Posted: 25 March 2008
From: Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum., Bettym19@mindspring.com
To: bbrooks-mailer.fsu.edu
Date: Fri, Mar 21, 2008 1:37 pm
Subject: Substantiating chemical imbalance in depression
To Florida State University:
What you need to know is that aspartame marketed as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, Canderel, E951, Benevia, etc. is an addictive excitoneurotoxic carcinogenic drug that changes brain chemistry and interacts with drugs. It simply is masquerading as an additive. It interacts with virtually all drugs because of the damage to the mitochondria.
Aspartame is 40% aspartic acid, an excitotoxin or product that simulates the neurons of the brain to death causing brain damage, a methyl ester which immediately becomes methanol, 10%, and phenylalanine, 50%, a neurotoxin which floods the brain, lowers the seizure threshold and depletes serotonin. When you lower serotonin is triggers bipolar, mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks, suicidal tendencies, insomnia, schizophrenic, hallucinations, etc. Aspartame interacts with ALL antidepressants, and is used by 70% of the population. It is in at least 6000 products including drugs and pediatric vitamins.
So you need to know that in someone who has used aspartame it does change brain chemistry and the depletion of serotonin triggers manic depression or bipolar. Here is a report from Psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Walton: http://www.mpwhi.com/aspartame_and_psychiatric_disorders.htm Notice what Dr. Walton says:
"Since aspartame can alter the balance of certain neurotransmitters which we believe are involved in mood disorders and can, in my opinion, alter the seizure threshold, I advised my patient to avoid all aspartame products."
Dr. Walton also did a study on aspartame which had to be stopped when one subject sustained a retinal detachment and another suffered conjunctival bleeding. Some said they felt like they were being poisoned. There is a link to this study in this paper by Dr. Walton below:
Report on Aspartame and Children
By Ralph G. Walton, M.D.
Although undoubtedly well intentioned, any attempt to replace sugared beverages with aspartame containing diet products will, in my opinion, have a devastating impact on the health of our children and adolescents. The alarming increase in obesity, type II diabetes, and a wide variety of behavioral difficulties in our children is obviously attributable to multiple factors, but I am convinced that one powerful force in accentuating these problems is the ever increasing use of aspartame.
Aspartame is a multipotential toxin and carcinogen. The dipeptide component of the molecule can alter brain chemistry, significantly changing the ratio of catecholamines to indolamines, with resultant lowering of seizure threshold, production of carbohydrate craving and in vulnerable individuals leading to panic, depressive and cognitive symptoms.
The methyl ester component of aspartame is metabolized to methanol, which in turn is broken down into formic acid and formaldehyde. Methanol can lead to serious eye problems, formic acid and formaldehyde are potent carcinogens. The diet food industry and the F.D.A. are fond of saying that aspartame is "the most studied product in history" with an outstanding safety record. In fact however virtually all of the studies in the medical literature attesting to its safety were funded by the industry, whereas independently funded studies, now numbering close to 100, identify one or more problems. It would be especially tragic if an attempt to improve the health of our children led to even greater exposure to this highly toxic product. Thank you for your attention to this urgent public health issue.
Ralph G. Walton, M.D.
Medical Director, Safe Harbor Behavioral Health
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Northeastern Ohio Universities
College of Medicine
Adjunct Professor Of Psychiatry, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Walton's study on aspartame: "Adverse Reactions to Aspartame: Double-Blind Challenge in Patients from a Vulnerable Population: http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Aspartame-Adverse-Reactions-1993.htm
Dr. Walton's research on Scientific Peer Reviewed Studies and Funding: http://www.dorway.com/doctors.html#walton
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Again notice that he says: "Aspartame is a multipotential toxin and carcinogen. The dipeptide component of the molecule can alter brain chemistry, significantly changing the ratio of catecholamines to indolamines, with resultant lowering of seizure threshold, production of carbohydrate craving and in vulnerable individuals leading to panic, depressive and cognitive symptoms."
