John B. Symes, D.V.M. is responsible for drawing attention to the potential excitotoxicity of wheat, dairy, and soy, due to their exceptionally high levels of the non-essential amino acids glutamic and aspartic acid. Excitotoxicity is a pathological process where glutamic and aspartic acid cause an over-activation of the nerve cell receptors (e.g. NMDA and AMPA receptor) leading to calcium induced nerve and brain injury.   Of all cereal grasses commonly consumed wheat contains the highest levels of glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Glutamic acid is largely responsible for wheat’s exceptional taste. The Japanese coined the word umami to describe the extraordinary “yummy” effect that glutamic acid exerts on the tongue and palate, and invented monosodium glutamate (MSG) to amplify this sensation. Though the Japanese first synthesized MSG from kelp, wheat can also be used due to its high glutamic acid content.   It is likely that wheat’s popularity, alongside its opiate-like activity, has everything to do with the natural flavor-enhancers already contained within it. These amino acids may contribute to neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Alzhemier disease, Huntington’s disease, and other nervous disorders such as epilepsy, attention deficit disorder and migraines.

Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, is common to men worldwide and at all stages of life. Although the terminology covers a wide range of possible disorders, it primarily refers to a man's difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.

Homeopathic remedies provide excellent results for a wide range of problems related to erectile dysfunction, which may be caused by either physical or psychological problems or both.

Homeopathic Remedies
 

Agnus Castus: This remedy may be helpful for men who have experienced frequent and intense sexual activity for a number of years and are now having difficulties maintaining an erection. A sensation of coldness of the genitals is a guiding symptom indicating the need for this remedy.

Argentum nitricum: This remedy is indicated when a man is unable to keep an erection when coitus is initiated and when thinking about the problem makes it worse. It is most effective in men who are worried, anxious, hurried and very warm-blooded.

Caladium: This remedy may offer relief to a man who is completely unable to get an erection even when he has strong sexual libido. These men may also experience nocturnal emissions even without an erection.

Selenium metallicum: This remedy may be helpful for men who have a wealth of sexual fantasies but experience diminished ability, especially when their impotence begins after a fever or illness. They may feel weak and exhausted, but still possess a sexual interest. The erection may be insufficient, weak, slow to occur with premature ejaculation.

Staphysagria: This remedy is indicated especially if there is a history of abuse, which can by physical or emotional, where the individual is subjected to a misuse of power. Most likely he was unable to defend himself for whatever reason. Impotence may occur due to shyness or embarrassment. Men needing this remedy are often emotionally suppressed and extremely sensitive.

Lycopodium: This remedy may provide relief for older men and those who are not able to achieve an erection. They may have an enlarged prostate. The man needing Lycopodium may lack self-confidence and also be domineering, in an attempt to hide his feelings of inferiority.

Baryta Carbonica: This remedy is helpful for treatment of premature ejaculation as well as the inability to get an erection. It helps men who have no sexual desire to build their libido. Additionally, it provides support for the prostate and reduces the need for frequent urination.

Sabal serrulata (Saw palmetto): This remedy helps to reduce enlarged prostates and improve sexual function, increasing a man's desire. It is helpful for men who feel sexually aroused but are unable to get an erection.

Men experiencing erectile dysfunction should not try and treat themselves. It's important to seek the assistance of a knowledgeable homeopathic practitioner who will choose a remedy that best fits your individual needs.

Transdermal Magnesium Oil is an incredibly effective and beneficial oil that can be applied to the skin and massaged for pain and stress relief, used in your bath like Epsom salts for therapeutic purposes, or used in a foot bath for magnesium absorption.

Sircus goes on to state that, "Magnesium oil applied transdermally is an ideal magnesium delivery system…. Nothing short of a miracle is to be expected with increases in the cellular levels of magnesium if those levels have been depleted. There is no wonder drug that can claim, in the clear, what magnesium chloride can do. Most people will show dramatic improvements in the state of their health when they replete their magnesium levels in an effective manner."

