What are the dangers of aspartame?
The only confirmed side effect of aspartame is the exacerbation of a rare genetic disorder called phenylketonuria, which prevents vital chemicals from reaching the brain. Migraines disappear In fact, you’ll probably find yourself thinking clearer than you have in a while. That’s because the chemicals that make up the artificial sweetener aspartame may have altered your brain chemicals, nerve signals and your brain’s reward system, which can lead to headaches, anxiety and insomnia.Damage to kidney and liver: Studies suggest that if you regularly eat or drink a lot of aspartame over a long period, it could harm your kidneys. Scientists also think aspartame can cause toxic liver disease. Mood swings: Aspartame can cause changes to your mood.Results showed that aspartame ingestion significantly increased body weight and fat mass mainly due to an increase in energy efficiency. The effect was related to the amount rather than the form of ingestion. Additionally, aspartame ingestion was associated with glucose intolerance.Although some researchers have proposed that aspartame metabolites are responsible for adverse effects, such as headache, compromised memory, mood changes, and depression, others have not identified adverse effects of aspartame consumption.Possible neurophysiological symptoms include learning problems, headache, seizure, migraines, irritable moods, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The consumption of aspartame, unlike dietary protein, can elevate the levels of phenylalanine and aspartic acid in the brain.
Is it okay to consume aspartame every day?
The FDA also sets an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for each sweetener, which is the maximum amount considered safe to consume each day during a person’s lifetime. The FDA has set the ADI for aspartame at 50 milligrams per kilogram (1 kg=2. Safe limits of aspartame: Since 1981, JECFA (the Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organization’s Expert Committee on Food Additives) has set the safe limit for aspartame to be 40mg/kg. A typical 12-ounce can of diet soda contains about 200 mg of aspartame.
What is a good alternative to aspartame?
Instead, try: Monkfruit packets or Stevia packets – both are intense sweeteners similar to aspartame, yet plant-based and natural, not chemically created. Stevia is my favorite calorie-free sweetener,” says registered dietitian Natalie Crtalic, RD, LD. It’s a good alternative for people who don’t want to use sugars or other chemical sweeteners. In my opinion, using stevia is more natural than using other low-calorie, chemically processed sweeteners, like aspartame.Natural sweeteners, such as Stevia and monk fruit sweeteners, may provide health benefits over refined sugar. Benefits may include lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Reducing your intake of refined sugar can be tough, but given how incredibly harmful sugar can be, it’s definitely worth the effort ( 1 ).Quick healthy tips to reduce sweetener intake Although stevia is the safest sweetener, according to Wilson, all sweeteners should be consumed in moderation. I challenge people to replace artificial sweeteners from their diets,” Wilson says. Here are a few tips, to help reduce your sweetener intake.Stevia and monk fruit are both naturally derived from plants and some people feel they have a flavor very similar to regular sugar. The FDA says these sweeteners are “generally regarded as safe,” which means they are safe to use for their intended purpose.
Should I stop drinking aspartame?
Scientific evidence has continued to support the FDA’s conclusion that aspartame is safe for the general population when made under good manufacturing practices and used under the approved conditions of use. All the scientific studies to date in animals and human volunteers have shown that the breakdown of aspartame in the gut is very rapid and complete. No aspartame has ever been found in the blood or any organ after ingestion.An analysis of the gut bacterial composition in fecal samples revealed that aspartame increased the total bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Clostridium leptum levels [71]. Additionally, the high-fat diet led to a decrease in Bacteroidetes and an increase in Firmicutes.
Is aspartame worse for you than sugar?
Really, both sugar and artificial sweeteners are a problem for your health,” says functional medicine specialist Melissa Young, MD. But if we’re comparing what’s worse, artificial sweeteners are far worse than sugar. Artificial sweeteners are many times sweeter than sugar. So it takes only a small amount of an artificial sweetener to sweeten foods. That’s why foods made with artificial sweeteners often have fewer calories than those made with sugar. Artificial sweeteners don’t affect blood sugar.Or even better yet — no added sugar. That’s your absolute best bet. Really, both sugar and artificial sweeteners are a problem for your health,” says functional medicine specialist Melissa Young, MD. But if we’re comparing what’s worse, artificial sweeteners are far worse than sugar.
Are there any benefits of aspartame?
Because products with aspartame are lower in calories than their sugar-sweetened counterparts, using products with aspartame together with regular physical activity can help with weight management. Aspartame can reduce or replace the sugar and calories in foods and beverages while maintaining great taste. Interestingly, the amount of ingested aspartame was positively correlated with weight gain (r = 0·492, P = 0·009), fat mass gain (r = 0·430, P = 0·025) and energy efficiency (r = 0·395, P = 0·041).Aspartame is not found in whole plant foods and thus would never be consumed as part of a whole food, plant-based diet.
What’s healthier, stevia or aspartame?
Stevia can be a good alternative to table sugar since it doesn’t contain any calories or sugar. It’s generally considered safe to consume, and may have fewer health risks than artificial sweeteners like saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose. Stevia may also: Affect the healthy bacteria in your stomach, causing gas and bloating. Raise heart attack and stroke risks, because it’s often mixed with erythritol, which has been found to increase these risks.