I am working on my article about aspartame and my research shocked me of its potential health hazard. I am compelled to write this into circulation for the true sense of an educated information since aspartame is contained in the many products we consume everyday: carbonated diet drinks, breath mints, cereals, chewing gum, flavored syrups for coffee, frozen ice creams, fruit spread, gelatin (sugar free), hard and soft candies, ice tea powder/ready to drink, juices, instant cocoa mix, maple syrups, mousse, sugar free cookies, sugar free ketchups, table top sweeteners, vegetable drinks, yogurt and the list may go on and on.
Make a habit of looking at the product labels for this substance as it is also suspected to be addicting. I actually made 10 articles about aspartame but I chose to introduce you to the toxic substances behind this artificial sweetener. Please read on my article.
THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES BEHIND ASPARTAME
Aspartame has gained general public attention because of issues raised against its potential threat to public health. Many people would claim it is the substance aspartame as the culprit for the varying complex symptoms they experienced. Many would be aware of these possible threats of aspartame but not many would understand why such claims were stated. It would be educational to understand the substances that made aspartame a dangerous artificial sweetener.
Because of its benefits such as weight reduction and reducing calories from daily food intake, it is also a friend to our tooth that keeps it away from decay and allows diabetics to eat more choices of foods with artificial sweeteners in lieu of sugar. Because of these benefits, many people are enticed to patronized foods with artificial sweeteners without bothering what substances make up the sugar substitute in their foods.
Aspartame is made up of three substances. The first substance is aspartic acid, an excitatory amino acid that makes up about 40% of aspartame. It acts as a neurotransmitters in the brain that when present in excessive amounts can cause neuronal death. It is often tagged as an excitotoxin as it causes neuronal cell death due to its hyperactivity. It reaches its higher level in the brain shortly after aspartame ingestion. About 75% of neural deaths occur before significant symptoms are manifested.
Long term exposure to this substance is closely related to chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, memory loss, hearing loss, hormonal problems, epilepsy, alzheimer’s disease, parkinson’s disease, hypoglycemia, aids, dementia, brain lesions and neuroendocrine disorders. Under debate are other myriads of reactions due to excessive aspartic acid in the brain including headaches, abdominal pains, nausea, sleeping problems, fatigue, vision impairments, anxiety attacks, depression and asthma. It was also noted to observe precaution on its risks to children, infants, pregnant women and the elderly.
Phenylalanine is the second substance making up 50% of aspartame. Intake of this substance is highly toxic to people with genetic disorder of phenylketonuria (PKU) who cannot metabolize phenylalanine in their system. When taken along with carbohydrates, the phenylalanine level of an individual can shoot up to an excessive level. Excessive presence of this substance decreases the serotonin level in the brain causing emotional disorders such as depression. Studies of reduced serotonin can lead to a violent reaction, depression, emotional imbalance and behavioral changes.
The third and most dangerous substance present in aspartame is methanol, a deadly poison that makes 10% of aspartame. It takes the responsibility of causing blindness and death among alcoholics. It is released when aspartame are heated above 86 Fahrenheit (30 Centigrade) occurring usually when aspartame-containing products are improperly stored or when heated.
Methanol then breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde (a deadly neurotoxin). Methanol poisoning result to a complex of symptoms such as headaches, GI disturbances, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, vertigo, weakness, chills, memory lapses, numbness and shooting pain in the extremities, behavioral disturbances, visual problems, birth defects and neuritis.
Behind the beauty of dieting benefits of aspartame lurk dangerous substances deleterious to human health. While legally approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States and freely circulated in the market for public consumption world wide, it is every consumer’s awareness to make their own personal judgment whether to consume aspartame-containing products to safeguard their health.
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