*Aspartame:
*Is Aspartame Making Young People More Violent?
By Michael Goodspeed
Over the past 15 years,
dozens of independent researchers have compiled anecdotal evidence
linking aspartame (ASP) to a variety of devastating physical ailments
-- tinnitus, glaucoma, migraines, short-term memory loss, even
brain tumors are thought by many doctors to be directly caused
by NutraSweet consumption. This has been a matter of public record
for three decades. Less widely-known, however, are the data suggesting
that ASP may have caused an exponential increase in both mental
illness and violence, particularly in young people.
One of the more serious
effects thought to be caused by ASP is the lowering of serotonin
levels in the brain. In the foreword to Mary Nash
Stoddard's book, /Deadly Deception-Story of Aspartame/ Dr. Lendon
Smith, one of the country's most respected doctors, outlines the
devastating impact this can have on a person's state of mind:
The MENTAL SYMPTOMS
that ASP can produce in a person is thought to be related to the
increase in violence and suicides in our population. ASP causes
a blockage of the formation of serotonin in the brain. Since tryptophan
has been taken off the market by the FDA, there are many people
who cannot make enough serotonin from their food, and they are
more susceptible to insomnia, depression, and/or PMS. If these
genetically deficient people are also swallowing ASP, they will
more readily have headaches, insomnia,
depression, hostility, anxiety, and a host of other negative symptoms.
When you see someone
sitting on the sidewalk, tired, alone and depressed,
ask him if he is drinking soft drinks. Chances are, ASP IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF SICKNESS AND CRIME. It is
not what Mother Nature wants us to eat."
It is interesting to
note that the serotonin levels in hyperactive children are inherently
lower than in normal kids. Their hyperactivity is lessened when
their serotonin levels rise. This, along with many other factors,
makes one wonder about the epidemic of tragic school shootings
and other youth violence currently ravaging our country.
Young people consume
far more soft drinks and sugarless chewing gum than the adult
population. Dentists advise them to do so to prevent cavities.
Many teenage girls, self-conscious of their weight, practically
live off diet products. How many of America's children and teenagers
are unaware of NutraSweet's' serious side-effects, or simply
fail to see the connection between their own symptoms and the
signs of aspartame poisoning?
These facts are especially
relevant when one examines the escalation in reports of young
mothers murdering their newborn infants. In researching this report,
I contacted Mary Stoddard, head of the Aspartame Consumer Safety
Network. Mary began her crusade against NutraSweet when (as she
now believes) her life was directly threatened by ASP consumption.
Mary was diagnosed with the devastating illness EMS (Eosinophilia
Myalgia Syndrome), but the symptoms disappeared after she eliminated
NutraSweet from her diet. I was startled to hear that American
OB-GYN's are trained to encourage pregnant women to consume large
quantities of NutraSweet to help them control their weight! Throughout
Mexico, the labels on sweetener packets read: "Recommended
by the Pediatric Association of Mexico." How does this impact
the mental and physical health of the mother? Does it make her
more prone to violence towards her child? What effect does ASP
have on the developing fetus? Is the FDA conducting ANY legitimate
investigation
of these questions?
Addressing the role
ASP may be playing in increased violence, Mary offered this statement
to ExNews:: "It is now a widely-accepted fact that abuse
of steroids in some can cause a type of rage dubbed 'Roid Rage.'
Not yet so widely-accepted -- but nevertheless true -- is the
fact that aspartame has similar effects on the brain. The children
of aspartame -- those whose mothers ate and drank it prior to
their birth -- are now 16 years old or younger. That, coupled
with the fact that many children have also received daily doses
of it following birth in the form of mother's milk, children's
vitamins and antibiotics,
bubblegums, jello, puddings, yogurts, frozen treats etc. makes
one wonder what life will be like for them and those around them
as they mature into adulthood."
