Safety Of Sweeteners

[Nehkara]

So I was having a conversation with my friend the other night about sweeteners. I decided to look into the subject on my own and this is what I found. I just figured since I was writing it up to send to my friend it might be of interest to some people here.


Aspartame (MSDS: http://tinyurl.com/4ylu3lr)

Aspartame is broken down by the body into many components, including aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. These have been the three components of aspartame breakdown that have drawn concern.

The methanol breakdown product is quickly converted into formaldehyde and then completely converted into formic acid which is then excreted by the body. This process takes place so quickly that the body actually excretes the formic acid faster than it accumulates when drinking a beverage with aspartame. Even if you drank 13 litres of aspartame-sweetened beverage per day, the amount of methanol produced would be 25 times less than the level considered to be toxic. Notably, many fruit juices, citrus fruits, and fermented beverages actually have higher levels of methanol than the amount taken in when drinking aspartame-sweetened beverages.

Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid. Normal dietary intake is much higher than any intake from the breakdown of aspartame (even in very high intakes of aspartame). Only people with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria should be concerned and avoid aspartame (along with other dietary sources of phenylalanine) because their bodies do not have the proper capacity to metabolize phenylalanine.

Aspartic acid is also a common amino acid. It has been implicated as being a dangerous breakdown product of aspartame but in reality, even at very high intake levels (13 litres/day of aspartame-sweetened beverage), the amount of aspartic acid taken in from aspartame is less than 2% of normal daily dietary intake. Some have suggested that aspartic acid in conjunction with glutamate may cause neurotoxicity but studies have found that it is not actually possible to intake enough of these two substances through food and drink to cause any adverse health effects.

Finally, aspartame has been studied and declared safe by 90 countries worldwide and is considered one of the most thoroughly tested food additives.


Sucralose (MSDS: http://tinyurl.com/4ylu3lr)

Sucralose is of little concern, it is easily and safely eliminated by the body. In fact, very little is even metabolized, most is directly excreted. Sucralose has been extensively tested and no adverse effects have been associated with it, at anywhere near normal intake levels.


Acesulfame Potassium (MSDS: http://tinyurl.com/5sop)

This sweetener is often used in conjunction with sucralose and/or aspartame. It is the least studied of the three but also has shown no adverse effects in any study at anything near a normal intake level.


Hope it was helpful. My main source was Wikipedia, whose articles for the safety of these sweeteners are very well cited.

[Hack&Lube]

And none of them taste good!

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

And none of them taste good!

Truth, but they are not dangerous (despite a lot of hoopla to that effect).

[PeteLFan]

If you are looking for a sweetner, give Stevia a try its a all natural sweetner zero aspartame, zero calories. Its 300x times as sweet as sugar.

I don't like sweetners either, they are awful tasting, and way too sweet.

[photon]

"Big Artificial Sweetener" just wants you to think that they're not safe, so they can keep making money.

[Matata]

I'm sure you've also heard from sources that have said artificial sweeteners are bad for you. In cases like this I have to ask myself 'what are the odds that future studies prove artificial sweeteners are harmful?' These sweeteners are a relatively new phenomena with a very limited period of study (backed by huge companies that are just fine with tweaking study results), when compared to natural sugars which have been around since the dawn of time. Replacing natural substances with artificial ones generally has a poor track record and studies are overturned and/or modified all the time.

Is it worth it to take a chance with artificial sweeteners, when a tried and true alternative is available, just so you can exercise less? I would have to say no.

[Jedi Ninja]

Originally Posted by Matata

I'm sure you've also heard from sources that have said artificial sweeteners are bad for you. In cases like this I have to ask myself 'what are the odds that future studies prove artificial sweeteners are harmful?' These sweeteners are a relatively new phenomena with a very limited period of study (backed by huge companies that are just fine with tweaking study results), when compared to natural sugars which have been around since the dawn of time. Replacing natural substances with artificial ones generally has a poor track record and studies are overturned and/or modified all the time.

Is it worth it to take a chance with artificial sweeteners, when a tried and true alternative is available, just so you can exercise less? I would have to say no.

Not true, refined sugars, even cane sugar, are a relatively recent phenomenon, consuming them isn't exactly all that healthy either, regardless of how much you exercise.

The only natural sugar is raw fruit, but even then, modern fruits (including organic fruit) have been selectively cultivated to have much more sugar than was in a traditional "dawn of time" human diet.

