Battling Multiple Sclerosis

By Peggy Huff

Aspartame Defined

Aspartame is a synthetic chemical made up of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine and a methyl ester that breaks down into methyl alcohol (wood alcohol). It is 200 times sweeter than sugar (but considered to be calorie-free) and was approved by the FDA in 1981 as a tabletop sweetener and for use in gum, breakfast cereals and other dry products. The use of aspartame was expanded to soft drinks in 1983 and then for use as a general-purpose sweetener in all foods and drinks in 1996. It is marketed under the names Equal, NutraSweet and Canderel and is found in over 6000 foods (including many chewable vitamins) and beverages worldwide. The current “acceptable daily intake” of 50 mg/kg body weight represents the projection of animal studies based on lifetime intake.

Metabolism of Aspartame

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By Jon Arnold

Most people do not realize how wide-spread the affliction of multiple sclerosis is in today’s world. It affects tens of thousands of people, but it is one of those diseases where a very mild form of it could almost go unnoticed by the general public, and allow the patient to live a pretty normal day to day life. But for others, the effects of multiple sclerosis can be harsh.

Multiple sclerosis is generally considered to be a disease of the nervous system. With most patients, MS gets worse over time, although that time can be anywhere from a few weeks to several years, since the rate of degradation differs from person to person. The most obvious effect is the loss of motor controls within the central nervous system, starting with a loss of eeling and a loss of control over normal movements and speaking.

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By Graeme Marsh

Exercise prescription for MS can be a challenging task due to the wide range of effects that it can have on the body, which can from minimal to sometimes quite severe and disabling. For a long time exercise was thought of as being detrimental to people with the condition, although studies over the past ten years tell a different story. While exercise can’t actually reverse the process of this condition it can make a real difference to quality of life and state of mind. There are many inspirational stories of people who feel great benefits from including activity in their lives despite the fact that fatigue and weakness are two of the main symptoms associated with the condition.

The research backs this up as well, despite obvious difficulties with methods and measures. The first study to show the real benefits of exercise for MS was done in 1996 where there was a clear improvement shown in not only fitness, but also in reduced levels of depression. Since then there have been several studies that have shown positive results for many as a result of taking up some form of activity such as aerobic exercise, aquatic therapy, tai-chi, or yoga. Results do vary between individuals but the average improvement in fitness from an aerobic exercise programme over 6 months is around 30%.

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I have been posting around the week of the 10th of each month a “THANK-YOU” post, like this one, to all the advertisers from the previous month listed as at month end. That’s a permanent link in this blog, under the category heading which I call .. “Sponsor Appreciation”. I know it’s hard out there trying to figure out where to spend your advertising dollars .. and well .. THANKS for considering the Battling Multiple Sclerosis Blog.

I have compiled a new advertising page for the HART-Empire Network of sites for your perusal.

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