Aspartame: Is It Really Safe?Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is at least 200 times sweeter than white sugar. It is marketed and sold under the brand names of NutraSweet™ and Equal™. In 1981, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this artificial sweetener for use in dry goods. Two years later, they approved it for use in carbonated drinks. Look over the shelves in your local supermarket and you will find literally thousands of different products that contain aspartame. According to the NutraSweet™ website, it is now in over 5000 foods and drinks around the world. It’s not just in diet foods and special foods for diabetics anymore. It is everywhere! You can find it in: 
Aspartame is made up of three main chemical components:1. Phenylalanine (40%) – Phenylalanine is an amino acid that is normally found in your brain. It occurs naturally in foods such as asparagus, chickpeas, lentils, walnuts, and soybeans. The problem with phenylalanine comes in when too much gets into your brain. Too much can cause the serotonin levels in your brain to go down. If your serotonin levels are too low, it can leave you feeling depressed. 2. Aspartic acid (50%) – Aspartic acid is also an amino acid that also occurs naturally in foods such as avocados, asparagus, and oats. The problem with aspartic acid is that it is an excitatory amino acid (excitotoxin). Too much can lead to a number of serious symptoms and problems including neurological problems. In excess, it can also kill your brain cells! Learn more about excitotoxins in the book Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills When you eat or drink items that contain aspartame, your brain gets flooded with phenylalanine and aspartic acid. This flooding can cause serious damage to your brain. This flooding reaction does not happen when you eat foods that naturally contain phenylalanine and aspartic acid. Why? Natural foods are made up of a wide variety of other amino acids and nutrients. They do not just contain phenylalanine and aspartic acid alone. The combination of nutrients in natural foods allows the amino acids to be metabolized in a way that your body can handle. Aspartame is NOT natural. Your body cannot metabolize it in a way that is healthy for you. 3. Methanol (10%) – Methanol is also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol. Methanol is poisonous! Without a doubt, it is hazardous to your health. Methanol is destructive to your brain cells. Even if you take only small amounts from time to time, the effects will add up. Damage will occur. Toxic levels of methanol can lead to blindness, swelling of your brain, seizures, loss of balance, and other symptoms. The lethal dose is only 2 teaspoons. If you heat aspartame to 30° Celsius (about 86 ° Fahrenheit) or more, you will get a substance called free methanol. Free methanol further breaks down into formaldehyde. Yes, embalming fluid! You can find this sweetener in a lot of different foods that get heated up past 30° Celsius at some point or another. Baked goods, gelatin desserts, and hot chocolate are just three examples. Even if you do not need to bake or heat up a product, it can get heated up by accident if you don't store it properly. This can happen before it even reaches the shelves in the grocery store! When you think about these dangers, is it really worth the risk? Side EffectsAspartame is linked to a long list of side effects including:
Not everyone who has a reaction to this sweetener will react in the same way. You may experience side effects right away, or they may come on very slowly. Some people have reactions without even realizing that they are reacting to it. That is not surprising because a lot of the symptoms look just like the symptoms that are common in other illnesses and disorders. Here are two very interesting videos you won't want to miss: The Dangers of Aspartame (E951)Aspartame, Brain Cancer & the FDA Approval ProcessCut this artificial sweetener completely from your diet if:
If you are trying to lose weight and are afraid to let go of "sugar-free" products, let me assure you, there are healthier options. A plant-based diet is is an excellent start. The two meal plan is another effective lifestyle habit that will help you reach and maintain your ideal weight. Also, check out these healthy living tips.With all the health risks involved, artificial sweeteners are NOT the solution. In fact, there is some evidence that aspartame may even cause you to gain weight! The irony! Once you cut this sweetener from your diet, give your body some time to cleanse and recover. Eliminate all other artificial sweeteners and harmful food additives from your diet. Stick to a natural, whole food diet, and pay close attention to colon cleansing. Healthier AlternativesIf you’re looking for healthier alternatives, here’s a rule of thumb: Avoid refined sweeteners and any sweetener that is artificially made. It may have been approved for public use, but that does NOT mean that it is 100% safe and healthy for your body. If the sweetener does not occur naturally in nature, it will be hard on your body. You may not notice it right away, but it will cause damage somewhere in your system. The best choice is to stick with natural wholesome sweeteners. Click here to read about the best sugar substitute. Go to Food Additives Return from Aspartame to Natural Health Restored
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by Russell L. Blaylock, MD.
