A little bear cub was confused about how to walk. “What do I do first?” he asked his mother. “Do I start with my right foot or my left? Or both front feet and then my back feet? Or do I move both feet on one side and then both feet on the other?”

His mother answered, “Just quit thinking and start walking.”

She was wise, for things will happen only after we put aside thinking and talking and start doing.   -- Anonymous

More Than the Winter Blues?

Do the shorter, darker days of winter leave you feeling tired, listless, or even depressed? While everyone might feel a touch of the winter blues now and then, some people experience serious bouts of depression during the winter months. The Allopaths call this seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Those suffering from SAD often eat more and feel depressed, irritable, and fatigued. In most cases, patients are treated with a combination of light therapy and anti-depressants, but new research has found that cognitive-behavioral approaches might be effective when treating seasonal depression.

If you:

• Experience depression that usually begins in late fall or early winter and
• Frequently suffer extreme fatigue and irritability and
• Crave sweet or starchy foods and gain weight as a result and
• Avoid social situations and feel more sensitive to criticism and social rejection.

Then:

• Because SAD is thought to be caused by lack of sunlight, light therapy is often an effective treatment approach (sit under one of those special sunshine-type lamps and pretend you’re on a beach) to reduce symptoms and depression.
• Researchers have also found that cognitive-behavioral therapy may also be beneficial to those suffering from seasonal affective disorder.
• Most of all, try to stay “up” about things. Spring isn’t that far away. Make a list of the projects you plan to do when it warms up and the sun shines longer. Then review that list regularly.

Artificial Sweetener Aspartame Causes Cancer in Rats

at Levels Currently Approved for Humans

A statistically significant increase in the incidence of malignant tumors, lymphomas and leukemias in rats exposed to varying doses of aspartame appears to link the artificial sweetener to a high carcinogenicity rate, according to a study accepted for publication today by the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). The authors of the study, the first to demonstrate multi-potential carcinogenic effects of aspartame administered to rats in feed, called for an “urgent reevaluation” of the current guidelines for the use and consumption of this compound.

“Our study has shown that aspartame is a multi-potential carcinogenic compound whose carcinogenic effects are also evident at a daily dose of 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg), notably less than the current acceptable daily intake for humans,” the authors write. Currently, the acceptable daily intake for humans is set at 50 mg/kg in the United States and 40 mg/kg in Europe.

Aspartame is the second most widely used artificial sweetener in the world. It is found in more than 6,000 products including carbonated and powdered soft drinks, hot chocolate, chewing gum, candy, desserts, yogurt, and tabletop sweeteners, as well as some pharmaceutical products like vitamins and sugar-free cough drops. More than 200 million people worldwide consume it. The sweetener has been used for more than 30 years, having first been approved by the FDA in 1974. Studies of the carcinogenicity of aspartame performed by its producers have been negative.

Researchers administered aspartame to Sprague-Dawley rats by adding it to a standard diet. They began studying the rats at 8 weeks of age and continued until the spontaneous death of each rat. Treatment groups received feed that contained concentrations of aspartame at dosages simulating human daily intakes of 5,000, 2,500, 500, 100, 20, and 4 mg/kg body weight. Groups consisted of 100 males and 100 females at each of the three highest dosages and 150 males and 150 females at all lower dosages and controls.

The experiment ended after the death of the last animal at 159 weeks. At spontaneous death, each animal underwent examination for microscopic changes in all organs and tissues, a process different from the aspartame studies conducted 30 years ago and one that was designed to allow aspartame to fully express any carcinogenic potential.

The treated animals showed extensive evidence of malignant cancers including lymphomas, leukemias, and tumors at multiple organ sites in both males and females. The authors speculate the increase in lymphomas and leukemias may be related to one of the metabolites in aspartame, namely methanol, which is metabolized in both rats and humans to formaldehyde. Both methanol and formaldehyde have shown links to lymphomas and leukemias in other long-term experiments by the same authors.

