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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by afatchic on May 3, 2000, at 16:02:13
Do any of you babblers think there is link between aspartame and depression? I realized years ago that I was addicted to Diet Coke. I've tried several times to quit but have never been successful. What are your thoughts?
P.S. Many years ago, I was a 3-pack-a-day smoker and I quit cold turkey with no problems.
Posted by tina on May 3, 2000, at 16:28:21
In reply to Aspartame and Depression, posted by afatchic on May 3, 2000, at 16:02:13
> First of all I have to say afatchic isn't a very personally uplifting handle. Do you really believe that? It doesn't matter what you look like, there are no judges here. Second, I know that there's a link between artificial sweetners and anxiety just from my own experience. I've always had panic attacks right after having it, though i'm not sure if depression is linked to it. Ask CamW, he could probably quote some study for you. No offence intended with the afatchic thing, I just think you shouldn't be so hard on yourself.
Do any of you babblers think there is link between aspartame and depression? I realized years ago that I was addicted to Diet Coke. I've tried several times to quit but have never been successful. What are your thoughts?
>
> P.S. Many years ago, I was a 3-pack-a-day smoker and I quit cold turkey with no problems.
Posted by University on May 3, 2000, at 16:58:40
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by tina on May 3, 2000, at 16:28:21
> > First of all I have to say afatchic isn't a very personally uplifting handle. Do you really believe that? It doesn't matter what you look like, there are no judges here. Second, I know that there's a link between artificial sweetners and anxiety just from my own experience. I've always had panic attacks right after having it, though i'm not sure if depression is linked to it. Ask CamW, he could probably quote some study for you. No offence intended with the afatchic thing, I just think you shouldn't be so hard on yourself.
>
>
> Do any of you babblers think there is link between aspartame and depression? I realized years ago that I was addicted to Diet Coke. I've tried several times to quit but have never been successful. What are your thoughts?
> >
> > P.S. Many years ago, I was a 3-pack-a-day smoker and I quit cold turkey with no problems.Aspartame derives from phenylalanine, which is an amino precursor to norepinephrine, I believe.
For this reason, I've always though of diet coke, etc. as being beneficial to me--or at least not detrimental (in terms of phenyliteuronics)...
I don't think it's any cause for alarm.
JM
Posted by Cam W. on May 3, 2000, at 18:26:11
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by University on May 3, 2000, at 16:58:40
afatchic - I like your handle, its kinda "chic". I don't drink aspartame containing products, nor do I allow my family. Why? Probably because I am a hypocrite. I will put a foreign substance that hasn't been around or used as long as aspartame (Wellbutrin), but I won't ingest aspartame. It does cause neurological lesions in rats at extremely unreasonable doses, but it is "probably" safe in everyone except those (I think) with a disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU), the inability to metabolize phenylalanine.Another wishy-washy answer - Cam W.
Posted by KarenB on May 3, 2000, at 18:29:38
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by University on May 3, 2000, at 16:58:40
The norepinephrine link certainly makes sense when you realize how many migraines are triggered by this stuff. I can feel the heat wrapping around my head and become extremely light sensitive literally within seconds of taking in anything containing Aspartame. I don't know but it doesn't seem that an artificial sweetener having the ability to dilate blood vessels surrounding my brain could be a GOOD thing...
I just got a fact sheet last week stating that there is a believed link between Aspartame intake and the rise of MS symptoms and diagnoses.
I posted this story a week or so ago: I had a good friend a few years back who was suffering from "mini seizures," wherein she would go into a trancelike state for a few moments, having no recollection of what had happened when she would regain consciousness. After a lot of doctor visits and tests which failed to show the cause, her consumption of diet drinks was questioned. Turns out, she was drinking them like water. She stopped the diet drinks and had no more seizures. She apparently returned to normal without any residual damage. But who knows?
I myself choose to stay away from it. I am very careful not to let my children use it either - it is used in many children's chewable vitamins and almost everything labeled "Light." (Except beer, of course. That would be gross. But, my children don't drink beer anyway. What am I talking about?)
I am sure this did not answer your question. Sorry.
Karen
Posted by Phil on May 3, 2000, at 18:42:10
In reply to Aspartame and Depression, posted by afatchic on May 3, 2000, at 16:02:13
I've wondered about that but don't personally believe it.
When reading Undercurrents by Martha Manning, she mentioned her love for Diet Coke so much, it did make me think...hmmm.
Posted by Janice on May 3, 2000, at 20:33:26
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by Phil on May 3, 2000, at 18:42:10
Hi Everyone,
Phil, I'm not getting what you're saying tonight. Are you saying that when someone loves something so much (like Martha Manning-I don't know who she is) that it means they could be allergic to it, or ?something?.
From what I understand, depression has increased alot during the past few decades. I know no one is certain why, but I guess alot of it could be due to our 'modern lifestyle', especially our diets.
I probably just said what everyone already knows, Janice
Posted by Phil on May 3, 2000, at 21:07:01
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by Janice on May 3, 2000, at 20:33:26
Janice, It's not you...I can't even understand my posts!!
A massage therapist I used to see often wondered if Aspertame may have contributed to my depression. I LIKE Diet Dr. Pepper and drink too much of it.
Martha Manning wrote a book on depression titled Undercurrents. Basically about her struggle with depression and her treatment...ECT. Throughout the book, she would mention her cravings for a Diet Coke. This just made me wonder if there was a perhaps small connection between Aspertame and depression.
I hope this makes sense...
