Why is ASPARTAME bad?

[msanjelpie]

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener made up of two amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid, and an alcohol, methanol.

The fact that aspartame is digested by your body is what makes it so controversial. After you eat or drink an aspartame-sweetened product, aspartame breaks down into its starting components: phenylalanine, aspartate, and methanol.

Methanol itself is not harmful, but enzymes in your liver break it down into two compounds. Methanol breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde in the body.

The big debate is whether there's enough of these toxins produced from the methanol in aspartame to damage your body.

Aspartame is approximately 40 percent by weight aspartic acid. Aspartic acid acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.

Some claim that aspartame hypes the hormonal system causing hunger, anxiety and insomnia.

DKP is formed in liquid aspartame-containing products during prolonged storage. It is recommended to not drink sodas that have expired.

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OK, the above facts about aspartame are interesting. The FDA, CDC etc... claim that we do not ingest enough aspartame to cause all of the negative side effects acclaimed to aspartame. To be on the safe side, Dr Atkins said it is best to avoid aspartame.

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So what do you think? What has your research taught you?

[Sherri]

So what do you think? What has your research taught you?

It's taught me to stay way, way, away from it!
The FDA, CDC..... are going to lie to us so they don't feel responsible for the many diseases, illnesses and deaths that aspartame has caused people.
Here's something else to read-
Link to: APARTAME---the shockingstory of the world's best selling sweetner "The Ecologist by Pat Thomas
http://www.wnho.net/the_ecologist_aspartame_report.htm

[msanjelpie]

OK, so we know some of the facts about what aspartame does inside of our body, and we have a great website above with all the typical aspartame dogma listed...

If you have partaken of aspartame in your lifetime, what effect did you notice that it had on you?

[msanjelpie]

I guess it hasn't effected anyone here negatively... ??

[Chihuahua Luvin Gurl]

I haven't had ANY artificial sweeteners, including Aspartame (from my Diet Pepsi) in 4 weeks this Sunday! I feel much better! I suffer from anxiety attacks and horrible insomnia, however since giving up my sweeteners, my anxiety for the most part is gone and my insomnia is getting much better! Could be also because I've drastically lowered the carb amount I've been used to for years. I do feel MUCH better when eating this way!

[jessicalynnmn]

I use to get horrible headaches if I didn't have a Diet Pepsi before about noon. It was the aspartame withdraw that was giving me headaches if I didn't have any. When I finally stopped it took me about 24 hours for my head to finally stop hurting. Now it's been about 3 years with no Aspartame at all. I never get headaches.

I once hit the wrong button on the pop machines and got a diet sprint and drank about half of it and ended up with a headache again. I know its from aspartame.

[JohnSantos]

Originally Posted by Chihuahua Luvin Gurl

I feel much better! I suffer from anxiety attacks and horrible insomnia, however since giving up my sweeteners, my anxiety for the most part is gone and my insomnia is getting much better!

That's great to hear! I trust you got some more food other than that ham?

[Chihuahua Luvin Gurl]

LOL not yet, still eating that darn ham and eggs, but I will have a whole variety starting tomorrow morning! I will be ON Atkins all the way!

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by msanjelpie

OK, so we know some of the facts about what aspartame does inside of our body, and we have a great website above with all the typical aspartame dogma listed...

Dogma? Those are fact in that report, not someones opinion or beliefs. Nothing typical about that.
Just like there are health warnings on tobacco, there's health warnings on aspartame as well. I understand that it's a personal choice to consume it. Dr. A warns us of it for a reason and advises against consuming it.It's not part of the Atkins plan.
You may not feel the effects of aspertame at the time of consumption, it's the long term effects that i'm concerned with.

[aquaryus]

I was diagnosed with MS right around the time I was consuming mass quantities of Aspartame . Since I've almost completely cut it out of my diet, I have had only one relapse. The sad part is that I have memory issues and numbness in my hands and feet. While I can't be certain the MS was caused my Aspartame use, my gut tells me that it didn't help any.

My Grandmother also cut Aspartame out of her diet and no longer has to walk with a cane. That is more proof than what I can personally claim that this sweetener is bad for you.