Are there any risks associated with using artificial sweetner consisting of Aspartame?

Question

Can u give your answer based on medical grounds?

Answer 1

[edit] Aspartame controversy
Main article: Aspartame controversy
Aspartame has been the subject of controversy regarding its safety and the circumstances of its approval by the American FDA and European FSA. Some studies have also recommended further investigation into connections between aspartame and negative effects such as headaches, brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma.[8][9][10] These findings, combined with possible conflicts of interest in the approval process, have engendered vocal activism regarding the possible risks of aspartame.[11][12] The 2004 documentary Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World voices these same concerns.

On 14 December 2005, a member of the British House of Commons called on the British government to "ban the use and sale of aspartame" due to health concerns relating to this product.[13]

Read more on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy

Answer 2

That's a rather individual question. There may be. However, you may not ever have them. A very small percentage of the people who use it (less than 5%) report side effects from it. They don't say how much they use, though.

The chemical constituents of it can combine in the nervous system to mimic certain neurological chemicals, which they believe give rise to these feelings and somatics. There is apparently no long term damage associated with it's use, depending on whose study you read. Some swear it is deadly while others say it's fine. As with anything which is produced through Pharmacology, there will be extreme reactions upon occasion.

Again, I would say try it for yourself. I personally can't stand the stuff. There are other natural sweeteners out there like Stevia root and so on. There are also other types of sugars which metabolize much more slowly than the garden variety white sugar. None of them are calorie free as far as I know though. And then there is still the old standby Saccharin. You have to look for it but you can get it.

Answer 3

I've read research on it and YES, it does carry risks. You can google it online for specific info. Bowever, if you've never tried it before, you should go to the health food store and buy a sugar substitute called "Stevia" which is made from the stevia plant. There are no known problems with it and it tastes as good as the artificial sweetners to me.
Lulu

Answer 4

they are alwasy mumbling about cancer;less well known is that the body can not tell the difference between sweetners and real suar and thus it still produces an insulin reaction;it is better to slowly reduce your sugar before dropping it altogether
switch to honey in your tea for a month-only tiny amounts as honey is the only refined carbohydrate occurring in nature-and then drop it;the reasoning being that honey is a sort of methadone substitue for sugar.
i did not use this trick myself to get to my present point of drinking tea without sugar as i was unaware of it and i have always wondered whether it would have shortcutted the rather onerous withdrawel method
i have to say again that cancer though undoubtedly a tragic occurence is together with aids distracting attention from the real culprit in the sugar bowl and that this is happening because of the relentless promotion by celebrities-i am trying to say that this suspicion that everything can cause cancer is a symptom of the romantisation of the disease although i am not saying that it is untrue in this case
meanwhile the wholesale slaughter on the roads has faded into the woodwork and we still have no real interest in skin cancer in this country although no aussie roughneck would dare go out without his sunfactor 12
see what i mean?-its all a question of where you are looking and how you see it

Answer 5

Not really. Some people complain that it gives them headaches. but that is a very small minority.

There is a lunitic firnge that blames aspertame for just about any medical condition you can think of. Not only are their claims unsuported, but they also would be happy to sell you their own idea of a sugar substitute, so they have an ulterior motive.

Answer 6

It seems like the statistics regarding Aspartame and cancer are inconclusive.
Some people like this author: http://tc.engr.wisc.edu/UER/uer98/author2/content.html
seem to feel that it is relatively safe.
Health supplement companies (regardless of what they sell) seem to agree that it's bad.
My opinion is that it is likely an individual preference. I tend to think that people who have an unpleasant reaction (e,g, aftertaste) to it should stop. Or assume the worst, if it is poisoning you and making you unhappy, is it worth it to not consume the calories?

Answer 7

Many long term studies show there is absolutely no health risks to using Aspertame (phenylalanine). Just last week there was another story about it published in Yahoo news (health)

Answer 8

There was a scare arlier about it being cancerous but now they say it is not. There is a natural sweatner around called stevia and of course there is sucralase from sugar