Sweetness is usually correlated with sugar. The problem with sugar, otherwise known as sucrose, is that it has a lot of calories. These calories lead to weight gain if not spent by exercise, but now that humans have the knowledge and technology to create various substances, there are artificial sweeteners that do not have calories at all and taste even sweeter than sucrose. Many Americans avoid sugar-sweetened drinks by drinking beverages filled with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame to avoid weight gain. However, studies have shown that the adverse neurological and visceral effects of aspartame demonstrate that artificial sweeteners are more harmful than helpful; therefore, artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, should not be ingested.
Aspartame can cause neurological effects that are hazardous to humans. Aspartame is metabolized into 50 percent phenylalanine, 40 percent aspartic acid, and 10 percent methanol (Maher and Wurtman). The main problem lies in the lone amino acid. Phenylalanine is a vital amino acid, but it is also a “neurotoxin”—a molecule that causes adverse effects in the brain. Increased phenylalanine levels in the brain can repress enzymes required to make certain neurotransmitters which results in drastic consequences. For instance, phenylalanine can repress enzymes needed to make serotonin neurotransmitters, and if these neurotransmitters are not created, the organism can suffer neurological problems such as depression, anxiety, and seizures. Results from a study by Timothy J. Maher and Richard J. Wurtman show that 50 percent of lab rats went into convulsions after being dosed with 250 milligrams per kilogram of aspartame. One can of diet soda usually contains only 50 milligrams per kilogram of asp...
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...ercise to avoid weight gain, or avoid sugary drinks all together. Most people probably would not choose the latter, although it is the healthiest choice. After all, what is life without sweetness?
Works Cited
Collison, Kate S, et al. “Prediabetic changes in gene expression induced by aspartame and monosodium glutamate in trans fat-fed C5731/6J mice.” Nutr Metab (Lond). 2013. PubMed Central. Web. 18 November 2013.
Maher, Timothy J, and Wurtman, Richard J. “Possible Neurologic Effects of Aspartame, a Widely Used Food Additive.” Environmental Health Perspectives. 1987. PubMed Central. PDF file. 18 November 2013.
Swithers, Susan E. “Artificial Sweeteners Produce the Counterintuitive Effect of Inducing Metabolic Derangements.” 2013. Cell Press. PDF file. 19 November 2013.
Taubes, Gary. “What Really Makes Us Fat.” New York Times. 30 June 2012. Web. 29 November 2013.
Due to the ever increasing use of aspartame, researchers have discovered that aspartame has been closely associated with the function of the brain. In the human brain, there is a blood-brain barrier that acts as a system of specialized capillary structures that are designed to prevent toxic substances from entering the brain. Prior to birth and during the first 12 months of life, the blood-brain barrier is incomplete. The protective enzymes in a baby’s brain are still immature, and therefore are unable to effectively detoxify the excitotoxins, toxins that bind to certain receptors and may cause neuronal cell death when they enter the brain. This would mean that in the case o...
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) observed 80 people who suffered brain seizures after eating or drinking products with aspartame. The Community Nutrition Institute declared: "These 80 cases which fit the FDA definition of imminent risk to public health, which requires the FDA to immediately withdraw the product from the market."
Abstract: The use of high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener in various food and drink products has drastically affected the American people in the last three decades. Dominating 55% of the sweetener market because of its industrial benefits, HFCS’s increased use has caused dramatic effects in its consumers, including upsetting normal hormonal functions, destroying vital organs, nerves, and throwing off the body’s mineral balance. As the use of HFCS increased, the rates of obesity, diabetes, and related health problems have escalated, resulting in a nationwide epidemic.
Tappy, L., Lê, K. A., Tran, C., & Paquot, N. (2010). Fructose and metabolic diseases: New findings,
The overconsumption of calories is one of the many factors that lead to weight gain. Sugar is in just about every product. Along with any other nutrient, it should be consumed in moderation. While a little won’t hurt, it is important to keep in mind that sugar and HFCS have no nutritional value. Focus on maintaining a well-balanced diet along with exercise and you’ll do just fine.
Walking down the streets of the United States, it seems impossible to avoid the sight of a major problem that is growing at extreme and fatal rates. This problem is known as obesity, which can lead to many other health problems such as diabetes and high cholesterol. One of the many causes for this is an unbalanced diet filled with foods high in fat and sugar. When given the choice, it is safe to say that many would be quick to grab a chocolate bar over a chai kale smoothie when hunger strikes. Many food companies have tried to follow the trend of the love of sweet foods by adding a fatal ingredient to their products. This ingredient is sugar.
