Diet drinks

Dave writes:
It was most unfunny when a Contenental Air pilot had a mild seisure
years ago traced to artifical sweeteners in the served hot chocolate......

Could you give a cite (such as an NTSB report) for that incident?

Oh Wow Chris...

Was in the '70's..

Will give it a shot...

Was written up in "Flying" magazine..

Then the letters to editor started pouring in..

"Here's what happened to me" etc... and the effects were far mor
serious to single pilot operations, vision problems.. etc...

Will look for something..

Many moons have past...

Dave


On Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:13:28 GMT, (Christopher C.
Stacy) wrote:

Dave writes:
It was most unfunny when a Contenental Air pilot had a mild seisure
years ago traced to artifical sweeteners in the served hot chocolate......

Could you give a cite (such as an NTSB report) for that incident?

Came up with this Chris...

Not as evidence or a statement, only to provide a few sources where
further digging may turn up som aviation related articles on the
sweetners..

Not sure if there is an NTSB case on this, no damage or injuries
resulted..

It was a medical issue, the pilot lost his licence, as at the time,
the situation was no t"officially" linked to ASA, only that he had a
seisure.. - A career limiting incident.LifeMiracle® Home
Is Aspartame the Most Dangerous and Deadly Food Additive On the
Market?





Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweet,
Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. Aspartame was discovered by
accident in 1965, when James Schlatter, a chemist of G.D. Searle
Company was testing an anti-ulcer drug. Aspartame was approved for dry
goods in 1981 and for carbonated beverages in 1983. It was originally
approved for dry goods on July 26, 1974, but objections filed by
neuroscience researcher Dr John W. Olney and Consumer attorney James
Turner in August 1974 as well as investigations of G.D. Searle's
research practices caused the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
put approval of aspartame on hold (December 5, 1974). In 1985,
Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The
NutraSweet Company separate subsidiaries.

Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to
food additives reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death
as recently disclosed in a February 1994 Department of Health and
Human Services report.(1) 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.

According to researchers and physicians studying the adverse effects
of aspartame, the following chronic illnesses can be triggered or
worsened by ingesting of aspartame2) Brain tumors, multiple
sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, parkinson's disease,
alzheimer's, mental retardation, lymphoma, birth defects,
fibromyalgia, and diabetes.

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: Aspartic acid, phenylalanine,
and methanol. The book, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, by James
and Phyllis Balch, lists aspartame under the category of "chemical
poison." As you shall see, that is exactly what it is.

ASPARTIC ACID (40% OF ASPARTAME)

Dr Russell L. Blaylock, a professor of Neurosurgery at the Medical
University of Mississippi, recently published a book thoroughly
detailing the damage that is caused by the ingestion of excessive
aspartic acid from aspartame. [Ninety nine percent of monosodium
glutamate 9MSG) is glutamic acid. The damage it causes is also
documented in Blaylock's book.] Blaylock makes use of almost 500
scientific references to show how excess free excitatory amino acids
such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid in our food supply are causing
serious chronic neurological disorders and a myriad of other acute
symptoms.(3)

SUMMARY OF HOW ASPARTATE (AND GLUTAMATE) CAUSE DAMAGE

Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters in the brain by
facilitating the transmission of information from neuron to neuron.
Too much aspartate or glutamate in the brain kills certain neurons by
allowing the influx of too much calcium into the cells. This influx
triggers excessive amounts of free radicals which kill the cells. The
neural cell damage that can be caused by excessive aspartate and
glutamate is why they are referred to as "excitotoxins." They "excite"
or stimulate the neural cells to death.

Aspartic acid is an amino acid. Taken in its free form (unbound to
proteins) it significantly raises the blood plasma level of aspartate
and glutamate. The excess aspartate and glutamate in the blood plasma
shortly after ingesting aspartame or products with free glutamic acid
(glutamate precursor) leads to a high level of those neurotransmitters
in certain areas of the brain.

