How much do you know about artificial sweeteners? Many people may think they are doing the right thing by choosing ‘sugar-free’ or ‘diet’ products to reduce their sugar intake, but the reality is, many artificial sweeteners have dangerous side effects. The main artificial sweeteners used today are:
- Aspartame
- Saccharin
- Sucralose
- Neotame
- Acesulfame potassium
Aspartame regularly hits the headlines because it has been studied for decades. Aspartame is essentially made up of 50% phenylalanine, 40% aspartic acid and 10% methanol. The bi-products of these chemicals are formic acid, formaldehyde and Diketopiperazine (DKP), which is a proven brain tumour agent.
Due to the highly addictive nature and overconsumption of aspartame, many studies suggest that this chemical can cause headaches, migraines, confusion, balance problems and seizures. Research also suggests that diet soft drink consumption was linked to higher incidences of stroke, vascular problems and myocardial infarction.
The best thing to do is get to know your labels…look at the food additive names and numbers and know what they mean. If you do need a sweetener try Stevia, which comes from the species Stevia rebaudiana. Stevia is a great alternative as it is about 300-400 sweeter than sugar and is widely available at all health food stores and some supermarkets. For more information on the Top 10 Food Additives that you should avoid, click here.
