Stoddard's POV

BIO Mary Nash Stoddard on Twitter

PRESENTING: MARY NASH STODDARD - Co-Founder of the massive international anti-aspartame movement in the mid 1980's, following the brain tumor death of her forty two year old husband, Mike. Ms. Stoddard suffered a life threatening aspartame-related blood disorder in 1985, whereupon, The NutraSweet Co. offered her an all-expense paid vacation for two anywhere in the world, if she would agree to be tested by their doctors. She declined, with the blessing of her doctor, and the rest is history. She has conducted multi-national lecture tours and is a popular visiting professor at colleges, universities and medical schools. "Deadly Deception - Story of Aspartame" is a toxicology sourcebook, edited by Ms. Stoddard, documenting the harmful effects of the world's most toxic artificial sweetener. The companion one hour "Deadly Deception" video is further documentation - taped at a prestigious scientific conference. Stoddard's efforts, over more than two decades, led to the present rejection of the sweetener by many of the food and beverage giants of industry, as they rush to distance themselves from the liabilities associated with use of a neuro-toxic substance in their products. She has testified in court as an Expert Medical Witness and like her counterpart, Erin Brokovitch, helped with a number of lawsuits on behalf of consumers. Her powerful message has reached millions around the world through the airwaves on radio and television, in print and through popular personal appearances. Honors, Awards, Societies: • Expert Medical Witness [1992-present] * Guest Presenter Gulf War Veterans Annual Conference - [Las Vegas 1999] * Visiting Professor: U. T. Southwestern Medical School [1997] * Visiting Professor: American University School of Journalism [1999] * Visiting Professor: University of North Texas at Denton Dept. of Science [1990 and 2005] • Visiting Professor: University of Houston Bioneers Conference [2006] * Invited speaker: Hebrew Univ. Jerusalem - [1997] * Keynote speech: Mexican Government's Annual Conference on Sweeteners [1999] * Appointed Judge - State of Texas [1977-1984] * Broadcast Journalist - [1965-present] * President's Council on Food Safety - [1998-1999] * International Lecture Tours - [1996-present] * Testimony Senate Committee Hearing on Safety of Aspartame - Washington [1987] * Panelist at National News Conference Announcing Dr. John Olney's Brain Tumor/Aspartame Connection - Washington D.C. [1998] * Inducted Member Texas Radio Hall of Fame [2002-present] Representative of the Texas Rice Growers Association [Miss Rice] Board member: Irving Symphony Orchestra Board Member: Irving Community Theater Founding Board Member Radio Station KNON [public radio], Dallas Charter member City of Dallas Citizens Safety Committee Board Member Dallas Mayor’s Fee Task Force Vice President Operation Get Involved, [liaison committee of the D.P.D.] Board member Dallas Homeowners League President Save Open Space Texas Steering Committee Presidential Election Award for Public Service - Mexican Government State of Texas Board of Adjustment

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

AMINOSWEET Rebranding of ASPARTAME

A Message From THE REBEL

AminoSweet / Aspartame

New kid on the block:

We're familiar with aspartame (NutraSweet/Equal). But, what is AminoSweet? Is it aspartame renamed? I asked this question of Mary Stoddard, who has been 'Spokesperson and Founder' of the international aspartame awareness campaign since1987, with her all volunteer non-profit organization, Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline.

Ms. Stoddard's explanation of AminoSweet:

"I'm finding it a bit frustrating doing in-depth research on this crazy redo of aspartame. It's my understanding that it has the same formula, with a different name. I've been looking up the labeling requirements and legal ramifications of this.

"My logical thought is that nothing has changed but the name. However, knowing the FDA as I do, the labeling requirement may have been eliminated arbitrarily. The autonomous nature of the agency gives them almost carte blanche. Even Congress cannot do anything but rule on labeling requirements. This might be a good thing, if we had a truly independent-thinking FDA. But, members of the agency are so tied in with corporations whose products they approve and regulate, that this does not work.

"As to why the name was changed? I like to think our efforts have had something to do with that unprecedented action being taken by the NutraSweet company. Aspartame and NutraSweet are words that denote something unhealthy now. Our awareness campaign is working after almost a quarter of a century - so well, in fact, that we are our own worst enemy. So much so that, in order to conceal the harmful nature of the established brand, the name is being changed to something they perceive to be more benign. In reality, we have studies showing artificial amino acids (those produced in a lab) in isolated form (not in the presence of other ameliorating amino acids, as found in nature) is a dangerous path to follow. In my estimation, actions such as this one, serve to further pollute our food supply and that of our precious children. In a fool-hearty rush to 'improve' upon nature and increase the profitability of our manufactured food supply, we are possibly damaging it beyond the point of no return, through greed.

"I'm quite certain Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, never imagined the genetic and chemically altered state of our current food supply when he wrote, "Let food be your medicine and let medicine be your food."

"We do know that artificial sweeteners 'trick the tongue and body' into thinking natural sugars are entering the digestive system. Upon discovery of having been deceived, the body goes into a sort of shutdown mode to regroup and prepare for an invasion by a foreign body. Thus forcing the system into an unnatural action of having to revamp and deal the best it can with a fake food crisis - every time aspartame is ingested, this fire drill is repeated - creating a new, false 'norm.'

"Until I find something further, telling me I am off base, I'll go with 'nothing has changed except the name.' Sounds more like an AminoSour to me!"

Thank you to Ms. Stoddard for her insight into the name change of aspartame to AminoSweet.

The Burden Is Ours:

As Ms. Stoddard says, since we can't depend on the FDA to give us unbiased information, the burden falls on our shoulders. Read the labels! If you see any of these words, AminoSweet, NutraSweet, Equal, aspartame, know that these are chemicals that weaken your immune system. Avoid them!! Children particularly should not consume foods or drinks with these ingredients. Remember to look at other items as well, such as chewing gum, medications, and vitamins. Bottom line, anything that goes in the mouth should be checked to see if any of these ingredients are on the label.