I have talked about some of the harmful ingredients in Diet soda, some of the side effects in diet soda, and some major diseases and complication that are in Aspartame and Saccharin. Although many people think diet soda is better for you than regular soda, it actually has harmful ingredients in it that can lead to serious health problems and death. You also might think that Diet soda is going to make you lose weight, but trust me, it wont. The information I presented today shows you why you need to stop drinking diet soda forever, and just drink water.
According to Professor Philip James, the world´s most respected specialist in obesity, the use of sugar was restricted to teas and cakes prior to WWII. Today, on the other hand, sugary foods are found everywhere. Doctors have been slow to react to the relationship between obesity and sugar; it was only in the year 2003 that the link between these two was established. Before this discovery, the only known link was the consumption of sugar and unhealthy teeth. An interesting fact is that the brain is incapable of understanding or detecting the presence of sugar and that is why one continues eating sugar although the body has gained enough. A further discovery is that the brain is not accustomed to having many snacks in between meals, at least not sugary snacks. Professor James states that every additional can or glass of soft drinks increases the risk of suffering from obesity by 60%, which is something the manufacturers do not want people to know. He states that “When you’re into food, you’re into big
Mosbergen, Dominique. "Diet Soda Health Risks: Study Says Artificial Sweeteners May Cause Weight Gain, Deadly Diseases (VIDEO)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 11 July 2013. Web. 09 Jan. 2014.
Artificial sweeteners are fake sugar substitutes that many people use to maintain their weight and diabetes. But, what many people do not understand is that artificial sweeteners are not all they are cracked up to be. It is a proven fact that people who consume diet coke on a regular basis will be fatter one year from the time they began drinking them. Many artificial sugars are in the everyday items that people eat/drink including soda, chewing gum, energy drinks, granola bars, cereal, and much more. There are many aversive health effects that are associated with specific artificial sweeteners. The most common artificial sweeteners include aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, neotame, and Acesulfame- K. Although artificial sweeteners are assumed to be a healthy option but, in the long run they can cause many aversive health conditions that could have been prevented by just consuming natural sugar.
On the fox news program publish March 06, 2014 mentions how energy drinks effects the organs.
One of the health issues that can be observed from someone near you is diabetes. Mostly, obese and overweight people have type 2 diabetes. Health Educators, Liza Barnes and Nicole Nichols say, "More than 80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Carryingexcess weight around your abdomen and waistline (known as the "apple" shape), greatly increases your risk of diabetes."(Barnes and Nichols pg.2) Also, there are many people who want to lose weight have misunderstanding of nutrition facts. This misunderstanding comes from tricks of food production. One of the major sneaky food source that causes type 2 diabetes is artificial sweetener. People think low calorie intake is the best way to be healthy and lose weight. People working at food production knows that but, if they put just pure sugar into sodas or other food, it will build up massive calories. Artificial sweetener helps to take that massive calories down to relieve consumers. For example, many diet sodas have zero calorie but, so much art...
American Cancer Society. “Aspartame. What is Aspartame?” Learn About Cancer, Carcinogens. N.P. 17 February 2011
... in food in the cafeteria lead to clogging the arteries that eventually lead to heart diseases (Ardis). Nevertheless, artificial sweeteners have not been tested in humans and show kids they are healthier, rather than real sugar and real sweeteners, when in reality they contain ingredients that can cause cancer.
Scientists Ricardo Mora-Rodriguez and Jesus G Pallares executed a study observing the performance outcomes and side effects of energy drinks. They confirmed that due to their high carbohydrate concentration and lack of salts, energy drinks are not a good beverage choice when prolonged exercise in a warm environment is likely to require rehydration. They also found that ingestion of high doses of caffeine, although ergogenic, could result in negative side effects that could counteract the caffeine’s ergogenic effect. Even though energy drinks have the ability to increase a certain amount of energy, the energy would be short lived, due to lack of hydration. A similar study was performed by a team of scientists in Nepal. They tested on medical students at a Nepalese medical school. After the experiment, they concluded that energy drinks give energy and increase the stamina but they produce neurologic, psychiatric, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal complications on health. Certain students that participated in the study started to experience palpitation (increased or irregular heartbeat), nausea, constipation, and abdominal pain. These symptoms are just a few of the health risks that regularly consuming energy drinks can