For the full study, click here (a government NIH pdf file).

The College of Physicians implicates Aspartame in any number of terminal and skyrocketing USA diseases,

including M.S., Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, Manic Depression and Brain Tumors

by Nancy Markle

From the World Environmental Conference on “Aspartame, marketed as ‘NutraSweet’, ‘Equal’, and ‘Spoonful.’”

In the keynote address by the EPA, they announced that there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus, and they did not understand what toxin was causing this to be rampant across the United States.

When the temperature of Aspartame exceeds 86 °F, the wood alcohol Aspartame converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. (formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants). The methanol toxicity mimics multiple sclerosis; thus people were being diagnosed with having multiple sclerosis in error. Multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, where methanol toxicity is.

In the case of systemic lupus, we are finding it has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis, especially Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers. Also, with methanol toxicity, the victims usually drink three to four 12-ounce cans per day (some even more). In the cases of systemic lupus, which is triggered by aspartame, the victim usually does not know that the aspartame is the culprit. The victim continues its use, aggravating the lupus to such a degree that sometimes it becomes life threatening.

When people get off the aspartame, those with systemic lupus usually become asymptomatic. Unfortunately, this disease cannot be reversed (by allopathic methods). On the other hand, in the case of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, (when in reality, the disease is methanol toxicity), most of the symptoms disappear. We have seen cases where their vision has returned and even their hearing has returned. This also applies to cases of tinnitus.

“If you are using Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc.) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss - you probably have Aspartame Disease!” People were jumping up during the lecture saying, “I’ve got this! Is it reversible?” It is rampant. Some of the speakers at this lecture were even suffering from these symptoms.

In one lecture, attended by the Ambassador of Uganda, he told us that their sugar industry is adding aspartame! He continued by saying that one of the industry leader’s sons could no longer walk - due in part by product usage!

We have a very serious problem. Even a stranger came up to Dr. Espisto (one of my speakers) and me and said, “Could you tell me why so many people seem to be coming down with MS?” During a visit to a hospice, a nurse said that six of her friends, who were heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond coincidence.

Here is the problem. There were Congressional Hearings when aspartame was included in 100 different products. Since this initial hearing, there have been two subsequent hearings, but to no avail. Nothing has been done. The drug and chemical lobbies have very deep pockets. Now there are over 5,000 products containing this chemical, and the patent has expired! At the time of this first hearing, people were going blind. The methanol in the aspartame converts to formaldehyde in the retina of the eye. Formaldehyde is grouped in the same class of drugs as cyanide and arsenic – deadly poisons! Unfortunately, it just takes longer to quietly kill, but it is killing people and causing all kinds of neurological problems. Aspartame changes the brain’s chemistry. It is the reason for severe seizures. This drug changes the dopamine level in the brain. Imagine what this drug does to patients suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. This drug also causes birth defects.

There is absolutely no reason to take this product. It is not a diet product! The Congressional record said, “it makes you crave carbohydrates [which] will make you fat.” Dr. Roberts stated that when he got patients off aspartame, their average weight loss was 19 pounds per person. The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Aspartame is especially deadly for diabetics. All physicians know what wood alcohol will do to a diabetic. We find that physicians believe that they have patients with retinopathy, when in fact, it is caused by the aspartame. The aspartame keeps the blood sugar level out of control, causing many patients to go into a coma.

Unfortunately, many have died. People were telling us at the Conference of the American College of Physicians, that they had relatives that switched from saccharin to an aspartame product and how that relative had eventually gone into a coma. Thus, the patients suffered acute memory loss and eventually coma and death. Memory loss is due to the fact that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are neurotoxic without the other amino acids found in protein.