So aspartame does alter brain chemistry, and the phenylalanine depletes serotonin triggering depression as well as cognitive symptoms.
I would suggest these medical texts and resources:
Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic, over 1000 pages including a chapter on psychiatric and behavioral problems and drug interaction. http://www.sunsentpress.com by H. J. Robert, M.D.
Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, by neurosurgeon Russell Blaylock, M.D., http://www.russellblaylockmd.com
Aspartame documentary: Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World, http://www.soundandfury.tv
All Jacked Up documentary: jennifer@faeriefilms.com
The Abby Cormack Story: She was almost diagnosed with bipolar, but abstained from aspartame and the symptoms disappeared: http://www.mpwhi.com/abby_cormack_story.htm
Here is what aspartame experts say about Abby's case: http://www.mpwhi.com/experts_on_aspartame_and_abby_cormack.htm
Every physician should take a dietary history and find out if the patient is on aspartame (NutraSweet,Equal,Spoonful, Naturtaste, Canderel, Benevia, etc.) and warn them off of it. Several of the physicians who are experts on aspartame have mentioned that many people today in mental hospitals are simply aspartame victims.
How did such a deadly chemical poison that alters brain chemistry get marketed? Meet Donald Rumsfeld:http://www.soundandfury.tv/pages/rumsfeld.html Why don't physicians know about this? The FDA, professional organizations funded by the manufacturer, the manufacturers, and front groups like Calorie Control Council lie to the public and physicians, tying their hands. Those responsible to solve the problem ARE the problem.
There are efforts around the world to ban this deadly poison. Here is what is happening in Hawaii: http://www.mpwhi.com/hawaii_senate_aspartame_resolution.htm
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum.
Founder, Mission Possible World Health International
9270 River Club Parkway
Duluth, Georgia 30097
770-242-2599
E-Mail: BettyM19@mindspring.com
http://www.wpwhi.com
http://www.whno.net
http://www.dorway.com
Aspartame Toxicity Center: http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
Florida State University
Study: Media perpetuates unsubstantiated chemical imbalance theory of depression
Tallahassee, Florida
BY JILL ELISH
March 3, 2008
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
The theory that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance is often presented in the media as fact even though there is little scientific evidence to support it, according to a new study co-authored by a Florida State University visiting lecturer.
Jeffrey Lacasse, an FSU doctoral candidate and visiting lecturer in the College of Social Work, and Jonathan Leo, a neuroanatomy professor at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee, found that reporters who included statements in news articles about depression being caused by a chemical imbalance, or a lack of serotonin in the brain, were unable to provide scientific evidence to support those statements.
Lacasse and Leo spent about a year in late 2006 and 2007 monitoring the daily news for articles that included statements about chemical imbalances and contacting the authors to request evidence that supported their statements. Several reporters, psychiatrists and a drug company responded to the researchers' requests, but Lacasse and Leo said they did not provide documentation that supported the chemical imbalance theory. Their findings were published in the journal Society.
"The media's presentation of the theory as fact is troublesome because it misrepresents the current status of the theory," Lacasse said. "For instance, there are few scientists who will rise to its defense, and some prominent psychiatrists publicly acknowledge that the serotonin hypothesis is more metaphor than fact. As the current study documents, when asked for evidence, reporters were unable to cite peer-reviewed primary articles in support of the theory."
Moreover, the researchers said, several of the responses received from reporters seem to suggest a fundamental misunderstanding of the theory's scientific status. The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," which almost all psychiatrists use to diagnose and treat their patients, clearly states that the cause of depression and anxiety is unknown, according to Lacasse and Leo.
More here:
http://www.fsu.com/pages/2008/03/03/depression.html
Videos:
The Kathy Fountain show, a Tampa TV talk show, discusses chemical imbalance:
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWE3UGl7KFk
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzDv6Cublaw
Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0PxgTIT4k