Aspartame

[In58men]

Is this scientifically proven to be bad for you? I drink flavored water and my peers flip shit over aspartame. I have done my research and I can not find anything factual. There are sites stating its bad and sites stating that it's not.


Do you guys have any other sources or factual evidence stating its not healthy?

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by lewdog

BucEyedPea still taking her nutrition advice from 1990's Ladies Home Journal.

Wut? I changed my position from not safe to —too many contradictory reports. So err on the safe side because of our last discussion on it. At least take some credit. It was you not the Ladies Home Journal.

I don't Ladies Home Journal or any woman's magazines. Last we discussed I said I would trust my health care professional who is trained in nutrition.

[BucEyedPea]

Did you read the thread lewdog? Apparently not!

[SAUTO]

You really just had a 19 minute conversation with yourself, didn't you?

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

You really just had a 19 minute conversation with yourself, didn't you?

I do that all the time

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

I do that all the time

I don't want to know what's really going on in there.

That's why I don't talk to my self

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by jegarst

I respond to as many of these false posts as is feasible. FYI, I am a retired professor from a major university; I have never made one penny writing these posts either, unlike all the critics who write books, etc. etc. I am committed not just to the truth about aspartame, but to share the serious problems arising consequent to folate deficiency, folate enzyme issues, and related vitamin and homocysteine issues. For a full criticism see today's post here (no www), healthsp.com/dangers-aspartame/. Grab it or copy it quick these posts are often removed or disallowed.

John E. Garst, Ph.D. (Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Nutrition)

I thought I would google your name. You certainly do get around the internet on this issue. I read quite a bit of libertarian literature, and I happen to be an acquaintance of Karen de Coster, a major libertarian who is published, who's site you appeared on. She's very into natural health. This was just one of the links that came up with your name.

Just thought it was interesting to read the exchange between you two on her "Another New Spin on Aspartame." So am posting it for others to see.

http://karendecoster.com/another-new...aspartame.html

[BucEyedPea]

And you appear again on Medical News Today:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/opinions/94087

and here:

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.c...rain-seizures/

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Did you read the thread lewdog? Apparently not!

No I didn't because I know how to read peer reviewed journal articles that contain research.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

In other words, you're using ad hom again?

No, because I'm not discrediting you as a person. I'm saying your position is flawed based on the fact that you are ill-informed. There's a difference.

No the only facts are that experts disagree, studies contradict. The same site you're defending even admits that.

Studies WILL contradict. That's why you have to use your brain and determine what's important.

Oh, so that's it. You have to be right and no one can speak over your opinion adding theirs. So in others words, you're a health nazi too. You guys are all alike it seems.

No, I'm saying that as long as there is ignorance being spread, I'm going to combat it. I'm more like a health Batman. I'm not the kick in the ass you need, but I'm the one you deserve, and so forth.

You don't know the difference between the two.

You don't know the difference between science and opinion.

Keep using strawmen arguments though.

Keep accusing me of using the only two logical fallacies with which you're aware. I'm doing no such thing.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

I thought I would google your name. You certainly do get around the internet on this issue. I read quite a bit of libertarian literature, and I happen to be an acquaintance of Karen de Coster, a major libertarian who is published, who's site you appeared on. She's very into natural health. This was just one of the links that came up with your name.

Just thought it was interesting to read the exchange between you two on her "Another New Spin on Aspartame." So am posting it for others to see.

http://karendecoster.com/another-new...aspartame.html

LOL @ that "exchange."

One side using facts and science to make an argument and the other side going "Nu uh! Because GOVERNMENT!" That looks super familiar.

Her response is an absolute joke. John was being way more diplomatic than she deserves.

[007]

Face it, everything you ingest is eventually going to kill you.

[Don Corlemahomes]

Dr. Gerst,

I found a previous post of yours on another message board that has relevance here. Hope you don't mind me posting it.

