute symptomatology. This study indicates that the damage may

necessitate longer periods of time to manifest itself, and that the eventual

effects can be quite deleterius. "

" An earlier study by Shephard and co -workers, it was found that aspartame

is nitrosated within the gut and that this nitrosation of the amine group

is " quite cytotoxic " and represents a moderately strong mutagen in the Ames

test. "

" Another recent study, by Sorg, Willis and co-workers is also alarming. In

this study, it was found that prolonged exposure to low concentrations of

formaldehyde could cause chemical sensitization to cocaine, via a limbic

mechanism. With increasing reports of multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome,

one must be concerned about chronic low dose formaldehyde exposure via

aspartame. "

+ 4 references at the end

_http://suewidemark.netfirms.com/blaylock.htm_

(http://suewidemark.netfirms.com/blaylock.htm)

Possible Neurologic Effects of Aspartame - a Widely Used Food Additive

The artificial sweetener aspartame (L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanyl-methyl

ester), is consumed, primarily in beverages, by a very large number of

Americans, causing significant elevations in plasma and, probably, brain

phenylalanine levels. Anecdotal reports suggest that some people suffer

neurologic or

behavioral reactions in association with aspartame consumption. Since

phenylalanine can be neurotoxic and can affect the synthesis of inhibitory

monoamine neurotransmitters the phenylalanine in aspartame could conceivably

mediate neurologic effects.

_http://www.dorway.com/wurtman1.html_ (http://www.dorway.com/wurtman1.html)

AARP Food Questionnaire Pitted Against Italian Cancer Institute Aspartame

Study

_http://myaspartameexperiment.com/65/aarp-food-questionnaire-pitted-against-

italian-cancer-institute-aspartame-study/_

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e-study/)

Sherman Oaks, CA (PRWEB) April 9, 2006

The media blitz is on to discredit Dr. Morando Soffritti and the Ramazzini

Cancer institute’s 7-year study showing aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet)

causes cancer, especially lymphoma and leukemia.

_http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/docs/aspartame_

(http://www.ramazzini.it/fondazione/docs/aspartame)

The AARP questionnaire/study hailed as proof that aspartame does not cause

cancer was not an ‘aspartame’ study.

This writer/researcher was a participant (until a sample of saliva was

requested) in the study which, although called ‘new’ was completed in 2000.

The ‘lifestyle’ survey was interested in how much the participant exercised

and the dietary portion seemed mainly concerned about how much fat (as in

milk or bacon) one consumed. I do not remember any questions about

artificial sweeteners in the 16-page questionnaire or the follow-up survey,

some

years later. Since I am a reluctant expert on the subject of the chemical

sweetener, aspartame, I think I would have noted questions pertaining to

chemical sweeteners.

The AARP questionnaire has not been made available to the public, yet the

National Cancer Institute is presenting statistics from the questionnaire

claiming the safety of aspartame.

Accepting that the distinguished researchers of the NCI would not

fabricate questions asked half-a-million people…

Denial that aspartame causes cancer was circulated to the public in a

press release written by the Calorie Control Council, an industry based group

whose sixty members include Coca-Cola, Pepsico, Wrigley and Hershey’s

sugar-free products. The CCC cites a ‘new’ food-frequency questionnaire

study by

AARP involving 340,045 men and 226,945 women, ages 50-69*

The campaign to discredit Dr. Soffritti is similar to one directed against

neuroscientist Dr. Olney, of Washington University, in St. Louis, MO.

Dr. Olney’s research, released in 1996, showed significant brain tumor

increases since the approval of aspartame. When Olney and his colleagues fed

aspartame to immature mice, they found it destroyed the nerve cells in the

brain.

Marilyn Marchione of the Associated Press writes the AARP study “takes the

fizz out of arguments that the diet soda sweetener aspartame might raise

the risk of cancer.†Marchione reports no increased risk was found even in

those “who gulped down many artificially sweetened drinks a day.†In actual

fact, the information released from the study states only…â€there was no

cancer link to those who consumed 400 milligrams of aspartame, about 2 cans

of soda daily.â€

There is no federal requirement to list the amount of aspartame contained

in any food, drink or medicine on the label; therefore the NCI in whose

name the study was conducted has no way to tell how much aspartame was

consumed.

