In Memoriam:

H. J. Roberts,

Father of the

Anti-Aspartame Movement

On Feb 23, 2013, a great man passed away. His 88 years of achievement are well named by his book, Protecting Mankind, and surely he benefited us all. Hyman J. Roberts, MD, FACP, FCCP, carried both a full patient load and a career as a scientist investigating poisons in our food and environment. Named the Best Doctor in the United States in 1984 by a medical journal, he was also author of 24 texts. All this and a beautiful wife, Carol, who gave him six children before she became commissioner and mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida, and later ran for Congress.

I met Dr. Roberts 20 years ago when my husband’s best friend became victim of Parkinson’s disease. Through his research, Dr. Roberts identified a chemical trigger for this fatal malady. It was aspartame, the chemical sweetener called NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Canderel . It is found in diet sodas, candies, chewing gum, and thousands of other “foods” and drugs. In 1995 the FDA published a list of 92 reactions to this toxin from over 10,000 volunteered consumer complaints. I told my husband that I would get this killer off the market.

Dr. Roberts backed me up 200%! He became my mentor and guide. With his vast input he helped me became an authority on toxic chemical sweeteners. MDs came from as far away as Australia. I asked Dr. Roberts to write a book that would be the hammer to drive the stake through this monster’s heart. He did it! Dr. Roberts prepared a comprehensive 1038-page medical text: Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic (www.sunsentpress.com), including hundreds of patient histories, instructions for doctors, absolute evidence to Protect Mankind from a poison that most Americans consume and by which they are slowly damaged or destroyed. The toxin is ingested in minute cumulative doses, bringing diverse and disperse symptoms, difficult for most doctors to diagnose, especially since the FDA and agencies – as servants for the aspartame industry – say it is safe as rain. I felt so honored by the dedication.

Over a year long labor of research and publishing was unnecessary for Dr. Roberts. In the autumn of his illustrious life, he had no need for my hundreds of phone calls and e-mails, which he collected and answered when necessary with kindness. It was simply the generous compassion of a true humanitarian. He was father of the anti-aspartame movement, the world expert, and so educated multitudes worldwide from this neurotoxin. It mattered not who you were or what your problem, he listened, and helped.

His accomplishments and awards fill many pages. He was a humanitarian in every sense, knighted for this by the Order of St. George. He championed help to many who thought they would never be well. Most physicians aren’t knowledgeable about aspartame’s causing so many symptoms and diseases, or even that it interacts with drugs and vaccines. Dr. Roberts took care of many of the victims also in the trenches of medical practice, returning them to a healthful life.

I remember many events from over 20 years working with Dr. Roberts. We attended the American College of Physicians Conference in Atlanta. He was pleased with giving out flyers to educate so many doctors. At a workshop I remember that a professor of neurology wanted to know why there were so many seizures for no reason. Dr. Roberts asked me to answer instead of him. He was pleased that my answer was what he would have given, and said, “I give you an AAD [Also A Doctor].” In another workshop we could give questions to the professor. After he wrote his, then looked at mine, he realized that they were identical. So he said, “now you have an AAS [Also A Specialist].” He was my dear mentor who blessed me with the knowledge to help others. I’ll always be grateful. When we had the first Aspartame Awareness Day, he was right there at the walk continuing to help educate.

Dr. Roberts named “Aspartame Disease” because there is a pattern and the symptoms are predictable. When he turned 75, I flew to West Palm Beach and read this poem for his dinner party.

Dead Eye Roberts

Down in Chemical City

In a Saloon named Drink & Die

A gang of killers jeers

As the hearses rolling by

There’s Diet Coke and Pepsi

Counting money, if you please

While Dottie Dietitian’s girls

Are giggling on their knees

And sittin’ in the corner

At a table just for him

Is the master of the killers

Mad Monsanto, heard of him?

Besides Mad Monty, laughing

In a gown of crimson, low

Sprawls Fanny Does Anything

She’s the FDA you know

Her hand is in his pocket

But he don’t give a care

Cause she runs the Drink & Die

And he’s always welcome there

Comes a call now from the street:

“Come out Monty, meet your fate

Your killing days are over

Retribution will not wait”

It’s Dead Eye Roberts riding

On his horse Hippocrates

And he’s never missed an outlaw

With that shotgun on his knees

He’s been fighting public poisoners

“It’s just good medicine” he avers

Can’t be bought, he’s not for sale…

You hear the moneygrubbers wail

A hundred million, nay, many more

Owe life and health to our troubadour

My life is sweetened, to answer then:

“Dr. H. J. Roberts? He’s my friend!”

– Betty Martini

When he had serious heart problems, I knew this time would come all too soon. A year ago Dr. Roberts sent me his three decades of research. His son, a cardiologist, told me that he was at peace knowing that his work would be continued. I remember how pleased he was when we were called “Roberts Angels.” Eventually, as Mission Possible World Health International, we published his material to saturate the globe. I’ll always remember how happy he was when another life was saved. He was an amazing and brilliant physician.

A tree is being planted in Israel in his name by the chief Rabbi in Jerusalem, gift of Mike Sylver, CEO of Just Like Sugar, a firm applying Dr. Roberts’ principles to nutrition.

How can we properly honor a man who lived such a splendid, generous, compassionate and fruitful life? No tribute is equal to tens of thousands alive and well because Dr. Hyman Roberts warned the world against the savage toxins contaminating our foods in the name of sweetness. But there is One who has promised to remember men like Dr. Roberts. He told his servant Daniel (in the last verse of that Sacred Book, 12:13.): “Go thou thy way, for thou shalt rest and stand up for thy allotted portion at the End of Days.”

Dr. Betty Martini, DHum

Founder, Mission Possible Intl.

9270 River Club Parkway

Duluth, Georgia 30097

770 242-2599

www.mpwhi.com, www.dorway.com, www.wnho.net

Aspartame Toxicity Center: www.holisticmed.com/aspartame