Re: Migraines and Nutrasweet

Posted By Aspartame Okay, Martini is lethal on January 20, 1999 at 18:28:55:

In Reply to: Re: Migraines and Nutrasweet posted by JW on January 11, 1999 at 22:23:45:






I am 33, and have had migraines for about 10 years. They start with some visual affects with an annoying headache that lasts a few hours to more than a day.  I'm active, play hockey , run, walk etc.  I have heard from less than reliable sources that Nutrasweet may be associated with visual problems and headaches - is there some truth to this?  My migraines started to occur around the same time (within a few years) I switched to diet pop.  Also, in Sept 98 I had open heart surgery to repair an ascending aorta aneurysm and aortic valve (repaired).  Recovery was speedy however the frequency of migraines has gone from one every two to three month to one every other week.  This seems especially odd since I'm now taking 50mg/day Tropol (beta-blocker) to prevent other aneurysms.  Could the tropol be causing this?  Is there anything I should try or have checked out?  I drink an average of 2 diet Cokes a day, sometimes none, sometimes more.  I don't drink coffee nor smoke.  Heart rate and BP are normal.  Thanks for any help.




WEBMASTERS NOTE:
                   Reports say that only 2% of the population are "Phenylketonurics".
                   From the number of people who have stated they have either
                   immediate, or rapid onset of problems that they can attribute to the
                   consumption of an aspartame-laced product, there must be a LARGE
                   number of "borderline" cases. A great number of people mention
                   headaches, seizures, mental confusion or memory loss, hives, and
                   gastrointestinal problems (among others).
                   This begs the question... If aspartame earned over a billion dollars in
                   1996, and if it is truly "safe", what can possibly be the Monsanto,
                   Searle, NutraSweet objection against ONE more test to PROVE it?
                   If you, the visitor to DORway have read much... the answer is all too
                   obvious!
                    It IS not, and CANNOT be proven to be safe!

          Phenylketonurics and PKU carriers are not the only people that should avoid phenylalanine.
          Dr. Louis J. Elsas, II, Director of Medical Genetics at Emory University School of
          Medicine, "recommends that pregnant women avoid aspartame sweeteners" because it is
          unknown what quantity is considered safe (qtd. In Assc. Of Birth Defect Children 2). Dr.
          Roberts also suggests to avoid aspartame products during pregnancy due to increased levels
          of phenylalanine on the "fetal side of the placenta." Increases levels of phenylalanine may
          "interfere with the growth of the fetus brain" (181).
          In an article published in the Association of Birth Defect Children, Karen Mills argues that
          aspartame may be responsible for her son's health problems. Unaware of the dangers of
          aspartame, she consumed four to six diet sodas a day and also took phenylalanine capsules
          to relieve fatigue during her pregnancy. She was in good health and did not smoke or drink
          during this time. Her pregnancy was considered normal and prenatal testing ruled out any
          genetic birth defects. Her delivery was also normal. When her son Brandon was born, he was
          severely retarded with serious neurological problems. All of his x-rays, genetic studies, and
          blood tests came back normal. Karen states, "I am suspicious that NutraSweet could be a
          contributing factor in Brandon's situation since there are no physical or genetic causes
          revealed for his neurological problems" (2).
          Aspartic acid (aspartame) and glutamate (ingredient in monosodium glutamate) have been
          labeled as excitotoxins, which Dr. Russell Blaylock, author of Excitotoxins: The Taste That
          Kills, defines as "a group of excitatory amino acids that can cause sensitive neurons to die"
          (226). An article in the Orlando Sentinel Tribune states, "according to Blaylock, a single
          meal may contain several of these additives . . . given a high enough dose can include brain
          lesions." Blaylock is concerned that "hundreds of millions of infants and young children are
          at great risk and their parents are not even aware of it" (qtd. In Bonvie and Bonvie G1).
          The last component of aspartame is methanol, better known as wood alcohol, a "deadly
          poison," claims Dr. Roberts. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends less than
          eight milligrams per day of methanol. A typical liter of an aspartame diet soda contains
          approximately 55 milligrams. Complications of methanol poisoning include blindness, brain
          swelling, pancreatitis, numbness, shooting pains, cardiac changes, and death (28, 42-45).
          According to Aspartame Consumer Safety Network, when ingested, methanol breaks down
          into formaldehyde, "known to cause cancer, accumulating slowly without detection in the
          body" (The Deadly Deception 2).
                   WEBMASTERS NOTE:
                   I used Equal in my daily coffee for fifteen years. For the last eleven
                   of those years I sought (with increasing desperation) relief from
                   arthritis-like conditions. Twenty doctors prescribed the newest
                   medications (none worked) and at times sent me to a local arthritis
                   clinic. The last doctor, a rheumatologist, indicated that those
                   previous twenty doctors were wrong... that my amount of arthritis
                   could NOT cause all my pains and other problems:
                   Numb-tingling hands and feet; combination
                   carpel-tunnel/tennis-elbow forearms; burning heels;
                   shooting-stabbing pains; memory loss; depression; great difficulty
                   (and pain) walking only fifty feet... and more!
                   After HIS medications for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
                   and ending with Prozac for "head problems" all failed... I found the
                   answer on the Internet in the form of the 92 FDA acknowledged
                   symptoms of aspartame poison. ELIMINATION OF ASPARTAME
                   from my diet, (and some time) is the SINGLE reason why (except for
                   my prostate cancer) I am now well, and why this large (and still
                   growing) aspartame information WEB-site exists to INFORM and
                   WARN others!
                    It's YOUR life... so read and heed! (or suffer)

