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There are two schools of thought on the effects of the contents of aspartame. Pro-aspartame doctors say that the ingredients of aspartame are safe. However, anti-aspartame scientists claim that phenylalanine can be harmless only when taken with other substances containing amino acids. If taken alone, it has neurotoxic effects which cause memory loss, seizures, headaches, and stomach disorders.
But not all aspartame users die immediately. They suffer. The Environmental Protection Agency said aspartame, which is absorbed in the blood as methanol, is safe provided the consumption does not exceed a minimum amount per day. The bad news: a liter of diet soda, containing aspartame, can contain as much as 56 milligram of methanol, way beyond the minimum safe level. Add to that the various diet products with aspartame which you consume daily and you have a toxic cocktail!
Too much aspartame in the brain kills neurons that’s why they are called excitotoxins---they excite the brain cells to death. Imagine what would happen to your memory if most of the brain cells used to store them are killed by aspartame.
Experts say aspartame is dangerous per se but it is more hazardous to those who have diabetes and hypertension, those who smoke, infants, pregnant women and those who are breastfeeding. Experts also claim that continued use of aspartame may cause multiple sclerosis, birth defects, mental retardation and diabetes.
But why is aspartame so widely-used despite the dangerous contents? Majority of the people believe that since it has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, then it is safe. Other groups like the FDA and the American Council on Science and Health deny the alleged adverse effects of aspartame and claim that it is one of the most thoroughly-tested drugs in the United States. Anti-aspartame groups are, however, questioning the approval of the substance, despite the prior eight-year approval suspension because of the adverse effects of aspartame.
The warning issued against the use of aspartame products fell on deaf ears, particularly for those who are diet conscious as they believe that diet products containing aspartame\me, can control weight.
Experts however claim the contrary, saying aspartame can cause weight gain because two of its components, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, encourage the release of insulin. The release of insulin in the bloodstream however removes all the glucose, thereby causing sugar cravings.
Imagine how exposed everyone is to aspartame-containing products. Equal (sugar substitute particularly used by those who have diabetes) is regularly served by hotels and restaurants for coffee drinkers. Aspartame is even found in juices and jellies that you buy for your children.
While there are two sides to the issue about aspartame, what would it hurt the owners Monsanto, if they have the substance re-tested to quell the increasing fears about the product?
How can we improve our memory?
Tips on improving your memory
Have you ever castigated yourself for failing to remember almost everything that would have made your life better? Like that one occasion when you just stared at your boss' wife while she was talking to you, just because you forgot that she was the Number One man's wife? This cost you your promotion and would have caused you your job if not for some saving graces like your former job performance rate.
Or what about that day when you were supposed to make a product presentation to a very important client but you forgot all about it and took a leave of absence? Luckily, your client called up your office to cancel the appointment because she was sick.
But don't kill yourself first. You're not getting dumber or older; it's just that you have failed to develop good memory skills that would have made you remember these things. As experts say, there is no good or bad memory; only unorganized thoughts.
A poor memory is equal to poor recollection of things. If you keep forgetting things, then don't blame your memory because it's not the culprit. What you should blame is the little or lack of attention you place on things.
Most people, at one time or another, have experienced memory loss. It is synonymous with forgetfulness or what others refer to as being scatterbrained. To solve this problem, you have to realize that your inability to recall is caused by other things like retention problems, being overworked, information overload and stress.
There are people who are plain slow in recalling things, not because they are stupid but because they do not practice their recalling skills. It's all a matter of getting the right skills for recollection.
A person who is overworked is also prone to forgetting things, particularly trivial things that may be related or unrelated to their work. Because of too much work, you have no choice but to focus your attention on more important things like the work at hand.
The media revolution is responsible for bombarding us with information. Often, people get information overload. There's just too much information going on in our heads that we tend to forget the things that matter most.
There are several things we encounter in our daily lives that are called memory tasks. Among these are names (of family and friends, of people we meet and of people we do business with), birthdays, dates (like when do we have to go to the doctor for check up), anniversaries and phone numbers.
A good memory will help improve your status in life. It will come in handy both in your personal life and in your business dealings. Do you know that most successful people are the ones who can easily remember things like names?
And yet, a name is one thing that we always forget. Remembering names is one of the most important assets we can have, whatever job we are in. It may be a cliché but it is true that his or her name is the sweetest word that can be said to a person. Experiment on this by asking for the names of salesladies, or the doctor's secretary and then call them by their first names. The next time you visit them, you will surely be treated like a friend.
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