Aspartame Poisoning and Chewing Gum
A New Zealand doctor has "confirmed" a case of aspartame poisoning from excessive consumption of chewing gum.
When Ms Cormack, 25, of Wellington, began suffering crippling muscle cramps and tingling in her hands and feet about five months ago, she feared she was having a heart attack. She started suffering heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, depression and skin rashes, was unable to sleep and had to take sick leave. (source)
Despite various tests, and prescriptions on anti-inflammatories and Valium - the symptoms persisted... Until Ms Cormack ceased her 4 packet-a-day chewing gum habit. Her symptoms disappeared within 24 hours.
There are currently many foods that can result in adverse reactions in different people (nuts, dairy, soy, gluten, etc). For these people, the process of isolating the cause (typically through a lengthy elimination diet) is difficult.
However - we know these foods can cause reactions. With aspartame - authorities claim that there is no scientific evidence of any adverse health effects.
The debate over aspartame will continue for some time yet.
In the mean time - you must find what works for you. As far as artificial sweeteners are concerned - it's worth asking the question as to why everything we eat need be so sweet...
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...Are we speaking of 4 tablets, or 4 packets of tablets a day? *just wants to be sure she's not misunderstanding*
But if it's 4 packets a day, holy cow... Moderation, anyone?
And aspartame is still the spawn of Satan in my book, but that's just me. *shudders*
ReplyWow, that is a lot of gum!
I haven't suffered any side effects of aspartame, though I do try to limit it. My brother, on the other hand, gets severe headaches if he gets anywhere near it.
Brian
ReplySince I've stopped chewing gum, I've noticed my stomach gets upset when I have a piece.
ReplyI would say that she ought to switch to gum with sugar, but on 4 packs a day, that would add several hundred calories to her diet!
ReplyForget the aspartame poisoning, does this woman even have teeth anymore?
By the way, study after study after study after study has cleared aspartame of any possible health problems (US and European tests, double blind, peer reviewed), so there is no real "debate" over it, except by people who are irrationally afraid of molecules.
That being said, any chemical, be it an organic one, or even our food, will react differently with each person. Every person's body is a huge chemical factory with it's own unique chemical fingerprint.
I would be really curious to see her total aspartame consumption from the gum, vs. intake of diet soda.
I bet you my 8 liters of Diet Coke a day would far outweigh any crazy gum story. And no, no rashes, no side effects, just a guy with a quenched thirst.
ReplyThen again, I'm 6'4, and a very endomorphic sort of guy, so my consumption can probably be handled better than most...
That's a highly irresponsible comment coming from someone that I can only imagine lacks a degree in microbiology, or even if you did have one, I highly doubt you have reviewed all the studies and the paper work first hand. That being said, I don't trust the government, they allow all different kinds of carcinogenics in our food. you know what happens to Splenda when it is metabolized? Neither do the Scientists, about 15% of it never leaves the body after metabolism breaks it down to a chlorine based molecule. Also, it is known to calcify your organs, that is, turn them to stone. Maybe that's where all that "residue" goes after all. Aspartame breaks down to methanol, which breaks down to the equivalent of embalming fluid. You aren't scared? I bet you just aren't informed, do the research before making other people ignorant like you are. No offense. It is the same type of mentality that will elect an Obama or a McCain. We just "should" vote for them, everyone says we should...
ReplySo do you actually have any information to add, or are you so truly naive that you actually believe scare tactic reports from organizations that are directly opposed to artificial sweeteners as actual scientific studies? Let's see in particular a scientific study on organ calcification due to splenda use.
Aspartame is definitely questionable in how it affects the body, but there's really no concrete proof(to my knowledge)that it does serious harm to the body.
ReplyA degree in microbiology could help but a degree in OrganicChemistry would be what you want. And i never heard of any one turning to stone? Have you? make a reference to a recognised organic chemistry or any scientific journal then only will you have something to talk about. But being this interested in your health is a good thing don't try to worry too much. Or don't eat chewing gum........!