In "Deadly Deception-Story
of Aspartame," Stoddard outlines the events leading to NutraSweet's
approval by the FDA:
1969 - Dr. Harry Waisman
fed ASP mixed with milk to monkeys.One died after 300 days of
ASP and five others had grand mal seizures.
Searle deleted this negative study when the company submitted
safety evidence to the FDA.
1970 - The FDA banned
cyclamate during the time that the safety of saccharin was being
questioned. The time seemed ripe for ASP.
1971 - Dr. John Olney,
a research psychiatrist, told Searle that aspartic acid caused
"holes in the brains of mice."
1974 - Searle people
said these studies raised "no health problems." Searle
told the FDA about these findings after approval was granted.
1975 - Many of the
test animals fed ASP developed large TUMORS.
These were NOT reported to the FDA.
1977 - Despite the
many complaints about ASP, William Conlon and Thomas Sullivan,
the US attorneys, took no action, in five years the statute of
limitations for a grand jury investigation expired. A year later
Conlon took a position with the law firm that represents Searle.
(U.S. Attorney, Samuel Skinner did the same and ended up Chief
of Staff in Bush's White House. ed.)
1980 - A Public Board
of Inquiry of three scientists was activated. These
(2 MDs and one Ph.D.) voted to ban ASP. Because of those negative
findings a five member Commissioner's Team of Scientists was
impaneled: Three said ban; two said it was safe. Another member
was added, resulting in a deadlock. Dr. Jacqueline Verrett, PhD,
toxicologist on the team said, "Bureau officials were working
up to a whitewash.
Safety questions remain unanswered."
1981 - Dr. Arthur Hull
Hayes, Jr. was appointed the new FDA Commissioner and overruled
the Public Board of Inquiry's recommended ban of ASP. He said
his approval was part of the Reagan administration's new reform!
Throughout the 1980's Searle argued that the best evidence of
ASP's safety was the fact that it had been approved in more than
60 countries. But these foreign approvals had been based on the
controversial test noted above and the questionable approval of
the FDA. It was approved as a "food additive,"
and hence, exempt from continued safety monitoring. (Searle
is not obligated to monitor any adverse reactions.)
1983 - THE NATIONAL
SOFT DRINK ASSOCIATION wrote to the
FDA that ASP was breaking down in warm climates. But the Association
later accepted ASP. Dr. Hayes office approved the use of
ASP in soft drinks just two months before he quit his job as FDA
chief. He then obtained a job with a public relations firm who
represents NutraSweet.
1984 - Seven million
pounds of NutraSweet are swallowed by about 100,000 people.
1985 - Reports of side-effects
mount.
1987 - ACSN is founded
by Mary Nash Stoddard and consumer advocate, James Turner. They
believe ASP should be recalled and retested as a drug. And if
this is not enough, here is an astonishing footnote from Deadly
Deception-Story of Aspartame: 85% of all complaints registered
to the FDA are NutraSweet related!
You will also be interested
in knowing the three components of aspartame:
1) phenylalanine (50%)
which can be neurotoxic and in some susceptible people will cause
seizures.
2) aspartic acid (40%) which can
cause brain damage in the developing brain 3) methanol (10%) which
turns into formaldehyde, embalming fluid; an obvious toxin.
The basis for suspecting
a cover-up by NutraSweet and the FDA is clear-cut. NutraSweet
is a multi-billion dollar industry which seems to have successfully
lobbied its way into the bank accounts of our highest government
officials. Since American journalists show almost zero inclination
to investigate the safety of aspartame, is it any wonder that
people are growing suspicious? Do we have the right to know if
massive advertising revenues might be affecting the investigator's
normal instincts for a shocking story? Imagine the potential
for astronomical litigation against NutraSweet -- and possibly
the FDA itself -- if the facts become known. Big Tobacco settlements
are surely making some powerful folks very nervous.
Those of us who've
stumbled across the disturbing facts in this case now have an
obligation to the public. We believe that every citizen has the
right to make informed health-choices, and that must include the
right to know the truth about aspartame.
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