Guest guest Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 Is aspartame harmful? Moderation is wise when consuming diet drinks, as research on the safety of artificial sweeteners remains controversial Dr. Peter Carlen From Tuesday's Globe and Mail, Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2009 _http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/is-aspartame-harmful/article1192 630/_ (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/is-aspartame-harmful/article1192630/\ ) We ask the experts to settle common questions we've all wondered about. QUESTION Aspartame has long been the subject of controversy. Is there any truth to claims that the artificial sweetener can cause problems of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, or trigger other ill effects? ANSWER For many people, information about the human diet may seem like a revolving door. We are constantly hearing contradictory information about which types of foods or additives are good or bad. This is the case with the artificial sweetener known as aspartame. Since artificial sweeteners have become a mainstay in our diet there has been controversy over its safety. Artificial sweeteners give foods and beverages the taste of sugar without the calories. This is considered to be beneficial, especially in light of the obesity epidemic. But even in the case for weight reduction, it's not certain that these products really achieve long-lasting weight loss. In fact, there are arguments that intense sweeteners can actually increase one's appetite for sweet foods, promote overeating, and may even lead to weight gain. And over the years scientists have felt compelled to look at the relationships between sweeteners and a variety of illnesses. Two recent reviews of scientific literature on aspartame have endorsed its safety. One published in the journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology in 2007 and led by Bernadene Magnuson, who has ties to the artificial sweetener industry, concluded that there was no link between illnesses of the central nervous system and aspartame. (Dr. Magnuson was at the University of Maryland when the study was published.) Similarly, Harriett Butchko and colleagues at NutraSweet Co., reported in the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology that there is no concrete evidence that aspartame affects brain function or behaviour, or causes any form of brain damage. Both reviews also concluded there was no evidence to support an association between aspartame and cancer. On the other hand, Petro Humphries, a researcher at the University of Pretoria in South Africa who reported no links with the artificial sweetener industry, led another review of the literature that found that consumption of aspartame could cause neurological and behavioural disturbances in sensitive individuals. These included headaches, insomnia and seizures, and could in part be attributed to changes in regional brain concentrations of certain neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, according to the findings published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2008. Dr. Humphries and colleagues concluded that excessive aspartame ingestion could, in sensitive individuals, be involved in cell and tissue changes that lead to certain mental disorders and also compromise learning and emotional function. They suggested that serious further testing and research be undertaken to eliminate the controversy over this product. Even without further study, there are already recommended limits on how much aspartame a person should ingest each day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has established acceptable daily intake of 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. The European Food Safety Authority has set daily intake levels of 40 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Given this information, it is important for people to remember that our consumption of foods and beverages that contain artificial sweeteners should always be guided by moderation. Dr. Peter Carlen is a neurologist at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre, University Health Network in Toronto and head of the Division of Fundamental Neurobiology of the Toronto Western Research Institute. So, Is aspartame harmful? Industry says no, independent scientists say yes. RELATED ARTICLES Aspartame Is By Far, the Most Dangerous Substance On the Market That Is Added To Foods Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names, NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include: Headaches/migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, breathing difficulties, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, loss of taste, tinnitus, vertigo, memory loss, and joint pain. Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). _http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/nutrasweet_scandal.htm_ (http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/nutrasweet_scandal.htm) THE BITTER TRUTH ABOUT ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure - just a few brand names of aspartame. Aspartame sugar substitutes cause worrying symptoms from memory loss to brain tumours. But despite US FDA approval as a 'safe' food additive, aspartame is one of the most dangerous substances ever to be foisted upon an unsuspecting public _http://curezone.com/foods/aspartame.asp_ (http://curezone.com/foods/aspartame.asp) The Connection between Aspartame (Artificial Sweetener) and Panic Attacks, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Memory Problems, and Other Mental Symptoms _http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/aspartame.htm_ (http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/aspartame.htm) The link between aspartame and brain tumors: What the FDA never told you about artificial sweeteners _http://www.naturalnews.com/011804.html_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/011804.html) Aspartame consumption strongly associated with migraines and seizures _http://www.naturalnews.com/008797.html_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/008797.html) Aspartame promotes grand mal seizures, say health experts _http://www.naturalnews.com/008952.html_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/008952.html) Aspartame found to cause breast cancer, leukemia and lymphomas in latest animal experiments _http://www.naturalnews.com/021920.html_ (http://www.naturalnews.com/021920.html) 1995 list of aspartame reactions _http://www.mpwhi.com/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf_ (http://www.mpwhi.com/92_aspartame_symptoms.pdf) My Aspartame Experiment Includes many graphic pictures also. This is a must read. _http://www.anomalicresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/my-aspartame-exp eriment.pdf_ (http://www.anomalicresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/my-aspartame-experim\ ent.pdf) My Aspartame Experiment Includes many pictures including the experimental set-up, pictures of the rats, etc. _http://myaspartameexperiment.com/_ (http://myaspartameexperiment.com/) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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