Why do people keep insisting that aspartame causes such horrible diseases in humans?

Question

No study done on humans has shown any such thing, in fact, a massive study done on humans trying to see if there is any correlation between aspartame consumption and cancer, MS, and lupus found that it has absolutely nothing to do with getting those diseases. Everyone keeps going off of mice studies, when mice have different metabolisms than humans and the mice are given proportionally far more aspartame than humans would consume. Many substances are carcinogenic and mutagenic when in huge quantities like the ones given to mice, but are fine in moderation. So, why do people keep continuing the myth that consuming normal amounts of aspartame causes nasty diseases, when there is no statistically significant link going on?

I just find it funny because even alcohol when in moderation has more proof of being detrimental to humans than aspartame in moderation, and yet I'm fairly certain that the same people who hate aspartame are okay with alcohol use. (I think it's all okay in moderation, but I'm just making a point here). There are far unhealthier substances out there that we consume regularly.

Answer 1

I wish I could give this question 10 stars. You are absolutely on target with this one. But I think I might be able to answer that one. Aspartame was discovered in 1965, but it wasn't until 1983 it was finally sold to the public, after nearly 20 years of controversy stirred up by fearmongers such as Jeremy Rifkin and conflict of interest in the FDA protecting the older saccharide market. It has created a massive hysteria that persists even to this day, while newer sugar substitutes have enjoyed entry into the market after the way was paved by Aspartame. Once fears and rumors have spread in the public, it's very difficult to quell them, they tend to have a life of their own in spite of the best evidence against them. People die every day from reactions to eating common food, such as peanut allergy, and yet Aspartame continues to be singled out because of exotic cases of bad reactions to it.

Here's a wiki excerpt:

"A study published in April 2006 sponsored by the National Cancer Institute involved 340,045 men and 226,945 women, ages 50 to 69, found no statistically significant link between aspartame consumption and leukemias, lymphomas or brain tumors"

Answer 2

Human ailments many times won't be able to pass to a various species. There are uncommon exceptions, yet those exceptions reason from a mutation interior the pathogen that motives the ailment, not sharing foodstuff. Can a dogs get ill off of foodstuff not meant for nonhuman intake? particular, and he probably will. persist with a intense-high quality puppy foodstuff.

Answer 3

I presume it's become some people actually get sick from relatively small amounts of aspartame, particularly getting diarrhea. My brother can't have more than the equivalent of 4 packets in a day. My BIL can't have more than one or he gets headaches. Now that's two, in non-blood-related people in one family. Don't get me wrong, I do use aspartame every day in my coffee, but if I were pregnant or feeding children, no way would they get any.

Answer 4

ooo. um, it's a little dangerous to say "why are people going off of mice studies when mice have different metabolisms than humans" because laythinking like this fuels anti-vivisectionists. for the most part mouse models are very good at predicting implications in humans (because we are, afterall, animals made up of the same amino acids, etc. and so forth as other animals); with the caveat that not everything is completetly translatable among species.

the "problem" with aspartame is, though it is made of naturally occuring substances, that doesn't mean it's necessarily "good" for us. lots of natural things can be bad, for example, almonds (i forget which one in particular) when crushed and fermented in water will produce cyanide--two natural things, in combination not meant for consumption.

we also have to take into consideration, most people tend to overdose on artificial sweeteners--i've seen people dump packets upon packets of these to sweeten their drinks. furthermore, people who tend to over do it with sugars more likely are over doing it with things that aren't considered too good for us (maybe fats and such...) and so the big picture is, it's not just the sweetener that is causing all our health problems.



life--it's killing us.

Answer 5

Simply to scare uneducated people.
Hoax. Enjoyment. Speculation. Fun...

Aspartam is a combination of two amino-acids which are abundant in human metabolism, and building blocks of our body. :-)

Answer 6

If it's so great, why is it outlawed in several countries? Look it up; it is toxic enough that commercial pilots can't consume it less than 24hrs before flying (FAA regs). Do you want methane floating around in your bloodstream? It has also increased the risk for seizures in sensitive individuals, among other things.