From: BOSSEN229@aol.com 4/4/99 7:46
PM
Subject: Nutrasweet-What's It Doing To Us?
I am a healthy adult male with no
known medical problems but since I've started drinking
diet pop with Nutrasweet I've been getting constant migraines
that aspirin/nonaspirin will stop or even lessen.
Zip/zag lines in my eyes, painful muscle spasms in the neck and
shoulder area.
Worst of all is the brain fog and not being able to think clearly
or concentrate.
Will never use any aspartame products again and will warn others.
They can say it's safe all they want, but since I've stopped using
aspartame these effects are diminishing daily.
Thanks for the note. Be sure to
tell all your friends about the dangers
of aspartame. maybe people don't have to suffer for 100's of years
as
with cigarettes!
I'm so glad you found out without spending time, money, and pain
just to
discover that the FDA really doesn't care about consumers, only
big-money corporations.
Alan
----------------------------------------------
From: "Sherri Jaeger" <jaeger@fastband.com>
3/16/99 10:14 PM
Subject: aspartame
Hi,
I read an article on aspartame. I decided to stop using it.
Well, I no longer suffer from constant headaches and I have more
energy than I've had in months.
I did use a lot, though. I a day, I might have used anywhere from
10 - 30 packets a day.
Now I don't use any. I use fruitcose to sweeten my drinks. What
a relief!
Sherri
----------------------------------------------
From: "Mike Boldrin" <bbunch@prodigy.net>
2/28/99 3:07 PM
Subject:
Thanks for your great article. This will help me out with my sister.
She has migranes just about every day. She was diagnosed with
Diabetes 2 years ago.
Hope we will find alternative sweetners for her.
----------------------------------------------
From: "Teresa Bean" <calbean@hotmail.com>
2/23/99 9:02 PM
Subject: nutrasweet
I just read an article about nutrasweet that has really concerned
me. I
have a little girl that was diagnosed 2 yrs ago, at the age of
6, with
type 1 diabetes. We have made sugar free drinks, soda, crystal
lite,
koolaid etc., a big part of our lives. Is there anything that
you know
of that we can use as an alternative? My daughter needs to be
able to
have some choices other than water or water. Please give me some
ideas.
I'm very concerned now that I've read all the horror stories about
aspartame. Thank you, Terri Bean
Teresa,
Sorry about your daughter being diagnosed with diabetes, but it's
good
to know as soon as possible so you can deal with it.
It would be a much better idea if you made WATER and MILK "a
big part of
our lives". I don't think children should become addicted
to sweet
drinks when they are thirsty. Also don't let children have drinks
with
caffeine unless you want an ADD problem and jumpy kids. Remember
that
caffeinated drinks have an adult dose and if a kid drinks it,
they will
climb the walls.
I am glad you are aware of the problems with aspartame (nutrasweet)
containing foods, and that you and your family will stay away
from
them. An alternative sweetener to try may be Stevia, available
at
healthfood stores, however the FDA won't let it be called a
"sweetener". Also saccharin (pink packets) is still
legal in this
country and I heard that the FDA is going to allow the warnings
to be
removed (it never was dangerous). Cyclamates are very sweet and
safe
but were banned from the US in the 70's under pressure from the
sugar
industry, although they are still available in Canada and Mexico.
I'm not a doctor so make sure you talk to yours, he can probably
help
with some ideas, too. Just stay away from aspartame (nutrasweet).
Good Luck, God Bless, and thanks for writing,
Alan
----------------------------------------------
From: BunnellCru@aol.com 2/23/99 2:27
PM
Subject: My story...
Hi,
I have known aspartame wasn't good for me long before evidence
was produced.
Every time I have even ONE soda with aspartame in it, I will have
an episode
of extreme vertigo. When I get vertigo to that degree, I usually
have it for
6 to 8 weeks. I avoid nutrasweet/aspartame like the plague.
I don't particularly care for saccarine though. Is there any place
a person
can buy cyclamates online? I understand they still use it in Canada
and
Europe. I don't believe all that they say about it. Just like
I've known
about the problems with aspartame for many years.
I tried some Stevia. Maybe it was the brand I used, but it tasted
like tea.
I appreciate your site, as well as any information you can give
me.
