Is aspartame really bad for you?

Question

I recently heard that aspartame can cause lots of health problems. Is that a myth or is it really true?

Answer 1

Total myth. And it's usually the same people who talk about how "poisonous" it is who have no qualms about swearing by every new herbal quack "remedy" that hits the market.

Answer 2

Personal opinion: Rather use pure 'natural' sugar than any 'man-made' or lab concocted subsitute. Nevertheless:

Aspartame has been tested for more than three decades, in more than 200 studies, with the same result: aspartame is safe.
http://www.aspartame.org/aspartame_facts_summary.html


"Aspartame (L-alpha-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester) is a low-calorie sweetener used to sweeten a wide variety of low- and reduced-calorie foods and beverages, including low-calorie tabletop sweeteners. Aspartame is composed of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine, as the methyl ester. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Aspartic acid and phenylalanine are also found naturally in protein containing foods, including meats, grains and dairy products. Methyl esters are also found naturally in many foods such as fruits and vegetable and their juices. Upon digestion, aspartame breaks down into three components (aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol), which are then absorbed into the blood and used in normal body processes. Neither aspartame nor its components accumulates in the body. These components are used in the body in the same ways as when they are derived from common foods.

Further, the amounts of these components from aspartame are small compared to the amounts from other food sources. For example, a serving of no-fat milk provides about 6 times more phenylalanine and 13 times more aspartic acid compared to an equivalent amount of diet beverage sweetened 100% with aspartame. Likewise, a serving of tomato juice provides about 6 times more methanol compared to an equivalent amount of diet beverage with aspartame."

Answer 3

Good question. It is not natural. Mass quantities would probably give you a headache. I use Stevia almost exclusively except when I am away from home. Then I may use aspartame. Very rarely.

Answer 4

Yes it is. There is a warning on it that applys to a segment of the population who shouldn't even have it once. With others it's a cumulative effect. The harm it's doing won't deal it's damage until later. Stay away from artificial sweetners altogether, even the ones that say they are "natural".

Answer 5

in consistantly considerable amoutunts aspartame can be the cause of some health issues. it can in larger quanities increase the affects of preexisting conditions. talk to your doctor and or get on web md and further reasherch the affects if you are concerned about your health.

Answer 6

"they" tested it on lab rats or mice or something and they got cancer from it but thats making the rodents ingest a ton of that stuff.
I think in moderation it won't hurt you just don't drink or eat gallons of it daily. I still enjoy a diet coke every now and again and don't feel bad about it.

Answer 7

so far it hasn't been thoroughly tested on humans.....but it does cause cancer in mice/rats under study. I stay away from it!!

Answer 8

i believe it's true. i know allot of people that say they felt better when they quit drinking diet soda.

Answer 9

YES! It can cause early cancer in almost every part of your body!

Answer 10

are you diabetic? is yes, it wont hurt.. if no, them consider rotating splenda and equal with sugar