The blood brain barrier (BBB) which normally protects the brain from
excess glutamate and aspartate as well as toxins 1) is not fully
developed during childhood, 2) does not fully protect all areas of the
brain, 3) is damaged by numerous chronic and acute conditions, and 4)
allows seepage of excess glutamate and aspartate into the brain even
when intact.

The excess glutamate and aspartate slowly begin to destroy neurons.
The large majority (75%+) of neural cells in a particular area of the
brain are killed before any clinical symptoms of a chronic illness are
noticed. A few of the many chronic illnesses that have been shown to
be contributed to by long-term exposure excitatory amino acid damage
include:

Multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS, memory loss, hormonal problems, hearing
loss, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,
hypoglycemia, AIDS dementia, brain lessions, and neuroendocrine
disorders.

The risk to infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and
persons with certain chronic health problems from excitotoxins are
great. Even the Federation of American Societies For Experimental
Biology (FASEB), which usually understates problems and mimics the FDA
party-line, recently stated in a review that "it is prudent to avoid
the use of dietary supplements of L-glutamic acid by pregnant women,
infants, and children. The Existence of evidence of potential
endocrine responses, i.e., elevated cortisol and prolactin, and
differential responses between males and females, would also suggest a
neuroendocrine link and that supplemental L-glutamic acid should be
avoided by women of childbearing age and individuals with affective
disorders."(4) Aspartic acid from aspartame has the same deleterious
effects on the body as glutamic acid.

The exact mechanism of acute reactions to excess free glutamate and
aspartate is currently being debated. As reported to the FDA, those
reactions include5) Headaches/migraines, nausea, abdominal pains,
fatigue (blocks sufficient glucose entry into brain), sleep problems,
vision problems, anxiety attacks, depression, and asthma/chest
tightness.

One common complaint of persons suffering from the effect of aspartame
is memory loss. Ironically, in 1987, G.D. Searle, the manufacturer of
aspartame, undertook a search for a drug to combat memory loss caused
by excitatory amino acid damage. Blaylock is one of many scientists
and physicians who are concerned about excitatory amino acid damage
caused by ingestion of aspartame and MSG. A few of the many experts
who have spoken out against the damage being caused by aspartate and
glutamate include Adrienne Samuels, Ph.D., an experimental
psychologist specializing in research design. Another is Olney, a
professor in the department of psychiatry, School of Medicine,
Washington University, a neuroscientist and researcher, and one of the
world's foremost authorities on excitotoxins. (He informed Searle in
1971 that aspartic acid caused holes in the brain of mice.).

Isn't It OK If the FDA Approves It?

While the FDA approval may signal the green light for safe
consumption, 85 percent of all complaints registered with the FDA are
for adverse reactions to aspartame, including five reported deaths. A
closer look at the unscientific studies, suspicious approval methods,
and its harmful ingredients, reveal the hidden dangers of this
artificial sweetener. In reality, aspartame poses a public health
threat.


Ailments Resulting From Aspartame

The components of aspartame can lead to a wide variety of ailments.
Some of these problems occur gradually while others are immediate,
acute reactions.

A few of the many disorders associated with aspartame include the
following:


Birth Defects

A study funded by Monsanto to study possible birth defects caused by
consuming aspartame was cut off after preliminary data showed damaging
information about aspartame. Additionally, in the book, While Waiting:
A Prenatal Guidebook, it is stated that aspartame is suspected of
causing brain damage in sensitive individuals. A fetus may be at risk
for these effects. Some researchers have suggested that high doses of
aspartame may be associated with problems ranging from dizziness and
subtle brain changes to mental retardation.


