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Is Aspartame safe?Is Aspartame safe? What is it actually?
Yikes! This sounds so scientific and technical that it’s scary to think we put that stuff into our bodies. But why would we want to bother consuming natural sugars when they have been associated with obesity, diabetes and tooth decay? Heck, we can avoid 140 unnecessary calories by opting for that can of diet cola in place of the regular version! Why would anyone want to even bother with sugar anymore when you get the 200 times the effect by comparison by using aspartame, without the calories? Well, this is a debate which has lingered for several years and is set to continue still. Since aspartame’s introduction into the market some 30 years ago, there has been study after study. There have been those commissioned by pundits and manufacturers of the product, and others intended to refute claims that this artificial sweetener is safe implying several dangers of aspartame. There is not a day that goes by that you will not read or see some article on this infamous product in the media. Be that as it may, aspartame has been cleared in more than 90 countries as safe for human consumption. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled that aspartame is "one of the most thoroughly tested and studied food additives the agency has ever approved." So the question once again, is aspartame safe? I have read far and wide and I can say that I find my opinion still uncertain. Do I use it? Er, yes I do – for better or for worse, but I am conscious of the fact that aspartame is not without controversy and may be harmful. Yes, I do realize there could be associated dangers of aspartame which over the long-term, may damage my health. Am I recommending you to use it? Asolutely not. While aspartame forms part of my own eating plan, I am still hoping that one day we will hear, once-and-for-all, that it is either cleared of any and all controversies without reservations, or that a better substitute is found. When I say "better", I mean a product which will be factually proven beyond all doubt to be 100% safe. Until then, I will use aspartame in moderation to reduce any possible health side-effects, and hope that I am doing the right thing. The FDA recommends a daily intake of no more than 50 mg of aspartame per kilogram of body weight. That amounts to around 22 cans of diet soft drink for an average 175-pound man, and around 15 cans for an average 120 pound woman. Besides my daily can or 2 of soft drink, I limit my use of aspartame to sweetening my coffee and my breakfast cereal. I do not believe that it is a good idea to create too much of a nutritional imbalance by eliminating ALL sugars. I do consume foods like fresh fruit, marmalade, honey, sauces, condiments and the like (and of course my occasional chocolate or ice-cream). Remember your body does need sugar for proper functioning. My best advice to anyone would be to employ moderation in the consumption of aspartame. But whatever your point-of-view, if you have an opinion on the subject you’ll know that there are many avid supporters and critics around the globe in constant debate, and it won’t be long before the next report or finding is published. So let’s be responsible about the use of aspartame while we watch this space. |
