No Aspartame Added

Heard of NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Spoonful? Well these are all trademark names for Aspartame (in the European union also known as E951). This is an artificial sweetener discovered in 1965 that can be found in thousands of foods and beverages worldwide. It’s about 200 times sweeter than sugar and diabetics use it as their sugar substitute.

All this sound good?
It does to people like myself who wants to limit the sugar intake into my body (and teeth). Every time something says NO SUGAR, or NO SUGAR ADDED, it usually means it contains Aspartame. Those would be the products I grab hold of, but should I?

For those people who are born with Phenylketonuria (a genetic inability to process phenylalanine) Aspartame is a well-known health hazard, and voices have been raised into its possible connection between such diseases as brain tumours, brain lesions and lymphoma. According to NutraSweets official website more than 100 scientific studies were conducted and reviewed, it was granted approval for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1981.” It also says, in that wonderful marketing tone:

“Studies conducted with taste-test panels show that aspartam’s taste is very similar to the taste of sugar. In addition, aspartame has the ability to intensify and extend fruit flavors, such as cherry, strawberry and citrus flavors such as orange, in foods and beverages. For example, aspartame makes chewing gum taste sweet and more flavorful longer than sugar-sweetened gum.”

On a site with a document from the World Enviromental Conference of 1995 the following can be read:

"When the temperature of Aspartame exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood alcohol in Aspartame coverts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. Formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants. The methanol toxicity mimics multiple sclerosis; thus people were being diagnosed with having multiple sclerosis in error. The multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, where methanol toxicity is."

Mark Gold , a researcher for twenty years on these subjects, writes:

“Aspartame was not approved until 1981, in dry foods. For over eight years the FDA refused to approve it because of the seizures and brain tumors this drug produced in lab animals. The FDA continued to refuse to approve it until President Reagan took office /…/ and fired the FDA Commissioner who wouldn't approve it. Dr. Arthur Hull Hayes was appointed as commissioner. Even then there was so much opposition to approval that a Board of Inquiry was set up. The Board said: ‘Do not approve aspartame’. Dr. Hayes OVERRULED his own Board of Inquiry.”

So?
Just eat that which contains normal sugar. Well there is an interesting article called Is sugar addictive? documenting several pros and cons of sugar consumption in small and large amounts. The debate about sugars addictive tendencies is even so stupid. Especially concerning those that say it is not. Of course it is. I know how it feels to yearn for sugar just as much as an alcoholic yearns for alcohol. Even quitting has its side effects, such as irritation, but of course nothing like going cold turkey. Although I think sugar in moderate amounts is good for the body I don't think it is very good for your teeth (in fact I know it ain't).

Aspartame became my substitute when I tried to kick sugar. Have I just picked the lesser of two evils? Now I'm even avoiding Aspartame and found that if I feel for sweetness I eat fruit fresh or dried. Yes I know it's sugar in that too, but there is a difference between refined and natural. Between Mother Nature and the Laboratory.

Some sites of interest on the matter:

A Bitter Sweetner
Consumer Safety Network
Information Center
Information Service
Sweet Poison
Say No!
Warning

© deviadah