07/31/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield
Among artificial sweeteners, one of the most common and controversial is aspartame. This zero-calorie sweetener, typically used in a number of foods and beverages as a sugar substitute, has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent years. There is a multitude of reasons for this, many of which should give you pause for thought the next time you reach for a can of sugar-free Coke.
In the 30 years since aspartame entered the market, it’s been associated with a wide array of health problems, including but not limited to:
Or, to be more precise, the fecal matter of genetically modified Escherichia coli. According to GreenMedInfo.com, creating aspartame involves feeding and cultivating cloned E. coli until the required byproduct is excreted. This byproduct, proteins containing aspartic acid-phenylalanine amino acid segments, is treated with methanol or wood alcohol before being debenzylated. Essentially, every time you take a swig of diet soda or drizzle on sugar-free ketchup, you’re exposing yourself to GMOs. (Related: Aspartame withdrawal and side effects explained – Here’s how to protect yourself)
One easy way to tell if a product contains aspartame is to look at the label. If a food product touts itself as being “sugar-free,” then it has aspartame. You should also make it a point to check the ingredients list, as smart manufacturers will include aspartame under names like “NutraSweet.” Some products that usually have aspartame in them are:
Additionally, you can also turn to natural alternatives to sweeten your meals. Raw honey and maple syrup are popular choices, though coconut sugar has been steadily rising in popularity too. For a truly healthy and fresh sweetener, simply purée your favorite fruits.
If you’d like to learn more about the health risks associated with aspartame, read Sweeteners.news.
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