Further to my recent post on migraine and cola, I came across an article which is reproduced below, with permission of the author. You will see that headaches and migraines have been documented as side-effects of aspartame.
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“Where not to get health advice”
by Sherry Brescia
I’m often amused by the information published in magazines, newspapers and on the ‘net that’s presented as good health advice. Because it’s anything but.
I was reading a local newspaper last week, and on the front page of the “Health & Fitness” section taking up 2/3 of the page was an article entitled “Crush your soda habit.” A 1/2 page picture of a soda can and a puny 287 words divided into 8 (mostly bad) tips that will somehow magically get you to dump the soda. That averages out to about 36 words per scintillating tip.
It was a compilation from nutritionists on “how to” cut down or eliminate soda from your diet. I was stoked…then let down hard.
Here are a few of the suggestions from the nutritional “experts” and my comments:
1- Estimate how much soda you drink in a week and figure out how much it costs you in sugar grams and calories.
SB: Since when did soda drinkers ever care about sugar grams or calories? It’s all about the taste, man! Not motivating.
2- Drink club soda because you’ll still get the fizzy feeling on your tongue.
SB: LOL! Last I knew, there aren’t a lot of people (especially teenagers) that drink soda for the fizz. The sweetness and flavor is where it’s at. Oh, and those cool people having fun in the commercials.
3- When you crave a sugary taste, eat a piece of fruit or chew sugarless gum instead.
SB: The fruit idea is alright IF you eat it at the right times. Eat it at the wrong time and you’ll be in PAIN. And sugarless gum with artificial sweeteners is NOT an acceptable substitute. (More on artificial sweeteners below.)
4- Switch to diet soda.
SB: This is the biggest blunder of all. How anyone who calls themselves a “nutritionist” could possibly recommend that people drink such poison is beyond my comprehension. They should burn their diplomas and get new professions, because they suck at this one.
Here is what the article SHOULD HAVE said about soda:
ANY soda–diet or regular–is death in a can (or bottle). It is the perfect drink if you want to be sick, fat and die an early painful death.
It’s so acidic that it takes 32 cups (2 gallons) of water to neutralize the acid in just one 12 oz. can of soda in your body.
Can you imagine how acidic some people are, especially teenagers who drink 7-10 sodas a DAY?
Trying to neutralize all that acid puts a HUGE strain on your body, especially your kidneys because it’s their job to filter acid out of your bloodstream and dump it into your urine.
Your body also saps alkaline minerals (calcium, sodium and potassium) from your bones and muscles to neutralize the acid.
There is NOT an “endless supply” of these minerals in your body, and sooner or later, it begins to break down. That means osteoporosis, brittle bones susceptible to fractures, weak muscles and rotting teeth.
Bet you’ve never seen any of those images in any Mountain Dew or Pepsi commercial, have you?
Plus all that acid destroys proper digestion of your food…so soda is the absolute worst drink on the planet to have with a meal. You’re practically begging to have bloating and constipation or diarrhea.
If you want any measure of health, stay FAR away from soda, whether it’s diet or regular. Drink water, and add a twist of lemon or lime if you need some flavor. It’s alkaline and just what your body needs. (Please don’t email me asking if I’m sure that lemon or lime is alkaline. It is, trust me)
You can also drink herbal teas, hot or iced. They come in a variety of delicious flavors. Celestial Seasonings, Tazo and Traditional Medicinals are all fine brands.
Now for the artificial sweeteners, here’s why I call them a poison.
These are just some of the documented side effects of aspartame:
Eyes:
-Blindness in one or both eyes
-Decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, tunnel vision
-Eye pain
-Dry eyes/decreased tears
Ears:
-Ringing or buzzing sound in the ears
-Severe hardness of hearing
Nerves:
-Seizures
-Headaches/migraines
-Dizziness
-Confusion/memory loss
-Severe drowsiness and sleepiness
-Numbness of the arms and legs
-Slurring of speech
-Facial pain
-Tremors/trembling
Psychological/Psychiatric:
-Severe depression
-Irritability/agitation
-Anxiety/phobias (fears)
-Personality changes
Chest:
-Heart palpitations/rapid heart beat
-Shortness of breath
-High blood pressure
Digestive:
-Nausea
-Diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
-Stomach pain/pain while swallowing
Skin and Allergies:
-Itching without a rash
-Hives
-Worsening of asthma problems
Endocrine and Metabolic:
-Loss of control of diabetes
-Thinning or loss of hair
-Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
-Severe PMS symptoms
Other:
-Frequent urination or burning during urination
-Constant thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
-Increased infections
The most severe effects of aspartame poisoning are:
-Death
-Irreversible brain damage
-Birth defects, including mental retardation
-Ulcers
-Aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
-Hyperactivity in children
-Severe depression
-Aggressive behavior
-Suicidal tendencies
-Cancer
Sucralose is no better.
While it hasn’t been around as long as aspartame and there aren’t as many studies documenting its dangers, it’s still associated with a giant list of medical problems.
Below are some of the reported adverse effects of sucralose use:
- Flushing or redness of the skin; rashes
- Itching
- Anxiety; panic attacks
- Nausea
- Stomach cramps
- Dry heaves
- Depression; becoming withdrawn
- Feeling forgetful; memory loss
- Dulled senses
- Unexplained crying
- Acne or acne-like rash
- Headache
- Altered emotional state, i.e. feeling irate, impatient, hypersensitive, moody
- Chest and body pain
- Bloating; diarrhea; vomiting
- Trouble concentrating/staying in focus
- Seizures
Splenda (sucralose) is nothing but chlorinated table sugar. Chlorine is considered a carcinogen (cancer causer) and has been used in poisonous gas, disinfectants, pesticides and plastics.
Plus neither of these “diet poisons” (aspartame or sucralose) will help you take off weight. They make the body crave carbohydrates and actually make you eat MORE, which makes the number on the scale BIGGER.
Here’s good news: When you keep your body alkaline, you have less of a desire for soda and other unhealthy foods.
That’s right. When your body is alkaline and used to eating healthy, those old favorites don’t have the same appeal anymore.
I can’t tell you the last time I drank soda, but when I did, I took just a sip and it tasted like kerosene.
Dump the soda and you’ll feel better. A LOT better.
Learn what other drinks to drink with free information from the report below:
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
About the Author
Sherry Brescia is the author of Great Taste No Pain and host of the radio show “Let’s Talk Health with Sherry Brescia” on iamhealthyradio.com.
Click for a review of her eating plan.
She has over 20 years experience in the medical research field, and cured herself from IBS in 1992 by changing her diet and eating the way she now teaches in her Great Taste No Pain system.
Sherry has made it her life’s mission to help others with digestive challenges by educating them about the role of diet in overall health and the importance of an alkaline pH.
*The contents of this posting are not to be considered medical advice.*
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