Replies

2) Aspartame. I love it in sweeteners (nutrasweek, etc.). I probably use between 100 and 200 packets a day. No joke. But I hear so many bad things about it. Is this junk science or not?

The only thing I am sure of is that it causes a common liver function test (SGOT) to give bizarre results that can confuse a lot of issues. People who are taking drugs such as Lipitor are surveyed regularly for liver function abnormalities. Containing or being metabolized to phenylalanine, it elevates the liver enzyme alanineaminotransferase. Simply put, the liver says, "What's this stuff" I had better get rid of it!".

I have no idea if it is harmful. Not thinking I swigged some diet Coke and gulped down a quick peanut butter sandwich, forgetting to fast before my appointment. triglycerides were through the roof, SGOT was weird, etc..

I'm fine, BTW.

There is a lot of Luddite misinformation of the web; Little is peer reviewed, and there are a lot of "Causes" going around. You might consider a Medline subscription so you can search real databases, thus avoiding the cranks who really just want to sell selenium supplements and healing crystals.

Not thinking I swigged some diet Coke and gulped down a quick peanut butter sandwich, forgetting to fast before my appointment. triglycerides were through the roof, SGOT was weird, etc..

You may be on to something. I went in for some blood tests last year and the same thing happened with me. triglycerides off the charts, but I went in for another test after fasting and it was much better, though still a little high.

"thus avoiding the cranks who really just want
to sell selenium supplements and healing crystals."

If you lump these two together then you are not reading much current literature. There are numerous studies about selenium and cancer prevention. Some of the studies have focused on the low selenium content in the soil in certain areas of the country called the "cancer belt".

BTW, did you know that the Journal of the American Medical Association is now recommending that adults take a high-quality multivitamin supplement regularly?