Soda Industry Sees Writing on the Wall, But is it Enough?
![Soda Industry Sees Writing on the Wall, But is it Enough?](http://drhyman.com/cdn/shop/articles/stethoscope-hyman2.jpg?v=1714795417&width=1500)
Aspartame contains small amounts of methanol, a toxic alcohol. But when aspartame heats up-as a can of artificially sweetened soda easily does on a hot day-more methanol is created, boosting the odds of serious toxic effectsBut just because these sweeteners are everywhere doesn't mean they're not harmful. In fact, plenty of questions remain about their safety-including both their short- and long-term risks. Aspartame is a good example. Just look at the research. Aspartame contains small amounts of methanol, a toxic alcohol. But when aspartame heats up-as a can of artificially sweetened soda easily does on a hot day-more methanol is created, boosting the odds of serious toxic effects. Other studies show that aspartame can actually trigger hunger, making us eat and drink more! Even worse, research suggests that aspartame may disrupt brain chemistry, possibly increasing the risk of seizures, depression, and headaches. More studies are needed before we can say for sure how safe-or dangerous-aspartame truly is. But do you really want your kids being sold artificially sweetened drinks and becoming human guinea pigs in the meantime? In the end, I hope that the ABA's changes aren't just lip service but become part of a broader public campaign to address the issues of obesity in children and adults in America. We've got to demand more accountability from our government and the food industry for the unhealthy environment they've helped create. It's not too late to change: In the 1950s, everyone who took an airplane flight had a pack of cigarettes placed on his or her tray. Now smoking is banned on flights and tobacco companies have been held responsible for the disease and destruction created by their products. I believe that someday we will look back on the early part of this century as the dark ages when we allowed our society to eat toxic foods. Here are a few things government and industry can do to make a change for the better: - Add small taxes on junk foods and soft drinks to raise funds for anti-obesity campaigns. - Place restrictions on food marketing to children, especially in schools and on television. - Put calorie labels on fast foods. - Make changes in farm subsidies to promote consumption of fruits and vegetables. - Change campaign contribution laws. - Create a government agency that's independent of industry to regulate food, nutrition, and health. What do you think? Has the ABA gone far enough or should we demand more accountability from them as well as our congressional leaders? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
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