Tricia
----------------------------------------------
From: KittyF5757@aol.com 1/18/99 7:38
PM
Subject: my story
I was drinking diet drinks for the past 7 years. I was drinking
them very
heavily since 1994. I started feeling very fuzzy headed and had
a rash on my
hands that I couldnt get rid of. I had a incident that happened
to me that
made me stop drinking diet drinks all together. On Thanksgiving
day My
husband and my daughter and i went to Walt Disney World. i packed
us some new
pepsi one drinks to take along. I only drank about 2 or 3 that
day but on the
way home i had a very bad headache. I would even call it a migraine.
My
husband stopped at a gas station to get me some tylenol. He gave
me a diet
pepsi to take the tylenol with. Well the tylenol didnt stay down
long I had
to have him pull over so I could throw up. I havent touched diet
drinks since
or anything containing nutrasweet. I ended up finding this web
page a day or
so after I stopped drinking the diet drinks. Well so far the rash
on my hands
is healing...coming and going right now. And i do feel better
even though i
still get massive sugar and carb cravings. Dont know when that
will go away.
My brain feels like it did a long time ago. I can actually think!!!
I used
to forget everything. Well i have written and told you my story
before...but
I remember you telling me to let you know how I was doing now.
Well I have
written to tell you that i am MUCH better than I was before! I
am getting
dizzy spells right now but I think I have a cold in my ears. I
just hope i
didnt cause some sort of permanent damage to myself over a diet
drink.
Thanks for listening,
Kitty
----------------------------------------------
From: JLW <jlwe@globalsite.net>
1/18/99 9:57 AM
Subject: Aspartame
I would like to know where I can get some information on this
subject. I
have a friend that is diabetic and has been using nutra-sweet
and sweet
n low, they have had symptoms of blurred vision (so severe they
are
temporally blinded for brief seconds), muscles spasms and cramps,
and
muscle pain. Any information would be appreciated.
Jana Wilson
Jana,
The information is available thru my website links.
Also try http://www.aspartame.com it's a little flashy but has
some more info.
Tell your friend to stay in touch with his doctor about his problems,
although
few doctors want to consider opposition to aspartame. Tell him
to STOP using
anything with nutra-sweet including diet colas and stuff.
If this is the cause he should see improvement in a week or two.
Sweet n low is saccarin, which is safe and won't usually cause
problems.
He needs to continue seeing his doctor because I am not one.
Good Luck,
Alan
----------------------------------------------
From: Judi Gutherie <IMCEAEX-_O=SYSTEMS+20INTEGRATION+20SOLUTIONS+2C+20INC+2E_OU=WC_CN=RECIPIENTS_CN=JGUTHERIE@sisinc.com>
12/18/98 1:21 PM
Subject:First off, I want to thank you for all the information
on this web site.
I had NO IDEA of the dangers of this stuff!!!!! My boyfriend is
a diabetic and drinks diet pepsi.
I figured that I might as well drink it too, saving having to
buy two different kinds of sodas at the store.
Now that I read all your information and thought about it, I have
noticed a difference in my disposition.
I am much more tense, irritable, and short tempered.
I am thinking that it has to do with the diet sodas which contain
aspartame.
I am going to immediately stop drinking diet sodas and am going
to demand that my boyfriend do the same.
I love him too much to let this go on.
Again, I want to thank you for advising the public of the dangers
of this lethal product.
It is just a shame that the Government is not the ones doing it!
I thank God for people like you who actual care about the welfare
of the general public.
Thank you and God bless!
----------------------------------------------
From: GRCC Staff <Staff@grcc.cc.mi.us>
10/23/98 12:24 PM
Subject: aspartame
This past summer I purchased a whey protien supplement. I was
working
out 5-6 days a week so I needed an extra dose of protien for muscle
development. I took the product for about 2 weeks and I noticed
that I
had quite a few headaches. Not the kind wear your in big time
pain but
stress type headaches. Since it was a stressful few weeks anyways
I blew
it off. On the friday of the second week my girlfriend and I went
camping. For some reason that whole day it felt like my head was
shrinking. After we had gone to bed later that night I was awakened
by
what felt like a small hammer tapping on my skull. The pain was
so
intense I could hardly walk to the bathrooms about 50 yards away.
I was
stumbling around like I was drunk(I know this sounds really dramatized
but this is what really happened). The rest of the night needless
to
say I didnt sleep much. The next morning I felt a little better,
and I
didnt have a protien shake. Sunday I felt almost back to normal.
