Lisa Hood

Even more reason to avoid Aspartame - studies at two universities found high doses may lead to neurodegeneration.  This seems to support previous findings that aspartame consumption can cause neurological and behavioral disturbances.  The changes in the brain include the metabolism of amino acids, protein structure, the integrity of nucleic acids, endocrine balances and overall neuronal function.  Breakdown of aspartame causes nerves to fire excessively.If I’m tempted to buy a diet coke, I need to remember aspartame is basically a poison that pollutes my body. I’ve had a couple of migraines in the last few weeks which is discouraging.  I hoped they would end or at least lessen in frequency and severity once I quit drinking diet sodas.  Maybe it just takes time to clean out all the toxins from my body.

According to Dr. Mercola, author of Sweet Deception, aspartame contains Aspartic Acid, which excites neurotransmitters to the point of killing cells.  Even as the brain cells are dying, we don’t notice until chronic illnesses occur, and then it’s too late.   

Aspartame also contains Phenylalanine, an amino acid found in the brain. Excessive amounts of phenylalanine can cause a decrease in serotonin which may result in depression.  (yep, got that!)

Methanol is a deadly poison and it’s a byproduct of aspartame when it is heated above 86 degrees F.  Methanol breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde when it is consumed and digested.  I want to be well preserved but I don’t want to ingest formaldehyde to do it.  The EPA recommends a limit of 7.8mg a day but one liter of diet soda contains 56mg.  Methanol poisoning has a variety of symptoms, such as: vision problems, headaches, dizziness, nausea and memory lapses.  An interesting note is that it takes a long time to detox from methanol poisoning.  The EPA states methanol “is considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed. In the body, methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde and formic acid; both of these metabolites are toxic.” 

So even though I’ve been off diet cokes for 3 weeks, I may still suffer headaches as a result of consuming them for years.  

It’s really scary stuff.