ReplyI suffered severe heartburn(GERD)for several years never knowing the exact cause. I stopped eating normal things known to cause heartburn...didn't help. I should own stock in antacid companies...Then I quit drinking the aspartame laden "Crystal Light" drinks that were a large part of my liquid intake daily. (you know...tastes great, no calories.) and magically within a few days my symptoms disappeared. I have completely removed Aspartame from my diet and never have heartburn anymore.
ReplyA few years ago instead of drinking beer while cutting my lawn I drank 2 beverages (Crystal Light) and had much of the same reaction as the lady chewing gum. I was admitted to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack (I was under age 30 and working out 3 - 4 times per week).
The doctors were able to confirm it was not a heart attack, but a reaction to something that I ingested that caused the syptoms and the rash. I went through the lengthy diet study and found I was only allergic to Aspartame. I am very careful now and make sure I do not use it in any form.
I also believe the sensitivity is hereditary as my daughter and nephew have shown allergic reaction signs to Aspartame.
ReplyI find that I get heartburn or GERD more frequently when I consume aspartame on a regular basis. I have a hard time chewing even one piece of gum with it! My boyfriend, on the other hand, can drink cans and cans of diet pop and not have any problems at all. Everyone is different.
ReplyI think, like many foods, some people just have a sensitivity to it. I was razzing my husband about not drinking enough water (he claims he can't drink it-he blames it on almost drowning as a kid-debateable I know, but don't get me started) and then he found the new flavoured water-you know raspberry splash etc. with only aspartame in them. So he started drinking 4-5 500 ml bottles a day, and began getting wicked headaches. When he stopped the flavoured water, the headaches stopped too. We then found a brand that uses Splenda instead (I know-still artificial) and he's been fine. On the other hand, I chew about a pack a day of aspartame gum (it keeps me from mindlessly eating) and I haven't noticed any ill effects. Go figure.
ReplyWell, you're one of the lucky ones!!!
Replyeverytime i drink flavoured water my hands and face go numb and tingley i get tunnled vision slurred speach somtimes i cant talk at all and thats followed by a excruciating migraine im going to cut it out completley and see if it happens anymore...
ReplyI like to listen to my body because it tells me when additives just "aren't right". I used to be addicted to diet Coke, diet Pepsi, both of which were (I think they still are, I don't drink them now) sweetened with Nutrasweet (Aspartame). Every morning I would wake up with a fuzzy feeling on the top of my head. Once I drank more diet Coke or Pepsi, it would go away.
Needless to say, I don't use Nutrasweet anymore.
As far as "sugarless" gum, the kind I was recently chewing did not contain Aspartame, but contained sugar alcohols, which gave me cravings for sugar. Once I stopped chewing it, the cravings went away. I'm not aware of any gum that doesn't cause some kind of difficulty, whether tooth decay, sugar cravings, or the issue noted above re: Aspartame.
ReplyHere's one such study (Centers for Disease Control):
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000426.htm
They poo-poo'd the aspartame complaints because of "no specific constellation of symptoms". Basically, they considered the symptoms experienced to affect too many different "organ systems" to be believable.
That's because aspartame affects the nervous system, which does create symptoms not only including headaches but also gastrointestinal disruptions, as the GI tract is covered in nerves.
The scientists are assholes. They don't want to believe, and went so far (in this study) as to attribute the complaints to "suggestibility", pointing out that most were lodged by women. Assholes.
An "irrational fear of molecules". Is that what's it called when we avoid unnatural chemicals entering our bodies and prefer food?
ReplyI'm a big natural foods fan so I try to stay away from crap like aspartame anyway. I have found that Stevia powder meets all of my sweetness demands and I feel like the point at the end of this blog entry should be underlined and bold.
What's up with our need for everything to be so sweet anyway? We eat so much crappy non-food food that we don't even know what it's supposed to taste like anymore.
ReplyHoly crap. My boyfriend Nate is 6'4 and drinks excessive Diet Coke. That's just weird.
