Worse, there’s compelling evidence that aspartame may prevent, not promote, weight loss. AS INDIVIDUALS DIFFER, SO WILL RESULTS. | Home | FAQ's | Site Map | About | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy |. Despite its widespread use, aspartame remains one of the most controversial food additives. Between added sugars and non-nutritive, high-intensity sweeteners, many people are persistently exposed to sweet-tasting foods, which tend to be highly reinforcing and lend to the development of a “sweet palate” (notably at an alarming rate among children).16,17, One of my favorite conclusions comes from an editorial published in the British Medical Journal and written by Professor Michael Lean, Chair of Human Nutrition (Medicine) at the University of Glasgow, who said, “The cynical conclusion is that there is probably too much sweetness and never enough light, and the public probably needs protection against misleading websites.”16. While the rationale for aspartame and other non-nutritive artificial sweeteners makes enormous sense, studies show counterintuitive links between non-caloric artificial sweeteners and the same ailments of metabolic syndrome they are meant to prevent, such as weight gain, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and more. All rights reserved. 1 pound. It’s believed aspartame may act as a chemical stressor by increasing levels of the hormone cortisol, which has many bodily functions, including raising levels of blood glucose. While they are considered safe, there is increasing controversy regarding the potential of artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, to promote metabolic derangements. In a study published in the journal Research in Nursing & Health, researchers from the University of North Dakota examined the real-life effects of considerably lower amounts of aspartame. Put differently, there’s drastically less upside to aspartame than we have been led to believe. As intuitive as that conclusion may seem, however, it doesn’t seem to work that way in the real world. To put it into perspective, a 150-pound person weighs about 68 kilograms, for which the ADI would be between 2,720 and 3,400 mg of aspartame. It is best known under the brand name Equal®. Researchers say the consumption of artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, can adversely affect gut microbial activity, causing a wide range of health issues from cancers to type 2 diabetes.15. Even then, there are much safer, better options. Unless you’re using 90-plus packets of Equal a day or drinking 200-plus ounces of diet soda daily, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about, right? Here’s the Dill…, Impaired performance on tests of cognitive function, Sugar-free condiments (e.g., ketchup, syrup). ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND YOUR SPECIFIC HEALTH CONDITIONS AND/OR ALLERGIES. It’s also used widely in packaged products — especially those labeled as “diet” foods. NutraSweet® is the trade name for one manufacturer's products that contain aspartame (visit https://www.nutrasweet.com for more information). But for most people, aspartame is fine in moderate amounts. However, research shows that the side effects of aspartame may include increased risk of weight gain (rather than weight loss) and impaired glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetics.11, In a report published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, a team of Massachusetts General Hospital investigators found a possible mechanism explaining why the use of aspartame may lead to metabolic syndrome—a group of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.12. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener composed of two amino acids: aspartic acid and phenylalanine. In: StatPearls. Be that as it may, there’s compelling evidence that despite being metabolized in the upper intestine, gut bacteria still used and are affected by aspartame (perhaps via the byproducts of its metabolism), or maybe yet-to-be-determined mechanisms are involved.14, According to a new paper published in Molecules by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of Negev in Israel and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, are toxic to gut bacteria. In addition to its potential impact on metabolism, appetite, weight management, cognitive function, and mood, aspartame may also have negative effects on the digestive system, namely on gut bacteria. On the flipside, you have groups arguing that aspartame is safe, hanging their collective hats on decades’ old safety data and approval of numerous international bodies, such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Health Canada, and the European Food Safety Authority. Information courtesy of the NutraSweet Company. As mentioned, aspartame may lead to the production of excess free radicals, triggering systemic oxidative stress and inflammation, which are well-established factors linked to type 2 diabetes. How This “Shadow Rule” Can Protect You From Sun Damage, Get a Full Body Kettlebell Workout in Under 20 Minutes, Rise and Grind: The Top 13 Foods for Morning Fatigue, I Did The One Meal a Day (OMAD) Diet For 7 Days…, Is Beef Jerky Good for You? Free 5-8 day shipping within the U.S. when you order $25.00 of eligible items sold or fulfilled by Amazon. Chemically speaking, aspartame is a “dipeptide.” This simply means it’s composed of two amino acid-like compounds—aspartic acid and the methyl ester (i.e., methanol) of phenylalanine.