Evan Biegel
Mr. Spinella
English 12R
May 2014
A Comprehensive Review and Analysis on the Potential Carcinogenicity of Artificial Sweeteners
Humans detect and savor sweetness innately (Keskitalo, et al 55). Many people enjoy eating sweet foods and/or beverages because they stimulate a neural transduction pathway that eventually releases neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which grant a pleasurable, euphoric experience, together with a feeling of well-being (Academy of Wellness). However, sugar contains calories, and most dieters do not prefer excessive caloric intake. Sweet, artificial substances that do not contain the added calories of cane sugar grant these feelings of pleasure, but have received much criticism for many years (Butchko, et al S31). This criticism is most likely due to their reputation as chemicals that were serendipitously created in organic laboratories. New substances that are proposed for human consumption almost always undergo rigorous testing in order to evaluate their safety. Extensive research has been conducted on many artificial sweeteners, and presently, the subject matter linking them to cancer in humans, although still prevalent, is beginning to diminish. Scientists and researchers have been, and are presently, analyzing this controversy by using a different approach; the molecular structure and cancer-causing mechanisms that are associated with the ingestion of artificial sweeteners have been, and are being, scrutinized. Presently, strong evidence concerning the possible carcinogenicity of many artificial sweeteners ceases to exist, even upon analyzing their molecular structures and biochemical pathways during their metabolism. Recent studies have shown that the Acceptable ...
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... exist in many different forms, and taking something off of the list of carcinogens with which humans come into contact might help to decrease the risk of cancer in humans, even though studies have shown that artificial sweeteners may not contribute to cancer. Yet, research can always be questioned, and it is known that some sweeteners do metabolize to form carcinogens. As with tobacco smoke, humans may develop lung cancer after long-term use. Similarly, extended exposure to UV radiation without proper protection may induce skin melanomas. Despite new studies, which conclude that artificial sweeteners are not harmful to humans, there still exists heightened risk that some artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, contain carcinogenic subunits and can cause cancer in humans, when consumed in higher-than-average daily dosages and over long periods of time, solely.
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.). Sweeteners: Issues and Uncertainties. Washington, D.C.: National Academy of Sciences, 1975.
Aspartame, or more commonly known as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful and Equal Measure; was discovered purely by chance in 1965 by a chemist named James M. Schlatter, who was testing an antacid drug (Prantini; 2014). The commercial industry believed that “a wonder product” had been discovered, which stood to revolutionise the food industry as an artificial sweetener. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener which is found in many of our foods and beverages universally. Aspartame is two-hundred times sweeter than sugar and is commonly used as a tabletop sweetener, a sweetener in prepared foods, diet foods or drinks, flavored waters, chewing gum, condiments and is even found in flavoring of medicines. It is found in majority of our food products marketed for weight control (Prantini; 2014). Aspartame has a sweeter taste in comparison to sugar, and therefore less of the sweetener can be used in food products in order to achieve the same level of sweetness as if sugar was used; which results in an individual consuming fewer calories and less sugar (American Cancer Society; 2014).
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.
With dental, digestive, and other corporal problems such as diabetes and obesity proliferating in the United States, the public is becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of unhealthy foods. Some ingredients that had previously been deemed harmless and have been in use for decades have recently been proved to be harmful and even potentially lethal. Thus, scientists, nutritionists, and food manufacturers are becoming more concerned about detrimental eating habits originating from the consumption of damaging ingredients that are copious in foods. A greater concern, however, is that these ingredients can still be found in a variety of food products and have yet to be withdrawn from grocery shelves. It is difficult to conceive that such toxic ingredients as high fructose corn syrup can still be found in a plethora of foods and drinks, even after multiple experiments that have proven that high fructose corn syrup is severely detrimental to the human body and the usage of HFCS, instead of diminishing, has dramatically augmented over the decades.
Nowadays there are hundreds of different kinds of candies and hundreds of different brands that make them. Skittles and M&M’s are among todays’ most popular candies. They’re pretty similar when comparing packaging, size and colors, although they have very different taste. They’re both small and round, and come in small rectangular bags but Skittles are more of a sugary fruity flavor while M&M’s are chocolate. These candies are known all around the world. One may ask how these candies came to be so popular? The answer lies in the different strategies companies use to promote their treats towards specific groups of people. The Skittles commercial is directed towards more of a young audience considering how it uses sexual humor while the M&M’s
The average American eats 156 pounds of added sugar each year. Sugar is delicious and once we have it, our body constantly wants more. Added sugar has become an American epidemic. “Eighty percent, or 480,000 of the 600,000 food products sold within the U.S. have added sugar, which, according to researchers and medical doctors, is why we have the world 's highest obesity rate is at 31 percent,” (Fed Up). The addictive quality of added sugar makes our brains want more of it constantly; however, our bodies are being negatively affected by its consumption in many ways.
The Holland Sweetener Company (HSC) is planning to enter the low-calorie, high-intensity sweetener market which is currently dominated by NutraSweet. Below we first analyze our target industry. Next we look at what kind of response should HSC expect from NutraSweet upon its entry into this market. We will also analyze few likely scenarios that could play out and we will try to estimate the likelihood of each scenario. Based on our analysis, we will give a recommendation for HSC to plan their entry into this market.
