Sunday, 13 April 2014

Aspartame: Sweet Treat Or Deadly Toxin? - Kelli-Ann Sharun




Photo is copy-write free, taken from http://www.stockfreeimages.com/6894875/Coffee-and-sugar.html
 
Neurotoxin! Excitotoxin! Headaches! Cancer! Symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and lupus! Is aspartame really that awful?
Only if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). PKU is a condition where the body cannot break down phenylalanine, one of the products of breaking down aspartame. Fortunately if you have PKU, you probably already know about it, and can avoid aspartame – especially if you live in the United States where they put warning labels on products with aspartame specifically for people with the condition.
Aspartame breaks down into some scary sounding substances, including formaldehyde. However the amounts of those substances are low enough for the body to be able to break them down without a problem. Many studies have been conducted over the years to conclude that aspartame is safe for human consumption.
Despite the extensive research done on the substance, many people are still convinced that aspartame is deadly. It was not deadly in 2013, when the most recent study was released. It was also not deadly in 1980, when the chemical was first approved. And it was not deadly to the scientist who discovered aspartame in 1965 by licking his fingers, finding it sweet, and then adding it to his coffee. (Please note that I am not condoning improper lab technique as a way to make millions off of a patented product).
However, if you have decided not to trust the multiple scientific studies proving its safety, some alternatives are xylitol, sucralose, or saccharin. Until people find something wrong with those too.

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