What's the side effects of aspartame?

Aspartame has been linked to behavioral and cognitive problems including learning problems, headache, seizure, migraines, irritable moods, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, wrote the researchers of a 2017 study in Nutritional Neuroscience.

What does aspartame do to your body?

Authors of a 2017 review concluded that aspartame may affect the immune system and, as a result, it may lead to oxidative stress and inflammation. Their findings suggested that aspartame could affect the cells of various body organs, including the brain, the heart, the liver, and the kidneys.

What are the symptoms of too much aspartame?

Breathlessness, elevated blood pressure and skipped or racing heartbeat are all symptoms of aspartame toxicity. Gastrointestinal Symptoms. People often experience an upset stomach, diarrhea (possibly bloody), abdominal pain and painful swallowing when using aspartame as a sweetener.

Does aspartame have health risks?

Aspartame hasn't been linked conclusively to any specific health problems, other than for people with phenylketonuria (PKU). This is a rare genetic disorder (present at birth) in which the body can't break down phenylalanine, an amino acid found in many foods (and in aspartame).

Who should not consume aspartame?

For those with obesity, regular consumption of low-calorie sweeteners may increase the risk of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. People with certain conditions, such as PKU or TD, may need to avoid aspartame.

About Aspartame Side Effect Studies

Is aspartame safe in 2021?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that “the use of aspartame as a general purpose sweetener… is safe.”

Should I avoid aspartame?

This despite the fact that the US FDA and the European Food Safety Authority — after decades of studies and anecdotal evidence — have deemed aspartame to safe for your consumption, even in large quantities.

What does aspartame do to your brain?

The consumption of aspartame, unlike dietary protein, can elevate the levels of phenylalanine and aspartic acid in the brain. These compounds can inhibit the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which are known regulators of neurophysiological activity.

Does aspartame make you gain weight?

Some research indicates that even acceptable daily intakes of aspartame, as regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), might make you hungrier and lead to weight gain.

Does aspartame cause brain tumors?

Studies that didn't find a connection in humans

The researchers concluded that aspartame wasn't associated with the development of brain cancer, leukemia, or lymphoma. A 2013 review of evidence of other studies on aspartame consumption and various cancers also found no association between aspartame and cancer risk.

How long does it take aspartame to leave your system?

It can take 14-30 days to get through the often debilitating symptoms of aspartame withdrawal.

What happens when you quit drinking diet soda cold turkey?

Several negative side effects are associated with soda dependency, and they can manifest themselves when you aren't able to access any soda or have chosen to quit — especially if you quit cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms include irritability, fatigue, headaches, and even feelings of depression ( 21 , 22 ).

What are the top 10 dangers of artificial sweeteners?

How much aspartame is toxic?

Since a diet drink contains about 130 mg of aspartame, an average human would have to consume about 5400 cans to approach a lethal dose, and that would have to be done without visiting the bathroom.

How much aspartame is safe?

The acceptable daily intake of aspartame is 50 mg/kg of body weight per day; this new study suggests that this number may be too high and should be more in the area of 20 mg/kg of body weight. Acceptable Daily Intake: 50 milligrams for each kilogram of body weight.

Is aspartame cancerous?

No, artificial sweeteners such as aspartame don't cause cancer. You might have seen stories about artificial sweeteners and cancer on social media or the news. But the best evidence in humans does not show a link. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has also reviewed the evidence.

Does aspartame make poop?

“Some of the natural and artificial sweeteners in diet drinks and foods, such as aspartame, sucralose, maltitol and sorbitol, may not digest properly for some people,” explains Dr. Talabiska. Sugar substitutes can cause laxative effects, especially when paired with other triggering foods.

Do artificial sweeteners cause belly fat?

Large-scale population studies have found that the consumption of artificial sweeteners, particularly in diet sodas, is associated with increased weight gain and abdominal fat over time.

Does aspartame mess with metabolism?

"Sugar substitutes like aspartame are designed to promote weight loss and decrease the incidence of metabolic syndrome, but a number of clinical and epidemiologic studies have suggested that these products don't work very well and may actually make things worse," says Richard Hodin, MD, of the MGH Department of Surgery ...

Does aspartame affect memory?

Aspartame's role in memory loss is a health concern that has been associated with artificial sweeteners. Several studies have been conducted on aspartame's effect on cognitive function in both animals and humans. These studies found no scientific evidence of a link between aspartame and memory loss.

Can aspartame cause dementia?

Aspartame is known to overstimulate the neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, in the brain. Excessive amounts can damage neurons and cause cell death, which are associated with memory issues and dementia.

Can aspartame cause joint pain?

It has been shown that ingredients such as aspartame and MSG contain chemicals that are potentially toxic to the nervous system, however it is also seen throughout reports that these chemicals also increase inflammation and bouts of pain in people with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

What is the safest artificial sweetener to use?

Aspartame — "safe"

One of the most common sugar substitutes, aspartame is approved for use in more than 90 countries around the world and is used in 6,000 different products, including soft drinks, cereals, breath mints, chewing gum, hard candies.

Is stevia better than aspartame?

“Stevia leaf extract is safer than many other sugar substitutes, especially aspartame and sucralose,” Lefferts says. Research has linked sucralose, aspartame, and saccharin with cancers. That said, there is still a need for more research around stevia.

Is there aspartame in Coke Zero?

Yes. We sweeten Coke Zero Sugar in our bottles and cans with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium (or Ace-K). Together, they create a great taste with zero sugar and zero calories.