WELLNESS-Last week Pepsi announced that it was removing the sweetener Aspartame from Diet Pepsi. I wish I could say that this corporation was discontinuing the use of this chemical because of the numerous studies showing potential links it to diabetes and cancer, but the real reason is declining sales of their diet Pepsi line. Volumes fell over 5% last year motivating the company to look at why
What they found is that consumers are becoming more health conscious and savvy to what is and isn’t good for them. An Italian study put on by the European Ramazzini Foundation on aspartame was published in the European Journal of Oncology in June of 2005 titled “Aspartame induces lymphomas and leukemias in rats.” In 2007 the FDA discredited the study and then in 2013 they completed a full review of aspartame and ruled out any risk of cancer.
As far back as 1980 there was an FDA inquiry that comprised of three independent scientists. Each one found that Aspartame “might induce brain tumors.” Previous to these studies the FDA had banned Aspartame only to have it legalized again in 1983 after some potentially nefarious political restructuring. In 1987 a renowned neuroscientist named Dr. John Olney (the same guy that helped ban monosodium glutamate) pleaded with the FDA in an open letter to ban Aspartame. His attempts fell on deaf ears.
Any search you conduct on the history of this chemical indicates that it is unhealthy at best and outright dangerous at worst. There are studies showing that Aspartame damages the brain and others pointing to an Aspartame and Leukemia link. More information continues to flow in and none of it is good. Consumers of this chemical also report myriad conditions potentially related to Aspartame, and the addictive quality keeps people coming back for more.
By now we realize that each time we spend money on food or beverages we are voting. Voting for what we want on the shelves at our supermarkets. It would be naïve to think that the powerful corporations that are controlling so much of our food and beverage content are solely concerned with our health. Equally or more important to many of these companies is the bottom line financially. If we are to stay healthy and ensure that only healthy compounds are included in our foods, we need to “vote” carefully.
Pay attention to what’s in the food you are purchasing. If there is any question about the healthfulness of a food or chemical, do your own research. While many people make fun of “the university of google,” there is much information to be gleaned from the internet and your local library. Be your own primary care provider. If there is any question about something in your diet talk to your health and medical providers, but also realize that we are all products of our education. Do your own research for no one will care for your body as well as you do.
(Christian Cristiano is an acupuncturist in LA, TV host of Wellness for Realists and writes on wellness regularly for CityWatch. Christian can be reached at 323.935.3420. twitter: @CristianoWFR)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 13 Issue 35
Pub: Apr 28, 2015
Pepsi Dropped Aspartame. So Should You.