Thus it goes past the blood brain barrier and deteriorates the neurons of the brain. Dr. Russel Blaylock, neurosurgeon, said, “The ingredients stimulates the neurons of the brain to death, causing brain damage of varying degrees.” Dr. Blaylock has written a book entitled Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills (Health Press 1-800-643-2665). Dr. H.J. Roberts, diabetic specialist and world expert on aspartame poisoning, has also written a book entitled Defense Against Alzheimer’s Disease (1-800-814-9800). Dr. Roberts tells how aspartame poisoning is escalating Alzheimer’s Disease, and indeed it is. As the hospice nurse told me, women are being admitted at 30 years of age with Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Blaylock and Dr. Roberts will be writing a position paper with some case histories and will post it on the Internet. According to the Conference of the American College of Physicians, “We are talking about a plague of neurological diseases caused by this deadly poison.” Dr. Roberts realized what was happening when aspartame was first marketed. He said “his diabetic patients presented memory loss, confusion, and severe vision loss.” At the Conference of the American College of Physicians, doctors admitted that they did not know. They had wondered why seizures were rampant (the phenylalanine in aspartame breaks down the seizure threshold and depletes serotonin, which causes manic depression, panic attacks, rage and violence). Just before the Conference, I received a fax from Norway, asking for a possible antidote for this poison because they are experiencing so many problems in their country.

This “poison” is now available in 90 +countries worldwide. Fortunately, we had speakers and ambassadors at the Conference from different nations who have pledged their help. We ask that you help too. Print this article out and warn everyone you know. Take anything that contains aspartame back to the store. I assure you that Monsanto, the creator of aspartame, knows how deadly it is. They fund the American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, Congress, and the Conference of the American College of Physicians. The New York Times, on November 15, 1996, ran an article on how the American Dietetic Association takes money from the food industry to endorse their products. Therefore, they can not criticize any additives or tell about their link to Monsanto.

How bad is this? We told a mother who had a child on NutraSweet to get off the product. The child was having grand mal seizures every day. The mother called her physician, who called the ADA, who told the doctor not to take the child off the NutraSweet. We are still trying to convince the mother that the aspartame is causing the seizures. Every time we get someone off the aspartame, the seizures stop. There are 92 documented symptoms of aspartame, from coma to death. The majority of them are all neurological, because the aspartame destroys the nervous system. Aspartame Disease is partially the cause to what is behind some of the mystery of the Dessert Storm health problems. The burning tongue and other problems discussed in over 60 cases can be directly related to the consumption of an aspartame product. Several thousand pallets of diet drinks were shipped to the Dessert Storm troops. (Remember, heat can liberate the methanol from the aspartame at 86 °F). Diet drinks sat in the 120 °F Arabian sun for weeks at a time on pallets. The service men and women drank them all day long. All of their symptoms are identical to aspartame poisoning.

Fr. Roberts says “consuming aspartame at the time of conception can cause birth defects.” The phenylalanine concentrates in the placenta, causing mental retardation, according to Dr. Louis Elsas, Pediatrician Professor - Genetics, at Emory University in his testimony before Congress. In the original lab test, animals developed brain tumors (phenylalanine breaks down into DXP, a brain tumor agent). When Dr. Espito was lecturing on aspartame, a physician in the audience, a neurosurgeon, said, “When they remove brain tumors, they have found high levels of aspartame in them.”

Stevia, a sweet food, not an additive, which helps in the metabolism of sugars, which would be ideal for diabetics, has now been approved as a dietary supplement by the FDA. For years, the FDA has outlawed this sweet food because of their loyalty to Monsanto. If [any product you buy] says “Sugar Free” on the label – Do not even think about it!

Senator Howard Metzenbaum wrote a bill that would have warned all infants, pregnant mothers and children of the dangers of aspartame. The bill would have also instituted independent studies on the problems existing in the population (seizures, changes in brain chemistry, changes in neurological and behavioral symptoms). It was killed by the powerful drug and chemical lobbies, letting loose the hounds of disease and death on an unsuspecting public.

Some Really Good Foods… and Why

Blueberries

Sweet wild blueberries are bursting with antioxidants, which mop up nasty free radicals. Studies of rats show that a blueberry-rich diet improves memory and motor skills and reverses age-related declines in balance and coordination. Chemicals in blueberries affect the contractile machinery of arteries, and therefore have a good affect on blood pressure.

