Aspartame Warning - Over 50 doctor's opinions on the dangers of aspartame.
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The truth about diet cola, Anastasia Stephens, (London) Evening Standard 2005.01.18:
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This is LONDON 18/01/05 - London Cuts section
The truth about diet cola By Anastasia Stephens, Evening Standard
Celebrity Big Brother housemate John McCririck loves Diet Coke. But is it
really good for him?
SWEETENERS
OF THE two standard sweeteners added to diet drinks, aspartame - which is
200 times sweeter than sugar but contains just 0.2 calories per tablet - has
sparked the most health fears. In the body, aspartame releases aspartic acid
and phenylalanine - substances that stimulate nerves. Some research is said
to link it to anxiety and fatigue.
Even without sugar, people may crave diet drinks for their stimulant effect
(the caffeine content in cola is a stimulant). Aspartame and acesulfame K,
which is 130 times sweeter than sugar with almost no calories, may make
people more alert and active.
"Aspartame can be overstimulating to the brain," says nutritionist Patrick
Holford, founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. "We have seen
people in our clinics who thought they were going crazy with anxiety,
insomnia and disordered thinking magically recover when they stopped having
diet drinks."
The makers of aspartame say their product is a safe sweetening ingredient,
as confirmed by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Food, and
is not linked with any adverse effect or conditions.
PHOSPHORIC ACID
FIZZY drinks, even diet varieties, may put your bones at risk, according to
several studies. The culprit is thought to be the high levels of phosphoric
acid - diet colas contain 27-39 mg of phosphoric acid per 100 ml.
One study found that girls who consumed carbonated beverages had a threefold
increase in risk of fracture. Another study at Tufts University in the US fo
und that women drinking cola regularly had significantly lower bone density
than those who didn't.
"We think the problem is that these drinks contain phosphoric acid without
any calcium," says Katherine Tucker, associate professor of nutritional
epidemiology, who conducted the study. "In the body, these two substances
need to be balanced. If you take in phosphoric acid alone, the extra
phosphorus binds with calcium and prevents it from being absorbed."
OTHER ACIDS
FIZZY drinks contain other acids such as citric acid, malic acid and
tartaric acid. The acidity may aggravate stomach ulcers and leach minerals
from teeth. "People think that just because they're drinking a sugar-free
drink, it's safe for teeth," says Dr Mervyn Druian, a north London dentist
and member of the British Dental Association. "That's not true. Sugar causes
caries but acid leaches minerals from teeth. Once the erosion wears away all
the enamel, it exposes the soft tissue underneath. This can be prone to
bacterial infection."
Research at Birmingham University has found that fizzy drinks are the
biggest factor in causing dental erosion.
COLOURS
Diet cola drinks all contain E150d, a caramel colouring. Drinks such as Diet
Irn Bru contain Sunset Yellow (E110) and Ponceau 4R (E124). These
colourings, particularly the last two, have been associated with hyperactive
behaviour and attention deficit in children.
One study by the UK's Asthma and Allergy Research Centre found that 25 per
cent of toddlers developed temper tantrums and disruptive behaviour when
given a mix of commonly used colourings within the recommended safety
levels.
PRESERVATIVES
ALMOST all diet fizzy drinks contain the preservative sodium benzoate
(E211). Several studies have linked this to allergic reactions and
hyperactive behaviour in children.
THE TOOTH DECAY CHALLENGE
MOST people know the trick - leave a tooth in a glass of cola overnight and
see what happens. In the morning the hard white tooth has turned brown and
spongy. But what happens to a tooth when put in diet cola?
I dropped a tooth into a Diet Coke-filled glass on Saturday night, the next
morning, it had turned from an ivory colour to a mottled brown.
By Sunday morning, most of the tooth had turned dark brown. It felt softer
and when I scratched the surface, the brown layer and some paler looking
enamel came off onto my hand.
Find this story at
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/londoncuts/articles/15991761?version=1
©2005 Associated New Media
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http://www.tufts.edu
Name: Katherine Tucker, Ph.D.
Title: Sr Scientist
Department: Epidemiology-HNRC
Office: HNRC-711 Washington St Boston
Phone: (617) 556-3351 (HNRC)
Fax: (617) 556-3344
Email Address: katherine.tucker@t...
Primary Affiliation: Staff
Other Affiliations: Clinical Faculty
http://www.mynutrition.co.uk/consultation/entry.asp
http://www.mynutrition.co.uk/consultation/patrick.asp
MY PROFILE [ photo ]
Patrick Holford
Patrick Holford is a leading light in new approaches to health and
nutrition. He started his academic career in the field of psychology. While
completing his bachelor's degree in Experimental Psychology at the
University of York he researched the role of nutrition in mental health and
illness and later tested the effects of improved nutrition on children's
IQ - an experiment that was the subject of a Horizon documentary and led to
his first UK TV appearance in 1987.
