Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Avoiding Credit Card Debt Relief Scams

Benefits of Debt Relief Programs

People with mounting debts can reap major benefit from debt relief programs. These programs are designed for this specific purpose but choosing the specific terms of the plans could affect each individual's financial condition differently. If you wish to free yourself off any debt, then you must choose a debt relief program that meets your needs.

For instance, debt negotiation is one common debt relief program that offers benefits to the debtor. It saves money since you will get to pay a reduced amount from the original amount of debt you owe, it will save you time as professional debt negotiators will be the one discussing this debt reduction process on your behalf. If you are able to choose a reliable and sound debt relief program, most people with debts find themselves free of debt within two or three years.

Common Scam Techniques

While there are several legitimate debt relief companies available in the industry, there are a few others who are looking to take advantage of people's urgency to settle their debts. Like with legitimate debt relief companies, they offer debtors a promise of the opportunity to become debt-free. Sadly though, they most often target individuals who are desperate to find debt relief since they cannot afford to lose their money.

There are a few common tell-tale signs that the debt relief program you are dealing with is a scam. Hence, identifying them will help you recognize whom to trust and whom not to in terms of finding solution for your debt problems.

Charging to Fix Your Credit Report

There are a few debt relief programs who offer their services of cleaning out your credit report and any errors with massive fees. This process is quite intricate, which is the reason why most people often opt to hire professionals to do it for them. However, you need to be extra careful with choosing since some of them can be outright deceptive. Another reason why such claims are considered scam is that you can fix credit report free of any charge. There are three credit bureaus from which you can acquire a free copy of your yearly credit report. When you have the copy, study it for any false information or suspicious transactions.

Loaning To Fix Bad Credit

This particular scam technique affects debtors in two ways. First, you are charged for a loan that you are not even qualified for to begin with. Therefore, the money you spend trying to settle the loan is put to waste since you could have used that trying to settle off your previous credit card debts. Next, although your creditor makes claim that you have loaned out money, you never get to receive any money. Worse thing is, these scams do not provide you with a legitimate company name so they basically run away with your money while you are left with no way to trace them.

False Identity

This is a sure sign that you are dealing with bogus credit repair companies. When they ask you to create a new credit identity to attain a high credit score, then you need to realize that this is a complete illegal move. Even if you are unfamiliar with legal laws, then everyone might be aware that creating false identity is a clear violation of law.

Therefore, make it a point to screen out the credit repair company you are dealing with before you decide to work with them. If you are serious about getting rid of any credit card debt you currently have, then opting for illegal means is not the best way to do it. Moreover, being subjected to scams would cause you money that could have been used to pay off your credit card debts.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Aspartame and MSG - Can They Cause Seizures?

Re: Aspartame and MSG - Can They Cause Seizures?

Dear Shan,

Thank you for taking the time to send in this very helpful and extensive
information. My husband was not taking aspartame to lose weight, but because he
wanted a sweetener for coffee, etc., that was OK for diabetics. Apparently, it
is not a good substance for diabetics to use - I wouldn't have known this if it
weren't for the information you sent. He has agreed to not use aspartame or MSG
- I will tell him about taking magnesium - much gratitude -

Janet A.





