The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Dr. Betty Martini's Response
Posted by Betty (Duluth, Georgia) on 09/29/2008
I'm answering the information on aspartame. It says Betty Martini does not exist. Yes, I do exist and have my own web site, www.mpwhi.com I'm the founder of Mission Possible World Health International. We are a global volunteer force in 39 nations warning about aspartame. I work with the world experts. An email I wrote after lecturing for the World Environmental Conference, was signed by Nancy Markle, and made world news. Front groups tried to say it was a hoax, but its not. Since lecturing H. J. Roerts, M.D. declared aspartame disease a world epidemic and wrote a medical text on it, and in fact, dedicated it to me. Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, www.sunsentpress.com The entire story of the World Environmental Conference is on www.dorway.com/nomarkle.html including my invitation to speak. Finally a movie was made to investigate called Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World. So please change your web site. Anyone who wants to know about aspartame can contact me and we have an aspartame information list on www.mpwhi.com scroll down to banners.
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder
Mission Possible Intl
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770 242-2599
www.mpwhi.com, www.dorway.com and www.wnho.net
Aspatame Toxicity Center, www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
P.S. At the time this happened NutraSweet was owned by Monsanto. Try as they did to get people to think it was a hoax so many people walked out of wheelchairs, regained their sight, lost their fibromyalgia, etc. that they couldn't put out the fire and sold the NutraSweet Company. One of those people who walked out of her wheelchair was Cori Brackett, co-founder of Sound and Fury Productions who went on to make the film Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World. The world experts are in it as well as victims and myself.
EC: Thanks for contacting us, Dr. Martini. The information has been updated.
Dr. Betty Martini's Response
Posted by Betty (Duluth, Georgia) on 09/29/2008
I should also mention that not only do I exist, Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, but also James Bowen, M.D. exists. In these feedback comments it mentions that neither I or Dr. James Bowen exist. If you go to www.dorway.com and on the right side click on Doctors Speak Out under Miscellaneous you will see some of Dr. Bowen's articles. A lot are also on www.wnho.net
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder
Mission Possible International
9270 River club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770 242-2599
www.mpwhi.com, www.dorway.com and www.wnho.net
Aspartame Toxicity Center, www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
Please public stop saying we don't exist, we all exist. You can even call at the above number.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Mya (Hendersonville, USA) on 06/10/2008
Did you know that Wrigley's even adds aspartame to their regular gum? So even when it doesn't say sugar free you still have to be cautious. I emailed them and asked them why they added aspartame to regular gum and their response was to enhance the flavor.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Judy (Bonney Lake, Washington) on 01/09/2008
I am writing about becoming very scatterbrained and forgetful when I was using lots of splenda for baking, in my oatmeal, in drinks, etc. I have been "off splenda" for 3 months and have my mental abilities back again. Anyone else had similar problems?
Reader Feedback
Posted by Kelly (New York, Ny) on 12/31/2011
I also experienced "Splenda withdrawals" which felt similar to hypoglycemia. I was so sick I thought I might have Type I diabetes even though I am in my 30's. The symptoms were really severe for at least 2 days and it took about a week before I felt somewhat normal. I was scared to eat because every time I did I felt groggy and flushed and shortly afterwards I would feel light-headed and anxious just as if my blood sugar had crashed. I had severe lower back pain, anxiety and photophobia and would wake up in the middle of the night in a sweat and severe anxiety. It was very scary and I'm posting so that maybe I can provide peace of mind for someone else going through this.
I was eating the packaged Splenda every day which includes sucralose and maltodextrim. I believe the sucralose gave me SIBO (I had little burps constantly immediately after eating and steatorrhea and my vitamin D was low even though I supplement with cod liver oil every day) and the maltodextrim was probably masking the signs that I had absorption problems by providing a constant source of sugar to my brain (I noticed the flushed feeling with the packaged Stevia as well which also contains maltodextrim as a filler).
While on the Splenda, I gradually developed severe brain fog. The whole process was very insidious because I didn't notice any effects immediately after eating Splenda so I believe my side effects were a result of SIBO since sucralose has been shown to kill off 50% of the good bacteria in your intestine (which would make sense if bad bacteria are using the undigested sucralose as a food source and then killing the good bacteria).
