Aspartame

Aspartame

Aspartame

What is it:

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is used in many packaged goods and drinks and is sold under the brand names NutraSweet® and Equal®. It is about 200 times sweeter than sugar and so it is used in much smaller amounts to match the sweetness of sugar. Aspartame is made from a multistep process using aspartic acid and phenylalanine, two amino acids, by way of microbial fermentation and synthesis involving methanol and acetic acid.

Rating:

While some research has suggested that aspartame is safely consumed at the accepted daily intake set by regulatory agencies and that it has no impact on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, other research has shown that it may in fact decrease insulin sensitivity and have other potential negative health effects. Aspartame breaks down in the gut and produces small amounts of methanol, which is toxic. Aspartame has been linked to cancer and negative neurological effects.

Resources:

  1. Aspartame has no effect on insulin sensitivity in healthy adults (randomized, double-blinded, crossover clinical trial)
  2. General information on Aspartame. 
  3. Mechanisms for how non-nutritive sweeteners may affect metabolic factors 
  4. Potential health implications of aspartame (Review) 
  5. Aspartame intake associated with increased cancer risk (population-based cohort study)
  6. Aspartame causes cancer in rats (Animal study)
  7. Aspartame effects memory and oxidative stress in brain of mice (animal study) 

How we rate ingredients

Health is like a bank account, certain ingredients make a deposit into your health bank, meaning they add to
your health. Certain ingredients withdraw from your health bank. We want health promoting ingredients in our diet. To keep things simple, we rate ingredients on a green, yellow, red scale:

Clean

It is naturally occurring in food and has no harmful effects on the body. It is real food. It is health promoting.

Caution

It goes into one or more of the below categories

  • It is not naturally occurring in food but doesn’t have data showing it has a harmful effect on the body (additives like Gellan Gum)
  • It is naturally occurring but can have some harmful effects on the body (added sugars, oils, gums etc.)

We Avoid

It is known to have a harmful effect on the body (ex. All food colorings, Natural Flavors, MSG, Potassium bromate, aspartame, artificial flavors)

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