Aspartame

Robot

This may have been asked many times here before so I apologise if it has, but Im just trying to find out if aspartame is actually bad for you. Topics like this Link seem to be going over the top about how bad it is. And if you search in google you find allegations that it causes every side effect you can imagine. But on the contrary there are numerous sites like this link which are obviously set up to dispel these allegations. Now am I to believe the sensationalists or believe the websites that more are than likely set up by the companies making these products.

The reason I ask is because I drink a bottle or two of flavoured fizzy water a day and also sugar free mints which both contain it. So im trying to work out if I should cut these out completely, just cut down, or keep on as im doing.

Thanks for your help

Davey Devil

I used to drink Pepsi Max but gave it up when I read stories about Aspartame. It's probably all bullshìt but why take the risk? Saying that I smoke and I'm pretty sure I know that's killing me. But do you think I have given up the smokes?

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

JoeKelly

Dont think im weird but i drink in excess of 4 bottles of pepsi max a day and chew about 4 packs of sugar free gum! And have been doin so for bout 2 years. Now both of these contain aspartame and aparently aspartame is notorious for causing OCD and ADD any kind of obsessional stuff you can think of. My doctor told me to cut down the pepsi max because he and his colleagues were unsure of what else it contained. He said chewing gum was ok but in moderation.
As to your question DaveIrl yes it contains two sweetners one being aspartame and the other being Acesulfame K and as far as i know aspartame is a source of Phenylalanine. Most consumers don't know that too much Phenylalanine is a neurotoxin and excites the neurons in the brain to the point of cellular death. ADD/ADHD, emotional and behavioral disorders can all be triggered by too much Phenylalanine in your diet.

But So far im ok so id say its all Bull But believe what you will! if i die maybe you should stop then!

DrIndy

JoeKelly wrote:

As to your question DaveIrl yes it contains two sweetners one being aspartame and the other being Acesulfame K and as far as i know aspartame is a source of Phenylalanine. Most consumers don't know that too much Phenylalanine is a neurotoxin and excites the neurons in the brain to the point of cellular death. ADD/ADHD, emotional and behavioral disorders can all be triggered by too much Phenylalanine in your diet.

It is very important to quote verified sources before writing things of this nature. The website you found that from was by an author promoting their own book. It is true that Phenylalanine is a neurotoxin, but ONLY if you have PKU (phenylketouria), where your body cannot process the amino acid. This genetic condition is very rare - but very serious. Normal people are unaffected and anyone with this will know as they have been on an exclusion diet from birth.

There was a paper in the British Medical Journal which counters those claims.

JoeKelly

Yea theres alot of contradictary info out there so wasn't sure if posting that was a good idea or not. Obviously not! Thanks for the correction friend!
Do you know much about aspartame?

DrIndy

No worries manno - just clearing up a few wee things!

As a rule for internet knowledge (especially pseudomedical), just check the website for its references. If it is factually correct, they will refer many different sources from big named journals such as Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, British Medical Journal.

If a website doesn't have any references, its not worth its salt.

Good sites to use if you have a medicalish query is to try:
http://medlineplus.gov/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

They are run by the national institute of health in the USA and they are very trustworthy. Here is a link on aspartame from the same group of websites:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/aspartame.html

Aspartame has come under a lot of criticism. Most of it is somewhat unfounded as the contents are actually natural amino acids, just repackaged. I personally just use a small amount of sugar - or none if applicable (I dislike the taste of artificial sweeteners).

Transform

The whole issue about sweeteners should be on why do you want something sweet?
Are you hooked on foods that are sweet or desire a sweet taste?

Drink water and brush your teeth possibly.

Oh and finally what about sweetener free protein drinks? Any available apart from solgar which i have used before but it was sooooooooo expensive.

Amaru

I've heard that it can cause paleness, bitterness and also strips you of your ability to show any outward emotion. Is this true Robot?

JoeKelly

Amaru wrote:

I've heard that it can cause paleness, bitterness and also strips you of your ability to show any outward emotion. Is this true Robot?

Are yo saying aspartame causes paleness and biterness or something else??
Dont think any of the above apply to me! well i hope not

Kernel

DrIndy wrote:

No worries manno - just clearing up a few wee things!

As a rule for internet knowledge (especially pseudomedical), just check the website for its references. If it is factually correct, they will refer many different sources from big named journals such as Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, British Medical Journal.

Ahh good 'ol Indy. DrIndy, are you in the medical profession? Also, is it true that phenylanine (sp?) has antidepressant qualities? Why is it used at all, purely as a sweetener?

DrIndy

Kernel wrote:

Ahh good 'ol Indy. DrIndy, are you in the medical profession? Also, is it true that phenylanine (sp?) has antidepressant qualities? Why is it used at all, purely as a sweetener?

I am a Doctor as the name implies!

Phenylalanine has no antidepressant properties to the best of my knowledge. However, tryptophan is sometimes used as an adjunct in the treatment of depression.