ReplyI try to avoid that much consumption of anything that is not water. And water, I still have to balance with other things... and the avoidance goes doubly so for processed foods... including aspartame.
I don't know... all that Aspartame news and myths... i just don't believe it... you have to take too much to have any effect on your system. I strongly believe all those news are marketing driven...
ReplyI have to admit I can eat a pack of gum in a few hour....I usually do! I know is crazy!
ReplyI recently began feeling a tingling sensation on my right hand. Is very weird.....I saw a doctor who couldn't figure out what it was. I'm giving up sugar free gum after reading this article. Maybe this article I've found the answer to my problem!
GUM LOVER- i so agree, i go on gum binges sometimes, i love it so so much! My wrists sometimes get tingly. It's freaky. I thought maybe it was because of some PAST self injury, but i guess maybe it is not. I chew orbit CONSTANTLY almost!!but i don't know i think orbit is surgar free, lol k just had to say how much i LOVE gum....
Replyalso i have depression, anxiety, skin rashes, trouble sleeping.....o crap
ReplyLong before I ever heard anything about people fearing aspartame, I noticed that when I drank diet pop I got a bad headache and my joints felt like exploding. I don't know why studies haven't pointed to a connection yet, but they always come out different anyway. The verdict is never completely in on toxicity in food, because every study has different outcomes. I think a lot of people are sensitive to any artificial sweetener as well as to sugars of all kinds. We just weren't meant to have sweetness on our tongues most of the time. It's supposed to be a treat. I struggle with it.
ReplySpeaking of artificial sweetners, does anyone pay attention to SORBITOL? Half the population doubles over in abdominal pain and had best be able to find a bathroom fast. It is in a ton of foods where you would least suspect....check out your toothpaste also
ReplySorbitol is a sugar alcohol. Sugar alcohols don't digest well in the stomache, but the bacteria in your intestine love them. That's why eating too much of them can cause problems. Toothpaste shouldn't be a problem, but eating too much of a "low carb" food can be. Moderation, etc.
ReplyClearly this topic has caused a lot of comment. I have often suspected aspartame of causing issues which, along with headaches, caused me to have abdominal distress (particularly via gum) and via diet soda I discovered that I had restless leg syndrome at night while drinking it (I used to drink a lot). I'll still have an occassional diet soda when the urge is overwhelming (but then it's a treat).I don't chew gum ever. What's amazing though is how we can indulge in a habit for so long w/o realizing it's affects on our body.
ReplyI have to preface this post by declaring that I don't consume aspartame. It's not that I go out of my way to avoid it - I just don't eat many foods that contain the stuff. That said, I think there is a pervasive and unfounded fear of aspartame based on shaky evidence, anectdote and heresay. I'm not hear to tell anybody that their symptoms are not real - I am willing to accept that like many other foods/substances, some people have negative reactions. The problem is, ant-aspartame sites use incindiary language and persuasion based on false premises. Aspartame IS dangerous for those with PKU. For the rest of the population - not so. Like I said on the Splenda thread - I realize that there are questionable studies out there, but there have been hundreds of studies and no one has proven that moderate consumption of aspartame has any of the disasterous consequences purported by those alarmist sites.
The fact is, in studies showing cancer in rats consuming aspartame - the vast majority are either a) in amounts that are unreasonable (75 cans of diet coke/day) or they have been conducted on strains of rats prone to cancer. In the most recent study from Italy that showed higher rates of cancer in rats fed aspartame, they let the rodents live out their natural lives - BIG FLAW. Cancer is a 3rd age disease.
ReplyAspartame is dangerous and anyone who does not believe that is lucky! Why? because they evidently do not have any side effects when consuming it. There are people that have some very horrible diseases that have sworn it was the aspartame that got them there. As soon as they quit the aspartame, the symptoms went away. I do not have it's side effetcs but I stay away from it as often as possible.