In 1984 he founded the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION), a charitable
and independent educational trust for the furtherance of education and
research in nutrition, now the largest training school in Europe for
nutrition consultants and widely respected as a leading edge organisation by
professionals and media alike.
Through his work in the field of nutrition and the media he has helped to
establish the concept of 'Optimum Nutrition' and promote the role nutrition
plays in promoting health, covering a wide range of issues from arthritis to
schizophrenia.
During the last decade he has written 26 books on the subject, selling over
a million copies worldwide. His books include the best-selling Optimum
Nutrition Bible, 100% Health, Balancing Hormones Naturally, Boost Your
Immune System, Say No To Heart Disease, The 30 Day Fatburner Diet, The Whole
Health Manual, Optimum Nutrition, The Better Pregnancy Diet, The Energy
Equation, How To Protect Yourself from Pollution, Say No to Arthritis,
Living Food, Say No to Cancer and Mental Health & Illness-The Nutrition
Connection.
Patrick Holford is one of Britain's leading spokesmen on nutrition and
health issues, often writing for and being quoted by major national
publications. He frequently appears on radio and television on topical
nutrition, food, environmental and health issues, both as a presenter,
interviewer and as a guest.
His knowledge, personality and enthusiasm, together with his strong
scientific approach helps him to stimulate lively debates, simplifying
complex issues and helping viewers to expand their understanding of health
issues.
He also lectures throughout the world on a wide range of topics to the
public and health professionals. In the UK alone he presents around 30
workshops and lectures a year.
Copyright © 2000 HealthCo Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/26739494/
Institute for Optimum Nutrition
13 Blades Court, Deodar Road, London SW15 2NU
Tel: 020 8877 9993 Fax: 020 8877 9980 http://www.ion.ac.uk
Best time to telephone: 9am - 5.30pm (Mon - Fri) (Thursdays 9am - 8.30pm)
ION was founded in 1984, is a charitable and independent educational trust
for the furtherance of education and research in nutrition, now the largest
training school in the UK for nutrition consultants and widely respected as
a leading edge organisation by professionals and media alike.
Nutritional Therapy Clinic: for one - one consultations with a trained
nutritional therapist affording the client with a tailor made nutritional
programme to support their lifestyle and or medical needs.
Training Clinics: As Therapy Clinics but conducted by a trained ION student
in order to build up practical experience. A tutor or DipION nutritional
Therapist supervises these consultations. Greatly reduced consultation fee.
Course:Three Year Nutritional Therapy Diploma Course (NTDC), Home Study,
Lectures and Workshops.
Publications:Optimum Nutrition Journal. A comprehensive nutrition journal
published three times a year. Covering a broad range of subjects on food,
nutrition, dietary supplements, and many other themes relating to natural
health. Written by health professionals, these articles offer information
based on both current research and in many cases, practical experience as
well. Benefits both health professionals and laypersons.
Membership: Entitles you to discounts on books, supplements, videos through
the NUTRI Centre, discounts on ION courses and lectures, access to ION's
library and research facilities plus free subscription to "Optimum
Nutrition, Journal.
Checked: July 2004
www.patrickholford.com
http://www.piatkus.co.uk/index.cfm?isbn=0%207499%202552%203
Recent published papers include:
. ONUK Survey, ION, 2004
. 'Indices of Pyridoxine Levels on Symptoms Associated with Toxicity: A
Retrospective Study' A.N. Chaudary; A. Porter-Blake; P. Holford.
Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. Second Quarter 2003; Vol 18 No 2; pp
65-76.
. 'Vitamin B6: Extract of Submission to the UK's Food Standards Agency' P.
Holford, B.Sc.; S. Heaton, B.Sc. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. Third &
Fourth Quarters 2003; Vol 18 No's 3 & 4: 161
. 'Depression: the nutrition connection'. P Holford. Primary Care Mental
Health (2003) 1: 9-16
. 'Alzheimer's and Dementia: the nutrition connection'. P Holford. Primary
Care Mental Health (2004); 2: 5-12
. 'Food for thought - and feelings: nutrition's role in restoring mental
health' Human Givens. Winter 2003; Vol 9 No 4.
http://www.whiterteeth.co.uk/thepractise.htm
Mervyn Druian, BDS [ photo ] mervken@a...
The London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry
93 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4RL
Telephone: Tel: 020 7722 1235 or 020 7586 7237
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