Isn't the whole idea of losing weight to look better and get HEALTHIER?

Without health, looking better won't last long. In any case, being thin from illness defeats the purpose. Yet there are many people who count their calories and watch their weight who are unknowingly ingesting dangerous chemicals as a substitute for sugar. Chemicals that are very destructive, but nonetheless found in thousands of common low-calorie, "diet" foods.

Would it surprise you to know that a food additive you were led to believe was a harmless, benign substitute for sugar turned out to be a damaging and often deadly neurotoxin and excitotoxin? An addictive drug that changes brain chemistry and interacts with drugs?

A chemical that destroys the central nervous system -- causing nerve transmitter disruption, brain malnutrition, and neurotoxicity? A substance that is particularly harmful to the undeveloped nervous systems of children? And that causes brain damage that ranges anywhere from ADHD to neurological problems that mimic MS, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's?

What's worse is that this highly addictive and cumulative substance causes serious withdrawal symptoms when stopped. Believe me, you do not want to get addicted to this substance.

But. . .you may be shocked to discover... you may already be addicted.

This harmful chemical substance is found in a vast selection of common, everyday foods - foods everyone likes to eat.

It is called aspartame.

Aspartame (APM), also sold as NutraSweet, Equal, Equal Measure, Spoonful and others, is an artificial sweetener found in thousands of diet foods and diet drinks.

These are common foods like diet soda, sugarless gums such as Dentyne and Bubble Gum, 'Lite' yogurt, Jello, puddings and pies, baked goods, sugarless jams and jellies, Metamucil for adults and children, children's vitamins and even medications. You'll even find it in Slim Fast, listed as phenylalanine and in Weight Watchers diet foods.

Just to give you an idea of some of symptoms aspartame causes, here's a short list:

• aggression
• anxiety
• asthma
• brain tumors
• confusion
• cramps
• dangerous drug interactions
• diabetes
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• Fibromyalgia
• hearing impairment
• high blood pressure
• hyperactivity--especially in children (ADD, ADHD)
• insomnia and phobias
• irritability
• itching and hives
• joint pain
• liver disease
• lupus
• marked weight loss or gain and aggravated low blood sugar
• memory loss
• menstrual changes
• migraine headaches
• MS
• nausea and abdominal pain
• numbness
• numbness
• palpitations
• personality changes
• rheumatoid arthritis
• seizures
• severe depression
• severe drowsiness and sleepiness
• shortness of breath
• slurred speech
• unsteadiness
• visual changes and blindness

Many doctors call these symptoms "Aspartame Disease." Some doctors are now speaking out and saying that aspartame disease is epidemic and rising.

It's interesting to note that aspartame accounts for 80 to 85% of all complaints received by the FDA. By 1987, the FDA had received more than 6,000 complaints, including 250 involving epileptic seizures. But, what's even more surprising is that the consumption of aspartame continues to increase every year. The average American consumes over 14 pounds of aspartame each year and this amount has been rising daily.

There are 92 documented symptoms of aspartame, from coma to death. The majority of them are all neurologicaln -- because the aspartame destroys the nervous system.

Make No Mistake, Aspartame is NOT a Diet Food!

Aspartame may actually cause weight gain. The reason is that the phenylalanine and aspartic acid, found in aspartame, stimulate the release of insulin. These rapid, strong spikes in insulin remove all glucose from the blood-stream and store it as fat. This can result in hypoglycemia and sugar cravings.

Normally when there are enough carbohydrates in the body, the neurotransmitter serotonin is produced, signaling that the body is satiated. But aspartame has been demonstrated to to inhibit the synthesis of serotonin. This also leads to food cravings, increased carbohydrate consumption and, ultimately, weight gain.

In a recent study, a control group switching to an aspartame-free diet resulted in an average weight loss of 19 pounds!

What's worse is that the formaldehyde and other byproducts of aspartame get stored in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. This is less than good news for those trying to lose weight!

In fact, diabetic specialist H.J. Roberts, M.D., believes aspartame can precipitate diabetes, keep blood sugar out of control, destroy the optic nerve, and even cause diabetic convulsions.

Aspartame Contains Three Neurotoxins

What makes aspartame particularly dangerous is that it contains three neurotoxins:

• Methanol
• Phenylalanine
• Aspartic acid.

Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, is a very powerful neurotoxin. Normally the EPA allows only very minute levels of Methanol to be found in foods or in environmental exposures. But, the level allowed in NutraSweet is seven (7) times the amount what the EPA normally allows. Methanol can produce blindness, cellular destruction in the brain and spinal cord and in the optic nerves, not to speak of liver damage.

Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are both well-recognized neurotoxins. The second amino acid, aspartic acid, is an excitotoxin that causes cellular excitation. It can overstimulate and kill brain cells, causing mild to severe brain damage. It can alter the way the brain is formed in newborn babies, permanently changing the brain formation and resulting in behavioral changes in children, usually hyperactivity.

Next: Read how Aspartame is especially harmful to children and how you can protect yourself...
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