Aspartame: is the sweetener unhealthy?

The sweetener aspartame as a substitute for sugar has long been suspected of being unhealthy. Diabetics in particular use the sweetener to sweeten tea or coffee. We will inform you about the sweetener and its effects.

Aspartame: unhealthy sugar substitute

Aspartame consists of the three substances methanol, phenylalanine and aspartic acid. Scientific studies have shown that the sweetener is harmless to health as long as it is not supplied to the human body in excessive amounts, reports the EU food agency Efsa.

• 40 mg aspartame per kilogram of body weight are harmless. However, this amount should not be exceeded.
• Sugar and aspartame have the same calorie content. However, since aspartame tastes sweeter than sugar, a smaller amount is needed to achieve the same level of sweetness.
• However, critics point out that aspartame can be responsible for a number of dangerous diseases when taken regularly, but these facts have not been scientifically proven. The Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR), the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) and the US National Cancer Institute assume that, despite all concerns and health risks, aspartame is not carcinogenic.
• Possible diseases include depression, blindness, cancer, anxiety, diabetes, circulatory disorders, dizziness, osteoarthritis, overweight and migraines. However, these clinical pictures are not scientifically proven.

That is why aspartame is unhealthy

The claim that aspartame triggers serious diseases is based on the chemical composition of the sweetener.

• The components of aspartame are responsible for the release of nerve toxins in the body during processing. Antje Gahl from the German Nutrition Society (DGE) explains that this is also the case with other foods. Accordingly, aspartame is no more dangerous than other foods.
• The constituents that release the poisons include methanol, L-phenylalanine at 50 percent and L-aspartic acid at 40 percent.
• L-aspartic acid in particular can cross the blood-brain barrier and thus destroy brain cells.
• The use of aspartame is dangerous for people suffering from the metabolic disease PKU (phenylketonuria). People with the metabolic disorder cannot break down phenylalanine. This accumulates in the brain and destroys brain cells.

Aspartame in food

All the more dangerous is the fact that aspartame is found in almost all Light products.

• Light drinks in particular contain a lot of aspartame. Foods labeled as low in fat and low in calories contain less sugar. However, this is often replaced by aspartame.
• If your daily ration of 40 mg per 40 kg is not exceeded, you usually have nothing to fear. However, since you may unconsciously consume significantly more aspartame through other foods, this can lead to health problems.
• Aspartame is contained in sweet drinks such as cola or Fanta Light as well as in other foods such as pudding, yogurt or ice cream. Sugar-free chewing gum also often contains aspartame. Likewise, ready meals that are intended to be warmed up.
• The high content of aspartic acid and glutamic acid leads to severe neurological disorders.
• Animal experiments by the University of Mississippi showed that the increased susceptibility to lymph gland cancer and leukemia is particularly high due to the increased intake of aspartame.
• However, the clinical pictures caused by aspartame have not been clearly proven, emphasizes the German Nutrition Society.