I drank lots of water, acidophilus and some apple cider vinegar to try to restore my gut flora. One good thing to come of this, is that I discovered I have mild Asperger's syndrome which the Splenda probably exacerbated. I was definitely a different version of myself on Splenda.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Anna (Ft. Myers, FL) on 06/07/2007
I just came from the hospital from severe reaction to an artificial sweetener that was put in a T. v. dinner. Any time I eat or drink anything that has artificial sweeteners in it I get an allergic reaction. Each time it is more severe. This time my face, tongue, and throat started to swell. Thank God for Epi-pens. I also had hives covering my entire body. And this all happened within 1 hour of eating. They need to put it in big letters on the box or whatever that the product has artificial sweetener added. If not someone could die from an allergic reaction.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Carmen (Canada) on 03/19/2011
I, being your average lay-person am able to do my research. I, without a doubt beleive there is a danger to consuming aspertame. I'm not saying it is poison to everybody but is most certianly is nothing but poison to some, myself included. I will listen to my body and the experiences of others on such sites as this. Thanks but no thanks, my children will be educated on the dangers of aspertame, sugar, gmo's, factory farms, microwave ovens, floride, over processing ETC, ETC, ETC. The choice will be theirs to make but they will not easily swallow a line like yours stating that aspertame is less dangerous than sugar.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Bess (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 03/19/2011
I'm with Carmen on this one! Sorry, but in no way, shape or form is aspartame "safe" to ingest. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, it's a neurotoxin made up of three chemicals discovered by accident in 1965 when James Schlatter, a chemist of G. D. Searle Company, was testing an anti-ulcer drug.
"Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain."
The fact that it was approved by the FDA means nothing. They also approved so many drugs that had to be withdrawn after patients were killed using them (the cure was worse than the disease).
I agree that sugar isn't healthy. However, I would drink or eat something containing sugar, while I would never do so with aspartame. Something to note: I have found that since drinking green smoothies (an acquired taste for sure), my craving for cane sugar has dropped dramatically.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Mojo (London, Uk) on 03/19/2011
My response is directed to "Mark from Decatur, Ilinois".
I read your post with a mixture of surprise and pity. Surprise because you believe Aspartame to be safe. Pity because you've not yet been affected by this sweet but deadly poison, assuming you ingest it. When you do, you'll know about it.
I consider myself a fairly healthy person, I was last off work sick about 4 years ago. I attribute this good health to Earth clinic, to Ted and to all the feedbacks posters have kindly provided.
I oil pull in the morning 5 times a week, after which I drink a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of ACV and 2 shakes of cayenne pepper.
My only real issues are mild sinus congestion and ... Tinnitus. Tinnitus began about a year ago when I consumed several packets of sugar free gum a day plus used the sweetner Splenda. Symptoms: heavy head, deep tiredness, unclear eyesight, ringing ears, dripping nose, forgetfulness, sugar craving, aching limbs, blocked nose at night, too many other issues to mention.
Strangely enough, my doctor could find nothing wrong. I assumed it was just old age catching up with me.
2 weeks after giving up all sweeteners, only using Stevia, all symptoms, apart from the Tinnitus, has gone.
Aspartame, and all its derivatives, is toxic to humans. Some people are not affected but most are. The debilitating effects (worse than what I experienced) creep up on a person over a very long period of time, so it can be hard to pinpoint the cause(s).
Anyone who advocates artificial sweeteners as "safe" needs to re-educate themselves before more innocent people are damaged.
Aspartame Articles
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 03/09/2012 2042 posts
Dietdude, I agree on your stance. The natural health community needs to avoid subjective interpretations and emotional indulgences concerning "possible" food additives dangers. If we go too far in the careful direction we get labeled fanatics. But problems of objectivity remain; and they remain because, typically, physicians do not monitor or evaluate individual tendencies or proclivities, or symptoms in regards to the use of additives and "artificials". The medical/pharmaceutical industry keeps our symptoms in the category of "psychological" "allergies" and treats symptoms w/ prescription meds, while protecting the food industry. So we consumers are really in a jam; and the only safe course is individual awareness.