An example is the Aspartame found in diet soda. Focusing on diet soda, it is shown that it is linked to even more diseases and causes more side effects than regular soda. Furthermore, “Numerous studies over the past several years have reported links between diet soda and weight gain, diabetes, heart problems, and other health issues. Most recently, headlines sounded alarms about a higher chance of dementia and stroke among diet soda drinkers” (Is Drinking…). The aspartame that is used in the diet soda is the main culprit for diet sodas effects. In fact, “Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious, including seizures and death” (Aspartame…). Aspartame is a man-made chemical that is made up of aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. With, aspartic acid making up 40%, phenylalanine making up 50%, and methanol making up 10%. Taking in consideration the phenylalanine in diet soda,” Excessive levels of phenylalanine in the brain can cause the levels of serotonin in the brain to decrease, leading to emotional disorders such as depression” (Aspartame…). With the methanol, that is found in aspartame, it “…breaks down into formaldehyde in the body. Formaldehyde is a deadly neurotoxin… With a recommended limit of consumption of 7.8 mg/day. A one-liter (approx. 1 quart) aspartame-sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol. Heavy users of aspartame-containing products consume as much as 250 mg of methanol daily or 32 times the EPA limit” (Aspartame…). The effects of methanol are caused by the formaldehyde. “Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, causes retinal damage, interferes with DNA replication and causes birth defects” (Aspartame…). Overall it is shown that the aspartame that is found in diet soda is linked to a number of diseases
HFCS is being used for almost every food product in the food industry. However, if we look at HFCS from a limited point of view we just see it as something present in our food and not the health factors behind it. HFCS can be habit forming since it is a sweet replacement for sugar and in his article Peretti mentions that David Kessler said “sugar, through its metabolisation by the gut and hence the brain, is extremely addictive, just like cigarettes or alcohol.” People enjoy the taste and because of this they consume large quantities, which lead to health factors such as: obesity, diabetes, heart problems, infertility, liver problems, and so on. Our limited perspective may cause us to lose sight of how much of a risk HFCS possess. In my case I use to think that my family gained significant amount of weight only through fatty foods and...
Overall, the consumption of aspartame is not so beneficial. The chemical component of aspartame may be broken down to chemical substances that are potentially harmful and may lead to symptoms such as headaches, vision impairment, hearing loss, memory loss, fatigue, dizziness, and eventually brain tumors. The sweetener may have been developed to lower the amount of calories and be a sugar substitute, but its creation has only produced medical attention. The consumption of aspartame should be limited or not be consumed at all in order to prevent symptoms from occurring. The creation of aspartame may not be so sweet after all.
The Immediate Effects of Ingesting Sour Versus Sweet Candy on the Heart Introduction In this particular study we observed the immediate effect that sweet candy (Skittles) versus sour candy (sour SweetTarts) has on heart rate and blood pressure upon ingestion and the time that was required for these statistics to return to basal measurements. This study does not infer the long term effects that these treatments have on the heart but can be considered a baseline for future exploration of these effects. The rate and blood pressure of the human heart varies based upon several outside and internal sources. Specifically, the ingestion of any materials will have an immediate and altering effect on the heart based upon its composition (DiNicolantonio and Lucan 2014).
For years doctors have been saying that refined sugars are empty calories and consist of absolutely no vitamins or minerals that people need to survive. Dentists warn that sugary foods encourage tooth decay. Many people avoid sweet food because it can lead to obesity, heart problems, diabetes and cancer. These negative responses by people’s bodies are actually warnings. Maybe people eat sugar for other reasons than the sweet taste. The human body's negative responses to sugar may be a similar purpose to the reason kids feel pain when they are playing too roughly. People’s consumption of sweet foods might also serve as a sign of defiance against their bodies’ health limitations. What many people do not realize is that their tasty treats can affect their mind and emotions.
It is also found in Diet Coke and other diet sodas. Aspartame is a neurotoxin, i.e., a drug that destroys the brain and nervous system. The molecule has three components: aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol. Has been shown that aspartic acid causes brain lesions in animal experiments.
Drinking Diet Coke leads to reduced calorie intake, which in turn, does not cause weight gain. The marketers of Coca Cola illustrate this in their most recent advertisement. Coca Cola 's "Regret Nothing" advertisement for Diet Coke presents a snapshot of two women who appear to be at a pool party. This is apparent because they are sitting on the side of a pool laughing as someone splashes them. The viewer can assume that the weather is warm and pleasant by the amount of skin that the girls ' dresses show and the fact that they are in a pool. It is evident that the two women are having a good time by their expressions. The marketing department of Coca Cola uses multiple visual aids to suggest that if an individual drinks Diet Coke, he or she
We are all familiar with sugar. It is sweet, delicious, and addictive; yet only a few of us know that it is deadly. When it comes to sugar, it seems like most people are in the mind frame knowing that it could be bad for our health, but only a few are really taking the moderate amounts. In fact, as a whole population, each and everyone of us are still eating about 500 extra calories per day from sugar. Yes, that seems like an exaggerated number judging from the tiny sweet crystals we sprinkle on our coffee, but it is not. Sugar is not only present in the form of sweets and flavourings, it is hidden in all the processed foods we eat. We have heard about the dangers of eating too much fat or salt, but we know very little about the harmful effects of consuming too much sugar. There still isn’t any warnings about sugar on our food labels, nor has there been any broadcasts on the serious damages it could do to our health. It has come to my concern during my research that few