Buyer's Choice:

It's our choice to purchase – or not to purchase – these products. To protect your health, I say, "Avoid these products!"

Jayne Benkendorf, editor The Rebel www.HealthfulFood.com

Mary Nash Stoddard

marystod@airmail.net

Latest Interview: http://prn.fm/tag/aspartame/#axzz2YffYixO1

Friday, July 12, 2013

Diet Sodas With Aspartame Are Not Safe Says Purdue U. Researcher

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July 11, 2013

Prof: Diet drinks are not the sweet solution to fight obesity, health problems

Research by Susan E. Swithers, a Purdue professor of psychological sciences and a behavioral neuroscientist, shows that diet beverages may not be the healthy choice to manage weight that they appear. Swithers reviewed and evaluated the most recent research on whether consuming high-intensity sweeteners, despite having zero or low calories, may result in overeating, weight gain or other health problems. Her findings were published inTrends in Endocrinology & Metabolism. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons)
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Diet beverages and other non-caloric, artificially sweetened foods and drinks may not be the healthy choice to manage weight that they appear, according to a Purdue University expert's review of recent scientific studies.

"Public health officials are rightfully concerned about the consequences of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks, but these warnings may need to be expanded to advocate limiting the intake of all sweeteners, including no-calorie sweeteners and so-called diet soft drinks," said Susan E. Swithers, a professor of psychological sciences and a behavioral neuroscientist. "Although it seems like common sense that diet sodas would not be problematic, that doesn't appear to be the case. Findings from a variety of studies show that routine consumption of diet sodas, even one per day, can be connected to higher likelihood of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure, in addition to contributing to weight gain."

Swithers, who studies ingestive behavior and body weight -specifically the roles that artificial sweeteners and other food substitutes play in weight management and eating - reviewed and evaluated the most recent research on whether consuming high-intensity sweeteners, despite their zero or low calories, may result in overeating, weight gain or other health problems. Her findings were published by Cell Press on Wednesday (July 10) in an opinion article in Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The concerns for these chemical sweeteners emerged across studies that varied widely in design, methodology and population demographics, and they applied to sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose and saccharin. About 30 percent of adults and 15 percent of children in the United States consume artificial sweeteners.

"The concern that these non-caloric sweeteners might not be healthy is a message that many people do not want to hear, especially as the prevalence of artificial sweeteners increases in other products," Swithers said. "There is a lot of pressure from the public health sector to find solutions to counter the rise of obesity and chronic disease, and there is a lot of money and business at stake for the food industry as it develops and promotes these products. Beverages are becoming political issues as government leaders and politicians seek regulation and taxing to limit their availability and consumption, but most of these measures exclude diet soft drinks because they are perceived as healthy. When it comes to making policy decisions, it's more important than ever that the science is considered and that the public understands what the science says in order to help them make the best health decisions."

Swithers, who also is a member of Purdue's Ingestive Behavior Research Center, looked at a variety of studies, including the San Antonio Heart Study that reported an increase in body weight gain for adults and adolescents who consumed artificially sweetened beverages over beverages regularly sweetened. Data from a number of studies, including the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study also reported greater risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and metabolic syndrome, which is related to diabetes and cardiovascular problems, for consumers of artificially sweetened beverages. Some data indicated that those who consumed artificially sweetened beverages had double the risk of metabolic syndrome compared to non-consumers.

Research also shows that non-caloric or reduced-calorie food and beverages interfere with a body's learned responses. The assumption is that fewer calories means less weight gain. Research, including studies from Swithers and colleagues, shows that frequent consumption of high-intensity sweeteners may have the opposite effect by confusing the body's natural ability to manage calories based on tasting something sweet. Swithers' research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, and she is continuing to study these effects.

Expanding studies from animal models to humans is one of the challenges for Swithers and other researchers trying to answer questions about how diet drinks affect humans. The studies that show specific mechanisms and metabolic causes are from animal models. In human studies, researchers can only see correlations and not identify specific causes. Swithers said it also is challenging to do well-designed studies in humans because of how ubiquitous sweeteners have become in the mainstream diet.

"For example, what are the biological mechanisms and behavioral factors that influence this connection between diet soda and diabetes?" Swithers said. "Some of the connection could be related to how people behave by saying to themselves, 'I'm having a diet soda, so this cheeseburger is OK.' But the animal work indicates that health problems can occur even without this kind of thinking. Since we don't fully understand the mechanisms, we don't really know how to reverse the consequences, and that will continue to be a problem as our population ages and the rates of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes continue to increase."

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723,apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Susan E. Swithers, swithers@psych.purdue.edu

Related website:
College of Health and Human Sciences

Note to Journalists: Journalists interested in a copy of the journal article can contact Amy Patterson Neubert, Purdue News Service, at 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

ABSTRACT

Artificial Sweeteners Produce the Counter-Intuitive
Effect of Inducing Metabolic Derangements

Susan E. Swithers

As the negative impact of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages on weight and other health outcomes has been increasingly recognized, many people have turned to high-intensity sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose and saccharin as way to reduce risk of these consequences. However, accumulating evidence suggests that frequent consumers of these sugar substitutes may also be at increased risk for excessive weight gain, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease. This paper reviews these findings and considers the hypothesis that consuming sweet-tasting, but non-caloric or reduced-calorie food and beverages, interferes with learned responses that normally contribute to glucose and energy homeostasis. Because of this interference, frequent consumption of high-intensity sweeteners may have the counterintuitive effect of inducing metabolic derangements.