It was rightly advised under the topic "Arthritis" to avoid MSG, even if you do not suffer from arthritis. It's also an extremely good idea to avoid artificial sweeteners (I didn't notice them being implicated in exacerbating arthritis, however), as is abundantly made clear on this site:

Click Here

Scary!

"It is a deadly neurotoxic drug masquerading as an additive"

Sensationalistic claptrap. Well written Sensationalistic claptrap at that.

There are those who have an axe to grind with Searle, and there are those with and axe (or two) to grind with Rumsfeld. Apparently, publisher of the referenced web page has an axe to grind with both.

An interesting read, though.

Well said Rick.

Artificial sweetner, DDT and the forest is leaving was tackled by Prime time this last week. One of the highlights was that the only way some of these "green" organizations could raise money was by scare tactics. Such as "We won't have any forest by (pick a year)". Truth is the forest is growing larger. DDT is killing everything and averybody. To date no one has died from DDT (from Primetime ABC show). Did say that it affected bird shells negatively. Primetime said it is killing folks as the folks in Africa could not get it to help with mosquito control thus Malaria. Came in on the end of the sweetner thing so will not post other than to say it is a myth.

They also pointed out that if it wern't for some of these groups actions, it might not be today so good but them to keep going to the trough to get money, the only way is to say things are bad.

Let see, I need to start one to collect money.

If more falangs don't move to Thailand, Thailand might fall off the earth. Please send money to help more falangs move to Thailand. PM for where to send funds.

BP, You're being a bit blase with the generalisations there. I don't doubt that sometimes some people exaggerate (use scare tactics) or use emotive language to promote their causes. But the dangers of DDT are well documented and as far as I knew, it had been banned in most countries for decades, so it would seem unlikely that people have been dying from it. Often toxic chemicals kill by stealth such as through cancers arising years later.

The rain forests of the Amazon and Brazil amongst many others have been dramatically reduced and I thought still were being. IF forests are growing larger now, wherever, then Ok that's good.

Re sweeteners, a good many years ago, quite possibly 15-20 years, I saw a "World in Action" documentary programme on the BBC TV about how a particular research company had been falsifying research data. They interviewed several employees/ex-employees of that company, who explained how when some of the rats being tested with a particular product developed brain tumours and died they were removed from their cages and replaced by another rat, without the test records showing the fact. And that it had happened often. The product being tested I have always remembered was Aspartame, which they said was also available as Nutrasweet.

The World in Action programmes were highly respected. The BBC had no axe to grind, nor need for senastionalism. I made a mental note to avoid products containing those sweeteners, such as diet drinks.

It's funny isn't it how, 15-20 years later, these sweeteners are being (and have been for some time) accused of causing cancer and brain tumours in people and how there is so much adverse rhetoric (sensationalistic or not) about them. To me that's not a "myth".

I am a firm believer in the old adage "there is no smoke without fire".

Thanks Arjay for comming back on this as I must admit I made a mistake. It was not primetime but ABC 20/20.

To go a bit farther, I must admit and have said it before that I take all media articles with a BIG grain of salt. Most of these folks that do this don't really have a clue except how to write. The subject matter does not matter to them. That is their job and I do not fault them it is just that real investagative reporting is a bit gone now.

I feel 20/20 is about as good as BBC or any other news agency.

I also believe any subject you come up with you will find an expert that can show scientific proof of both sides. I have seen this in my work experience.

Oh by the way here is the 20/20 website. Will let you read this and to be honest should have posted it with my first post.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=123606

By reading the post from World in Action I feel there whole point is very clearly stated in the removal of D. Rumsfeld. Though not my favorite person, it really had nothing to do with sweetners. They tried to make it out that way but there whole point was Rumsfeld.

I am glad personally some of these groups are at work. Inhaled a good bit of Benzene during my early working years. If not for some of their work most likely would have breathed it all my career.

But on news articles I try to find the other opinion from the stated, read both sides and then form my own opinion.

Agian thanks. Always like to hear the other side.

By the way still have not gotten any mail on falangs moving to Thailand.