asparatame makes you fatter??

[Leggo my Ego]

Here is an article I found that I thought was interesting. There have been numerous debates here on whether diet sodas were ok to drink or not and whether they will help or hinder your diet goals...


Posted: 22 July 2006


I have been a medical doctor for over 25 years and have clinical and research interests in the liver and metabolism. I have authored several best selling health books including the "Liver Cleansing Diet", "The Body Shaping Diet", "Don't Let Your Hormones Ruin Your Life", "Women's Health", "Menopause and Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy" and I lecture internationally on these subjects. I have been consulted by thousands of patients with weight problems, hormonal imbalances, fatty liver, sluggish metabolism and chronic ill health. I have been an advocate and practitioner of nutritional methods of healing for 30 years. I regularly appear on national television and broadcast on many radio stations to educate people about the importance of a healthy liver in achieving good health and weight control!

In the interests of public health I am making a position statement concerning the use of the artificial sweetener called aspartame and sold most commonly under the names of NutraSweet and Equal. One must ask, "why do millions of people ingest a toxic chemical like aspartame everyday"? To me it appears ridiculous and I believe that it is because people have been brainwashed into thinking aspartame will keep their weight down and is good for health. It also shows me that we have lost touch with our own natural senses and instincts.

After having been consulted by thousands of overweight people suffering with problems concerning the liver and/or metabolism I can assure you that aspartame will not help you in any way, indeed it will help you to gain unwanted weight. This has been my experience, and there are logical reasons to explain the fattening and bloating effects of aspartame. When you ingest the toxic chemical aspartame it is absorbed from the intestines and passes immediately to the LIVER where it is taken inside the liver via the liver filter. The liver then breaks down or metabolizes aspartame to its toxic components - phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol. This process requires a lot of energy from the liver which means there will be less energy remaining in the liver cells. This means the liver cells will have less energy for fat burning and metabolism, which will result in fat storing. Excess fat may build up inside the liver cells causing "fatty liver" and when this starts to occur it is extremely difficult to lose weight. In my vast experience any time that you overload the liver you will increase the tendency to gain weight easily.

Aspartame also causes weight gain by other mechanisms ---Causes unstable blood sugar levels, which increases the appetite and causes cravings for sweets/sugar. Thus it is particularly toxic for those with diabetes or epilepsy. Causes fluid retention giving the body a puffy and bloated appearance. This makes people look fatter than they are and increases cellulite.

To discover more about the liver look up my web site - http:// Welcome To Dr Sandra Cabot's Liver Doctor Website , and to learn more about natural sugars that are better for the liver and weight, read my books "The Liver Cleansing Diet" and "Boost Your Energy". To order see your book store, or call Ten Speed Press or call 1-888-75-Liver


COMMENTS BY DR. BETTY MARTINI:

Also with regard to obesity and aspartame, the Trocho Study in Barcelona in l998 showed that the formaldehyde converted from the free methyl alcohol accumulates in the cells and damages DNA with most toxicity in the liver but substantial toxicity in the adipose tissue or fat cells. Further a recent epidemiological study by Sharon Fowler at the University of Texas in 2005 linked diet drinks with obesity.

In the Congressional Record, Senate, S - 5511, May 7, l985, and part of the protest of the National Soft Drink Assn, now American Beverage, is this Statement:


"Aspartame has been demonstrated to inhibit the carbohydrate-induced synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (Wurtman affidavit). Serotonin blunts the sensation of craving carbohydrates and this is part of the body's feedback system that helps limit consumption of carbohydrate to appropriate levels. Its inhibition by aspartame could lead to the anomalous result of a diet product causing increased consumption of carbohydrates."

So as far as product liability is concerned you have companies marketing an addictive excitoneurotoxic carcinogenic drug to the population as a sugarfree diet product knowing full well this is causing obesity. They also know that aspartame is addictive and that the methanol component is classified as a narcotic. Aspartame liberates free methyl alcohol causing chronic methanol poisoning. This affects the dopamine system of the brain causing the addiction.
Dr. Betty Martini
Founder, Mission Possible International
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770-242-2599
MISSION POSSIBLE WORLD HEALTH INTERNATIONAL
WORLD NATURAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Aspartame is NOT safe. DORway to Discovery has the WHOLE truth!