Chronic pain is a serious problem that a wide variety of people suffer through, some far worse than others. People with degenerative bone and joint issues may be dealing with constant pain to the point where they have to rely on powerful pain killers just to mask the symptoms to function on a daily basis. Pain is a very unwelcomed and uncomfortable problem to have to deal with in life. It's one thing to get an occasional headache or back ache from sleeping wrong. It's quite another when a particular area of your body, or in some cases your entire body, is in excruciating pain from the minute you wake up until the time you go to bed.

In recent years magnesium oil has finally started to get the spotlight attention that it rightfully deserves. A treasure chest of excellent books and articles has been published discussing the benefits of magnesium on a slew of health related issues. Since magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body and is critical to survival, it's no surprise to see more attention finally being given to this miracle mineral in a liquid topical application.

Magnesium is crucial for bone health. Magnesium can also help alleviate pain if adequate amounts of the right form are ingested daily, however, topical application using transdermal magnesium oil is a far better way to use magnesium for pain relief. Many people with arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Lupus and other auto-immune disorders that struggle with chronic pain have had great success using magnesium oil. Magnesium oil has become quite popular in recent years in the alternative health field and for good reasons. Magnesium oil has given many people a new lease on life. The applications for magnesium oil are endless.

Magnesium oil can be used for headaches, cramps, injuries, arthritis, back pain, sciatica, inflammation, kidney stones, restless legs, and just about every painful condition imaginable because it treats the exact site of pain or the injury.

Below is a short list of questions and answers that will help educate you further about magnesium oil and how this form of magnesium is a vital natural product that should be at your disposal for regular use or short term uses based on conditional requirements.

What is magnesium oil?

Magnesium oil is a pure source of magnesium chloride. Instead of being a powder, tablet or capsule that is ingested, this form of magnesium comes in a clear liquid that looks identical to water or in a pure white crystallized form that can be used in baths or for foot detox soakings. While it is referred to as oil, there is no oil in it at all. When magnesium chloride is sprayed on the skin it has a slight oily feel to it – hence the reason why it's called magnesium oil. Almost all magnesium chloride is derived from the ocean. The rest comes from places like ancient seabeds in Europe known as the Zechstein Seabed.

Is magnesium oil just for pain or can it be used as a supplement to obtain more magnesium?

Both. The best way to obtain adequate magnesium is through your diet. Since most people are deficient in magnesium the next best way to get magnesium can be through a nutritional supplement, or as we're now learning, through transdermal application of magnesium oil. There are a lot different sources of magnesium on the market. If you're going to take a supplement you want to look for one that is derived from a 100% whole food grown source or is in a liquid angstrom size that is used sublingually. At least 150-200 milligrams of magnesium a day is all that is required to see dramatic results when used in a whole food form like Innate Response manufactures. If you can't find a good whole food version of magnesium or you have a hard time swallowing pills, then use the angstrom magnesium sold by Mother Earth minerals.

Magnesium oil has often been overlooked as a method of supplementing the body with magnesium and this is incorrect. Unlike foods, tablets or capsules, magnesium oil bypasses the stomach and liver and allows a greater percentage of the active ingredient into the bloodstream. Transdermal application of magnesium oil can help avoid potential side effects such as stomach upset or drowsiness. And from what we're seeing, applying magnesium oil directly to areas of pain or injury works phenomenally well.

Is there a reason why people feel so good after swimming in the ocean?

Yes. It has been a known fact that swimming in the ocean makes your body feel terrific. One of the reasons for this is the high concentration of magnesium chloride in the sea water, including the other minerals present. Between the magnesium chloride you get from swimming in the ocean and the higher concentration you get from breathing the air when you're at the beach, your body is literally bathing in a sea of magnesium chloride. The sun, air and ocean in combination are some of the most refreshing therapies you can give your body.

