Could Aspartame Be Making You Sick?

A friend of mine who was not feeling well; she was experiencing headaches, feeling very spacey, and having trouble concentrating. She contributed the symptoms to a migraine on the horizon, but it ended up being a side effect from the chemical sweetener, aspartame. My friend is not alone.

I realize this (chemical) ingredient is controversial, however, it has proven to be harmful time and time again. Did you know that the lab testing done for FDA approval was done on animals only and not on humans? Since approved, most Americans have become the guinea pigs and, quite often, develop symptoms and major health issues that are linked back to aspartame. I even have heard stories where people were misdiagnosed with a serious disease and treated for it, only to find out it was a side effect of aspartame. Once removed, the patient makes significant improvements and those who remove it completely never have another symptom(s).

Aspartame, also known as Equal or NutraSweet, has been linked to numerous health issues. Somehow this chemical made its way into society, even though in 1980, the FDA Board of Inquiry (comprised of three independent scientists) confirmed that Aspartame “might induce brain tumors.” The FDA actually banned aspartame based on this finding, but obviously came to market anyway. This appears to be a sad case of money and politics.

This harmful ingredient breaks down into phenylalanine when it is then ingested and metabolized. Phenylalanine causes excessive action of neurons in the brain and it kills cells. Read that last line again. It kills brain cells. Research has shown that too much phenylalanine can trigger seizures, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), as well as neurological, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Many of the complaints that come into the FDA about food reactions pertain to aspartame. The FDA once listed 92 different symptoms associated with the use of NutraSweet. Symptoms confirmed through controlled studies include headaches/migraines, weight gain, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, depression, irritability, anxiety attacks, tingling and numbness, convulsions, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, diarrhea, aggravation of diabetes, menstrual problems, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, decreased vision, eye pain, ear ringing, noise intolerance and excessive thirst.

In 1995, the FDA stopped reporting aspartame reactions. This harmful ingredient should not be considered safe for human consumption. The FDA needs to receonsider their GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) label and protect the health of Americans. It is deceptive to label something as sugar-free, allow the consumer to think they are making a healthy choice, and then allow that chemical to poison their body.

It is estimated that over 6,000 food and drink products worldwide contain this popular artificial sweetener. Commonly found in diet sodas, sugar-free candy, gum, yogurt, ketchup, Crystal Light, Jello, pudding, nutritional bars, cereals, etc. Don’t fall into the the “Sugar-Free” marketing trap! Always read the labels and check the ingredients. If you or someone you love has had any of the above symptoms and is consuming aspartame, please remove related items immediately – It’s just a little choice that matters!

We welcome your experiences/comments below. Your story / comment may just save a life!!

Readings you may be interested in:
Aspartame controversy
Food Inc. (Also available on Video (Netflix, Blockbuster, your local library) or watch online
How Aspartame Became Legal
Dr. Mercola on Aspartame