I work for Reintjes Services, Inc. We have the men, the tools, and the experience. If its big, heavy, or hot, we work in, on and around it. While fire and acid resistant linings are our specialty, there are times when the workload slows down. Having the training to work in hazardous environments or with hazardous materials, we are able to keep the schedule full by taking on projects which are a little outside our scope. A little hazmat cleanup fits in along these lines. I'm the guy you see on TV in the astronaut suit.
We regularly work with strong acid. By strong, I mean 98% pure sulfuric acid. Its not a problem. 54% phosphoric acid I drink like tea. Hydrogen Sulfide gas? We got the gear and we know how to use it. Got a boot full of #6 fuel oil, it'll wash off. Crystallized silica? Titanium dioxide? piece of cake. 180 degrees in a vessel, do that all the time. Hexavalent chromium based mortars for coal gasifiers? We got it covered. 300' in the air hanging by ropes? Nice view!
Aspartame? WONT GO NEAR IT! It's not the aspartame that is a concern, but the byproducts and residues of manufacture. Construction contracts often involve follow up service. If we put it in, we would do the work of keeping it cleaned up and in working order. The stuff left behind from the production of aspartame is treated like radioactive waste. We're talking coated and sealed steel drums in a storage tank for centuries. To work on the equipment requires not one, but 3 single piece rubber suits with a self contained air supply. Triple layer redundancy is nothing I'm interested in. On exiting the vessel you are subject to a decontamination procedure that takes about a half hour.
I don't know what the stuff is, but its level 4 crap.
--- When I was growing up, there might have been a handful of kids in the whole school that was overweight. Nowadays it seems like every kid out there is [s]overweight[/s] just plain fat. Half of them are on some pill for ADD or diabetes or what ever the fashionable disorder is of the season.
I'm not a chemist, but I have to wonder what happens when you mix aspartame, ritalin, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated cottonseed and/or genetically modified soybean oil in the body of an 8 year old. Add to that cocktail traces of pesticides and herbicides, bovine growth hormones, sprout inhibitors, preservatives, color enhancements, way too much salt and god knows what else, processed with alkali.
Does this look familiar?
Do you believe the FDA is looking out for you?
Be the change you want to see. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replenish, Repair, Recover and Rejoice.
The movie goes into a lot of detail about the FDA.
It also has a lot of reports from doctors and from researchers. It also has at least one guy that worked for the FDA (I think) and made it clear that aspartame would never reach the public. And then polical folks danced right around him.
I thought the movie was exceptionally well done.
Anonymous
Joined: Oct 23, 2011
Posts: 0
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HOLY WOW, Ken. That's.....um......wow. All for the sake of a zero calorie beverage.
I haven't eaten the stuff in a long time, and my mom/grandma switched to stevia powder about a decade ago. I think they both carry little bottles in their purse when they eat out. I remember drinking Crystal Light at just about every family gathering for awhile though, in my elementary school years. I thought it tasted strange, but usually that's all there was for the kids. Our family has never been big on sodas. Crystal Light was considered the healthy alternative to kool-aid, and I guess it has less sugar but it has THAT STUFF IN IT!!!
What movie is that? Fast Food Nation? Haven't seen that one yet.
Charlie Zelhof
Joined: Jan 17, 2010
Posts: 121
Location: Hackensack, NJ Zone 7 Urban Homesteading
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I'd been eating Extra gum for years and recently I offered a piece to a girl, and she refused. When I asked why, she said it has aspartame, of which I had no idea. I said interesting, I'll look that up when I get a chance. About a week later when I looked it up, I completely quit the stuff.
The pink packet stuff is not nearly as bad as the yellow or blue. I would say that the pink stuff is about as bad for you as sugar.
Stevia is, IMOO, much better than sugar.
So if I were in a situation where there was no stevia, and I wanted to sweeten my coffee (I am coffee's bitch - and I think coffee is inedible without sweetener), I would probably go with the pink stuff. If there is no pink stuff, I'll go for sugar.
Ken Peavey
steward
Joined: Dec 21, 2009
Posts: 1060
Location: FL
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In my travels I've discovered that BAD coffee is better than NO coffee and in order to drink the MOST coffee, live a long and healthy life.
Gwen Lynn
Joined: Sep 04, 2008
Posts: 736
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I don't like most fake sugars. They're uber sweet to me. I've had stevia & I liked it pretty well.
My mother has been using saccharin (in her coffee) since the 50's. She also consumes aspartame in various sugar-free products. As of now, she is healthier than many of her peers (that I've met) and (unless something freakish happens) will turn 80 in June. She drives, does her own shopping & volunteers at a nursing home twice a week. She belongs to the Y and uses the pool 3 times a week. I'm not advocating using aspartame or saccharin by posting this, but mom could be a poster child for it's use.
Joined: Aug 26, 2010
Posts: 885
Location: Vancouver Island
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Also known to bring on epileptic bouts in those who have never had them before... don't drink (diet pop) and drive ....
John Polk
steward
Joined: Feb 20, 2011
Posts: 2079
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Aspartane is best known under its major trade name: Nutra Sweet. Within 2 years of the patent running out, Monsanto sold Nutra Sweet, as it was being mass produced elsewhere, and no longer profitable. They had bigger fish to fry, including rBST, RoundUp, and other proprietary products. They had also been the developer of saccharine. At one time, they were the government's largest supplier of Agent Orange, so it stands to reason that they had ample experience in the herbicide trade.