In Israel, the Dead Sea has the highest salt concentration of any body of water on earth. The reason it is called the Dead Sea is because nothing can live in it because of the salt content. Aside from that, the Dead Sea is known around the world for its therapeutic benefits. People come from everywhere to soak in the Dead Sea for healing. Because the salt concentration is so high your body won't sink. You literally float on the water. All sorts of maladies have been positively helped simply from simply soaking in the Dead Sea and magnesium chloride is the main reason why people get these benefits.

How do you use magnesium oil?

There are a variety of ways to use magnesium oil. Here is a brief list but by no means a complete one.

1. To increase magnesium in the body, spray magnesium oil directly to the bottom of your feet and other areas of the body where your skin is thinnest (inner thighs, upper arms, behind the knees, etc.) one or more times daily and gently massage area where applied.

2. For aches and pains magnesium oil can be sprayed directly to affected area and massaged thoroughly. For severe pain issues you can apply a moist heat cloth. Heat brings more circulation to the injured area and helps bring quicker and more effective relief. Re-apply magnesium oil every ½ hour to hour if necessary.

3. For relaxation purposes use 6 or more ounces in warm bath and soak for 15-30 minutes or more.

4. For relaxing foot bath and gentle detoxification purposes use 6 or more ounces in warm water and soak for 30 minutes or more.

Do not spray in eyes or on other sensitive areas of the body. Not for use with infants and children under 3. Some users may experience a slight burning sensation when applied topically at full strength. Dilute 50/50 with pure water if discomfort or irritation occurs on skin.

How often can you use magnesium oil?

Every day indefinitely. Anyone who begins using magnesium oil will quickly learn that it is something that they will not want to be without.

According to a recent randomized, controlled trial on vitamin D out of Tehran University in Iran, overweight women receiving regular doses of vitamin D at amounts higher than the typical recommended daily allowance (RDA) fared much better than a placebo group at losing weight. And despite being an observational study, the findings suggest that vitamin D is a causative factor in this accelerated weight loss, rather than a correlative factor.

Among 77 overweight women randomly assigned to receive either 1,000 international units (IU) daily of vitamin D or a placebo, the vitamin D group lost five more pounds than the placebo group after a 12-week trial period. The vitamin D group also experienced improved lipoprotein and cholesterol ratio scores, which confirms a number of other studies that show vitamin D helps to improve cardiovascular health and prevent heart damage.

"Body fat mass was significantly decreased in the vitamin D group more than the placebo group," wrote their authors in their study abstract, which was published in full in the British Journal of Nutrition. "The findings showed that supplementation with vitamin D2 can significantly improve HDL-cholesterol, apoA-I concentrations (protein component of HDL-cholesterol) and LDL-cholesterol."

Commenting on the study, Dr. John Cannell, M.D., from the Vitamin D Council wrote recently that vitamin D does appear to provide causative weight loss benefits, if not simply by increasing heart health and providing the body with more energy to get up off the couch and be active. He recommends taking 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily for average-weight adults weighing between 125-200 pounds. Those above this amount may want to take 32 IU per pound daily, which translates into nearly 10,000 IU daily for someone weighing 300 pounds.

Exposing your skin to natural sunlight is another great way to naturally produce optimal levels of vitamin D in your body. You can learn more about this by visiting:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org

1. MYTH: It is not safe to brush my teeth with clay each day and pack my gums weekly if I have a variety of dental fillings.

FALSE. *Clay is safe for dental hygiene uses and will not affect the dental restorative materials. Because of the diversity of chemicals and chemical components going through our oral cavities, not to mention widely fluctuating pH readings, the dental materials are developed not to break down or dissolve when exposed to different substances. Be sure to use a finely milled, non-gritty clay for brushing. *Answer provided by Dr. Pentti Nupponen DMD

2. MYTH: Calcium bentonite clay draws moisture from the body and causes constipation.

FALSE. When calcium bentonite clay is fully hydrated it is extremely slick. Clay in and of itself does not cause constipation.

