The Dangers Of Aspartame

Aspartame seems to be everywhere from chewing gum, soda and other foods. What is Aspartame and why should we want to avoid this sugar substitute?

Aspartame

Aspartame is really another name for the sugar substitutes:

• NutraSweet
• Equal
• Spoonful
• Equal-Measure

In 1965 this sugar substitute was discovered by a chemist of G.D. Searle Company named James Schlatter when testing an anti-cancer drug. In 1981 this sugar substitute was approved for our dry goods and in 1983 it was added to carbonated beverages. In 1974 it was originally approved for dry goods but investigations put its use on hold. Three chemicals make up Aspartame including phenylalanine, methanol, and aspartic acid. Professor of neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi Dr. Russell L. Blaylock published a book stating that ingesting these three chemicals can have serious health consequences. He states that they excite neural cells and cause them to die and they are referred to as “excitotoxins.”

When Aspartame containing products are heated up above 86 Fahrenheit they release free methanol and in the body, this breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde with formaldehyde being a deadly neurotoxin. Methanol itself is toxic and a one-liter bottle of an Aspartame beverage has 56 mg of methanol. Methanol poisoning includes headaches, ear buzzing, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, chills, numbness, vision problems, and neuritis.

The Dangers of Aspartame

This sugar substitute is responsible for about 75 percent of adverse reactions to food additives that are reported to the FDA. Some reactions reported include:

• Headaches/migraines
• Muscle spasms
• Seizures
• Breathing difficulties
• Slurred speech
• Tinnitus
• Weight gain

There are many other symptoms that are also associated with Aspartame as well. Some conditions can be aggravated by ingesting aspartame such as Parkinson’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, and fibromyalgia.

Avoiding Aspartame – Go Natural Instead

Any product that contains Aspartame, NutraSweet, or any other the other sugars under the Aspartame name should be avoided.  Most diet soda has Aspartame as the main ingredient and should be avoided. Many diet foods such as candy, gum, and other products also contain Aspartame; In fact, it is better to ingest real sugar products than to take Aspartame in any form. Better the enemy that you know.

People should look to products that use other sugar substitutes such as stevia a natural sweetener, xylitol, or honey.  Aspartame is less than ideal and it should never be ingested if you can avoid it. In my opinion, products containing Aspartame doesn’t belong on the store shelves, particularly when natural alternatives are more effective and have a far larger safety record.

Read food labels carefully before buying any pre-packaged food from the store shelves and avid any that contain substitute sugars. This will involve giving up many of your favorite foods but it’s well worth it for your long-term health.