Aspartame is 220 times sweeter than sugar. But it is necessary to know whether this sweetener is sweet for health and safe for use. This article provides some information on the side effects of aspartame.
Aspartame is an artificial sweetener made from a combination of phenylalanine and aspartic acid, which are two amino acids. It is many times sweeter than sugar, and is used in many sugar-free products. Some of the products are breath mints, sugar-free yogurts, juice drinks, non-carbonated soft drinks, ice tea powder, chewing gums, fruit spreads, etc. The chemical aspartame can dissolve in a solution, and thus travel to any body part and be deposited inside any tissue. Most people are unaware of the harmful chemical ingredients like preservatives, flavors, and sweeteners in it. Moreover, it is among the many harmful chemicals used in food products.
Side Effects
Chest: One of its side effects is that a person may experience shortness of breath, when using aspartame-containing products. Palpitations, sudden high blood pressure, and tachycardia are some more side effects. A person might also get respiratory allergies like asthma due to this sweetener.
Eyes: It can cause pain or blindness in one or both the eyes. It can cause blurred vision or eye problems like tunnel vision, decreased night vision, bulging eyes, bright flashes, etc. It can also reduce the amount of tears, and give a person trouble with contact lenses.
Ears: Its side effects that cause many ear problems include tinnitus, where a person gets a ringing or buzzing noise and develops severe intolerance to any sort of noise. Aspartame can also cause hearing impairment in a person.
Endocrinal and Metabolic: A person can lose control of diabetes, have menstrual changes, loss of hair, loss of weight or weight gain, or severe PMS on its intake.
Neurologic: A person, by using its products, can get headaches, confusion, memory loss, severe slurring of speech, and severe tremors. A person may also experience dizziness, severe drowsiness, unusual facial pain, or epileptic seizures by consuming aspartame-based products.
Psychological: The psychological side effects triggered by its use are irritability, severe depression, aggressive nature, phobias, personality disorder, and anxiety.
Gastrointestinal: It can lead to nausea, painful swallowing, stomach ache, diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by blood in stool.
Skin Allergies: A person can get itching without a rash. Other side effects are reactions on mouth and lips, and hives.
Others: A person might also experience swelling of leg, frequent urination, fluid retention, and excessive thirst by usage of this substance. Some critical symptoms are peptic ulcers, aggressive behavior, aspartame poisoning, aspartame addiction, hyperactivity in children, birth defects, and mental retardation.
There are certain detox programs conducted for people who have been adversely affected due to its intake. So, try to avoid all sugar-free products which contain aspartame as their ingredient. Try to drink plenty of water throughout the whole day, and try to drink a cup of green tea, as it greatly helps in natural detoxification. Eat natural and healthy foods, and include lots of salads and fruits in the diet.
So, with these side effects to lookout for, one should think twice before buying a pack of chewing gum, or using the products which contain this substance in it. Sugar does not contain any nutrients but only calories, so try to use natural sugar sweeteners or eat foodstuffs which contain natural sugars like fruits, honey, and maple syrup.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