If you experience constipation when you begin taking clay, it is because the clay is pulling out the old mucoid, putrefied plaque that is lodged in the lower colon. As it cleanses the colon, this build up is thrown into the colon canal to be discharged from the body. If there is a lot of build up present, constipation can occur. This is generally resolved within a few days. If you experience constipation do whatever you need to do to keep your janitorial services working during this time. Take Smooth Move tea, over the counter magnesium tablets or a laxative. It is important to drink lots of water when taking clay to help flush out the toxins and soften the old fecal matter.

3. MYTH: Draining bath clay will stop up my septic system.

FALSE. Under normal conditions clay will not stop up your septic system. If your septic system was designed adequately and is working properly, the heavier clay particles will never get to the leach field. They'll settle by their own weight to the bottom of the septic tank compartments. It would take many years of clay baths before significant build up would dictate tank pumping. However, it is important to not flush lumps of clay down the drain.

4. MYTH: Calcium bentonite clay must be taken on an empty stomach.

FALSE. When first starting a cleanse it is sometimes recommended to take it on an empty stomach so it can cleanse better without interference from food. However, it may be taken at any time, on its own or mixed with food or drinks. It varies with your needs. If eating rich high fat foods or experiencing indigestion, you may want some before and after eating.

5. MYTH: All calcium bentonites are safe for internal use.

FALSE. It is important to know your clays. Some clays are perfect for both internal and external use, while other clays can be acidic or immature, or even dirty and contaminated. Ask for proof of purity, pH levels and for a non-gritty clay.

Help set the record straight on this multi-beneficial gift from Mother Earth. Now, go spread some good information.

Sources for this article include:

Raymond Dextreit, Earth Cures (Citadel, 2000)

Michel Abehsera, The Healing Clay (Lyle Stuart, 1986)

Ran Knishinsky, The Clay Cure (Healing Arts Press, 1998)

Now photos have emerged that show the before and after of James Stewart. This photo, shown below, shows his level of health and vitality on a raw food diet at age 65, followed by his loss of health and vitality after just 10 days on a California government-approved diet of dead processed foods which were occassionally thrown at him in jail (when he was not being starved of food, anyway).

As the photo clearly reveals (see photo at the bottom of this article):

• James looks almost 20 years older after surviving 10 days in the California jail system.

• His energy and vitality are drastically reduced.

• His skin tone is more mottled and clearly shows signs of digestive distress.

• His eyes reflect a kind of emptiness, as if his very soul has been assaulted.

• His posture reflects a systemic loss of energy and strength.

• There is a clear loss of subcutaneous body fat and a "hollow-ness" to his face shape.

• His emotional state is clearly devastated. He has the look of someone who has been tortured and brutalized. (Oh, but America doesn't torture its citizens, does it? Grow up, people. WAKE UP. This is happening right in Los Angeles.)

Remember: California says only dead, pasteurized milk is "safe" for you to drink

As you look at these photos, remember that the California government says raw milk is a dangerous, criminal substance advocated by dangerous "sovereign" people who might as well be labeled terrorists. But dead, pasteurized milk and other dead foods are "government approved" for feeding to both schoolchildren and prisoners. (Along with "pink slime" processed meat and other grotesque "food" substances.)

When you look at the skyrocketing rates of disease across California today — cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental disorders and more — ask yourself why the California government is criminalizing fresh, living food while forcing people to eat dead, processed foods.

California, which was once a state recognized for its promotion of a healthy lifestyle and freedom of choice is now known as "the torture state" that targets senior citizens for torture and abuse. It is the state where the governor signed a bill into law allowing children as young as 12 years old to "consent" to being vaccinated without parental permission. It is a state that has spent millions of dollars in taxpayer money to target and attack senior citizen farmers whose only wish is to create and share fresh, wholesome food with other Californians.

The California press refuses to cover this true story of the torture of a senior citizen milk man

The Los Angeles Times is so corrupt and whored out to its corporate interests that it won't even cover this story! There is torture and abuse of farmers happening right in Los Angeles, and the LA Times absolutely refuses to cover the story! How's that for pathetic journalism? (If the LA Times actually starts to cover this story, I will retract this paragraph. But as of this writing, the LA Times has done nothing to cover this huge story of government abuse of innocent citizens.)

