You all know that I gave up gluten almost 4 years ago, and that I am diabetic so I have to watch my carbohydrates. One of the few things I have not given up is my diet colas.
Last week, FabGrandpa, as he is prone to do, was watching the Documentary Channel on TV. This particular day, “Sweet MiseryIn A Poisoned World” was playing. I didn’t pay much attention to it because I was in the other room sewing. But ever since that day, FabGrandpa was been on me to stop drinking those sugar free sodas.
Today, I finally googled “aspartame”. Holy crap! did you know there are more than 92 negative side effects caused by aspartame? Sweet Poison , written by author Dr. Janet Starr Hull, is a book exposing aspartame dangers. SweetPoison provides a variety of aspartame information including nutritional advice on aspartame detoxification, aspartame side effects and up-to-date information on aspartame dangers.
“According to Lendon Smith, M.D. there is an enormous population suffering from side effects associated with aspartame, yet have no idea why drugs, supplements and herbs don’t relieve their symptoms. Then, there are users who don’t ‘appear’ to suffer immediate reactions at all. Even these individuals are susceptible to the long-term damage caused by excitatory amino acids, phenylalanine, methanol, and DKP”
You can find a list of some of the aspartame side effects here. It is interesting to note that these are some of them:
- decreased night vision
- pain in one or both eyes
- decreased tears
- tinnitus – ringing or buzzing sound in the ears
- insomnia
- itching without a rash
- marked thinning or loss of hair
- mimics symptoms of Lyme Disease
It’s pretty scary to read all that, and know that I have been drinking at least a 12 pack a week of diet colas, sometimes more. Yes, I am addicted to them. But that stops just as soon as the ones I have are gone. I’m really going to try to kick this deadly habit.
Froggi Donna says
January 24, 2011 at 9:14 pmI drank 3-6 a day for years…ever since Diet Coke came out on the market. I now drink maybe 2-3 a month. I’ve moved to water…most of the time. It’s not easy, I still crave the Diet Coke taste but limit myself to when we go to the movies.
I will say that I’ve seen no symptom changes…and it’s been months.
Becca says
January 24, 2011 at 9:30 pmIced Tea is really good, even without the sugar. Plus, Diet Rite doesn’t use aspartame.
Fab Grandma says
January 25, 2011 at 10:22 amGuess I’m going to have to give it a try, although I haven’t drunk tea since I was diagnosed as diabetic back in 2001.
geogypsy says
January 24, 2011 at 9:49 pmGood for you! Now if Jim would give up his nasty vice.
Lee says
January 25, 2011 at 5:25 amIt must be hard as a diabetic to make choices that won’t include sugar or non-sugar sweeteners. We removed aspartame and any kind of un-natural sweeteners from our diet the day after my husband’s doctor asked him if he used the products. (This includes Splenda which we had switched to from Equal thinking we were making an improvement.) It appears that joint pain, heart palpitations and a variety of other issues my husband was complaining about could be brought on by those products. We have since removed all diet anything from our food choices. I have started to use Stevia/Truvia, and understand some sodas are made with that. Good luck with your “detox” process.
Fab Grandma says
January 25, 2011 at 10:21 amLees, yes it is, but if I can improve my health and feel better by not using aspartame, I am at least going to try to quit using it.
Linda Sewell says
January 26, 2011 at 1:00 pmhmmmmm that is interesting. I really prefer a regular coke over diet anyway, but I have been known to drink the diet soda’s. One of the guys that works with us has Diabetes and he has always told me that Aspartame and those “Other” ingredients that you can’t even pronounce are VERY harmful to you. We just need to start taking our health back….if you can’t pronounce it, why in the WORLD would you want to put it in your mouth. As for the “other vises” that FabGrandpa has….I’m with geogypsy. Quiting smoking was one of THE most best things I have ever done for my self…I just hope I quit soon enough….given his track record and all….wasn’t once enough?? just say’n. If it’s important to him for you to give up things that are harmufl to you, then it should be equally important for him to give up things that are harmful to him. 😐
Fab Grandma says
January 26, 2011 at 1:03 pmYes, I agree about Jim and his vices too, and I tell him every day that I wish he would quit smoking. And yes, I also agree that with his track record, medical history, he has no business smoking at all. Have you quit aspartame yet?
Sarah says
February 5, 2011 at 10:33 amAspartame is definitely a hard habit to kick. I’m so hooked on diet soda, but trying to cut back.