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Aspartame -More Dangerous Than High Fructose Corn SyrupIt's really hard to believe that something could be worse than the intense sugar loads from

high fructose corn syrup and sucrose. But, Aspartame ( Equal, Nutrasweet, Equal Measure,

Spoonful, Canderal) is even more dangerous to your health.

Aspartame, was first discovered in 1965 when Searle chemist Jim Schlatter, who was

developing this drug for another purpose, accidentally licked some from his finger and found

it to be sweet tasting. The ingredients in aspartame are phenylalanine(50%), aspartic acid

(40%) and methyl alcohol(10%).

Aspartame Approved by the FDA in January 1981

Even after about eight years of steadfast refusal by the FDA to approve this dangerous drug

for human consumption, Searle tried one more time, the day after the inauguration of the

President in 1981. The previous commissioner of the FDA had been "removed" and a new

one installed. Despite an FDA agency investigation into this "approval by political triage," the

drug has not been removed from the market and the investigation was, in essence,

abandoned.

Why get embalmed before it is absolutely necessary?

Methyl alcohol, also known as "wood" alcohol breaks down in the body to formaldehyde and

DKP(diketopiperazine). Formaldehyde, as many of you probably already know, is embalming

solution and highly toxic to the central nervous system. Why get embalmed before it is

absolutely necessary? Methyl alcohol causes blindness and if the dose is large enough, it

can cause liver and kidney failure. DKP is a known carcinogen and causes brain tumors.

According to the National Cancer Institute there has been a 10% increase in primary brain

tumors since 1985. There has also been an increase in brain tumors in children whose

mothers consumed aspartame throughout pregnancy.

Phenylalanine and Aspartic Acid

These are both amino acids that are normally supplied by the foods that we eat. However,

when they are isolated and supplied in very high concentrations, they are toxic to the central

nervous system causing headache, mental confusion and memory loss, balance problems

and seizures. These ingredients have been classified as excitotoxins.

Excitotoxin Damage

Excitotoxin damage usually takes weeks to months to years to become clinically apparent.

Excitotoxins are also strong generators of free radicals thus accelerating aging of most organ

systems, significantly the vascular system, immune system compromise inducing cancer and

the musculo-skeletal system resulting in arthritis. Joint pain is one of the chief complaints of

those with aspartame poisoning.

The Blood-Brain Barrier

Aspartame is especially dangerous to those who already have disease, the unborn and those

less than one year old. Diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking and aging compromise the

blood-brain barrier. This barrier in the fetus and neonate is not well developed. These groups

are especially sensitive to the damaging effects of aspartame since the barrier that would

keep the excitotoxins out of the brain is either compromised or not developed yet. No wonder

birth defects are also associated with Aspartame.

Formaldehyde (besides embalming)

It is known that formaldehyde accumulates in the areas of the brain that correspond to the

neurodegenerative symptoms of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

(ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease. Aspartame has also been shown to cause seizures in

susceptible people, even with no prior history.

Aspartame and Pilots

When I was a Flight Surgeon in the Air Force we were always concerned about any alcohol

ingestion 24 hours before flying. Now, pilots have to be concerned about aspartame

ingestion before flying, since it can induce vertigo / disorientation and seizures. If you are

flying commercial, hope that your pilot isn't drinking diet soda.

Visual Impairment

During the years of prohibition there were many cases of blindness due to consumption of

methyl alcohol, since ethanol (the typical alcohol of most drinks, beers etc) was banned.

Today we have an ophthalmologist in West Palm Beach, Florida Dr. H.J. Roberts, who has

treated hundreds of aspartame victims. One quarter of his patients have experienced

blindness. According to Dr. Roberts "optic nerve swelling, retinal degeneration and visual

impairment, that is associated with heavy aspartame use, is identical to the pathology

observed in recorded cases of methanol toxicity from drinking wood alcohol throughout the

days of prohibition." This gets especially problematic since the American Diabetic

Association still recommends aspartame. What is frequently misdiagnosed as diabetic

retinopathy is often aspartame retinopathy.

Below is a partial list of other diseases that aspartame toxicity can mimic or worsen. The list

currently totals about 92 symptoms and diseases.

Multiple Sclerosis

Parkinson's Disease

Lou Gehrig's disease

Diabetes

Hypertension

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Obesity ... yes, aspartame can actually cause weight gain.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Phenylketonuria is a rare inherited (genetically recessive) metabolic disease that can result in

mental retardation and other neurological problems if treatment is not started in the first few

weeks of life. The defect is either complete or partial absence of the enzyme phenylalanine

hydroxylase that metabolizes phenylalanine to tyrosine. In view of the fact that aspartame is

50% phenylalanine, it is an absolute contra-indication for anyone with PKU. Carriers for the

trait are also at risk for problems with aspartame. There are over 100 different genetic

mutations with enzyme activities from zero to normal. For more information on aspartame

and phenylketonuria follow the link below:

http://www.sweetpoison.com/phenylketonuria.html

Michael J. Fox, Aspartame and Parkinson's Disease (or) "Diet Pepsi Rots Your Brain"

Michael J. Fox developed Parkinson's at age 30. He was at one time a spokesman for Diet

Pepsi and was known to be addicted to Diet Pepsi. Follow the link below for more on this:

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=684893

To see a very interesting movie about "political triage" and the eventual "approval" of

aspartame by the FDA follow the link below:

http://www.soundandfuryproductions.com/Pages/Rumsfeld.html

For more on the dangers of aspartame follow the links below:

http://aspartamekills.com http://dorway.com

Today's Health Tip

Avoid aspartame completely. If you must drink sodas, you are better off to drink the non-diet

variety. It is much easier to lose a few pounds of fat, than be treated for a brain tumor,

Parkinson's disease or blindness.

Read labels very carefully. Aspartame is in, at last count, over 7000 foods, beverages

including beer, sports nutrition drinks and bars and even vitamins.

If you are going to drink diet sodas, make sure to keep them cool, as the breakdown of

aspartame (which proceeds unchecked even still in the can) is temperature and age

dependant. The higher the ambient (storage) temperature, the more methyl alcohol and

formaldehyde will be present in your soda. Also, the older the can of aspartame laden diet

soda, the more methyl alcohol and formaldehyde will be present in the can.

Reference:

Stryer Biochemistry Fourth Edition

Could There Be Evils Lurking In Aspartame Consumption? By Christine Lydon, MD

http://www.aspartame.com/lydon.htm

The MericleDiet makes it easy to get off of all sweeteners, sodas, candy and sports nutrition.

It also makes it easy to get off of any packaged or processed foods that may contain or hide

aspartame.

Thanks for your attention.

Copyright © John Mericle M.D. 2005 All Rights Reserved

To signup for Dr. Mericle's Newsletter or visit the MericleDiet please click on the link below.http://www.DrMericle.comhttp://DrMericle.com is devoted to achieving optimal health and peak performance throughdiet and lifestyle change. Dr. Mericle brings together a unique blend of formal training inorganic chemistry and biochemistry, medical education, 29 marathons, 3 Hawaii Ironmancompetitions and a lot of practical real life experience.