Retrieved From http://www.thebigriddle.com/2016/06/aspartame-is-linked-to-leukemia-and.html on November 8th, 2016
What's one substance you or someone you know likely consumed in the last 24 hours? Well lets ask this did you have a diet soda, gum, yogurt, baked goods, or almost anything that claimed to be sugar free or low calorie? Aspartame is found in a variety of foods and many have consumed it for many years possibly even unknowingly. Once consumed aspartame is a three part substance consisting of phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol and is a great alternative to sugar with a no calorie bonus. The accidental discovery of this product has shaken up the entire world. It has caused media roars that claim this is the most poisonous substance discovered and challenge the FDA approval of the use of the substance. From the very beginning, aspartame was in the limelight for many controversies that even delayed the approval of FDA to place it in human consumption products. It wasn't until 1983 that aspartame was allowed in carbonated products (1).
One of the most beneficial properties of aspartame is that it is so much sweeter than sugar that half of the amount of aspartame can be put in to make something sweeter. Thus, it can be consumed in moderation. Correct me if I'm wrong but according to me if anything is consumed in moderation the threats of establishing that products side effects are minimized. Some of aspartame's claimed side effects are so over the top, such as getting AIDS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, etc (2). On top of that, various controversies around aspartame are centralized on it causing methanol poisoning and having an affect on weight. Many foods that we consume more regularly than those containing aspartame, such as tomatoes or even wine and beer, contain higher levels of methanol than aspartame (2). Also, many studies have been conducted that have proven to show that there is no correlation between aspartame and weight gain (3).
The FDA accepted daily intake of aspartame is set so high (50 mg/kg body weight) that a man my size would literally have to consume over 20 cans of diet soda daily to exceed the daily limit and show the negative side effects (4). A double-blind study did not even show a difference between the placebo groups and those that were given aspartame tablets with dosages up to 8 g/day (5). The negative hype on aspartame rarely has any scientific backing and is just a passing media sensationalizing. If still one insists to not consume aspartame regardless of the scientific reasoning than there are many natural alternatives that can be consumed such as honey, maple syrup, or molasses (4). But if I were you I would hurry because you never know which of these substances is the next target on "foods that are poisonous".
References:
(1) Thomas,
Pat. (2005, 09). "Aspartame." The Ecologist, 36-46.
http://library.mtroyal.ca:2048/login?url=http://library.mtroyal.ca:2118/docview/234930257?accountid=1343
(2) "Aspartame: The Most Dangerous Substance On The
Market". 2016. Mercola.Com. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/06/aspartame-most-dangerous-substance-added-to-food.aspx.
(3) Hodgson, Aurora Saulo. 2001. "Falsifications And Facts
About Aspartame". College Of Tropical Agriculture And Human Resources.
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/FST-3.pdf.
(4) "The Truth About Aspartame Side Effects".
2016. Healthline.
http://www.healthline.com/health/aspartame-side-effects#SideEffects4.
(5) Stanley, Dr Lesley. 2013. "Review Of Data On
The Food Additive Aspartame". EFSA Supporting Publications 10 (3): 45-81.
doi:10.2903/sp.efsa.2013.EN-399.
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