Aspartame Toxiocity Center: Aspartame (Nutrasweet) Toxicity Information Center

[DazzlinJack]

This makes sense! I mean, "diet" products have been on the market for, what, a few decades now? and we're more obese than ever. sheeesh

[OmarJackson]

In my vast experience any time that you overload the liver you will increase the tendency to gain weight easily.

i wonder if those guys that border on the edge of abuse of methylated steroids suffer from this?

[Leggo my Ego]

i wonder if those guys that border on the edge of abuse of methylated steroids suffer from this?

It would make sense. methylated/alkylated steroids are about as liver damaging as you can get (In many cases). Actually I found quite a bit on asparatame that was pretty interesting.

check this out, I posted this in the article section earlier today.

asparatame the worlds best ant poison?

[somewhatgifted]

asparatame is a poison an should be avoided. check out studies involving long term use, can lead to a slow paralytic death. more or less.

[rampage jackson]

I honestly think this is an excuse for fat people to feel better. There are plenty of perfectly fit people who use products containing asparatame.

[somewhatgifted]

Asparatame: An Overview of the FDA Health Concerns - Associated Content

Asparatame Warning

Stevia Products: The Dangers of Asparatame

[Leggo my Ego]

Asparatame: An Overview of the FDA Health Concerns - Associated Content

Asparatame Warning

Stevia Products: The Dangers of Asparatame

yup.

[rampage jackson]

Asparatame: An Overview of the FDA Health Concerns - Associated Content

Asparatame Warning

Stevia Products: The Dangers of Asparatame

Dont get me wrong bro...I was refering to the topic of "asparatame making people fatter". I'm sure it does carry other health implications as well too.

[somewhatgifted]

I honestly think this is an excuse for fat people to feel better. There are plenty of perfectly fit people who use products containing asparatame.

I never read this right the first time, i agree tottally bro.

[Leggo my Ego]

fat people are awesome!!!

[alan aragon]

check this out, I posted this in the article section earlier today.

asparatame the worlds best ant poison?

That's a great article. Where'd you find it?

[maxxdout]

Saw this article a while back man.. Been drinking juice and water ever since. Tried showing it to some people who drink that sh*t but they dont listen. The drug companies dont care about anything man.. all they are trying to do is make a buck.

[ryano]

My mom is diabetic and addicted to diet coke. I will have her take a look at this but it will not matter.

I try and buy her the diet coke with splenda whenever I can. What are you gonna do?

[Leggo my Ego]

That's a great article. Where'd you find it?

Actually I found it through a link in an email that my fiancee's sister sent me about asparatame... I already deleted it otherwise I'd offer to send it to you...sorry... but here is a link to all sorts of articles about asparatame, and some about splenda. javascript: void(0) enjoy

[Leggo my Ego]

oops... that didnt work...ASPARTAME AND OTHER SO-CALLED "ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS" NEWS AND ARTICLES

[Jeffrw]

I'm all for avoiding soda...both diet and regular, though I do induldge once in awhile almost always diet.

Let's debate some real world applications though:

1) How much is toxic/harmful?
2) Does this mean regular soda may better than diet?
3) What about products with Splenda such as Coke Zero?

[Leggo my Ego]

I'm all for avoiding soda...both diet and regular, though I do induldge once in awhile almost always diet.