Cancer (Brain Cancer)

In 1981, an FDA statistician stated that the brain tumor data on
aspartame was so "worrisome" that he could not recommend approval of
NutraSweet.(14)

In a two-year study conducted by the manufacturer of aspartame, twelve
of 320 rats fed a normal diet and aspartame developed brain tumors
while none of the control rats developed tumors, and five of the
twelve tumors were in rats given a low dose of aspartame.(15)

The approval of aspartame was a violation of the Delaney Amendment,
which was supposed to prevent cancer-causing substances such as
methanol (formaldehye) and DKP from entering our food supply. A late
FDA toxicologist testified before the U.S. Congress that aspartame was
capable of producing brain tumors. This made it illegal for the FDA to
set an allowable daily intake at any level. He stated in his testimony
that Searle's studies were "to a large extent unreliable" and that "at
least one of those studies has established beyond any reasonable doubt
that aspartame is capable of inducing brain tumors in experimental
animals ... " He concluded his testimony by asking, "What is the
reason for the apparent refusal by the FDA to invoke for this food
additive the so-called Delaney Amendment to the Food, Drug and
Cosmetic Act? ... And if the FDA itself elects to violate the law, who
is left to protect the health of the public?"(16)

In the mid-1970s it was discovered that the manufacturer of aspartame
falsified studies in several ways. One of the techniques used was to
cut tumors out of test animals and put them back in the study. Another
technique used to falsify the studies was to list animals that had
actually died as surviving the study. Thus, the data on brain tumors
was likely worse than discussed above. In addition, a former employee
of the manufacturer of aspartame told the FDA on July 13, 1977 that
the particles of DKP were so large that the rats could discriminate
between the DKP and their normal diet.(12)


Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is actually recommending this
chemical poison to persons with diabetes, but according to research
conducted by a diabetes specialist, aspartame: 1) Leads to the
precipitation of clinical diabetes. 2) Causes poorer diabetic control
in diabetics on insulin or oral drugs. 3) Leads to the aggravation of
diabetic complications such as retinopathy, cataracts, neuropathy and
gastroparesis. 4) Causes convulsions.

In a statement concerning the use of products containing aspartame by
persons with diabetes and hypoglycemia, the researchers says:

"Unfortunately, many patients in my practice, and others seen in
consultation, developed serious metabolic, neurologic and other
complications that could be specifically attributed to using aspartame
products. This was evidenced by the loss of diabetic control, the
intensification of hypoglycemia, the occurrence of presumed 'insulin
reactions' (including convulsions) that proved to be aspartame
reactions, and the precipitation, aggravation or simulation of
diabetic complications (especially impaired vision and neuropathy)
while using these products ... Dramatic improvement of such features
after avoiding aspartame, and the prompt predictable recurrence of
these problems when the patient resumed aspartame products, knowingly
or inadvertently."

Another researcher stated that excitotoxins such as those found in
aspartame can precipitate diabetes in persons who are genetically
susceptible to the disease.(5)


Emotional Disorders

In a double blind study of the effects of aspartame on persons with
mood disorders, findings showed a large increase in serious symptoms
for persons taking aspartame. Since some of the symptoms were so
serious, the Institutional Review Board had to stop the study. Three
of the participants had said that they had been "poisoned" by
aspartame. Researchers concluded that "individuals with mood disorders
are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener; its use in
this population should be discouraged."(18) One researcher stated
about aspartame, "I know it causes seizures. I'm convinced also that
it definitely causes behavioral changes. I'm very angry that this
substance is on the market. I personally question the reliability and
validity of any studies funded by the NutraSweet Company."(19)

Additionally, there are numerous reported cases of low brain serotonin
levels, depression and other emotional disorders that have been linked
to aspartame and often are relieved by stopping the intake of
aspartame.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Epilepsy/Seizures


With the large and growing number of seizures caused by aspartame, it
is sad to see that the Epilepsy Foundation is promoting the "safety"
of aspartame. At Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 80 people who
had suffered seizures after ingesting aspartame were surveyed.
Community Nutrition Institute concluded the following about the
survey:

"These 80 cases meet the FDA's own definition of an imminent hazard to
the public health, which requires the FDA to expeditiously remove a
product from the market."