In fact, to date no newspaper in California has covered this story of torture and abuse of the California milk man. There is complete silence on it. A total cover-up. The lamestream media wants you to believe this never happens in California.

But these pictures don't lie. The recorded testimony of James Stewart is factual and truthful. Watch the video and hear it yourself at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkDrrKhPB7M

James passes all the tests for credibility — no criminal record, his testimony cites accurate details of his experience in jail (such as being held in cell number 'Denver 22'), and he has no agenda other than to assert his freedom to pursue life, liberty and the American dream.

For that, he is targeted, surveilled, arrested, tortured, malnourished, brutalized and then his story is utterly ignored by the California press.

Shame on you, California bureaucrats and presstitutes. Shame on you for ignoring the plight of this innocent man while you promote the corporate agenda of feeding more dead, processed foods to a diseased population that's desperate for solutions. YOU people are worse than terrorists because you claim to cover the news, you claim to represent justice, and you claim to stand for the People of California. But behind the scenes, in truth, you are nothing but wicked betrayers of Californians. You would rather see people die of disease than offend your milk industry sponsors, wouldn't you?

No wonder newspapers all across California are losing readers in droves. People are coming to the internet — places like NaturalNews.com — to read the news that "lamestream media" newspapers outright refuse to cover. The public increasingly realizes that big-city newspapers are a complete joke — a meda hoax of fake news that intentionally ignores the real stories that matter to real people.

If an American farmer being tortured nearly to death in an LA County jail isn't news, I wonder what is?

Oh, wait: The LA Times is happy to report on Libya's abuse of "detainees." See, they cover it gleefully:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/10/libya-amnesty-inter…

But when a California man is tortured and brutalized in an LA County jail, the LA Times won't cover it. Pathetic.

Credit for this photo goes to www.TheGirlsGoneRaw.com where you can find additional updates on this story.

France, on the other hand, has embraced the health benefits of raw milk. There, innovative dairy farmer Michel Cantaloube has created a raw milk vending machine (see photo below). The vending machine is a tastefully-designed kiosk that blends right into the urban setting, allowing it to be set up on a street corner on a French town or even a major metropolitan area.

Customers can purchase whatever quantity of raw milk they wish, and unlike in the United States, they don't even have to go through the bizarre paperwork of owning a "cow share."

California declares war on raw dairy farmers

Back in Los Angeles, raw dairy farmer Sharon Palmer has been slapped with 38 felony counts drummed up by the county, which has a rogue DA office running a campaign of personal revenge against dairy farmers. Driven into near-bankruptcy by the fines and legal fees, Palmer has been unable to repay farm investors as planned, so when her repayments fell behind, the county charged her with financial fraud.

Keep in mind that when MF Global's Jon Corzine stole billions of dollars from investors, he was never even charged with a crime. When Wall Street giants like Goldman Sachs went broke making bad beds with other people's money, the United States government gave them a trillion-dollar bailout! But when a small, organic raw milk farmer in California runs into financial trouble caused by the state itself, they get charged with 38 felony counts of fraud.

James Stewart, the 65-year-old "milk man" from California, was arrested nine days ago for the crime of merely "knowing" Sharon Palmer. His bail was set at the astonishing level of $1 million — an amount rarely used even for rapists and murderers. (Sharon's bail was set at $2 million!) He was then subjected to extreme torture that nearly killed him in an LA County jail. This included food deprivation, sleep deprivation, hypothermia, interrogation, verbal intimidation and even flooding his jail cell with raw human sewage and forcing him to clean out the raw sewage himself.

So in France, raw milk is happily sold in vending machines on street corners, but in California — a state which used to represent a healthy, happy lifestyle — raw milk advocates are targeted by the state as criminals, then subjected to personal vengeance campaigns run by the DA's office.

France = the "healthy food nation" of raw milk and red wine.

California = the "torture state" of total government brutality and oppression of farmers, along with the torture of raw dairy advocates.

