Okay so how many of us have had these products thinking that we are going to lose weight? And that these are better for us then drinking regular pop??? NOT SO... I'm not going to say regular pop is good for you.. Its not.. But its less worse for you then these are!
Lets first look at the ingredients that are common in all of the above products.
- Aspartame - Defined as - an artificial sweetener made from aspartic avid; used as a calorie-free sweetener
Sounds pretty harmless just from that doesn't it? Until you start looking deeper..
Aspartame was found by accident in 1965.. James Schlatter, a chemist, was testing a anti-ulcer drug.
Aspartame accounts for over 75% of the reported to the FDA adverse reactions to food additives. Symptoms that have been reported have include: Headaches, Migraines, Dizziness, Seizures, Nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain (WAIT WHAT?????), rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and last but not least join pain.
Starting to seem a bit scary right? Wait theres more..
Researchers and Physicians that are studying the adverse effects of aspartame have found that these chronic illnesses can be triggered and worsened by aspartame. Brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease, alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects, fibromyalgia, diabetes, and cancer.
But wait there is even more..
Aspartame is 40% Aspartic Acid. Dr Blaylock, a professor of neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi published a book thoroughly detailing the damage that is caused by ingesting aspartic acid from aspartame. He used almost 500 scientific references to show how excess free excitatory amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid (99% Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is glutamic acid) that we are eating in our daily diets are causing neurological disorders and many other acute symptoms.
Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters, excessive amount of these free radicals kill cells. Basically they excite or stimulate the neural cells to death. Excess of glutamate and aspartate slowly destroy neurons can contribute to chronic illnesses such as; Multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, Memory Loss, Hormonal Problems, Hearing Loss, Epilepsy, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Hypoglycemia, AIDS, Dementia, Brain Lesions, and Neuroendocrine Disorders.
So why WHY I ask is this stuff being consumed by millions of people around the world? Why does the FDA allow companies to use these products? I can't tell you why the FDA hasn't done anything.. But we are pulled in by companies making it look like its healthy.. By making it sound like its better for you because it is "diet" and of course because it doesn't have sugar its totally good for you!
Please don't just take everything at first impression.. Read.. Educate yourself.. LEARN.. Because it might just save your life and someone else's..
Like I said this is a subject that is very close to my heart.. My Grandfather.. Who has had artificial sweeteners and drank diet coke as long as I can remember was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago and has been having problems for over 5 years.. The decease is killing him.. I'm not telling you this because I want sympathy.. I don't.. I want you to understand the importance.. Say no..
Sources:
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/
http://articles.mercola.com/