Synonyms: Crystal Light, Splenda, Formaldehyde

Refined sugar, artificial sweeteners (toxic aspartame, Splenda) and products such as jams, jellies, preserves, marmalades, yogurts, ice cream, sherbets, jello, cake, candy, cookies, chewing gum, sodas and diet drinks, pies, pastries, and all sugared fruit juices and fruits canned in sugar syrup.(Health stores have delicious healthy replacements for sugar, such as organic Stevia.)

The formaldehyde exposure from aspartame is significant. Aspartame breaks down into methanol, amino acids and several other chemicals. The methanol is quickly absorbed and converted into formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is known to cause gradual damage to the nervous system, the immune system and has recently been shown to cause irreversible genetic damage at long-term, low-level exposure. The most recent, independent research shows that the situation related to aspartame may be more serious than simply regular formaldehyde exposure. This research on animals demonstrates that the formaldehyde appears to accumulate as adducts (bound to protein molecules) in the organs and tissues of the animals (when aspartame is ingested at relatively low doses): "These are indeed extremely high levels for adducts of formaldehyde, a substance responsible for chronic deleterious effects that has also been considered carcinogenic. .... "It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde adducts." [Life Sciences (scientific journal), Vol. 63, No. 5, pp. 337+, 1998]
Some of the many aspartame toxicity symptoms reported include seizures, headaches, memory loss, tremors, convulsions, vision loss, nausea, dizziness, conufsion, depression, irritability, anxiety attacks, personality changes, heart palpitationns, chest pains, skin rashes, loss of blood sugar control, arthritic symptoms, weight gain (in some cases), fluid retention, excessive thirst or urination. Clearly, regular exposure to a toxic substance such as formaldehyde may worsen, or in some cases contribute to the development of chronic diseases. www.fda.gov