The Dangers of Aspartame

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The Dangers of Aspartame

The Federal Drug Administration approved aspartame, an artificial sweetener surrounded by controversy, for widespread consumption in 1983. Its brand name, NutraSweet, is a division of Monsanto, a major drug company who acquired G.D. Searle, the original drug company affiliated with aspartame. Aspartame is used in everything from diet food to sugarless gum, but its major use is in diet drinks. There have been studies done to determine what dosage of aspartame and it's by products, aspartic acid, methyl alcohol or methanol, and phenylalanine, is safe to consume or if the amount is unlimited. Dr. Mark Gold (1995), a researcher involved with aspartame for over twenty years, found that seventy-five percent of the complaints reported to the FDA are related to aspartame and that aspartame led to a variety of symptoms. Some of these include arthritis, hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, inability to think clearly, confusion, dizziness, headaches or migraines, inability to concentrate, joint pain, memory loss, rapid heartbeat, and brain tumors among. This paper will take a closer look at how aspartame could physically cause such symptoms and discuss the validity and relevancy of the scientific studies presented in the case for aspartame use.

To understand why aspartame can possibly cause symptoms like memory loss, headaches, and brain tumors, one must look at how aspartame is used in the body. These effects have been outlined in quite a few studies, three of which are Carolyn Orange's study entitled "Effects of Aspartame on College Student Memory and Learning," and Jennifer Cohen's study "How ...

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...ty. 24.3 (1986): 187-189

Gurney, James G., and Janice Pagoda. "Aspartame Consumption in Relation to

Childhood Brain Tumor Risk: Results from a Case-Control Study." Journal of

National Cancer Institute 89.14 (1997): 1072 EBSCOHost

Henderson, C.W. "Dosing Data For Aspartame Reported." Blood Weekly 30 March

2000: 18 EBSCOHost

Key, Sandra, and Michelle Marble. "Scientists Study Sweetener's Link to Cancer."

Cancer Weekly Plus. 16 Aug. 1999: 18. EBSCOHost

Orange, Carolyn. "The Effects of Aspartame on College Student Memory and

Learning." College Student Journal. 32.1(1998): 87 EBSCOHost

"Preapproval 'Research' and History of Aspartame." Holistic Medicine. 27 March

2001. 1-38.

"Scientific Abuse in Methanol/ Formaldehyde Research Related to Aspartame."

Holistic Medicine. 27 March 2001. 1-19.

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