Both the Air Force's magazine, Flying Safety, and the Navy's magazine,
Navy Physiology, published articles warning about the many dangers of
aspartame including the cumulative delirious effects of methanol and
the greater likelihood of birth defects. The articles note that the
ingestion of aspartame can make pilots more susceptible to seizures
and vertigo. Twenty articles sounding warnings about ingesting
aspartame while flying have also appeared in the National Business
Aircraft Association Digest (NBAA Digest 1993), Aviation Medical
Bulletin (1988), The Aviation Consumer (1988), Canadian General
Aviation News (1990), Pacific Flyer (1988), General Aviation News
(1989), Aviation Safety Digest (1989), and Plane & Pilot (1990) and a
paper warning about aspartame was presented at the 57th Annual Meeting
of the Aerospace Medical Association (Gaffney 1986).

A hotline was even set up for pilots suffering from acute reactions to
aspartame ingestion. Over 600 pilots have reported symptoms including
some who have reported suffering grand mal seizures in the cockpit due
to aspartame.(21)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I make no representation as to the above, only posted here for those
who may be interested, stating no opion for or against it's use...

Dave





On Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:13:28 GMT, (Christopher C.
Stacy) wrote:

Dave writes:
It was most unfunny when a Contenental Air pilot had a mild seisure
years ago traced to artifical sweeteners in the served hot chocolate......

Could you give a cite (such as an NTSB report) for that incident?

On Sep 9, 10:23 pm, Jay Honeck wrote:
Half of a can of diet whatever will have me down with a headache you
could not imagine..

This is a bigger problen than many think..

This stuff converts to Methanol in your body...

Right. And Da Man invented AIDs to kill black people.

I believe *some* people are sensitive to *some* additives like
aspartame -- but let's not go down the "ban peanuts at the ballpark"
mentality because *some* people are allergic to them. Mary and I (and
the kids) have happily consumed only diet soda pop for decades. The
only side effect is that we are not overweight.

A single can of regular soda (AKA: Liquid Candy) per day will cause
you to gain several pounds per year. Most people consume far more
than one pop per day, and I could easily weigh 50 to 60 pounds more
than I do now (as, sadly, many acquaintances do) if I had not swore
off the stuff in the 1980s.

It's a healthier alternative to sugared soda, IMHO.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

And an even healthier alternative is to drink water. Once you get used
to it, water actually tastes very good, without any chemicals or sugar
to spoil it.

Jay Honeck schrieb:


It's a healthier alternative to sugared soda, IMHO.

Then you should ask someone who can enlighten you on artificial
sweetener. Also ask why so many kids already suffer diabetes type 2.

I can explain it, but I think that it will be a hard time for me to find
all the corresponding english terms.

#m
--
I am not a terrorist http://www.casualdisobedience.com/

On Sep 10, 2:23 pm, Jay Honeck wrote:
A single can of regular soda (AKA: Liquid Candy) per day will cause
you to gain several pounds per year. Most people consume far more
than one pop per day, and I could easily weigh 50 to 60 pounds more
than I do now (as, sadly, many acquaintances do) if I had not swore
off the stuff in the 1980s.

It's a healthier alternative to sugared soda, IMHO.

I'd agree with you. If you're going to be drinking a couple of liters
of carbonated beverages a day, then make it the diet kind.

I drink a couple of liters a day. If I wasn't a Type 1 diabetic I
probably would be drinking a couple liters of the real stuff a day,
and well on the way to being an obese Type 2 (on the other hand, maybe
not, because I'd be a commercial pilot instead of sitting infront of a
monitor damn near 24/7, but that's another whinge for another day).
Sure, it'll probably give me cancer or something, but at least I'm not
a humungous tub-o-lard who can only vaguely remember seeing his feet
some decades ago.