On
monday, since I still hadnt put it together, I did my normal work
out
and made a shake. About an hour later guess what came right back.
I
read the label on the shake mix and the only thing that was unfamiliar
was a ing. called asesalfame K. I punched it up online and it
gave me
about 1500 items all dealing with the effects of the product.
The
protien supplement contained a large amount of this sweetner,
much more
than a diet soft drink. I threw it away and I have not had a migrane
or
even a normal headache since.
RYAN
----------------------------------------------
From: Sharynsda@aol.com 10/8/98 8:41
AM
Subject: My horror story!
My name is Sharyn Robichaux. I have consumed so much Nutrasweet
over the
years and did not realize what it was doing to me until I stopped.
Mainly my
intake was from diet soft drinks, and other sugarless foods.
In 1988, I began having seizures. It lasted until last December,
9 years of
seizures, until I discontinued Nutrasweet. I was removed from
work twice,
once by ambulance, and the next time in a private car, to go to
the hospital
for the seizures. I was brought to the hospital one day during
church
services with very bad seizures. I have been on several seizure
medications,
such as Klonipin, Tegratol, Tranxene, Dilantin, and a couple more
that I can't
even remember the names of. I have had several CAT scans, MRI's,
brainwave
tests, both regular and sleep deprivation ones. I have lived lived
like a
zombie with some of the medications, I have had my hair break
and fall off
from one of them. It has not been a pleasant experience. In 1992,
I had two
small strokes, (TIA's) a week apart and was hospitalized for both.
In December of this year, I was on 400 miligrams of Dilantin a
day, and
although the seizures were lessened in frequency and severity,
they never were
completely gone. Then, I decided to stop drinking the diet soft
drinks,
having heard that the Aspartame was known to cause problems. So,
within a
month, I not only was able to wean myself off of all medications,
I also
stopped having seizures altogether! Praise God!!
I wrote to the people at Monsanto, Nutrasweet and all they did
was send me
paraphenalia, brochures and other papers saying that NutraSweet
does not cause
these problems, and that it has been proven so. Well, I don't
care what THEY
say, I KNOW what I have experienced and have been through. So,
they can tell
me all they want, they can try and cover up all they want to,
but I know their
product is responsible for what I went through. And I will never
stop
telling people what it did to me and encourage everyone to get
off of
Nutrasweet.
Sharyn,
Good for you !!!
Can I put your letter up on my website?
The FDA and Monsanto have really screwed us up and the AMA has
a long history of
discounting "anecdotal" evidence, but no one will spend
the money to run HONEST
clinicals on Nutra-Sweet. As you found out, there is overwhelming
evidence
condemning aspartame, but no agency is listening, and the AMA
makes too much
money treating patients with drugs and tests, as happened to you.
Do you have
an estimate as to how much the Medical Establishment has made
from your case in
the last 9 years? Monsanto must be very proud!
God Bless you,
Alan
Yes, you may use my story. I wish you would send Monsanto a copy
also. I
never ceases to amaze me how money or profits mean more to companies
that
human beings! And, after so many testimonies regarding this product,
they
still choose to discount us as if we don't know what we are talking
about.
You would think, after one or two cases that they might consider
that there is
some possibility of this happening, but after hundreds of people
experiencing
the same things, and they still won't admit to it and still try
to discount
and cover it up! I just don't know what to say about it!
Well, thank you for listening. Sorry if I come on so strong, but
it upsets
me that this multi-million (billion?) company is getting rich
at the expense
of people's health and don't care and even lie about it. Sorry.
Sharyn
----------------------------------------------
From: awilson <awilson@digev.com>
9/30/98 6:20 AM
Subject: Aspartame Story
To: mgold@holisticmed.com
CC: aspartame@cryogen.com, bettym19@mindspring.com, dorietz@awod.com
To Anti-Aspartame Crusaders,
Thanks to you, I am now living a healthy, "normal" life.
I am eternally
grateful.
Let me know if there is anything I can do to help the cause.
I've included my story below for you perusal / use. It been all
of two weeks
since I quit
the deadly neurotoxin and life is getting better by the day.
