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• Exercises Help Avoid Erectile Dysfunction
• An Introduction To Functional Foods
• Aspartame – The Artificial Sweetener With Controversy
• Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) & Labeling - Your Health Can Be At Risk
• Gum Diseases leading to Stroke
• Health Concerns About HFCS – High Fructose Corn Syrup

Aspartame – The Artificial Sweetener With Controversy

Since artificial sweeteners are so controversial, the best thing to do is avoid them. They are nothing more than chemical substitutes. They have no food value, trick the body into thinking that you are eating something sweet, are derived from toxic chemicals, and have a plethora of side effects. Even though the FDA says these chemical sweeteners are safe, many researchers and consumers groups strongly disagree. Aspartame happens to be one of the most controversial topics today because it is in absolutely everything from diet sodas, foods, and even things like toothpastes and cough drops. It was invented when a scientists licked his fingers while working on an anti ulcer medication. Aspartame is 180 times sweeter than sugar. Many individuals are speaking out about Aspartame because 75 percent of all complaints to ARMS has been as a direct result of it.

Ten percent of aspartame is absorbed into the bloodstream as methanol. The recommended limit of methanol is only 7.8 mgs per day. A one liter aspartame sweetened beverage contains about 56 mgs which is eight times the recommended amount that the EPA limits. Headaches are the most common adverse reactions attributed to aspartame, but rarely is confirmed on a scientific level. A publication in the European Journal of Oncology found that in 12 of 1500 rats that received aspartame developed brain tumors, where as the other 1500 rats got none. In other anecdotal reports, aspartame has been linked to panic attacks, mood changes, visual hallucinations, manic episodes, and isolated dizziness. A small study of volunteers that suffered from major depression had a higher incidence of reactions to aspartame than those compared with nondepressed volunteers. They administration of 30 mg of aspartame sweetened beverages for seven days, the symptoms: headache, nervousness, dizziness, memory problems, nausea, rage and depression. Other research concludes that patients with mitral valve prolapse are at an increased risk of neuropsychiatric effects.

Since artificial sweeteners first became prevalent, many of them have been recalled and banned, such as cyclamate in 1970. These sweeteners are found in absolutely everything today, so it would make sense that the rate of obesity would have gone down. Instead it has risen and many blame it on these sweeteners even though they may not even have calories. These sweeteners are thought to be better for the body than refined sugars because they are not associated with rotting teeth nor weight gain, but consumer groups still maintain that they are made from chemicals and come with many adverse effects. Because these sweeteners are extremely cheap, conclusive evidence may never be proven because they are backed up by big food giants, therefore consumers need to use their instincts and make their best judgments by following up on studies and and other reports that may not be found through prominent public journals. Fungus may not be a favorite but the good news is there are many extracts out on the market today.