While were on the splenda topic, whats the deal with Aspartame?

[SC Natalie]

I am wondering about Aspartame....

I try to stay away from it, but Dh has it alot, in his Crystal Light drinks, in Coke Zero etc....

I have heard it is very bad for you, is this true?

I am not diabetic, but still am very conscience of this stuff & don't consume it.....The only time I have had it, is in the fat free jello I make.

What should I/We know about it....anyone?

[Jashobeam]

It depends on who you ask. The FDA says it's fine, as well as other artificial sweetners. Others claim it's unhealthy. We usually look for the Splenda label, but still buy some things with other sweeteners.

FDA: Is aspartame safe?


After reviewing scientific studies, FDA determined in 1981 that aspartame was safe for use in foods. In 1987, the General Accounting Office investigated the process surrounding FDA's approval of aspartame and confirmed the agency had acted properly. However, FDA has continued to review complaints alleging adverse reactions to products containing aspartame. To date, FDA has not determined any consistent pattern of symptoms that can be attributed to the use of aspartame, nor is the agency aware of any recent studies that clearly show safety problems.

Carefully controlled clinical studies show that aspartame is not an allergen. However, certain people with the genetic disease phenylketonuria (PKU), and pregnant women with hyperphenylalanine (high levels of phenylalanine in blood) have a problem with aspartame because they do not effectively metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine, one of aspartame's components. High levels of this amino acid in body fluids can cause brain damage. Therefore, FDA has ruled that all products containing aspartame must include a warning to phenylketonurics that the sweetener contains phenylalanine.

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qa-adf9.html

[snfr02chic]

Aspertame can have a lot of unhealthy benefits to certain persons with certain diseases/syndromes. My mother has MS and everytime she has aspertame it sends her into an exacerbation. Aspertame is an un-natural chemical and so with so much other chemicals we consume it isn't good for your body. There are many differen points of view as far as aspertame goes...but my philosophy is that if I know it's a chemical and it's bad for my body I'm not gonna chance it. It is said to lead to cancer as well alzheimers. Again this is something just like prednisone, it is still new and so noone knows of the long term effects. My grandfather was put on pred. about 30 years ago and of course they didn't know the effects back then, to this day he still takes it and can't live without it, but he has broken every bone in his back and has had over 125 surgeries just from broken bones causing other problems. I know that is totally different, but until long term effects are known I would try to stay away from any man-made chemicals as they refer to it.

[amanda_gail_81]

I have heard some very bad things about it...do a search on google about it and lots of interesting things will come up.

[Ajani]

The FDA has approved a lot of things as safe that have not been. Personally I won't touch the stuff. If it can cause raging headaches and MS symptoms to worsen, among other things, what on earth is it doing in the body anyway?

[Jashobeam]

From what I understand MS is still a disease that we dont' know enough about. My FIL has MS and his docs said he could get symptoms that might go away, might get worse, might lessen, you just never know. He is on meds and goes for scans all the time. His docs know what caused his MS and it started before artifical sweeteners were popular.

I can understand artifical sweeteners causing bad headaches. I used to get them from mustard and peanuts. I still get them sometimes from the smell of peanuts. It's amazing what can cause a bad headache or a migrane.

If you don't feel comfortable eating artifical sweeteners it's best not to. If something comes up later health wise you may always wonder if that's what caused it. My Dad had a heartattack back years ago and mom said she was so glad she held off on a proceedure for him because she would have always wondered if the proceedure had triggered the heartattack. She would have blamed the proceedure and possibly herself.

[KatCarney]

Has anyone tried Agave? It's 100% natural (kind of like honey), and it's low glycemic.

[deblynnc]

Has anyone tried Agave? It's 100% natural (kind of like honey), and it's low glycemic.

I've never heard of Agave before. Where can you buy it?

Debbie

[Lukins]

Agave is GREAT- at least in teas and stuff where you can substitute honey and that sort of thing. i understand you can get it in a poweder form now but ive never tried that. Ive gotten the "honeysticks" kinds of liquid and i think they sell it in a jar now too. I tried it the first time from stash.com when i placed an order for some tea and i was an instant convert. Turns out my healthfood store nearby carries it in both the straws and the jars, so lucky me It has an interesting flavor but i think its nice, especially in tea and water thats been flavored with mint, lemon balm, lemons, etc..

Re aspartame - my best friend has that allergen to the phenel... stuff - he didnt realize it till he was 28 lol - he drinks soda like crazy and switched to diet one day - turns out he just had these terrible headaches and dizzy spells, extreme nausea - he never linked it back to the soda since hed never heard of anyone being allergic before - he had symptoms almost constantly for a couple weeks and was afraid he was REALLY sick - he mentioned it to his dad (a doctor) who immediately figured it out - once he was off of it, everything cleared up. Funny how that allergen stuff works sometimes... Only problem now is he drinks too many "regular" sodas lol -

[jennynd]

My husband gets massive migraines from aspartame & many food preservatives... he also has MS so I wonder if there really is some link... hmmm

Here's an excerpt from Fertility, Cycles, & Nutrition by Dr. Marilyn Shannon:
"Headaches, seizures, visual disturbances, dizziness, fatigue, depression, confustion, and memory loss are among the most common complaints. Intense thirst creating a craving for more is another common report. Women have reported heavy or scant menses & worsened PMS while using aspartame-containing products.These reproductive disturbances may occur because phenylalanine, which comprises about 50% of the aspartame molcule, stimulates the secretion of prolactin from the pituitary gland. Excess prolactin secretion is well known to affect the fertility-menstrual cycle."