Dear Editor:
I was happy that Dr. Lendon Smith wrote about aspartame (ASP, NutraSweetTM/EqualTM), in the November 22 issue of Dynamic Chiropractic.
Approximately 85% of the complaints registered with the FDA concern ASP reactions. This represents 73 different symptoms and 5 deaths. It is estimated that 75 million Americans are experiencing reactions, but most of them are unaware of the relationship between ASP and their symptoms. According to research at MIT, ASP causes a drastic lowering of serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that functions in the emotional centers of the brain. Low levels may cause headaches, chronic fatigue, anxiety attacks, nervousness, aggravation of phobias, loss of activities that were previously enjoyed, depression, suicidal tendencies, aggressive behavior, and an overall feeling of being "stressed out" or that life is much more of a struggle than it should be. According to the Northwestern Insurance Company, stress-related disability has doubled since 1981. Is it a coincidence that NutraSweet is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year? I don't think so.
All of us have patients that take anti-depressants. Do you tell your patients that NutraSweet can interfere with the anti-depressant's effectiveness? You can bet their MDs don't. Many of your patients are taking anti-depressants to counteract the imbalance in the brain caused by NutraSweet in the first place. Unless they stop using ASP products, these anti-depressants might not work.
ASP also breaks down into formic acid, formaldehyde, and diketopiperazine, know carcinogens. According the the National Cancer Institute, malignant brain tumors have risen dramatically each successive year following NutraSweet's approval for use in soft drinks in 1983. Is it a coincidence that similar tumors showed up in lab animals during testing? How many people have you heard about with brain tumors in the last 10 years?
ASP is also very detrimental to the immune system. Maybe someone should tell Magic Johnson about this as he fights for his life in the next several years. Nobody who is HIV positive should consume ASP products.
Did you know that a Public Board of Inquiry recommended that ASP not be approved until the brain tumor issue was resolved, only to be overturned by A.H. Hayes in 1983? Two months after Mr. Hayes approved ASP, he went to work for a NutraSweet public relations firm.
The media has totally avoided this issue because of offending sponsors and losing millions of dollars of advertising. Are chiropractors the only hope?
Paul J. Toft, D.C.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