Thanks much,
Andy Wilson
biscuit@primenet.com
awilson@digev.com
My experiences with Aspartame began shortly after I was forced
into ending a
decade-long battle with alcohol. I entered a detox clinic with
a BAC (Blood
Alcohol Content) of .39, one drink away from death. I have been
sober since,
but my health problems would continue. Though I would make many
trips to
doctors for my ailments, they couldn't find anything they could
properly
diagnose. I even made a trip to the country's most noted substance
abuse
specialist, Dr. Drew Pinsky, co-host of the nationally syndicated
talk show
Loveline. He didn't find anything. He and other doctors would
always say that
it was stress. Their diagnosis' always seemed like a form-letter.
My weight had always fluctuated, so in sobriety I made the choice
to cut out
sugar and junk food, even though I wasn't always too strict about
the latter.
It was then I discovered Diet Pepsi. I had been drinking about
a six pack of
regular Coke as well as several cups of coffee with 6 cubes of
sugar daily, so
I made the transition to Equal as well as Diet Pepsi. In my over-indulgent
ways, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into.
For the next 6
years, I would be sick, blaming it the whole time on the remnants
of
alcoholism and it's perils. I knew that alcoholism was a severe
condition that
could cause many problems, yet doctors couldn't find any problems,
nor point
them to alcohol. My liver was a little ragged, but it's since
recovered, as
they do if not infected by cirrhosis.
The "fog" was a continuous problem. So were the aching
joints, swollen face,
migrain headaches, digestive problems, severe stomach aches, head
tremors,
disorientation, dizzy spells, loss of memory, sleep disorders,
painfully dry
skin, paranoia, depression, sexual dsyfunction, heart palpitations
and chronic
fatigue. I had no insurance, so I had no way to alleviate any
of the agony
other than turning myself into a human science experiment and
the occassional
visits to doctor I couldn't afford. I self-diagnosed like mad.
I thought it
could be post-alcoholism, lactose-intolerance, chronic sinusitus,
a weak
heart, age (was in my 20's at the time!), smoking, dry skin, stress
and
several other medical conditions, none of which have panned out.
Finally, this year, I recieved medical insurance and began a quest
to get to
the bottom of things. Of course, my doctor was stumped. She ran
dozens of
tests, did guesswork, sent me to specialists, prescribed medication.
I even
had a mole removed, which was benign I might add. The only serious
diagnosis
she could come up with is that I had chronic sinusitis. Something
I had
already guessed. She showered me with prescription medication,
none of which
had much, if any, effect. To my chagrin, she turned out to be
what I know
think of most doctors. Overpaid guesstimators.
On a hunch, I decided to follow some advice a friend had given
me a few years
ago. He's one of these politically-conscious guys who believes
Blockbuster
edits movies, Disney exploits child-workers and that Nutrasweet
is poison. At
the time, I would just shrug and say "...everything's a freakin'
conspiracy
with you." Well, years laters, I thought, could he be right?
Does it really
cause brain cancer. What if I quit Nutrasweet, what would happen?
Why don't I
look it up on the Internet? I have a T3 connection at work. During
a little
down time, I did just that and the rest is history. I found out
the truth and
quit all forms of aspartame a couple of days later. I have been
"recovering"
ever since and ALL my problems are vanishing, if not completely
vanished a
mere week after quitting. I am one happy camper. No depression,
no trauma, no
illness, no grief. Just life. If it weren't for the Internet and
people like
Mark Gold, I may not have ever found out.
My experiences over the last 6 years have been anywhere from discomforting
to
unbearable, but never "normal." Now I can see the world
clearly, without pain,
other than what "normal" people experience. I firmly
believe that Nutrasweet
is poison and that a percentage of us are dangerously affected
by it. It is a
crime that Monsanto continues to get away with bloody murder and
probably will
continue to long after we're gone. Trying to slay the Monsanto
behemoth would
be like trying to bring down a skyscraper with a pick axe. I am
incredibly
pissed off that I blindly blamed myself. Since I've discovered
that a
multi-national corporation was not only getting rich off of people
like me,
but playing God with the health of the world, I've become enraged.
Monsanto
must come clean, if not just for the current victims, then for
future ones.
Whatever the case may be, this must end! The FDA and Monsanto
should be
reprimanded, the guilty parties apprehended and thrown to a jury
of
self-acknowledged aspartame sufferers.
