Aspartame

What is Aspartame?

Once people discovered that sugar is a major source of excess cholesterol in the body, other sources for food sweeteners were sought. Aspartame otherwise known as NutraSweet became an instant hit. It is used in numerous food substances from sodas, vitamins, cookies, gum etc as a sugar alternative. It is a man made product that was discovered by accident in 1965.

Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener which is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose. The rapid rise in aspartame's popularity can be attributed to the many benefits aspartame provides to calorie-conscious consumers.

Aspartame tastes like sugar. There is very little difference between the taste of sugar and Aspartame making it an excellent sugar alternative. It also enhances and extends flavours from other products. It has the ability to intensify and extend fruit flavours. In some products such as chewing gum, it can have a sweet taste up to four times longer than sugar sweetened gum.

For those who are afraid of tooth decay because of taking sweet food, Aspartame may be the perfect solution as it does not promote tooth decay. Aspartame is a perfect solution for those with diabetes. Aspartame offers people with diabetes an opportunity to satisfy their taste for sweets without affecting blood sugar, which helps them to comply with a healthful meal plan.

Consuming products with aspartame can result in fewer calories, which helps people with diabetes, manage their weight. Products with aspartame are lower in calories than their sugar-sweetened counterparts.

Being a low calorie sweetener, Aspartame provides consumers with many benefits, both psychological and physiological. Health professionals and consumers believe low-calorie sweeteners are effective for the following purposes: weight maintenance, weight reduction, management of diabetes, reduction of dental caries, and reduction in the risks associated with obesity

Side Effects and Warnings of Aspartame

Aspartame is used in hundreds of products worldwide and has proven to be relatively safe for most people. However, there is an ongoing debate on how safe it could be. This is because it breaks down into aspartic acid, phenylalanine and menthol which may be toxic to the body and brain.

If you have any allergic reactions to products containing Aspartame, you should seek medical advice.

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