Artificial Sweetener Aspartame is Generally Safe

Artificial sweeteners are a food additive that attempts to duplicate the taste of sugar while using less food energy. Artificial sweeteners can be used for weight loss because they have 4 calories per gram and are 180 to 200 times sweeter than regular sugar so less is used. Some examples of artificial sweeteners include Saccharin, Sucralose, and Aspartame. There is ongoing controversy whether artificial sweeteners are health risks because some studies show that they cause diseases in laboratory rats. The following disscusion will deal with one such artfical sweetener: Asparatame.

Aspartame, under the trade name of NutraSweet, is a white, odorless, crystalline powder, which is synthesized from aspartic acid and phenylalanine. They are two naturally occurring and essential amino acids. Aspartame was first discovered in 1969 by a researcher, Mr. James Schlatter, at G.D. Searle & Company. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Aspartame in 1981 for use in tabletop sweeteners and various foods and dry beverage mixes. In 1983, Aspartame was approved for use in carbonated beverages and since then, has been approved for use in any foods and drinks.

Aspartame has many benefits. It has a very similar taste to sugar but, unlike sugar, it does not promote tooth decay. Aspartame does not contain many calories so it can help people manage their weight. As well, Aspartame doesn’t require insulin to metabolize therefore it is useful for patients with diabetes. They can have the benefit of a sweet taste, without elevating their blood sugar. But, as the saying goes: with the sweetness of honey, may come the sting of a bee. The safety of Aspartame has come into question.

The reason why some believe that Aspartame may ...

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...adies from Alzheimer’s to cancers to Parkinson’s. However follow-up studies and review of previous medical studies concluded that the majority of serious illnesses for which the artificial sweeteners were blamed were unfounded. The few concerns that were confirmed depended upon ingestion of massive amounts of the product. The other concerns, like restless leg syndrome and hypoglycemia, are minor associations. Olestra, a fat substitute, can be considered generally safe but with unpleasant side effects when food containing the product is consumed in moderately larger portions than average. All in all, for the general population, artificial sweeteners and fat substitutes are safe. A caveat can be made on an individual basis if a person finds that whenever he ingests these products he experiences unwanted symptoms, then the products should obviously be avoided.