NYC soda ban wrong on so many levels

I know this is a few days late...some may consider it yesterday's news... but it's worth mentioning for a few reasons.

First of all any time the government steps in to "fix" a problem they unknowingly create 10 more. They think that banning regular sodas will fix the obesity problem when it is not the government's job to fix (nor do I think it will create any positive effect what-so-ever). If people want to be obese let them. If they want to drink themselves into an early grave let them. Who are we to judge how someone else is supposed to live their life? This may sound like I don't care and am a little cruel, but I assure you that is further from the truth. I just don't believe that the government's place is to tell us what is or is not healthy for individuals or the "public" (which is just a group of individuals).

This will be the case with banning high fructose corn syrup (in regular sodas). The fact of the matter is that aspartame in diet soda's is just as bad as, if not worse than, high fructose corn syrup. No it doesn't make you fat, but according to many it is considered a neurotoxin. Which means that since regular sodas are being banned, people will be forced into drinking more neurotoxins aspartame.

HFCS may cause diabetes and obesity, but aspartame causes neurological damage and early-onset Alzheimer's. But that's just what New York needs, it seems: A wave of crabby soda-drinking senior citizens who are half blind and can't remember where their apartment building is located. (Or has that already happened?) - Natural News

Boy am I glad that I stopped drinking soda a long time ago, because either way you go- regular or diet- it is completely unhealthy. Once in a while is ok, but the way some people drink soda :/ ... it's bad.

Health Effects of Aspartame

Eye
-  blindness in one or both eyes
-  decreased vision and/or other eye problems such as: blurring, bright flashes, squiggly lines, tunnel vision, decreased night vision
-  pain in one or both eyes
-  decreased tears
-  trouble with contact lenses
-  bulging eyes 

Ear
-  tinnitus - ringing or buzzing sound
-  severe intolerance of noise
-  marked hearing impairment 

Neurologic
-  epileptic seizures
-  headaches, migraines and (some severe)
-  dizziness, unsteadiness, both
-  confusion, memory loss, both
-  severe drowsiness and sleepiness
-  paresthesia or numbness of the limbs
-  severe slurring of speech
-  severe hyperactivity and restless legs
-  atypical facial pain
-  severe tremors
-  Psychological/Psychiatric
-  severe depression
-  irritability
-  aggression
-  anxiety
-  personality changes
-  insomnia
-  phobias 

Chest
-  palpitations, tachycardia
-  shortness of breath
-  recent high blood pressure
-  Gastrointestinal
-  nausea
-  diarrhea, sometimes with blood in stools
-  abdominal pain
-  pain when swallowing 

Skin and Allergies
-  itching without a rash
-  lip and mouth reactions
-  hives
-  aggravated respiratory allergies such as asthma 

Endocrine and Metabolic
-  loss of control of diabetes
-  menstrual changes
-  marked thinning or loss of hair
-  marked weight loss
-  gradual weight gain
-  aggravated low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
-  severe PMS 

Other
-  frequency of voiding and burning during urination
-  excessive thirst, fluid retention, leg swelling, and bloating
-  increased susceptibility to infection 

Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all
-  death
-  irreversible brain damage
-  birth defects, including mental retardation
-  peptic ulcers
-  aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets
-  hyperactivity in children
-  severe depression
-  aggressive behavior
-  suicidal tendencies  

Aspartame may trigger, mimic, or cause the following illnesses:
-  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
-  Epstein-Barr
-  Post-Polio Syndrome
-  Lyme Disease
-  Grave’s Disease
-  Meniere’s Disease
-  Alzheimer’s Disease
-  ALS
-  Epilepsy
-  Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
-  EMS
-  Hypothyroidism
-  Mercury sensitivity from Amalgam fillings
-  Fibromyalgia
-  Lupus
-  non-Hodgkins
-  Lymphoma

- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) 

If you think you are addicted to soda, try replacing one soda a day with water...every week replace one more soda with water until you are just drinking water. Try to watch for any positive changes in how you feel. I bet you will see a difference.