----------------------------------------------
From: "ANTHONY JONES" <GONES@worldnet.att.net>
9/26/98 6:28 AM
Subject: Aspartame
Hi-
I was just wondering if you found links to reasearch indicating
whether the effects
of Aspartame are reversible if you stop using it. I am very worried
right now because
I have been consuming relatively large quantities of it daily
(in coffee, diet drinks, yogurt, deserts, etc).
I asked my doctor recently if he knew of any cause for numbness
in my hands and feet.
He said it could be diabetes or other circulation problems, but
couldn't find anything wrong with me.
I am extremely healthy otherwise- and in training to be a pilot.
I was running the other day and my hands and feet went to sleep
again-
I couldn't feel my fingers, even when i tapped on them.
I will stop using Nutra Sweet products to see if I get better,
but I am still curious if you know anything more.
I also feel I have experienced memory loss, blurred vision, stomach
cramps (which I thought were from dairy products).
I would apreciate any more info
- Sincerely, G. Wagner
----------------------------------------------
From: JoeyPasta@aol.com 9/17/98 11:20
AM
Subject: Nutrasweet
I am new to reading about aspartame after hearing about the bad
side affects
from and aquantance. I am curious about two things. 1. Why hasn't
anyone
sued Searle, or the FDA. 2. If it breaks down into Methanol at
86 degrees,
how come I do not taste any differance in the diet coke I store
out in my
garage? My garage gets up to over 95 degrees. Also, how much (in
packets)
nutrasweet is there in diet coke? I usually drink up to four 12
oz. cans
worth a day, and have for about 12 years. So far I have noticed
none of the
side affects listed in 3 sites I have visited. I have not drank
any diet coke
now for 4 days, and I am going to try not to for at least 2 months
to see if I
notice any changes in my health.
Thank You
JoeyPasta@aol.com
----------------------------------------------
From: "COLEEN ROBERTS" <croberts@netins.net>
7/12/98 11:21 PM
Subject: Nutrasweet aka/apartame is a bad joke that isn't funny
at all...
For approximately 14 years I have been drinking diet sodas, any
kind of
diet soda. Recently all I could get was Nutrasweet in the sodas.
My
mother sent me very disburbing facts about the damage that a person
can get
from this harmful sugar substitute. I wish all drinkers of diet
sodas and
foods containing this harmful agent would stop drinking them.
I can't
believe that the FDA passed this horrendous health risk. Tumors,
etc. are
not worth it!!! I'm glad that I know the facts now and will try
my hardest
to not drink any diet sodas again.
I wish saccharin was back, unless there are unknown health risks
for it
too. Is there anything safe anymore? I wanted to keep my weight
down by
using diet products, I guess I'll just have to limit my consumption
of
sodas and drink regular ones.
Thank you for warning the public. Keep up the good work and fight
against
things that are harmful to the public. God Bless You! Sheila
------------------------------------------------
From: "Mary E. Pride" <prideful@execpc.com>
3/23/98 4:50 PM
Subject: nutrasweet
Thanks for the info on evil nutrasweet. I was having lots of trouble
with depression and insomnia and lack of motivation. Have also
been a
Diet Coke addict for years. It occurred to me to stop drinking
it
Within 3 days I felt much more alert and aware and was actually
getting
something accomplished. Drank a can of DietCoke and felt like
I was
drugged. I'm off this stuff forever and intend to spread the word
to
others who are using nutrasweet. Evil evil stuff!
----------------------------------------------
From: Klass5@aol.com 11/30/97 12:50
AM
Subject: nutrasweet
Please help, I consume about 4 Diet Dr. Peppers per day, I am
experiencing
significant memory loss, as well as loss of movement of the left
side of my
mouth.
I also occasionally have "shooting migraines". (They
last 1-2 seconds, but
I'm completely shut-down during that span). Do you suspect nutra-sweet?
Do you have any information that you could send me linking my
symptons and
nutrasweet?
Thank You
Respectfully
Shari
klass5@aol.com
Hi Shari,
I'm not a doctor and cannot give medical advice.
Try to stop drinking DIET drinks for at least 60 days and see
if your
symptoms disappear.
(Regular Dr. Pepper tastes better anyhow.)
You must have seen the info on my site. Check out the references
linked
therein for more info.
My friend was helped significantly by stopping his aspartame
consumption..
You may see some improvement after a week.
If you do see improvement, please tell everyone you know.
If you are currently under a doctor's care, continue his instructions.
God Bless,
Alan
----------------------------------------------
END