Posted by Janice on May 3, 2000, at 22:25:35
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by Phil on May 3, 2000, at 21:07:01
Perfect sense! thanks Phil
Posted by AndrewB on May 4, 2000, at 2:22:09
In reply to Aspartame and Depression, posted by afatchic on May 3, 2000, at 16:02:13
Aspartame and depression. A connection, yes for some. Aspartame contains phenylalanine. Now I've taken phenylalanine supplements. Supposedly many people can experience mood improvement with phenylalanine but my reaction was quite the opposite. I became anxious and more depressed. Phenylalanine converts in the body into phenylethylamine (PEA), a relative of amphetamine. This chemical may cause 'highs' followed by crashes.
The real point though is whether your Diet Coke contains enough aspartame to cause this effect. I chew a lot of sugarless gum and I don't 'feel' the phenylalanine. If you really want to check this out, you could either cut out the Diet Coke for a week or try some phenylalanine as a supplement.
AndrewB
Posted by M on May 5, 2000, at 0:16:26
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by AndrewB on May 4, 2000, at 2:22:09
afatchic--A few years ago, a lady approached my mom in the grocery store to tell her that the "light" yogurt she was buying contained an ingredient (which I assume is aspartame) to which many people are allergic. The allergic reaction to this is emotional problems (depression, anxiety, mood swings), according to her. Anyway, when I reduced my intake of aspartame, my mood swings went away and I didn't feel so depressed. I don't know if it's coincidence or what, but worth a try.
Posted by bob on May 7, 2000, at 13:16:02
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by M on May 5, 2000, at 0:16:26
There's a lot of scuttlebutt in the alternative med press about the evils of aspartame. I'm not a neurologist, and I don't play one on TV, so my recall of it all (it's been a few years since I've read it) is out of whack ... maybe someone with a few more neural nodes wired for this area of biology can make sense of my comments below:
Aspartame has been described as an excitotoxin. The basic idea is something along the lines of it interfering with some (here's where things get really foggy) postassion-sodium "pump" mechanism in neurons, causing them to "fire" repeatedly until the cell "burns itself out" and dies. I recall the article linking aspartame to degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinson's and MS, and the nutritionist who passed it along to me was also concerned about it's effect on depression.
Now, I've also heard brief news stories -- the sort of 30 second stories that get slipped in-between the big stories on the network news -- where doctors have come out and said this "excitotoxin" stuff is horsepoop and have defended aspartame.
All I know is that a very bright friend of mine who has done years of research on alternative approaches to slowing the progress of his MS, since none of the standard western medical approaches are doing him a damn bit of good, will not touch the stuff.
[that SHOULD be enough for me, but I gotta admit I've got a BIG bottle of diet Sprite sitting right next to me ...]
cheers,
bob
Posted by Cindy W on May 7, 2000, at 20:24:32
In reply to Re: Aspartame and Depression, posted by bob on May 7, 2000, at 13:16:02
> There's a lot of scuttlebutt in the alternative med press about the evils of aspartame. I'm not a neurologist, and I don't play one on TV, so my recall of it all (it's been a few years since I've read it) is out of whack ... maybe someone with a few more neural nodes wired for this area of biology can make sense of my comments below:
>
> Aspartame has been described as an excitotoxin. The basic idea is something along the lines of it interfering with some (here's where things get really foggy) postassion-sodium "pump" mechanism in neurons, causing them to "fire" repeatedly until the cell "burns itself out" and dies. I recall the article linking aspartame to degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinson's and MS, and the nutritionist who passed it along to me was also concerned about it's effect on depression.
>
> Now, I've also heard brief news stories -- the sort of 30 second stories that get slipped in-between the big stories on the network news -- where doctors have come out and said this "excitotoxin" stuff is horsepoop and have defended aspartame.
>
> All I know is that a very bright friend of mine who has done years of research on alternative approaches to slowing the progress of his MS, since none of the standard western medical approaches are doing him a damn bit of good, will not touch the stuff.
>
> [that SHOULD be enough for me, but I gotta admit I've got a BIG bottle of diet Sprite sitting right next to me ...]
>
> cheers,
> bobI KNEW there was a good reason for continuing to drink those sogar-filled sodas instead of the diet ones!
Posted by Camille on February 25, 2001, at 14:39:52
In reply to Aspartame and Depression, posted by afatchic on May 3, 2000, at 16:02:13
I just recently stopped drinking Diet Coke. I had been drinking it for as long as I can remember. I swear my mother probably fed it to me in my bottle. She herself was addicted so it was always around. I recently had been drinking up to 4 2 liter bottles a day. So my sister and I tried to get off of it because of all the rumors about its connection to depression. (Both my sister and I have suffered from depression for years.) I am 21 years old by the way. So we quit cold turkey and the first 3 days were really hard. On the 4th day I broke down and had one, and it didn't taste very good. I started thinking, why have i been drinking this, it's nothing special. after that it was much easier. I rarely crave it anymore and I think that when I do crave one, it is more just the act and habit of having one, then the joy the drink gives me. Since I have quit drinking it I haven't had any weight loss that I have heard happens when you stop. And My depression hasn't really changed any. But I'm still glad I am off of it. It's been about 2 months. I drink alot of water now . Is there such thing as too much water? If so I'm in big trouble.
Just thought I'd share my story
> Do any of you babblers think there is link between aspartame and depression? I realized years ago that I was addicted to Diet Coke. I've tried several times to quit but have never been successful. What are your thoughts?
>
> P.S. Many years ago, I was a 3-pack-a-day smoker and I quit cold turkey with no problems.
This is the end of the thread.
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