I quit every couple of years. After a couple of weeks the withdrawl
subsides. But a month or two down the track I'm so freaking sick of
plain water, I go back to diet coke (or coke zero). As a Type 1
Diabetic, I figure I'm entitled to this one small vice to make up for
all the other crap.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message

I believe *some* people are sensitive to *some* additives like
aspartame -- but let's not go down the "ban peanuts at the ballpark"
mentality because *some* people are allergic to them. Mary and I (and
the kids) have happily consumed only diet soda pop for decades. The
only side effect is that we are not overweight.


Hmmmmm!

On a trip from Madison to Providence, I stopped of at Niagara Falls for the
night. Went to the Seneca casino for dinner.

The biggest, fattest guy I have ever seen sat down at the table next to us
with about three plates of food piled up as much as they could hold. The
waitress came along and asked him what he wanted to drink - diet coke he
replied perhaps in the hope that he could control his weight.

Gross.

It doesn't even take a 1/2 can for me to get a killer headache.
Jim

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Half of a can of diet whatever will have me down with a headache you
could not imagine..

This is a bigger problen than many think..

This stuff converts to Methanol in your body...

Dave


On Sun, 26 Aug 2007 20:34:42 -0500, "Jeff" jfranks1971 minus
wrote:

After reading a couple of posts lately about fellow pilots losing their
medicals or grounding themselves, I thought I'd throw this out there to
chew
on.

I recently had a round with my local Dr., AME and a neurologist. I have
been cleared to fly after experiencing "light headedness" along with some
intense feelings of deja vu, disconnectedness and having a hard time
concentrating after a "spell". The official diagnosis is Migraine
Auro's
being induced by mildly high BP (and by taking the BP meds, it has
helped)..

But, I have also found that I could manipulate the frequency of the
"spells"
by the amount of Aspartame that I injested. Now that I have cut the
Nutrasweet completely out of my diet, the spells have stopped.

Several years ago, I received a letter from the FAA (as did everyone on
their list) warning pilots to be careful when drinking diet drinks prior
to
flying. According to the letter, you could have trouble focusing,
concentrating and even issues of virtigo. Now, for the FAA to
recognize
this sounds pretty huge to me. Sounds like there may be something to
this
whole Aspartame Poisoning conspiracy theory that you can find out on the
web.

Anyway, don't give up flying if you have these kinds of issues. It may
just
be something in the water.....

jf

"Dave" wrote in message
...

Half of a can of diet whatever will have me down with a headache you
could not imagine..

Patient: "It hurts when I bang on my head with a hammer." Doctor: "Stop
banging on your head with the hammer. That'll be $50 please."

So if it is a problem for you, don't do it. It isn't a problem for me
except it moderately elevates my blood pressure for an hour or two. Go cold
turkey for a couple of days before your flight physical and you will be back
down to your normal. My last one (at age 62) last year was 75/120.


This is a bigger problen than many think..

No, it is a bigger problem that YOU think.


This stuff converts to Methanol in your body...


Bullfeathers. Write the chemical equation please.

Jim

On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:12:28 -0700, "RST Engineering"
wrote:

So if it is a problem for you, don't do it.

It is MY problem, so I don't drink it..

Already stated...


Write the chemical equation please.

Nope, can't.... I am not a chemist, and I find no need..

I trust the judgement of others whom I believe capable... and
knowledgeable.

It isn't a problem for me
except it moderately elevates my blood pressure for an hour or two

Yikes!

I will pass this on to a friend who HAS high blood pressure already!


No, it is a bigger problem that YOU think.


Hmmmm... verified..Thanks for your post. I was not aware of the blood
pressure issue at all..

Dave







"Dave" wrote in message
.. .

Half of a can of diet whatever will have me down with a headache you
could not imagine..

Patient: "It hurts when I bang on my head with a hammer." Doctor: "Stop
banging on your head with the hammer. That'll be $50 please."

. Go cold
turkey for a couple of days before your flight physical and you will be back
down to your normal. My last one (at age 62) last year was 75/120.


This is a bigger problen than many think..




This stuff converts to Methanol in your body...


Bullfeathers.

Jim