Aspartame effects not so "sweet" for sensitive member

Feingold Association - Pure Facts - October 1995

Andree Thrush spent her early childhood in Belgium in the 1950s, where foods were grown without synthetic chemicals and were consumed fresh.

Problems began to emerge following a move to the United States.  She attended high school in the 1960s, and after eating additive-laden food and soft drinks in the school cafeteria Andree would be unable to settle down and pay attention.

Saccharine, once commonly used in diet sodas, triggered an immediate reaction.  One sip made her feel like all the blood was rushing to her head.  Caffeine also brings on a reactions, but the worst offender by far has been aspartame.

Recently Andree bough a six-pack of sarsaparilla, recalling a favorite drink from her childhood.  She carefully checked the ingredients listed on the cardboard packaging, it looked fine so she drank a bottle of the soda.   What she would later learn was that the microscopic print on the bottle cap listed aspartame as an ingredient.

Within about 15 minutes she began to experience a bizarre reaction.  The first symptom was the sensation that she was no longer inside her own body.  then she felt extremely hungry and tried to eat, but was unable to hold the fork without dropping it.  At that point, she says, she began to shove the food into her mouth using both hands, to the dismay of her teenage children.  Andree recalls she was aware of her behavior, but felt unable to control her body.

Her children urged her to eat more slowly, afraid she would choke on the food.  She knew they were speaking to her, but they seemed to be far away and she could neither speak nor understand them.  The drug-like reaction to the chemical then brought about the sensation of being unaware of where her body was in space; she could not feel her arms or legs.  On one level, she knew she was in the midst of a reaction, but the emotional side seemed to overwhelm the rational side, and she cried because she couldn't find her feet!

Another time, after eating a roast beef sandwich with MSG, she became so groggy she fell asleep in her car and didn't wake up for five hours.

Andree has the advantage of a scientific background (she has been a nurse and is now an optician) and has a great deal of empathy for people who suffer chemical reactions and are treated only with drugs and institutionalization.   Understandably, she is very careful about her diet, and counsels parents of her patients to do the same.