A few weeks ago I admitted myself in ER for extreme exhaustion and got billed as "good-to-go" but see family doc ASAP. I knew my condition had worsened from "chronic fatigue" to "extreme exhaustion" w/ rapid loss of muscle tissue, so I searched "wasting syndrome" and knew that my existing problems of detoxifying alcohols was the culprit. I had been using an herbal tincture extracted in alcohol and let it vaporize in fresh-brewed coffee for daily enemas. Evidently the short duration of steaming was not enough to rid the alcohol and I was suffering from metabolic acidosis. I discontinued the culprit and recovered quite rapidly. Fast forward a few weeks and tried an amino acid product w/ added Xylitol for sweetener and BAM I went down immediately. I supplement zinc and niacin to help in alcohol detox but this isn't enough so I began the coenzymated form of niacin NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) yesterday to help restore my alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme function. I have drunk an occasional diet dr pepper w/ less side effects; sucralose gives headaches, salivation, and impotence.
So, heredity and personal history (preexisting conditions) influence our disposition to additives. As for Aspartame, all babies born in the USA are screened for phenyleukuria, the gene responsible to metabolize phenylalanine an amino acid member of Aspartame that is absent in a small % of population. When it comes to the sugar alcohols like Aspartame, Sucralose, Xylitol, Sorbitol, etc. It all comes down to individual enzyme activity. If either of the enzymes alcohol dehyrogenase or aldehyde dehydrogenase is taxed or malfunctioning there can be serious consequences. It is reported in scientific literature that these two enzymes have varying degrees of activity in the population. Some people can "drink like sailors" while others can't even have a diet cola. So we each have to monitor our own symptoms carefully. As for prevention of alcohol related illnesses I recommend supplementing niacinamide, riboflavin, zinc, and molybdenum in particular, in addition to a good multi vit/min daily to help rid the body of harmful metabolic waste, and for people like myself who don't respond to the regular nutritionals, coenzymated forms will be necessary.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Connie (Al) on 05/02/2018
I had years of sickness all the symptoms I had. Finally found out what was causing it. Been off Aspartame for 2 years. I drink veg smoothies in the morning and lots of water. I have been drinking some diet Pepsi because they took out the Aspartame was doing good then I started the symptoms again but this time it is worse. Doctors couldn't figure it out. I don't know if I will survive this. I looked at the Pepsi bottle and it said Aspartame. I never heard they were changing it back. I can't drink one swallow of aspartame and here I didn't know I was drinking it. They are killing people. It has got to stop.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Lyndee (Clinton Township) on 09/13/2015
Aspartame:
I never ate yogurt but tried the fat free/low fat. Pretty soon I was ordering 2 cases per week. Then would also buy gogurt. I ate nothing else. I would even eat them in my sleep. I went from 135 lbs to 230lbs in about a year. I stopped buying it and even with no exercise and a small amount of protein I lost 110lbs in 6 months. The addiction is real.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Deb (Redwood Park, South Australia) on 01/28/2015
Hi everyone, just to let you know of my experience with aspartane.....I like a cigarette every now and again and have a fear of bad breath, so I was eating 2 boxes of eclipse mints a day for years.........my symptoms well that's epic in itself. They thought I had diabetes, virtigo, numbness of left side of my face affecting top lip, gums and teeth, under my eye, etc. etc. etc. I don't think I need to go on, but I'm not well.......HELP......I frequently go to the chiro, and have constant acupuncture; any other suggestions?
