OUR MAGNIFICENT BODIES
Aspertame
by Jenine Cohoon, MHN, PhDc

Aspartame, a synthetic sweetener, is the subject of ongoing controversy regarding its safety. Aspartame is the sweetener used in most diet sodas. There are connections between using aspartame and brain tumors, brain lesions, lymphoma, multiple sclerosis and lupus.

There are several different symptoms and health issues filed with the FDA that have been reported by physicians and consumers linked to aspartame. This has led to quite a bit of debate and controversy, but for some reason it continues to be a sweetener in the two most popular diet sodas – Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi – as well as other diet sodas.

The main debate topics surrounding the safety of aspartame indicate on one hand that the methanol that is produced by aspartame is not harmful to the body because the amount is as low as the methanol derived from fruit juice. The flip side says that fruit juice contains ethanol that counter balances the methanol so in fruit juice the methanol is not dangerous. Methanol without ethanol is fairly dangerous.

Aspartame breaks down to formaldehyde in the body. One debate argument is that formaldehyde is a natural by-product of human metabolism anyway. The flip side says that the body has a tightly controlled handle on how much formaldehyde produces and even the slightest increase can contribute to chronic poisoning, and that producing formaldehyde in the body because of aspartame is simply not a natural way to produce it.

Further, the formaldehyde produced from aspartame turns to formic acid in the body. (Formic acid is what causes the sting from a fire ant.) The formic acid leads to metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis is a state in which the blood pH is low. This can lead to chest pain, palpitations, headache, decreased vision and mental status, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increase in appetite, muscle weakness and bone pain. Also, cancer, fungus and yeast thrive in a low pH.

The methanol toxicity mimics multiple sclerosis. Stopping the ingestion of aspartame has been shown to indicate whether the diagnosis was accurate or really a methanol toxicity. If it is methanol toxicity the symptoms of multiple sclerosis go away when stopping the ingestion of aspartame!

This same methanol toxicity can also cause lupus. Unfortunately, the lupus is not mimicked, it is real. However, not taking in any more aspartame has been shown to relieve some symptoms.

Methanol toxicity symptoms are quite varied with a long list: blindness, tinnitus, numbness in the extremities, muscle spasms, slurred speech, weight gain, blurred vision, joint pain, headaches, anxiety, vertigo, brain tumors, brain cancer, lupus and memory loss.

Dr. Robert J. Rowen has said that there is solid evidence to indict aspartame in the involvement of brain cancer and brain tumors. Dr. Rowen, in his publication Second Opinion cites a study where lab rats were given aspartame. The control group did not develop brain tumors and the study group developed brain tumors 3.75% of the time. The type of tumor that developed is so rare that it represents 25 times a higher incidence than would be expected. The more this study was repeated, the higher the incidence of brain tumors increased. The control group (the group that was not given aspartame) remained at zero. The FDA stopped the testing and declared the brain tumors were spontaneous! A purely fraudulent declaration.

If you have mysterious symptoms that your doctor can’t diagnose, identify or contribute to anything, first consider a fungal infection. If after being on an anti-fungal program and the symptoms persist, then consider a chemical sweetener toxicity. Generally, even if a chemical sweetener exists it dissipates when following the anti-fungal program. Number 1 - because you are no loner ingesting aspartame. Number 2 - because the anti-fungal program triggers a state of natural healing. But, if the symptoms do persist, it may be necessary to do a detox program such as the Oxy-Powder Liver, Gallbladder, Parasite and Intestine Cleanse, or the NSC Detox Kit (both found at www.drjenine.com). There are other detox programs available and can be found online (search “chemical sweetener detoxification”).

Our magnificent bodies are programmed to renew and regenerate but we need to give our bodies the opportunity to do so. Ingesting aspartame can and will thwart our innate healing capacity. Drinking diet soda daily is not only a habit but an addiction. It is not always easy to stop. Consider cutting back gradually for a week or so while supporting the adrenals with Royal Power or Royal Oil (both formulated by Dr. Cass Ingram). The caffeine in cola products negatively affects the adrenal gland. Cutting back on the caffeine can bring on fatigue. By supporting the adrenals the fatigue factor is decreased and the adrenals can begin to heal naturally through the nutritional support. This method can also be used when cutting back and eliminating caffeinated coffee.

Some diet soda drinkers are more addicted to the feeling of soda in the mouth. If that describes you, try sparkling mineral water to get over the hump of cutting back and eliminating soda all together. (Don’t use sparkling mineral water as a substitute for water.)

You can do this! The gift of health that is returned to you makes it all worth it. Ignite your natural healing ability!

References:

Second Opinion Volume Two, Robert J. Rowen, MD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy

For more information visit me online at www.truerenewal.com (formerly www.drjenine.com); ask me a question at jenine@lakeshoreguardian.com; watch Know the Cause! TV with host Doug Kaufmann; listen to Frank Jordan on the radio and Dr. Cass Ingram on the radio; and/or find a local Naturopathic Physician in your area.

*DISCLAIMER: These statements are the opinion of the writer based on extensive research. The information provided here is intended for educational purposes only. It is not meant to either directly or indirectly diagnose, give medical advice or prescribe treatment. Unless specifically referenced, the information has not been scientifically validated or approved by any government or regulatory agency. Please consult with your physician or other licensed health care professional for medical diagnosis and treatment.