If there is one ingredient that is widely ignored in our food and drink and causes more adverse health effects, it has to be Aspartame. In case you are not familiar with Aspartame, it is the technical name for such products we only know as NutraSweet, Equal and a few other artificial sweeteners that are hot on the market.

Just a brief history on how Aspartame came onto the scene: Back in 1965, upon doing research on another gastric ulcer drug, a chemist from the G.D. Searle Company discovered it by synthesizing aspartyl-phenylalanine methyl ester and accidentally getting some of it on his fingers. When he later went to pick up a piece of paper, he quickly licked a finger and noticed a sweet taste on it. Twenty years later, a billion dollar a year product was born.

Today, aspartame accounts for about 75% of all the adverse reactions of additives that are reported to the FDA. What type of reactions are we actually talking about? The most common were headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, depression, irregular heartbeat, breathing difficulties and even seizures and death (5 instances).

The components that make up aspartame are primarily Phenylalanine, which is natural amino acid found in the brain. But when there is excess phenylalanine in the brain, this has a direct affect on serotonin levels which can cause emotional disorders, mainly depression. If you suffer from depression, it may be a wise move to eliminate aspartame from your diet.

Aspartame is also made up of aspartic acid, another amino acid that when ingested in excess, can cause a multitude of side effects.

Another component of aspartame is methanol. The same methanol that when broken down in the body turns to formaldehyde. In case you were not aware, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and a lethal toxin. The side effects are wide ranging from vertigo to seizures to death. It also interferes with DNA replication and can cause birth defects.

You may be asking why an FDA approved substance is allowed to remain on the market despite the obvious fact that it’s downright dangerous. Pretty simple…follow the money.

Aspartame was approved in dried products in 1981 and in carbonated soft drinks just two years later. Around that same time (1979-1982), four different FDA officials left their jobs and took positions connected with the NutraSweet industry. Don’t think for a moment that this is an isolated incident, in fact a report done in 1992 revealed that 37 of 49 top FDA officials who left the FDA ended up taking positions with companies that they were regulating. Don’t forget about the stock owned in these drug companies that they were assigned to look after.

Let’s now get to the main point and find out how we can effectively avoid aspartame. We have already mentioned NutraSweet and many people automatically think of diet soda. This is true, stay away from any type of soft drink whether its diet or not. But it definitely does not stop there, not even close. Here is a list of the most common products that you will find aspartame in:

- breath mints

- sugar free gum (they have to make the gum sweet somehow)

- coffee beverages

- over the counter medications (including children’s medications)

- multivitamins

- cereals

- baked goods

- teas

- toppings and condiments

- diet sodas

- frozen and gelatin desserts (jello)

- some juices

- candies

Just to finalize things, it is hard to imagine that in 1991 the FDA banned the importation of stevia. This is a natural powder from a leaf that has been used for hundreds of years by people around the world and with no side effects reported. If you are a diabetic or have blood sugar issues, aside from completely eliminating sugar from your diet, stevia is your next best option. Hopefully, you have not been led astray by your doctor or by the American Diabetes Association that artificial sweeteners are good alternatives for your sugar cravings.

Now that I am in my "early" forties, I am starting to experience the aches and pains that I have often heard from my patients over the years. While mine are minimal, for others the chronic inflammation of arthritic pain can be overwhelming and downright restricting.

I am definitely not big on prescription medications, unless absolutely necessary. So what other alternatives are there? 

Diet is probably the first thing that you need to look at followed closely by your exercise routine.

Eat spices and herbs: these are powerful antioxidants which help with reducing inflammation.

Ginger is an extremely potent and powerful spice that has huge anti-inflammatory properties, as well as a strong antioxidant and immune system booster.

Avoid the following: caffeinated beverages especially sodas, pasteurized dairy (milk, yogurt, cheeses, etc.),processed foods, refined sugars,alcohol,tobacco products.

There should be a fine balance in your diet--no extreme diets such as high protein, no carb, no fat. Remember, some saturated fats such as olive oils, coconut oil and animal fats (hormone, antibiotic free and grass fed, of course) are necessary for optimal health.

In regards to supplementation, we have all heard glucosamine and magnesium can have beneficial results. Depending on the type of supplement, that may or may not be true. My belief with supplements is don't go overboard. Start with krill oil or good quality fish oil, use cod liver oil or coconut oil, take an enzyme supplement and also look for an oral chelation supplement to remove any harmful toxins in the joints such as aluminum or mercury.

As far as exercise is concerned, it's pretty simple. Don't stop!! I know that the pain with arthritis can be very painful at times, however, refraining from even gentle exercise can begin to have a profound effect on the way you feel. Things like Yoga, Tai Chi, are good beginning type forms of exercises. Brisk walking, swimming, aqua aerobics, stretching are also recommended. 

My recommendation is to journal your exercise routine from the very beginning and jot things down such as what you did, how did you feel during and afterward, the duration, how many sets/reps, and try to narrow down to what provokes,aggravates and alleviates the symptoms.

A final note is the importance of hydration. Whether you workout or not, this is crucial for cellular function.  Senior citizens are hospitalized today more for dehydration than any other condition and dehydration symptoms appear usually too late. Making sure that you are drinking at least a liter a day of good quality water is essential for joint and bone integrity.