Sweet Danger
Recently I had to do a research project for school. I have a love hate relationship with sugar, but what I look upon with even more disdain, are those nasty artificial sweeteners. Most of us ingest these non-foods without even realizing it. This is why I decided to pursue the topic and learn as much as I could about each sweetener, it’s composition and it’s dangers. To my surprise, I was unable to find a nice, neat list of sweeteners in table form so I could compare them side by side. I collected information from various sources and constructed my own.
*Based primarily on animal studies and personal accounts including allergic reactions
Also included in my project was a table of “natural” sweeteners, which in my opinion, are in many ways just as bad as the artificial ones. I will be sure to post those next time!
| Sweetener | What is it? | Side Effects and Potential Dangers* |
Notes |
| Aspartame (Nutrasweet,Equal) | dipeptide of aspartic acid and a methyl ester of phenylalanine | cancer, neuropsychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression, temper outbursts, agression, headache, insomnia, dizziness), nausea, high blood pressure, seizures, muscle pain, visual impairment, depression, food cravings | - blocks production of serotonin -neurotoxin/ “excitotoxin” (excites neurons in the brain to point of cell death) - leads to accumulation of formaldehyde in the brain (centres associated with Alzheimers and Parkinson’s Diseases) - extremely dangerous for those with PKU (and carriers) |
| Acesulfame K (Potassium) | derivative of acetoacetic acid | cancer, stimulation of insulin secretion, chronic respiratory disease, thyroid disfunction | - no long term independent human studies have been done |
| Sucralose (Splenda) | chlorinated sucrose derivative | digestive upset, headaches, anxiety, heart palpitations, parasthesia, liver and kidney damage, decreased immune function | - no independent controlled human studies -no long term studies (over 24 mons.) - caused thymus gland to shrink 40% in studies |
| Neotame (Nutrasweet) | derivative of a combination of aspartic acid and phenylalanine: a synthetic variation of aspartame | cancer, headaches, neuropsychiatric disorders | - Monsanto’s newest aspartame - up to 13000 times as sweet as sucrose (aspartame is 30) -hidden in many foods without having to be labelled as an ingredient because of it’s high potency - no long term or independent studies |
| Cyclamate (Sugar Twin, Sweet’n Low) | sodium or calcium salt of cyclamic acid | cancer (bladder), lowered sperm count, testicular abnormalities | - banned in USA but not Canada - suspected to damage male reproductive DNA |
| Aspartame-acesulfame (Twinsweet) | Ionically bound aspartame and acesulfame K | see aspartame and acesulfame K | - not widely used |
| Alitame or Aclame | dipeptide of aspartic acid | no data | - pending FDA approval - 2000 times sweeter than sucrose |
| Saccharin (Sweet’N Low, sugar twin) | benzoic sulfinide; a solvent | cancer (specifically bladder), digestive upset, metabolic interference, kidney lesions, eye deformities, people with allergies to sulpha drugs particularily affected | -genotoxic (binds to urinary proteins) - AMA recommends limit for use in children and during pregnancy -until 2002 was labelled with warnings “causes cancer in lab animals” |
*Based primarily on animal studies and personal accounts including allergic reactions
Also included in my project was a table of “natural” sweeteners, which in my opinion, are in many ways just as bad as the artificial ones. I will be sure to post those next time!
Tags: aggression, alzheimer's disease, depression, health, immune system, mental, serotonin, sugar
Comment
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Comment by Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum on March 29, 2008 at 2:18pm - Dear Heather, Your reactions are not allergic to aspartame but toxic because you are consuming a deadly chemical poison. As Dr. Russell Blaylock says in a lecture: Understand the reactions to aspartame are not allergic but toxic like arsenic and cyanide. Be sure to stay clear of processed food, especially artificial and natural flavors where MSG and aspartame or the component of aspartame are hidden. Check out the web sites above. If you're using sugar you might try raw sugar instead of refined. It even tastes better. I would stay away from cola which has so many additives that are not healthy. They do have safer ones in Whole Foods. I use their purified water in glass bottles. They have all kinds of juices and delicious things to drink without these unsafe additives and without MSG. All my best, Betty
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Comment by Heather on March 29, 2008 at 1:55pm - I really feel for those people who cannot use real sugar, because what they are up against are a host of chemicals. It is good at least to see one example of a safe sweetener. I am not diabetic, so can use real sugar. The experiences I've had with aspartame have caused me to read alot of labels, ask alot of questions, and avoid alot of products! The reactions I experienced with aspartame have convinced me that I am allergic, and therefore I avoid it in any form.
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Comment by Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum on February 28, 2008 at 11:29am
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Here is the Report For Schools on Aspartame to get it out of schools. http://www.mpwhi.com/report_on_aspartame_and_children.htm There is a safe sweetener called Just Like Sugar, www.justlikesugarinc.com made from chicory and orange peel and safe for diabetics. Dr. Russell Blaylock asked for an analysis so we know its safe. They have school programs with fiber water with calcium and health drinks from the herbs from the Amazon rain forest, detox, energy. You can get Just Like Sugar in Whole Foods or Raw Oats or the like, or on web.
All my best,
Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder
Mission Possible International
770 242-2599
www.mpwhi.com, www.dorway.com and www.wnho.net Aspartame Toxicity Center, www.holisticmed.com/aspartame
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