Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is commonly found in diet sodas, sugar-free ice cream, chewing gum, yogurt, sugar-free snacks, candies, breakfast cereals, yogurt, and reduced-calorie foods. Aspartame is possibly the main sweetener in Nutrasweet, Equal, and Sugar Twin. Its potentially carcinogenic side effects have been rumored since its inception in the 1960s. But is aspartame really bad for you or is it just bad press invented by Big Sugar?
Is Aspartame Bad For You?
According to MedicineNet, aspartame has been linked to everything from pancreatic damage to cancer, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and even Alzheimer’s. There are also rumors that it can cause depression, irritability, anxiety, and seizures. In fact, some people are known to develop intestinal problems that lead to diarrhea and gas in the abdomen. It must be said, however, that the effects in some of these cases are the result of an underlying medical condition.
For example, diabetics often choose alternative sweeteners to keep their blood sugar levels low, but since aspartame disrupts metabolism to some extent, it can trigger what is known as metabolic syndrome. The methanol produced by digesting aspartame is converted to formaldehyde, a toxic and carcinogenic chemical that is often used in embalming. Then there are those with aspartame allergies who experience hives, rashes, or shortness of breath if they accidentally ingest it.
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According to Dr. David Ludwig, an endocrinologist and professor of nutrition at Harvard Medical School, artificial flavors like aspartame and MSG work in a similar way. Dr. Ludwig told Vice News: “Artificial sweeteners bind the sweet taste receptor hundreds of thousands of times more strongly than sugar itself.” This means that the taste receptors and the metabolism could be completely distorted in the long run, and normally not or better.
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