Dark Leafy Greens

Chemicals called homocysteines are a normal part of protein metabolism, but high levels are linked with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (as well as heart disease), which accounts for most cases of dementia in the U.S. According to Katherine Tucker, director of the dietary assessment research program at the Human Nutrition Research Center of Aging, “homocysteine has a toxic effect on arterial walls, and oxidation corrodes the arterial walls too, which makes them a bad combination.” In order to break them down, homocysteines require folate and B12 or B6, vitamins found in vegetables like collard greens and Swiss chard.

Spinach research has finally caught up with mom’s advice: Spinach turns out to be full of antioxidant power. James Joseph, chief of the Neurosciences Laboratory of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, finds spinach beneficial in slowing down age-related problems in the central nervous system and cognitive deficits. A salad with spinach has more than three times the amount of folate than one with iceberg lettuce.

Salmon, Sardines, and Herring

Fatty fish are full of neuron-protective omega-3 fatty acids. Higher levels of omega-3 in the blood go hand-in-hand with higher levels of serotonin, a mood-enhancing brain chemical. A study from the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging in Chicago found that people who eat at least one fish meal a week are significantly less likely to end up with Alzheimer’s disease than those who regularly eschew fish. Because a fish diet aids communication between nerve cells, studies have shown its positive effect on learning acquisition and memory performance.

Grape Juice

The alcohol in wine slows down the brain’s ability to function properly (as well as filling you with mycotoxins}, so if you want a fruity drink, grape juice may be a smarter beverage choice. New research from James Joseph shows that concord grape juice significantly improves short-term memory and motor skills. It’s not just the heavy dose of antioxidants. Joseph believes that grape juice increases production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Concord grape juice has the highest total antioxidant level of any fruit, vegetable or juice tested. Just stay away from those bottled grape juices that are full of sugar and/or corn syrup and/or citric acid.  Note that even the bottled grape juices that contain no added sugars are made sweeter by concentrating the juice (boiling) and adding that back in to fresh grape juice. For someone like me who’s sensitive to any kind of sugar, that “100% juice” is still too sweet. Why not just eat the grapes? You can get all the benefits without the added processing and/or sugars. Of course, grapes are still full of natural fruit sugars, so don’t eat a lot at once. J

Brown Rice

One of the best things you can do to improve intake of nutrients is to switch to brown rice. It’s filled with vitamins and magnesium, which seems to be important to cognitive health. Whole grains contain vitamin B6, which aids in reducing homocysteine levels. Americans often don’t get enough vitamin B6, because they mostly eat processed foods. Because brown rice is not consumed in as much quantity as other grains, chances are better that it will not have the moldy storage problems and, therefore, contain less mycotoxins.

Hot Cocoa

Warm up with hot cocoa to help your brain as well as your frostbitten fingers. Chang Young Lee, professor of food chemistry at Cornell University, found that the antioxidant content of two tablespoons of pure cocoa powder is “almost two times stronger than red wine, two to three times stronger than green tea and four to five times stronger than that of black tea.” The antioxidants in hot cocoa protect brain cells from oxidative stress that can lead to Alzheimer’s and other disorders. Please stay away from high-sugar cocoas and chocolates. See article in last newsletter. Try mixing some cocoa powder in your milk and adding a little Stevia, until it’s just bittersweet.

Nuts, Notably Almonds and Walnuts

Adding to their party-mix appeal, nuts are rich in antioxidants and have been found to lower blood cholesterol levels. A Harvard study showed that women who ate more than five ounces of nuts per week had a significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease than those who ate an ounce or less. And, they don’t contribute to weight gain as much as other kinds of fatty foods. Walnuts are rich in omega-3s. But stay away from killer peanuts!

Olive Oil

A staple of the highly touted “Mediterranean Diet,” olive oil contains the potent antioxidants called polyphenols. Olive oil has been shown to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The extra-virgin variety is best.