Reader Feedback
Posted by Carol Waters (Kannapolis Nc) on 12/12/2014
I drank Crystal Light exclusively for about 3 years and the more I drank it the more I wanted. I drank about 10 glasses a day. When I saw a video about Aspartame including some of the symptoms of it (like severe joint pain) I quit cold turkey. My knees used to hurt so badly that when I stood up I couldn't walk right away. I had to stand for a few seconds before I could walk, and I was in my early 40's! My vision had also diminished significantly during those 3 years, etc. I decided to quit all at once and I never thought I'd have immediate and disturbing and scary side effects from stopping. My hands and fingers felt like they were extremely swollen and I couldn't close them. I couldn't do normal things like grasp a zipper or even had problems picking up and changing my young kids. I had vertigo so badly that I could not get up and had to call my husband to come home from work. I had severe anxiety an nausea. I never ever go to the doctor, but during that first week off Aspartame I went to the doctor (I think they thought I was crazy) and the ER. These symptoms have never before or sense ever happened to me. I was "coming off of" the chemical Aspartame and it was slamming my body.
Aspartame Articles
Posted by Carly (Usa ) on 01/15/2014
Reader Feedback
Posted by Timh (Ky, Usa) on 10/15/2013 2042 posts
@Chip: Thanx for your Aspartame testimony, maybe it will help prevent others from the (over) consumption of this man-made ingredient. IMHO, since not all aspartame users experience the severity you have, admits several or many factors which combine and contribute to a degree of sensitivity to the chemical. Zinc, Molybdenum, and Niacin deficiency can cause the incomplete detoxification of the wood alcohol in Asp; liver disease could also be a big factor in this case.
In alternative medicine, like you experienced at the chiro, the emphasis is placed on addressing the underlying causes of the specific disease and through health promoting diet & supplements, and many unconventional remedies seek a cure. So there's this psychological aspect of focusing one's attention from the gruesome details (like you reported) of the disease and fallowing bad side effects, to one of solutions and cures. This web-site is a local (worldwide actually, but local virtually) testimony of people who have endured the same type situation you did until they got introduced to alt med. I am one of these neglected folks.
There are effective protocols for improving brain health (search by disease and also Nootropic supplements). I have listed several common nutrients and herbs which improve brain health here on E.C. somewhere. From where you are now, there could be two phases of treatment to improve your condition: Beginner and advanced. Any improvement would be nice to see, since you have such advanced condition.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Timh (Louisville, Ky, Usa) on 06/28/2012 2042 posts
It's been reported that the big champion MS promoter Michael J. Fox was once awarded a truck-load of diet cola for doing a commercial for the manufacturer way back in the day when he was in good health, which really helped launch the Aspartame - MS connection. This observation has been disputed and I haven't researched it, but have little doubt because the profit industry always does the cover-ups and MJF seems to intentionally indulge and exaggerate his condition while on camera. MJF associates have reported this while saying he's just fine most-times.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Pat (Marion, Wi) on 05/16/2012
After consuming multiple two liter bottles of diet coke daily for 30 years, it was suggested to me that my pain symptoms could be aspartame poisoning. I quit dc within a day and for a while everything was improving... My mind was clearer, the pins and needles in my face are gone, I could stand longer, and I could go on. However, two weeks into detox and I am having serious muscle spasms, confusion, and red ant sting after effects in my legs. I must say that my desire for real food is coming back. I do have two questions: 1) Are there any recommendations besides a good multiple vitamin and 2) how long does withdrawal take?
Reader Feedback
Posted by Sue (Houston, Tx) on 01/22/2012
Wow! I love reading other's experiences and realizing all these symptoms I have been telling my husband about are REAL. I quit diet coke (over 20-year habit) right after Christmas 2011 and am almost one-month DC-free! I have had shakes, muscle spasms, twitching, and extreme moodiness. I also feel like I have had some depression, but this seems to be brought on by the stress of worrying that I have a chronic illness such as Parkinsons or ALS. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. It helps to know others are going through the same thing. I will never drink another diet coke in my life!!
Reverse Toxic Symptoms
Posted by Donna (Columbus, Ohio) on 10/17/2011
Does vit. C mitigate the toxicity of aspartame, and if so, how much? Thank you.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Berney (Cross Plains, Texas) on 10/03/2011
All of Wrigleys Chewing Gum has Aspartame in it. I will bet that most people does not know that.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Kp (Fort Washington, Pa) on 12/11/2011
★☆☆☆☆
A lot of products have it, but the gums are most troubling to me since it is consumed in great quantity by young people!