Reply4 packs is a lot of gum, indeed. I can't imagine how tired her jaws would be after chewing that amount of gum. I guess she alway has a glass of water nearby.
Replyi swallowed 2 packs of gum in like 2 hours once
ReplyShe was probably taking some drugs that could have cause something. Besides, the amount of gum she was taking each day is too much and we know that everything should be taken in moderation even if it's healthy.
ReplyAspartame makes me so sick! I can drink one diet soda or have one of anything with that crap in it, and my neck instantly tenses up and I get a headache and stomach cramps. And that's just from a little aspartame. Now I check the labels on anything "sugar-free" to make sure it isn't in there.
ReplyI thought that it was clearly written on the back of the package, that we shouldn't "eat" more that 10 pieces per day. At least they do in my country.
ReplyWrigleys must respond to our concerns about aspartame. I also have concerns about the dye in bubblegum. If it leaves a stain on concrete what is it doing to our insides?
ReplyChewing gum may not result in weight loss, but it definitely helps those who are on diets, to curb appetites IF CHEWED AFTER a meal.... Gum was meant to be chewed after meals to help cleanse teeth, it will also give dieters time to think about having that extra cookie or slice of pie. :)
ReplyScientists are not assholes thank you very much. How dare you knock my profession simply because you are too ignorant and poorly educated to understand. Do I go around knocking your profession? Making generalisations that strippers are all promiscous sluts? No! Enough scientist bashing!! We are trying to make the world a better place by researching how to cure diseases, not kill you off one by one. Stop being so damn paranoid.
Replyno, I agree with the poster that scientists ARE assholes (in general). they are usually very 'self-impressed' with themselves and are an arraogant lot as a whole. kinda like lawyers. god complexes to boot. i've worked with many chemists and this is my impression.
Replythey are whores for funding and are easily persuaded to fudge the facts for their funding masters. they make endless excuses for why chemicals are disposed of in the lakes and in the seas.
And we all should now by now how corrupted the FDA is. Government whores and scientist whores the lot of them.
believe it or not, i worked in the mid 90's for the very chemist who brought NutraSweet to market. on several occasions i asked him if the then new controversy about the product being 'unsafe' and a neuro-toxin were true. each time he would change the subject and instead talk about how great a spokesperson Cher was (y'all remember that?) or how great the taste was. or that his stock in the company was doing really well. NEVER would he answer the question, so you interpret it as you will.
I quit my Diet Coke habit pronto.
ReplyMy mother and I are exactly the same..just one drink and we're very sick. My mum has just given up smoking and is on the special Nicotine gum...guess what...it's making her ill. She has been for tests and no-one really knows. She has just given up the gum today so we shall see!?
STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING WITH ASPARTAME. My son who is 13 was admitted to the hospital in Dec. with an auto-immune disease. Without my knowledge he was drinking 3 cans of diet coke a day. He started with H/A then muscle pain before long he couldn't walk his immune system started attacking his spinal cord. He was on plasma IV for a week. With $50,000 in hospital bills but they couldn't tell me how he got it. Well I know so everybody be-aware. And now its in almost all products so start reading the labels and speak out!!!
ReplyAbout 4 months ago I discoverd sugar free mint gum reduced my heart burn at night and slept with it in my mouth. In about two months, I broke out in this terrible rash that I can not describe. I had no idea what caused this. I went to the emergency room where I was told I had dermatitus. I took prednisone for 10 days and 10 days of sleepness nights. Searching the internet for what could be the cause. There was no change in my diet, detergents, etc.. until I thought could it be the gum? the crystal light? the diet sodas? Oh my God I have been poisoning myself. It has been 4 days after the prednisone that I eliminated this from my diet and my rash is slowly getting better. I only wish I had this toxic information when I started taking the medication. I have do not belive in medications, I do not even take aspirin, I have not been sick or had a cold in 15 years, I knew there was something that I was doing and it came to me. You have no idea the HELL I went through. I went to a dermatologist who told me I had scabies. Thousands of dollars later of cleaning my house, laundry, treating my dog for scabies, I ended back to the emergency room to find out I did not have scabies. This has been a nightmare. Do not, I repeat do not chew this gum. I had a pack of orbits gum on the table and my dog got into it about 5 months ago. I did not think much of it, but I called the emergency vet hospital to ask if it would be a problem for her (8lb dauchsund) they said to bring her in immediately as she could die. This is our baby, we went straight to the emergency room where they induced vomiting and she had to stay for 48hrs with an IV in her leg being monitored every 30 minutes for glucose levels. Imagine, this can kill your dog. Why are we not being told this can kill us?