Here's the picture of the raw milk vending machine in France:

Phyllis Fong, in testimony before the House Governmental Oversight and Reform Committee, said food stamp recipients traded their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at a discount to corrupt merchants and retailers in exchange for cash.

"In terms of fraud, we have seen many types of trafficking in SNAP benefits. By giving a recipient $50 in cash for $100 in benefits, an unscrupulous retailer can make a significant profit; recipients, of course, are then able to spend the cash however they like," Fong said in prepared remarks.

Guns, not butter

Welfare fraud – defined, in this case, as trafficking in the sale of food stamp benefits for monetary gain – is punishable by loss of benefits, fines and even criminal prosecution, CNSNews.com reported.

"In some cases, recipients have exchanged benefits for drugs, weapons, and other contraband. When trafficking occurs unchecked, families do not receive the intended nutritional assistance, and unscrupulous retailers profit at the expense of the American public," said Fong.

The USDA inspector general also told lawmakers the department was not properly vetting some recipients' Social Security numbers when officials checked for program eligibility. That failure likely has led to the loss of millions per month in taxpayer dollars through fraud, Fong said.

Her office "also has been looking at recipients who misrepresent themselves to receive benefits," she said.

Poor oversight

"Recently, OIG has conducted a series of audits of 10 states to assess how they used participant databases to identify potentially fraudulent recipients, and we have completed work in five states," Fong said. "Our analysis of the databases that states check as part of their role in ensuring recipient eligibility revealed that a total of 8,594 recipients in the five states were receiving potential improper payments."

"Some of these recipients were using the Social Security numbers of deceased individuals, or otherwise invalid Social Security numbers, while others were receiving benefits in more than one State," she continued. "In total, we estimate that these recipients could be receiving about $1.1 million a month."

While the total figure of potential fraudulent activity may seem miniscule compared to a federal budget in the trillions of dollars, in times when the government is running trillion-dollar deficits and taxpayers are demanding Congress and the president find ways to trim the budget, every penny counts.

And, with a record number of Americans receiving food stamp benefits (the current figure of 46.3 million is up from about 30.8 million beneficiaries at the beginning of FY 2009), it only stands to reason that the fraud is likely to increase as well.

Keeping criminal retailers

Worse, Fong also told lawmakers those retailers who have been convicted of defrauding the government's food stamp program can remain SNAP retailers because the USDA doesn't have a policy to ban them from participation.

The "FNS is also not making use of one of the most powerful tools available to keep bad actors away, not only from SNAP, but from other federal programs they might exploit," she said.

"'Suspension and debarment' is a legal tool that federal agencies can use to protect programs from repeat abusers and ensure that the government does business only with responsible parties," Fong continued. "However, in a recent audit, we determined that FNS did not debar any of the 615 wholesalers and retailers convicted in relation to 208 OIG cases, even though a conviction is adequate grounds for debarment."

That's right. According to research published in the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, eating more blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and other berry fruits may help prevent age-related memory loss and other mental status changes.

In the journal article, Dr. Barbara Shukitt-Hale, PhD, and Marshall G. Miller note that as we live longer on average, there are increasing concerns about the social and monetary costs of treating Alzheimer 's disease and other forms of mental decline. That concern will only grow as the U.S. population continues to age.

Keep your brain healthy and functioning as you age

According to the research, eating more berries can have benefits for the aging brains. "To analyze the strength of the evidence about berry fruits, they extensively reviewed cellular, animal and human studies on the topic," said a press release from the ACS.

A review of the data found that there was strong scientific evidence that berry fruits help the brain remain healthy in a number of ways. For example, berry fruits contain high levels of antioxidants, "compounds that protect cells from damage by harmful free radicals." In addition, research shows that berry fruits alter the manner in which neurons in the brain communicate.

"These changes in signaling can prevent inflammation in the brain that contribute to neuronal damage and improve both motor control and cognition," said ACS, a nonprofit organization chartered by Congress.