Following are facts people don't understand about aspartame. Stated health issues like headaches may well be associated with aspartame, but to suggest that aspartame causes them could not be further from the truth. These issues likely reside in preexisting personal issues. Let me explain.

First, the fundamentals of toxicology (the science of poisons) say “everything is toxic” and dose alone separates a food/drug from a poison. For example botulinum toxin, perhaps the most toxic substance known, is used extensively in cosmetic procedures. High toxicity cyanide found in plant products we all consume is, however, innocuous at those doses. In contrast low-toxicity water drowns hundreds yearly. Any claim a chemical substance is “toxic” or poison is by itself is MEANINGLESS. Such claims MUST include a specific toxic response and specific dose. Aspartame critics cannot do this!

Second, aspartame is GI-degraded to its three components; they are more abundant in common foods and two are even essential for life. Food-borne methanol whatever its source is oxidized to formaldehyde and then formate. Formate is recycled (reduced) by the folate-B12 vitamins into methyl groups used to synthesize (thymine, in DNA), methylate (regulate) DNA, and detoxify truly-toxic homocysteine. Phenylalanine is used to biosynthesize epinephrine, etc. These ingredients are simply not a toxicological issue at the allowed doses of aspartame.

Third, aspartame has been extensively studied; adverse claims have been consistently disproven time after time, one of the latest being last year in New Zealand. Anti-aspartame arguments fostered by internet conspiracy theorists, who profit from books, false detoxification kits, etc., all predate 1998. In 1998 in the USA and in Canada, and Chile folate vitamin supplementation was mandated for cereal grain products, because of population-wide deficiency. That was not done in Europe, however.

So any health connections for aspartame most likely reside instead in personal folate deficiency (see http://www.ncbi..nih.gov/pubmed/19005123 or http://www.ncbi..nih.gov/pubmed/18208952) or related underlying biochemical issues (well-known folate- or related enzyme polymorphisms, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyle...late_reductase). These personal problems are often mistaken for arguments against aspartame, because they subside after aspartame use is ended. But really aspartame was the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back, not the tons of cargo already there.’ Of course folate (and B12 status) or associated polymorphisms are a major 'cargo'. High blood homocysteine (a known health issue) presents yet another preexisting straw, but it is often evidence of folate issues. Other cargos include caffeine and alcohol, which provide twice the formaldehyde/formate of aspartame (per molelcule) or act to inhibit folate-mediate enzyme reactions (fetal alcohol syndrome), respectively.

Aspartame critics cite every practically health issue under the sun as being connected to aspartame, the latest of which is diabetes. But like virtually all the other claimed issues, aspartame linkage to diabetes is highly suspect too for the same reason. Two highly publicized presentations (one in humans the other in diabetic mice) both neglected even to consider folate status in their subjects. Folate deficiency is a substantial issue with regard to insulin resistance and insulin issues (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?t...ate%2Cinsulin; over 345 references). And obese/diabetic mice have serious known issues with folate, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?t...iabetes%20mice. It is therefore very likely that people who think think they are affected by aspartame are affected by real medical (folate, B12) vitamin issues, not aspartame per se.

So in summary, aspartame is perfectly safe used as recommended, but issues with it are likely because of hidden, but real risks from the now-known and potentially population-wide folate deficiency or related enzyme issues that are also known to be connected to many types of cancer, as well as migraines and other acute issues.

http://csn.cancer.org/node/227475

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

I thought I would google your name. You certainly do get around the internet on this issue. I read quite a bit of libertarian literature, and I happen to be an acquaintance of Karen de Coster, a major libertarian who is published, who's site you appeared on. She's very into natural health. This was just one of the links that came up with your name.

Just thought it was interesting to read the exchange between you two on her "Another New Spin on Aspartame." So am posting it for others to see.

http://karendecoster.com/another-new...aspartame.html

Repost.

[Hammock Parties]

What is "dextrose with maltodextrin?" I put this in my tea every day. Also has calcium saccharin.

[Pablo]

Drink your tea and coffee black like a man, Clay.