ReplyAbout 5 months ago I discoverd sugar free mint gum reduced my heart burn at night and slept with it in my mouth. In about four months, I broke out in this terrible rash that I can not describe. I had no idea what caused this. I went to the emergency room where I was told I had dermatitus. I took prednisone for 10 days and 10 days of sleepness nights. Searching the internet for what could be the cause. There was no change in my diet, detergents, etc.. until I thought could it be the gum? the crystal light? the diet sodas? Oh my God I have been poisoning myself. It has been 4 days after the prednisone that I eliminated this from my diet and my rash is slowly getting better. I only wish I had this toxic information when I started taking the medication. I do not believe in medications, I do not even take aspirin, I have not been sick or had a cold in 15 years, I knew there was something that I was doing and it came to me. You have no idea the HELL I went through. Prior to going to the emergency room, I went to a dermatologist who told me I had scabies. Thousands of dollars later of cleaning my house, laundry, treating my dog for scabies, I ended back to the emergency room to find out I did not have scabies. This has been a nightmare. Do not, I repeat do not chew this gum. I had a pack of orbits gum on the table and my dog got into it about 5 months ago. I did not think much of it, but I called the emergency vet hospital to ask if it would be a problem for her (8lb daschsund) they said to bring her in immediately as she could die. This is our baby, we went straight to the emergency room where they induced vomiting and she had to stay for 48hrs with an IV in her leg being monitored every 30 minutes for glucose levels. Imagine, this can kill your dog. Why are we not being told this can kill us?
ReplyThere are lots of things that can kill you.
Replywhatever
ReplyI need help too then. I chew one to two packs of Trident a day, about five days a week. I have done this for the past four years. I always suffer from minor heartburn and stress attacks. I also have constant stomache problems. I assume this is because of the gum.... which I never really thought about before.
I will never EVER chew another piece of gum, which I know I can do because I don't chew gum on weekends. I am very scared I have a major internal problem now that I don't know about. Any advice of what to do? Blood test? Cancer exam? What should I do? HELP!
I plan to call my doctor tomorrow, but any advice from anyone would be great. Also, has anyone else been addicted to gum for a long amount of time, like me, and went to the doctor to get yourself checked out? What were your docs comments?
Thanks! - Stressing 23 Year Old!
Replymaybe slowly detox by chewing non-aspartame gums (they do exist, find some ZAPP!)
ReplyNo Nate, that's not the case at all. A scientific consensus that aspartame is safe throughout does not exist "America and Europe". There are multiple breakdown products (metabolites) from aspartame which are known to be neurotoxic including formaldehyde and phenylalanine. These do not readily occur in staple foods, as you are slyly trying to suggest.
ReplyI had a cup of tea an hour ago. I reckon it had sweetener in instead of my normal sugar because it tasted weird. Anyway,as i finished my dinner. Instantly felt sick. Awaw. Hoping it will just go away.
ReplyZAPP! Gum is aspartame free and only contains xylitol, which is a 'sugar alcohol' like Splenda -- wayyy better for you (and has been shown to clean your teeth better, too). haven't tried it yet though so I don't know how the consistency is....Whole Foods also carried aspartame free sugar free gum.
ReplyThis is so true and important. I used to have chronic diarea for about 10 years. Finally one day I read that aspartame can act as a laxative. I quit gum and diet coke, and no longer had diarea.
Reply