> My information is that both aspartame and MSG can and do cause seizures.
The evidense for aspartame especially is huge -but MSG is also what is called
an excitotoxin - effects the body in a similar way. And if your husband is
taking aspartame in an attempt to lose weight - it has been proven that
aspartame makes you gain weight.... And did you say your husband was a diabetic
- well he really should stay away from MCG too!!!
>
> MSG and Diabetes
> Why should MSG matter to a diabetic?MSG causes a very large insulin response
after it is ingested since there are glutamate receptors in the pancreas.
According to the following research done in Canada, ingested MSG DOES result in
higher plasma concentrations of free glutamic acid AND higher insulin levels as
well: http://ajpendo.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/278/1/E8 This study alone
makes free glutamic acid's role in diseases like Diabetes extremely relevant to
the overuse of MSG and free glutamic acid in our food.
> http://www.msgtruth.org/diabetes.htm
>
> Aspartame is highly addictive and there are a few yahoo groups especially
for those trying to stop using it. You might check them out. I had no trouble
stopping aspartame but then, I never did use it a lot . However I do know
somebody whom found it has a terrible time going off of aspartame - he finally
did but it took a couple of years. I was very surprised - this person is a man
of strong character and determination............. Anyways, your husband will
not only be a lot healthier off of aspartame and MSG but he will live longer and
find it easier to control his insulin and weight too.
> I has seizures for 49 years - I haven't had any seizures now for a few
years and have not taken any medication since October 20007. I do take lots of
magnesium though - in the form of magnesium glycinate. it seems that I am
magnesium deficient - no body ever tested me for that . Actually my
understanding is that there is not a reliable test for magnesium deficiency .
But it causes seizures among other things.
> Anyways here are some urls for aspartame and seizures as well as several
for MSG - also Dr Russell Blaylock has written a very good book about them. You
might google him and get it.
>
> Aspartame Is By Far, the Most Dangerous Substance On the Market That Is Added
To Foods
> Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweet, Equal,
Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms
listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines,
dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes,
depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems,
hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks,
slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain.
Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food
additives reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
> http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/nutrasweet_scandal.htm
>
> Aspartame consumption strongly associated with migraines and seizures
> http://www.naturalnews.com/008797.html
>
> Aspartame promotes grand mal seizures, say health experts
> http://www.naturalnews.com/008952.html
>
> Interview with Dr. Russell Blaylock on devastating health effects of MSG,
aspartame and excitotoxins
> http://www.naturalnews.com/020550.html
>
> Aspartame: Killing You By Degrees, Part I
>
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/10/06/aspartame-killing-\
us-by-degrees-part-i.aspx
>
> 1995 list of aspartame reactions
> http://www.mpwhi.com/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf
>
> The TRUTH About Aspartame!
> If it says "SUGAR FREE" on the label DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!
Aspartame...Disguised and Deadly!Because Monsanto's artificial sweetener
aspartame (sold as "Nutrasweet," "Equal," and "Spoonful") is over 200 times
sweeter than sugar, it's a common ingredient found in "diet" foods and has
become a sweetening staple for dieters. Besides being a deadly poison (see page
42), aspartame actually contributes to weight gain by causing a craving for
carbohydrates. A study of 80,000 women by the American Cancer Society found that
those who used this neurotoxic "diet" sweetener actually gained more weight than
those who didn't use aspartame products. Find out more about the deadly health
risks posed by Monsanto's toxic sweetener on this website:
www.aspartamekills.com Helpful Information; Stevia healty alternative;manymany
links to more info about aspartame.
> http://www.lovethetruth.com/truth_about_aspartame.htm
>
> AND MCS
>
> MSGTruth.org
> [ Why MSGTruth? ] [ Food For Thought ] [ American Restaurant Syndrome? ] [
What exactly is MSG? ] [ What Makes Me MSG Sensitive? ] [ Body Systems Affected
by MSG ] [ Disease States Affected by MSG ] [ Disease Statistics ] [ What Foods
To Avoid? ] [ What To Eat? ] [ Remedies ] [ Related Research ] [ MSG in the NEWS
] [ Recommended Reading and Videos ] [ FlowChart ]
> http://www.msgtruth.org/
>
> Dr. Russel Blaylock discusses how our food today is adulterated with
excitotoxins. Dr. Blaylock has written many books and does an excllent job
explaining how these toxins affect our bodies. He cuts through the political and
industry lies. This is a must see video. www.TheFoodIsHorrible.com
> This is very good - shows several of the names for MSG, as well as discussed
how it kills brain cells, and causes seveal differnent diseases including
strokes etc
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2141666279271222294&ei=
>
> MSG and Obesity
> MSG is injected into laboratory rats to induce obesity.The part of the brain
responsible for hunger - the hypothalamus, is not protected at all by the
blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier is compromised in individuals in a
hypoglycemic state, which may occur when levels of insulin - the very hormone
increased by ingesting MSG, is high. Leptin did not work on test animals that
were obese due to MSG-induced obesity. This suggests that perhaps the damage to
the hypothalamus caused by MSG, caused the hypothalamus to become resistant to
the effect of leptin. So - MSG = activated AMPK = increased appetite = decreased
energy expenditure = obesity. Glutamate is proven to cause the damage in
stroke. CoQ10 helps the body withstand metabolic stress. The very stress that
glutamate causes. Stroke is now being called an obesity-related disease, but
perhaps "MSG-related disease" would be nearer the mark, and CoQ10 is now on the
formulary for heart patients at hospitals in the U.S. By directly stimulating
the pancreas to release insulin, which drops the blood sugar, MSG can be
considered an "anti-appetite suppressant". Over-release of insulin can lead to
obesity and insulin resistance - the start of Type II Diabetes. Asthma has
already been proven to be excacerbated by MSG.
> http://www.msgtruth.org/obesity.htm
>
> A 40 minute interview with Dr. Russell Blaylock:
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4170168714960373154&hl=en-CA
>
> MSG - How To Avoid The Hidden Sources
> http://cnn.com/HEALTH/diet.fitness Sufferers of monosodium glutamate (MSG)
toxicity syndromes have long been dismissed by the makers of glutamate & food
additives + by the FDA, whose labeling standards for foods containing the
controversial flavor enhancer are fairly lax. What is MSG toxicity syndrome?;
Symptoms that MSG can bring on; MSG-sensitive individuals are still at risk for
becoming severely ill from food they buy at the store or order off a menu; most
of the MSG-containing foods that cause MSG syndrome are not 99 percent pure &
are allowed to be labeled obscurely: "monopotassium glutamate," "autolyzed
yeast," "hydrolyzed soy protein" & "sodium caseinate" are examples of
ingredients that always contain MSG. more
> http://www.rense.com/health3/msgsources.htm
>
> Dangers of MSG -- A Three-Part Series
> videos. You probably already knew that MSG could damage your brain cells. But
that is only the tip of the iceberg...
> http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/dangers-of-msg--part-1-32463.aspx
>
> Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Toxicity Web Page
> http://www.holisticmed.com/msg/
>
> Truth In Labeling - The whole truth about MSG
> http://www.truthinlabeling.org/Dang.html
>
> blessings
> Shan
>

> > Hello -
> >
> > I am writing because my 62-year-old husband had a grand mal seizure this
past January (his first seizure ever) - the MDs attributed it to his blood sugar
dropping (he is a diabetic), but this never really made sense, and in the end,
they confessed that they could not find the cause of the seizure, after
performing various tests (EEG, CAT scan, etc.) - the night before he had the
seizure, he had eaten some Chinese take-out food which I noticed (since I had
eaten it also) had a great deal of MSG in it...
> >
> > Early this morning, to my great distress, he had another seizure, and
someone just asked me if he uses aspartame. He does use several packets a day,
and also had a can of diet soda (with aspartame in it) last night, so he had
even more aspartame than usual before having the seizure. They want to put him
on Keppra, an anti-seizure medication, and the side effects from this medication
sound worse than the seizures themselves! (from what I read online from those
who take it...) -
> >
> > Does anyone know anything about this, or have any experience with
aspartame or MSG causing seizure activity in those sensitive to it?
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Janet A.
> >