"They suggest that further research will show whether these benefits are a result of individual compounds shared between berry fruits or whether the unique combinations of chemicals in each berry fruit simply have similar effects."

'Berry' good benefits

The ACS research isn't the first to suggest that antioxidants in berry fruits are beneficial to your overall health. The Global Healing Centeralso says berries are high in antioxidants and "have been shown to be some of the healthiest foods on the planet."

The antioxidants in berries and other fruits act as "scavengers" of free radicals, which create a destructive process on the cellular level, causing molecules within cells to become unstable, according to Dr. Edward Group.

"They may even be a big player in the formation of cancerous cells by a 'chain-reaction' effect, causing other cells to become damaged," he writes. "Because of the inherent instability of free-radicals, they try to attack other healthy cells to get stable themselves. This then causes the once-healthy cells to react in the same way, attacking others in [a] never-ending attempt for cellular stability."

But just like with everything else, some scientists and researchers say you should be careful not to overindulge in antioxidants.

"Too much of a good thing can be bad, and some scientists believe excessive amounts of antioxidants can overtax the immune system, hurting the body's ability to repair itself," says Robert Wildman, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.

Aspartame: A brief history
As early as 1960 aspartame was determined to be a dangerous chemical and the emerging research years later only served to affirm the true nature of this artificial sweetener. Over the years, aspartame has been found to create holes in brain tissue, adversely affect the brain and nerve development in the fetus, cause cancer, migraines, headaches, seizures, convulsions and even retinal damage. With this amount of negative findings, aspartame should have been removed from the market years ago!

Ironically, aspartame was indeed removed from the market after it was already approved for limited use based on tests selected by Searle, the company who originally produced the artificial sweetener. This was after Dr. John Olney, a research psychiatrist from Washington School of Medicine, revealed that consumption of aspartic acid, a major ingredient in aspartame, produced holes in the brains of animal subjects.

After two task forces that found questionable laboratory practices as well as findings, the FDA ordered a grand jury investigation of aspartame studies, but lawyers for the government failed to initiate a legal action against Searle. Time ran out, and the grand jury investigation had to be terminated. Of interest to note was that one of the lawyers for the government, U.S. attorney William Conlon, later joined the law firm representing Searle.

Unfazed by this setback, the FDA this time recommended a Public Board Inquiry which recommended that aspartame be kept off the market until further tests could prove that it did not cause tumors. This led to a formation of another team of experts brought together to look into the Public Board of Inquiry's conclusions. This team found itself in a deadlock over aspartame approval, causing the FDA Commissioner not to approve aspartame this time.

In April 1981, Dr. Arthur Hayes was appointed the new Commissioner for the FDA and he later approved aspartame for use in dry goods. In 1983, he also approved aspartame for use in diet drinks, conveniently leaving months later to work for Searle's advertising agency.

Warning to aspartame consumers
We can only guess and read between the lines what kind of politics it took to get aspartame approved. After more than 8,000 complaints on Nutrasweet side effects, a list of symptoms attributed to aspartame from complaints submitted to the FDA was made public. This list included among others: hallucinations, diarrhea, seizures, depression, migraine, fatigue and insomnia. Aspartame has also been linked to tumors, cancer and infertility.

Except for a brief declaration that carefully controlled clinical studies showed aspartame is not an allergen, the FDA merely issued an advisory that products containing aspartame must include a warning to phenylketonurics, people sensitive to the compound phenylalanine. It still continues to adhere to its stand that "aspartame as a carcinogen is not supported by data."

Aspartame was never tested on humans before its approval. Now, it is found in 6,000 products and consumed by more than 250 million people, with Americans consuming around half of the world supply. By default, we have now become the test subjects for aspartame's safety. Unwittingly we are providing evidence to aspartame's toxicity through the devastating effects it is slowly producing among its consumers. The list of complaints submitted to the FDA as well as from anecdotal reports does not seem to end anytime soon. If the government chooses to turn a blind eye on aspartame, let us at least choose not to be a willing conspirator and suffer the consequences of being a willing victim.