Is aspartame harmful and can it cause cancer? According to experts from the European Food Safety Authority, this commonly used sweetener can be consumed with no he alth concerns. However, many scientists say that aspartame is carcinogenic. Check if aspartame is harmful to your he alth and what side effects its regular consumption brings.

Aspartameis a chemical compound from the group of peptide esters that is used as anartificial sweetener , orsweetener , code E951. It is added to many food products, especially those referred to as "light", in which it compensates for the lack of sugar or fat. Diabetics eagerly reach for it. Its small amount (only 1/10 calories) provides a sweet taste, balanced by a teaspoon of sugar, and its calorific value is almost zero. Therefore, it does not affect the production of insulin after consumption.

Aspartame is the only sweetener that is metabolized by the human body. After digestion, it breaks down into two natural amino acids: phenylalanine and aspartic acid. Therefore, it poses a serious risk to people with phenylketonuria who do not metabolize phenylalanine. Methanol, which is toxic to the body, is also a product of the metabolism of aspartame. However, research shows that with moderate consumption of aspartame the amounts of methanol in the body are harmless to human he alth.

Is aspartame a carcinogen?

In the 1990s, several scientific publications on the effect of a sweetener on the development of neoplastic cells appeared. At that time, scientists from Bologna who conducted studies on rats identified aspartame as a carcinogen. However, other researchers pointed to many irregularities in the conducted research, including different enzyme systems of humans and laboratory rats, as well as the use of much higher doses than those used in the food industry.

Later research has shown that there is no link between aspartame consumption and cancer development. This is confirmed by experts from the European Food Safety Authority and the Team for Food Additives and Nutrients. Thanks to their positive opinion, aspartame has been approved for sale throughout the European UnionEuropean.

What is the harm of aspartame? What side effects can aspartame cause?

There is a list of side effects of aspartame in a US Department of He alth and Human Services report. People who regularly consumed the sweetener most often complained about:

  • headaches (including migraines)
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • numbness and muscle spasms
  • weight gain
  • rashes
  • depressions
  • heart tachycardia
  • insomnia
  • vision problems
  • tinnitus and hearing loss
  • difficulty breathing
  • loss of taste
  • dizziness
  • memory loss
  • joint pain

All of the above the symptoms are the classic symptoms of intoxication following an overdose of aspartame. They can appear after drinking a liter of the drink with the addition of this sweetener.

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Products containing aspartame

List of products in which you can find aspartame:

  • most carbonated drinks
  • sports drinks
  • flavored mineral waters
  • some beers, e.g. Karmi
  • most chewing gums
  • some drops and dragees
  • instant cocoa
  • sweeteners
  • iced tea drinks
  • cake toppings
  • some yoghurts
  • jelly
  • fruit and milk drinks
  • instant coffee and tea
  • laxatives
  • frozen desserts
  • mint drinks
  • breath fresheners
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What medicines can you find aspartame in?

  • lozenges - especially those without sugar
  • effervescent tablets, e.g. multivitamins
  • pills for joints
  • granules for the preparation of an oral solution, e.g. for flu and cold

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