The Dangers
Aspartame is, by far, the most dangerous substance on the market that is added to foods. Aspartame accounts for over 75% of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death as recently disclosed in a February 1994 Department of Health and Human Services report. (Department of Health and Human Services, Report on All Adverse Reactions in the Adverse Reaction Monitoring System, February 25 and 28, 1994). A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, 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 joint pain.
To read the end of this report please visit Aspartame is Bad.
This is JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG... if you enter Aspartame in ANY search engine it will bring up page after page on the dangers of consuming aspartame, and it doesn't stop there. Aspartame is in nearly EVERY diet product on the market. ANYTHING that uses artificial sweeteners may contain this dangerous product. Please, judge for yourself the dangers. This isn't just one person's crazy idea, this is REAL and it is OUT THERE.
Some of the Sites I found particularly informative are as follows:
Aspartame (NutraSweet) Toxicity Info Center
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network Fact Sheet
The Virtual Times - The Aspartame (NutraSweet) Controversy
The Hidden History of Aspartame
DORway to Discovery! Say NO to aspartame!
Want more? These are just some fo the sites I found when I typed Aspartame into the Infoseek search engine.
Warning from Mission Possible: Aspartame Disease
Aspartame: What you don't know CAN hurt you
Aspartame and Flying : The untold story
Denials in Literature Relative to the Effect of Aspartame on Humans
Emerging facts about Aspartame
Mission Possible: Slowing the Flow by Betty Martini
Quick Review of Monsanto/NutraSweet's PR Statements
Pure, White and Deadly : Sugar Contents
Sweet But Deadly
WARNING: NutraSweet is a Neurotoxin!
But what can WE do about this? We need to EDUCATE the public, INFORM them that they have the choice whether or not to consume this product. We need to use our power as consumers to force Monsanto and NutraSweet to put a stop to the use of Aspartame ONCE AND FOR ALL.
This is a great site for support:
Stevia
The Following is out of the article Aspartame is Bad.
In 1991, the FDA banned the importation of Stevia. The powder of the leaf has been used for hundreds of years as an alternative sweetener. It is used widely in Japan with no adverse effects. Scientists involved in reviewing stevia have declared it to be safe for human consumption - something which has been well known in many parts of the world where it is not banned. Everyone that I have spoken with in regards to this issue believes that stevia was banned to keep the product from taking hold in the US and cutting into sales of aspartame.
These are some of the following articles on Stevia that I found when I did a search of the Web: personally, I'd much rather use stevia than risk the consumption of aspartame.
Introduction To Stevia
Stevia - JAJA Group, Inc. (wonderful source)
Stevia History
Stevia Presentation
Stevia Frequently Asked questions
Stevia rebaudiana - its biological, chemical and agricultural properties
Stevia Petition to FDA
Stevia - and children with diabetes (great source)
Stevia Plants Page - buy them online!
How to use Stevia leaves
MORE STEVIA LINKS FROM JAJA