Garlic

This pungent herb fends off aging via its antioxidant properties. It also contains strong antibacterial and antiviral compounds that help shake off stress-induced colds and infections. Raw, crushed garlic is best; cooked garlic is less powerful but still benefits the cardiovascular system. Powdered garlic is useless except as a flavoring, but we’ve said this before too.

And Oregano and… well, everything we printed in past newsletters from the Phase I diet list.

Eat a Diet Rich in Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and Veggies are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber, while being low in calories and fat. All of these factors contribute to many health benefits, such as:

• Lower blood cholesterol levels.
• Decreased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
• Decreased risk of certain types of cancer.
• Lower blood pressure.
• Lower risk of overweight and obesity.

A total of five fruits and vegetables each day may sound like a lot, but a serving is probably smaller than you think.

One “serving” of fruit is:

• 1 medium piece of fruit, such as an apple, banana, orange, pear, or peach
• 1/2 grapefruit
• 1/4 avocado (Note: there's more fat here than in your average fruit; about 30 grams for a whole avocado, but the majority of this fat is the healthful, monounsaturated kind)
• 1/2 cup chopped, cooked, or canned fruit, including berries and grapes
• 1/4 cup dried fruit
• 3/4 cup 100% fruit juice

One “serving” of vegetable is:

• 1 cup raw, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, romaine lettuce, and broccoli
• 1/2 cup of other vegetables, cooked or chopped raw
• 3/4 cup 100% vegetable juice

Within your five daily servings, try for one rich in vitamin A or beta-carotene and one rich in vitamin C.

Produce rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A in the body) include: Pumpkin, Sweet potatoes, Carrots, Mangoes, Spinach, Cantaloupe, Kale, Apricots, Tomato juice, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches.

Produce rich in vitamin C include: Bell pepper, Papayas, Oranges and orange juice, Broccoli, Strawberries, Grapefruit, Cantaloupe, Tomatoes and tomato juice, Cabbage, Spinach, Collard greens.

To reach five a day, eat some at each meal

For breakfast:

• Fresh or dried fruit
• Glass of tomato juice with a spear of celery

For lunch and snacks:

• Bake a sweet potato (microwave on high for 5-8 minutes) and top with black beans
• Stir fresh fruit into plain yogurt
• Dip carrot, celery, red pepper, and zucchini sticks into hummus, yogurt, or low-fat dip

For dinner:

• Roast vegetables—onion, squash, peppers, and eggplant
• Top baked potatoes with steamed broccoli, beans, and salsa
• Add dried fruit to rice
• Grate carrots and zucchini into pasta sauce

For dessert:

• Top frozen plain yogurt with sautéed apples, fresh peaches, or canned pineapple

Don’t Cheat!

While it might be tempting to just pop an antioxidant supplement instead of eating more produce, this is not the best way to go. The majority of the research has shown positive health effects from foods rich in antioxidants, and not from isolated antioxidants. Experts think it may be the package of nutrients in fruits and vegetables that delivers the biggest health benefits.

I agree that getting your nutrients from food is preferable to getting them from supplements, however, some of the foods listed above should be avoided if you’re actively fighting an infection. I would not eat canned fruit of any kind, simply because there is always some sort of sugar (usually high fructose corn syrup) added to them. I haven’t yet found a canned fruit without it. I also would not eat fresh peaches, bananas, mangoes or any of the super-sweet fruits, simply because of the sugar content. Ditto with the potatoes and sweet potatoes (the starch converts to sugar).  Although I love both kinds of potatoes, I’d rather stay away from them until I have my fungus under better control. At the point I am now, I’m completely symptom-free the way I eat, but I can tell if I eat something I shouldn’t, because my symptoms start coming back.   That’s just the way I want to handle my health, and it doesn’t mean everyone has to do the same things I do. As long as you pay attention to what’s happening in your body, eat what you want. 

In other words, eat intelligently.