Let's debate some real world applications though:

1) How much is toxic/harmful?
2) Does this mean regular soda may better than diet?
3) What about products with Splenda such as Coke Zero?

yeah, I avoid all sodas too... and some times indulge. Last weekend, I had 1/2 a pepsi

1) I'm not sure how much would be deemed harmful
2) If I am gonna have a soda, I'd rather have reg.
3)Sucralose Toxicity Information Center
Splenda (Sucralose) Toxicity Exposed
The Potential Dangers of Sucralose (Splenda)

I stay away from all artificial sweeteners, but am curious about trying stevia

[TeamSavage]

I'm not an M.D., but I have a degree in neuroscience and I currently work in the nutraceutical industry, so I know my way around biochem. I'm certainly not an expert on aspartame, but there are a few statements in this article that lead me to believe whoever wrote it has no idea what they're talking about.

The liver then breaks down or metabolizes aspartame to its toxic components - phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol.

Hmm.. well for starters, phenylalanine and aspartic acid aren't toxic at all. They're amino acids, completely non-toxic.

L-phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that the body converts into tyrosine, which is then used to make two important neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine. So in fact, L-phenylalanine is quite important to the normal functioning of the brain. It's toxic only to a small percentage of people with a genetic disease called PKU, in which the enzyme to properly metabolize phenylalnine is not present. These people must avoid excessive consumption of phenylalanine (and thus aspartame), but if you have PKU, you'd know it, since it would have been detected shortly after birth. It's worth nothing that many people take phenylalanine supplements, ingesting far more phenylalanine than is used as an artificial sweetener, for a variety of reasons without ill effects.

Aspartic acid is a non-essential amino acid. It's naturally found in the body and is actually produced by the body as a metabolite of the urea cycle. So again, completely non-toxic.

The very fact that the author called phenylalanine and aspartic acid "toxic" leads me to doubt that the author is actually an M.D., as this is first-semester med school stuff.

Methanol is toxic in high enough doses, but aspartame has been extensively studied and symptoms of methanol toxicity have not been detected.

This process requires a lot of energy from the liver which means there will be less energy remaining in the liver cells. This means the liver cells will have less energy for fat burning and metabolism, which will result in fat storing. Excess fat may build up inside the liver cells causing "fatty liver" and when this starts to occur it is extremely difficult to lose weight.

Without spending the next 10,000 words delving into liver chemistry, suffice it to state that this paragraph is a gross simplification of how the liver works to the point of being completely inaccurate. The metabolism of aspartame doesn't require "a lot of energy from the liver"... metabolism is what the liver does. It's the liver's main function. The liver metabolizes hundreds of compounds on a daily basis, and the metabolism of one more doesn't make a difference unless it's hepatoxic (toxic to the liver) for a specific reason.

Furthermore, "fatty liver" is not caused by having "less energy for fat burning and metabolism". It can be caused by a variety of specific factors such as a long-term, high fat diet or chronic alcohol consumption. And while "fatty liver" is a major concern in terms of liver health, it doesn't necessarily make it harder to lose weight.

To be blunt, this paragraph is so absurdly off-base as to how the liver works that it destroys the credibility of the author. The above two points are the most specific, but certainly not exhaustive, critiques. Basically, what this article is saying about the liver is a load of bull****.

So in conclusion, I would not trust a word this article says. I'm not saying that aspartame is completely safe or that it doesn't affect fat metabolism or storage. I am saying, however, that I would not treat this article as a legitimate source of information, as the person who wrote it has obviously not even taken Biochem 101, let alone gone to medical school.

And for what it's worth, I drink about 64 oz of Diet Coke/Pepsi per day, ingesting tons of aspartame. I just had bloodwork with a full liver panel, and all the values came back normal.

[TeamSavage]

Hmm, this article has really got me steamed.

Just to clarify or simpify a little bit, what the author wrote is a little like somebody saying:

"I've worked as a mechanic for 30 years and as an engineer in the Engine Development division at GM. Cars work by adding oil into the engine and then lighting the oil on fire with a special Zippo lighter, which causes an explosion that shoots the car forward. If you drive in the rain, the water will mix with the oil and put out the fire, which stops the explosions and will make your car stall. Even after the water dries, a little will remain in the oil and the explosions will be less powerful, which will make your car run slower and prevent it from making right turns."

That's basically the equivalent of what the author of the article said about phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and how the liver works.