Reader Feedback
Posted by Adele (Queensland) on 09/13/2022
Thanks for making me aware that my discoid lupus came after chewing gum for about a year….. grrrr.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 08/16/2011
Most sweetners have side effect and should on no account be used. I don't use any so I don't really know what Splenda is but I suppose that it is also a sweetner. People here in France must have been complaining so now most of the sweetners you see in the supermarket all of a sudden contain Stevia which is natural. I have just done a google on Splenda and found out that it hasn't been sold in the supermarkets here in France since 2009 but it seems to be a decision on the part of the manufacturer.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Sheila (San Diego, Ca, Usa) on 05/21/2011
I've been using sublingual methyl-B12 drops when I feel a headache coming on. It works, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, but I don't know if it counters the effects of Aspertame.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 05/21/2011
Maybe a silly question but why would you want to counter the effect of aspartame, a chemical nobody should actually eat?
Reader Feedback
Posted by Sheila (San Diego, Ca, Usa) on 05/21/2011
Hi Francisca,
This was actually meant for those who still continue to consume it (and other chemicals in processed food). I saw the other thread here on Aspartame and its side effects. I for one avoid that, MSG, high fructose corn syrup, nitrites and nitrates like the plague.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Carly (Seattle, Wa - Usa) on 10/13/2010
I know the feeling! I had it with MSG a few years ago. I ate a big bowl of chicken ramen soup (the really tasty cheap stuff) and within 15 mins I could barely even walk! I immediately went to the soup container to read what was in it... Yep, TONS of MSG (it was listed right up there first, along with "hydrolized this and hydrolized that" which is just another name for MSG. I went online to see what might help, and they suggested taurine (which I didn't happen to have on hand) and B vitamins. I took a couple of multi balanced B's and a LOT of water and started feeling better in about an hour or two. It was odd though... Never got the MSG headache, which I normally would have after eating MSG.
Anyway, thank for the heads up on Aspartame. I now attempt to avoid all of the crud the food manufacturers keep trying to push at us. They make it so hard to know what we are eating with all of the MANY names for these evil things. It is true, if it comes out of a box or a bag - it is usually not good for you. Best, Carly
Reader Feedback
Posted by Lizz (Edmonton, Alberta) on 01/21/2010
Aspartame
I found out about the side effects of artificial sweeteners about 24 years ago. When diet pop first came out I started drinking large amounts of it I was 13, by the time I was fifteen I was having Grand Mal seizures. On new years eve at age 16 I had areally big seizure ( body arched for fifteen minutes followed by convulsions and remained unconcious until the next day) It was absolutely terrible. Shortly following this incident my Aunt called me saying she had read an article in a health magazine all about the dangers of Aspartame. She informed me one of the things it could cause was seizures. I stopped injesting anything with aspartame in it and have not had a seizure since. I have had a couple of times where I have injested it by accident and felt like I was going to faint and have a seizure, so now I am extremely carefull to check every label. As other artificial sweeteners have come out I have avoided them as well and do not allow my children to injest anything with artificial sweeteners.
The effects of these poisons has been known for a very long time! Sadly our government seem to care more about the big corporations than they do for the health of the common people.
Reader Feedback
Posted by Laurie (Pt. Charlotte, Florida) on 04/07/2009
ALLERGY ALERT! SUCRALOSE
I called Memphis, Tenn. today where the bakery offices are of this wonderful chain restaurant. Why? to confirm the no sugar wild berry pie had artificial sweetners. We quit buying this pie because everytime I ate it-I simply felt terrible i.e. head fuzzy weird taste in my mouth...the nice people at the bakery portion of the restaurant told us there was no sugar and no artificial sweetners as far as they knew in the wild berry pie. Last night I got a craving for the wild berry pie. After 3 pieces (dinner and lunch)I started to have heart palpatations which prompted my call to Perkins..And indeed-there is artificial sweetner-not confirmed sucralose..in any case FAKE CHEMICALS bodies don't like.
EC: These days "No Sugar" usually means "Filled with Artificial Sweeteners", usually Sucralose/Splenda!
