How Does Aspartame Damage Your Brain?

Consuming a lot of aspartame may inhibit the ability of enzymes in your brain to function normally, according to a new review by scientists from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo.

The review found that high doses of the sweetener may lead to neurodegeneration. It has also previously been found that aspartame consumption can cause neurological and behavioral disturbances in sensitive individuals.

Specifically, the review found a number of direct and indirect changes that occur in your brain as a result of high consumption levels of aspartame, including disturbing:

The metabolism of amino acids
Protein structure and metabolism
The integrity of nucleic acids
Neuronal function
Endocrine balances

Further, the breakdown of aspartame causes nerves to fire excessively, which can indirectly lead to a high rate of neuron depolarisation.

Despite these growing concerns, neither the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have changed their guidelines regarding the safety of the ingredient or intake advice.

Sources:
Food Quality News April 6, 2008
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008, 62, 451–462

Comments:

Anyway, there's no problem for us Filipinos because we are not using aspartame as sweetener. We are used to our native sweetener from sugar cane. In any case, this has been an interesting and informative news to date and should not be taken for granted.

For your information and guidance.

WATER - TREASURE WE IGNORE

All life on earth depends on water. A drop of dew, runoff rivulets from supersaturated moss, and the billowing sea are all links in the hydrologic cycle. This is the constant movement of water from ocean back to ocean by means of evaporation, condensation, rain, and runoff - a circular process that washes and nourishes all life on earth.

A man's weight is 70% water. A blade of grass is 90 to 95%
water. Water covers three fourts of the earth, as river, lake,
swamp, sea, icecap. The Bible tells us we are survivors of a
blood. Today's scientists concur that all life began in the oceans and that, though certain creatures have succeeded in living out of water, none we know has or will succeed in living without it.

For those of us whose concerns over water extend no further than to the kitchen tap or to the shower stall, it is hard to imagine that people one very continent are coping right now with water as nature provides it
where they are - too much or too little of it, muddy, salty, stagnant, turbulent, or frozen. In many areas of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, andLatin America, economic and social progress is showed by antiquatedways of using water and by widespread disease resulting from water
pollution.

Each year huge amounts of industrial wastes are dumped into the world's waters. Each year more people waste more water. The future of water in the balance of nature is of grave concern; it and the future of man are inextricably linked.

Philippine Medicinal Plants 4

MANGO

A tree of East Asian origin that is widely cultivated in tropical areas for its fruit, the mango, Mangifera indica, belongs to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. The genus Mangifera contains about 60 species of jungle trees whose fruits are fibrous, acrid, and sometimes toxic, with a flavor that has been likened to turpentine.
Centuries of selection have produced varieties that are free of both fibers and offensive flavor.

They are rich in vitamins A, C, and D. Unripe they are used for mango chutney. When ripe, mangoes are soft and very juicy. An overripe mango tastes like turpentine.

Whoever eats this fruit frequently, also purifies the blood, prevents the accumulations of mucous in the throat and respiratory tract, counteracts all kinds of catarrhs, hoarseness, cough, diseases of the bronchial tubes, pain and debility of the stomach, intestinal laziness and fevers.

Tea made by boiling the leaves of the mango tree, prepared as a concoction, counteracts bronchitis and diseases of the stomach. Tea obtained from the seed of this fruit, prepared as concoction, combats intestinal worms and parasites.

With the use of honey, a very healthful syrup can be prepared from this fruit.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES:

ALTERATIVE : A treatment that alters processes of nutrition.

Scientific name : Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae

The decoction of the leaves is antidiuretic. The oil of the seed is useful in chronic malarial fever. The root is also employed as an alterative.

English : Mango
Tagalog : Manga

EARTH DAY

Be a part of the

biggest

EARTH DAY

yet

April 22, 2008

FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE!!!

No matter if you are

rich or poor,

you have to live on the same

planet.

And you have to breathe the same

air.

WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED

IN TODAY'S PROBLEM ON

GLOBAL WARMING?

MORE

GARDENERS

&

EARTH WATCHERS.

THE ROPE

THE WISDOM OF FLORENCE ANN

Life and the Things I've Learned

I've learned

That you can do something in an

instant

That will give you heartache for

life.

I've learned

That it's taking me a long time

To become the person I want to

be.

I've learned

That you should always leave

loved ones with loving words.

It may be the last time you see

them.

I've learned

That you can keep going

Long after you can't.

I've learned

That we are responsible for what

we do,

No matter how we feel.

I've learned

That you either control your

attitude

Or it controls you.

I've learned

That heroes are the people who

do what has to be done

When it needs to be done,

regardless of the consequences.

I've learned

That money

Is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned

That sometimes the people you

expect to kick you when you're down

Are the ones to help you get back

up.

I've learned

That sometimes when I'm angry,

I have the right to be angry.

But that doesn't give me the right

to be cruel.

I've learned

That true friendship continues to

grow, even over the longest distance.

Same goes for true love.

I've learned

That just because someone doesn't

love you the way you want them to

Doesn't mean they don't love you

with all they have.

I've learned

That maturity has to do with

what types of experiences you've

had and what you've learned from

them

And less to do with how many

birthdays you've celebrated.

Families aren't biological.

I've learned

That no matter how good a friend

is, they're going to hurt you every

once in a while

And you must forgive them for

that.

I've learned

That it isn't always enough to be

forgiven by others.

Sometimes you have to learn to

forgive yourself.

I've learned

That no matter how bad your

heart is broken

The world doesn't stop for your

grief.

I've learned

That our background and

circumstances may have influenced

who we are,

But we are responsible for who

we become.

I've learned

That just because two people

argue, it doesn't mean they don't love

each other

And just because they don't argue,

it doesn't mean that they do.

I've learned

That we don't have to change

friends

If we understand that friends

change.

I've learned

That you shouldn't be so eager to

find out a secret.

It could change your life forever.

I've learned

That two people can look at the

exact same thing

And see something totally

different.

I've learned

That your life can be changed in a

matter of hours

By people who don't even know

you.

I've learned

That even when you think you

have no more to give

When a friend cries out to you,

you will find the strength to help.

I've learned

That credentials on the wall

Do not make you a decent human

being.

I've learned

That the people you care about

most in life

Are taken from you too soon.

Philippine Medicinal Plants 3

ONION

A widely cultivated Asiatic herb (Allium cepa) of the lily family with pungent edible bulbs.

Onions grew in in Chinese garden as early as 5000 years ago and there are references in some of the oldest Vedic writings from India. In Egypt, onions can be traced back to 3500 B.C. There is an evidence that the Sumerians were growing onions as early as
2500 B.C.

Onions not only provide flavor; they also provide health-promoting phytochemicals as well as nutrients.

Onions contain quercetin, a flavanoid (one category of antioxidant compounds). Antioxidants are compounds that help delay or slow the oxidative damage to cells and tissue of the body.

Several studies have shown quercetin to have beneficial effects against many diseases and disorders including cataracts, cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer of the breast, colon, ovarian, gastric, lung, and bladder.

THERAPEUTIC PROPERTY:

RUBEFACIENT - An external application which produces redness of the skin.
Scientific Name: Allium cepa Liliaceae
The bulb, applied externally, is stimulant and rubefacient.
Tagalog: Sibuyas

Trivial Facts:

Question: What compound in onions bring tears to your eyes?
Answer: Sulfuric compound

TIP: To cut down on the crying, chill the onion and cut into the root end of the onion last.

Question: How many calories are in a serving of onions?
Answer: 45 calories