NutraSweet was approved in 1981 under suspicious circumstances.

Rumsfeld, fresh from the Ford White house went through the revolving door from

government to industry to become CEO of the pharmaceutical company, G. D.

Searle, owners of the aspartame patent.

In his incisive 1987 UPI investigation, Gordon reported Rumsfeld

told an aide he would “call in all his (political) markers to get aspartame

approved.†This, despite the overwhelming evidence aspartame caused brain

and breast cancers in Searle’s experimental testing.

An FDA investigation of Searle’s cover-up of the cancers caused by

aspartame was conducted by Dr. Jerome Bressler of the FDA.

_www.presidiotex.com/bressler_ (http://www.presidiotex.com/bressler)

son, of the CSPI, (Center for Science in the Public Interest)

admits about the AARP study…â€the new study’s means of measuring aspartame

consumption—food-frequency questionnaires, is imprecise.â€

Dr. Morando Soffritti told Warner of the New York Times, “The NCI’

s researchers collected no data on people’s prior consumption of aspartame

or whether they recently began consuming them. The duration of exposure to

aspartame is inadequate in the study.â€

Ninety-two symptoms caused by aspartame were disclosed, under the Freedom

of Information Act, by the FDA. The list includes headache, dizziness,

change in mood quality, vomiting and nausea, seizures, change in heart rate,

unconsciousness or coma, swollen lymph nodes, memory loss and No. 77, Death.

The CCC press release addresses only the cancer scare with no information

released about any other symptoms the participants may have developed from

aspartame use, including other forms of cancer.

The study reports that many people in the investigation did develop

cancer. “Over the next five years, 2,106 developed blood-related cancers such

as

lymphoma or leukemia, and 376 developed brain tumors.†These cancers are

the exact cancers Dr. Soffritti found in his long, careful study.

Aspartame is in an estimated 6,000 products, including prescription drugs,

chewing gum, low-fat yogurt, and diet soft drinks—usually anything labeled

“sugar-free.†How many of these products are sitting in a consumer’s

kitchen shelves? If the AARP survey did not list other products than diet soda

or Equal, then this in itself, creates inaccurate findings.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Blaylock explains phenylalanine, 50% of the

aspartame molecule, crosses the blood brain barrier “miswiring the brain,

causing chronic unrelieved stress.â€

The phenylalanine in aspartame converts to DKP, diketopiperazine, a tumor

agent. When Searle laboratory did a 2-year test of DKP, 12 rats developed

brain tumors and 73 out of 140 female rats had gross mammary tumors.

Methanol (wood alcohol) comprises 10% of aspartame. Methanol is poisonous

and addictive. According to Dr. Woodrow Monte (“Aspartame: Methanol and the

Public Healthâ€), the methanol is ‘free’ without the antidote, ethanol,

found in natural food such as orange juice.

In 1998, C. Trocho and his team proved the methanol in aspartame converts

to formaldehyde, accumulating in the liver and fatty tissue.

_http://presidiotex.com/barcelona/index.html_

(http://presidiotex.com/barcelona/index.html)

NCI researcher Unhee Lin thinks the AARP questionnaire was an “

unscientific survey…the study design was subject to so-called recall bias, as

participants were asked to remember what they drank and how much they drank…

If

their recollections weren’t accurate, it compromised the findings.â€

_http://biz./prnews/060404/cltu022.html?v=50_

(http://biz./prnews/060404/cltu022.html?v=50)

Carol Guilford is an LA based writer and the author of “The New Cook’s

Cookbookâ€, “THE Diet Bookâ€, “Carol Guilford’s Main Course Cookbookâ€

and “

The Easiest Cookbook.â€

Shoshanna contributed to this article.

For more information:

Aspartame

Sweetness Disguised as Disease or Death?

Also Known As Equal®, NutraSweet® and Spoonful®

By Columnist – Lawrence Dewey © 1998

_http://www.dldewey.com/aspar.htm_ (http://www.dldewey.com/aspar.htm)

_www.aspartamesafety.com_ (http://www.aspartamesafety.com)

_www.sweetpoison.com_ (http://www.sweetpoison.com)

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