          Eric Soto was a victim of methanol poisoning. In 1989, when Eric was diagnosed with
          diabetes, he started consuming aspartame products to avoid sugar. Soon after, Eric
          complained of numbness in his fingers. After seeing a doctor for this problem, it was
          suggested that he have surgery to correct a wrist nerve. Before he went in for surgery, a
          black spot appeared over his left eye. After being examined by an opthamologist, Eric was
          admitted to the hospital for possible methanol poisoning. He decided to stop using aspartame
          products after hearing about the dangers from a friend. The damage to Eric's eyes was
          permanent, but the numbness in his fingers stopped even though doctors said it could only be
          corrected by surgery (The Deadly Deception B4).
          The following are some of the symptoms of aspartame poisoning:
               headaches, nausea, vertigo, insomnia, numbness, blurred vision, blindness and
               other eye problems, memory loss, slurred speech, depression, personality
               changes, hyperactivity, stomach disorders, seizures, skin lesions, rashes, anxiety
               attacks, muscle cramping and joint pain, loss of energy, symptoms mimicking
               heart attacks, hearing loss and ear ringing, and loss or change of taste. (The
               Deadly Deception 1)
          Included in these complaints are "hundreds of pilots who have reported life threatening
          adverse reactions due to aspartame," according to Aspartame Consumer Safety Network, in
          an article from General Aviation News. Michael Collins, former pilot, suffered from seizures
          whenever he drank diet soda. When he stopped using aspartame products, he remained
          seizure-free. Unfortunately, he lost his medical certification and can no longer fly (qtd. in
          Hicks 2).
          While seizures are common among aspartame users, headaches are the most common
          complaint (Roberts 95). According to Caroline B. Kline, nutrition consultant, eighteen million
          Americans suffer from migraines. In her magazine article, "Migraine Makers," she
          suggests that diet could be one of the causes of these severe headaches. Aspartame was
          listed as possible culprit (207).
          Americans are not the only people worried about the safety of aspartame. In 1988, the
          Mexican government issued a detailed warning to be put on diet sodas that contain
          aspartame (Bouleau 66). The label on these diet sodas reads:
          This product should not be consumed by individuals who are allergic to phenylalanine.
          Consumption by pregnant women and children under 7 is not recommended. Users should
          follow a balanced diet. Consumption by diabetics must be authorized by a physician,
          (Bouleau 66).
          If a product has to have this many warnings, how can it possibly be on the market?
          The FDA has the answer. Thomas Wilcox, FDA spokesman, claims that "some people don't
          tolerate aspartame, but the reports to the FDA aren't sufficient to warrant a change in the
          product's classification. . . . Unless there is shown to be some very common serious effect . . .
          you don't want to deprive the entire population of the product" (qtd. in Bonvie and Bonvie
          G1). How serious do the side effects have to be and how many people have to be affected
          before this product is pulled off the market? When you start to add up the Phenylketonurics,
          the 10 million PKU carriers, migraine sufferers, diabetics, children, and pregnant women,
          who are all possible victims of aspartame poisoning, it seems significant enough to ban the
          use of aspartame. Don't these people who are at risk or have already suffered count?
          Depriving people of their health seems more serious than "depriving the entire population"
          of a sugar substitute.
          What about the people who assume aspartame is safe? Is it fair to put these people at risk?
          Even cigarettes and drugs have warnings on them to alert the public of possible side effects
          and dangers. Aspartame only has one warning for PKU. How can people make a wise choice
          if they aren't even warned of the dangers? The warning label would have to be a very
          lengthy to properly warn all people. The only solution is to stop aspartame consumption by
          pulling it off the market. This would prevent people from unnecessary harm, especially those
          who are unaware of the dangers.
          Even if you are aware of the dangers and are trying to avoid aspartame, you might have to
          spend more time reading labels. The familiar NutraSweet logo might not appear on all
          aspartame products. The patent on aspartame held by Searle expired in December of 1992,
          allowing other companies besides the NutraSweet Company to produce aspartame
          (Therrien 42). (NutraSweet Co. and G. D. Searle are divisions of the Monsanto
          Company). The only clue now on some products is "aspartame" listed in the ingredients and
          a phenylalanine warning.