Jeanine Gurley
Joined: May 23, 2011
Posts: 586
Location: Midlands, South Carolina Zone 7b/8a
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How about a thread on growing stevia?
I take coffee intravenously and prefer to have it sweetened. As part of a 'no chemicals' diet I switched to pure stevia - love it.
I bought a plant a couple of years ago and it was fantastic, easy to dry and keep, fun to show the kids; they were amazed that you could pick a leaf and eat it and have it taste so sweet.
HOWEVER, once I put a plant in a pot it is certain death. Any tips on growing stevia and keeping the plants going from year to year would be great.
Joined: May 23, 2011
Posts: 586
Location: Midlands, South Carolina Zone 7b/8a
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Sorry, didn't realize there already was a thread!!
benz Hatfield
Joined: Jun 15, 2011
Posts: 1
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out of all the posts i read on things like this, this one seems the most obsurd, the following is why i beleive this to be true:
side effects listed Brain tumors, including brain cancer: - not that im aware of
Leukemia and lymphoma. - not yet at least
Birth defects: A study funded by Monsanto to look at possible birth defects caused by aspartame was cut off after preliminary data revealed fetal damage. - im male so im hardly going to worry about this one
A variety of diseases including diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, lupus, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue - i have very stable energy levels compared to most people, i would say i had no mental ilness but thats like saying im not crazy (you wouldnt know if you were or not) and im also rather active
Emotional disorders like depression[ii], panic attacks, bipolar disorder, and other mental symptoms[iii]: A study from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine concluded, “individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener” and should not use it. - always been a very positive person
Epilepsy/seizures: Numerous studies indicate that aspartame makes epilepsy/seizures worse[iv] - as i have never had them i cant comment
Migraines: 18 million people suffer from migraines, and aspartame may be one of the biggest culprits. Headaches are the most common complaint of aspartame users. - if i ever have a headache its down to stress
Numbness - only in winter, when its well... cold.
Hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) have had, howver this runs in my family
Blindness, blurred vision and other eye problems - perfect vision
Stomach disorders - nope, i have never vomited the contents of my stomach (ever) only bile (once every few years when i catch something really nasty)
Heart disease - nope
Impaired kidney function - if i do its because i do other odd things (going 12+ hours without water isnt uncommon)
Weight gain - 6 pack anyone? how anyone has unsucessful diets is beyond me, however i can see why people would use aspartame as a scapegoat for their lack of self discipline
i have also read reports of aspartame withdrawl being compared to heroin, when i have run out of diet coke and do not buy another bottle i have gone long periods without any aspartame (accidentally, no self control involved) and did not miss it nor receive any of the cold shivers, fits and all the other side effects they seem to have.
im not trying to be rude, just providing evidence from the other side that doesnt come from some corrupt official
in comparason, lets look at something that most people have no problems with, yet side effects are:
anemia gastrointestinal bleeding tinnitus complications leading to organ failure and death in children hives/swelling headache (ironic considering thats what its used for) bleeding in the brain
what evil substance could this possibly be aspirin! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspirin sounds very dangerous for something that can be extracted from willow bark doesnt it? (its natural so it must be okay right?)
Wilderness Return
Joined: Feb 26, 2011
Posts: 47
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Hello all, Personally I am highly allergic to Aspartame and Nutra-Sweet so I stay away. I did look up the products years ago and was a bit shocked and horified at what I saw actually. Consuming Aspartame and getting some shots like a booster or immunization has been linked to, hinted at, the person has a higher risk of getting some auto Immune diseases, including the one that I can not remember the name, that leaves you tired all the time, listless and unable to get out of bed or off the couch, the one that only allows you limited mobility per hour. Sorry just can not recall the name.
Melba Corbett
Joined: Apr 23, 2011
Posts: 88
Location: North Carolina
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Remember that Big Pharm or Big Corp simply changes names of products when the public sentiment goes against it, so they can attack from another angle. Aspartame has a mutant, evil sister called Neotame now. They are spraying it on crops, even forage crops for animals, as it masks the moldy hay or otherwise substandard feed the livestock would normally wisely refuse to eat. Nutrasweet in another form is now called Amino Sweet.
Aspartame is an incomplete sugar/alcohol which can make you crave sugar and/or alcohol. It was never originally meant to be a weight loss supplement, because it doesn't work as a weight loss supplement. It can actually make you gain weight, not by directly consuming it, but because of the craving to eat more sugars. Best to just use a real sweetener (whole sugars are best like honey, maple syrup or raw sugar); unless, of course, you are diabetic. Stevia is great in the way it works in the body, but some people don't like the taste. Many of them are simply using too much, it is VERY sweet and too much causes a bitter aftertaste.
Wild Edible & Medicinal Plant classes, & DVDs
Live in peace, walk in beauty, love one another.
Len Ovens
Joined: Aug 26, 2010
Posts: 885
Location: Vancouver Island
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Red Cloud 31 wrote: Best to just use a real sweetener (whole sugars are best like honey, maple syrup or raw sugar); unless, of course, you are diabetic. Stevia is great in the way it works in the body, but some people don't like the taste. Many of them are simply using too much, it is VERY sweet and too much causes a bitter aftertaste.
I suspect that our diet over all is too heavy on the sweet taste and that we need to learn to enjoy less sweet food. Places like McRalph's (not the real name) used sugar in their kid's foods to make children want to come back.... and we have grown up expecting food with more sugar/salt/msg/whatever than what we are designed for. (designed by whatever your favourite theory of how we got here is) I'm not being pro paleo here..... but we could go back a few hundred years anyway.
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