[ma-skis.com]

Weird, I was just reading about aspartame online too, except my resource was snopeshttp://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/aspartame.asp

also found out new coke was not a clever marketing ploy

coca-cola did not invent santa

and disney DID force the lemmings to jump off the cliff for the video

lots of interesting stuff there... not sure how reliable though

[Boo Radley]

Originally Posted by Matata

In cases like this I have to ask myself 'what are the odds that future studies prove artificial sweeteners are harmful?' These sweeteners are a relatively new phenomena with a very limited period of study (backed by huge companies that are just fine with tweaking study results), when compared to natural sugars which have been around since the dawn of time.

Is it worth it to take a chance with artificial sweeteners, when a tried and true alternative is available, just so you can exercise less? I would have to say no.

Actually, one of the main target groups of artificial (non-nutritive) sweeteners are diabetics, who need a replacement for glucose.
Are they harmful? Under certain conditions, probably. Every chemical is potentially harmful.

Aspartame has been approved and used for 30 some years. I do not agree that it has received limited study.

[Weiser Wonder]

I 'feel healthier' now that I've cut out pop and diet pop. I was drinking about 5-10 diet pops a week and 1 or 2 regular. I've noticed I sleep better and feel better now that I don't drink it. It could very well be a coincidence though.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

I 'feel healthier' now that I've cut out pop and diet pop. I was drinking about 5-10 diet pops a week and 1 or 2 regular. I've noticed I sleep better and feel better now that I don't drink it. It could very well be a coincidence though.

Could also be decrease in caffeine intake.

[Canada 02]

I would bet that health studies on sugar show it to be way more harmful than any artificial sweetener

[tjinaz]

Lost 15lbs and stopped getting headaches so often. I still use occasionally but have not noticed really any change in health in reduction.

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Could also be decrease in caffeine intake.

I drink a ton of black coffee.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Matata

I'm sure you've also heard from sources that have said artificial sweeteners are bad for you. In cases like this I have to ask myself 'what are the odds that future studies prove artificial sweeteners are harmful?' These sweeteners are a relatively new phenomena with a very limited period of study (backed by huge companies that are just fine with tweaking study results), when compared to natural sugars which have been around since the dawn of time. Replacing natural substances with artificial ones generally has a poor track record and studies are overturned and/or modified all the time.

Is it worth it to take a chance with artificial sweeteners, when a tried and true alternative is available, just so you can exercise less? I would have to say no.

Aspartame was first synthesized in 1965 and was approved by the FDA in 1974. So it has been studied for 40+ years, very extensively, and has been verified safe by 90 countries.

Sucralose was discovered in 1976 and has been approved in Canada for 20 years. It is now approved in 80+ countries.

Acesulfame potassium was discovered to be a sweetener in 1967 and was approved by the FDA in 1988 so it has also been around and studied for quite some time.

Sugar in its present form has not been around since the "dawn of time" and has significant health detriments of its own.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

I drink a ton of black coffee.

Then maybe not!

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

Then maybe not!

I think I made a turn for the health-conscious in general, so it's probably more that than cutting out Diet pop specifically.

[sclitheroe]

The history of artificial sweeteners goes back pretty far.

The most significant source of lead poisoning was wine. To help preserve and sweeten it, the Romans added a syrup made of unfermented grape juice that had been boiled down in lead-lined pots, thereby greatly increasing the absorption of lead. Unfortunately the Romans did not understand, says the California Ph.D., that "this slow poison, this delicious syrup" delayed the wine's souring by killing impure microorganisms. In sterilizing the wine, "they knew not that they were also sterilizing themselves."

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...#ixzz1XZhbDSGN

[octothorp]

I've been experimenting with agave nectar as a sugar replacement in my home-made soft drinks (SodaStreams are awesome). It's got a much lower glycemic load, so no sugar rush compared to sugar. I tried some artificial sweetners, but for a mild recipe, you could always taste the sweetner. Overall though, I've found that in doing my own soda recipes, I actually like sodas that are far less sweet than most commercial brands; I have a hard time going back to sweet commercial sodas now.

[ken0042]

octothorp- can you give us some more info? Like where you get the agave nectar, and where you got the soda recipies?

I have recently cut out high fructose corn syrop from my diet; and if I can take a step that is even more healthy- so much the better.

As for artificial sweeteners, my body doesn't react well to any of them. When I asked my doctor if it was some sort of allergic reaction that could be controlled, he basically told me it was a good thing my body is reacting this way. He said his bet is that within 20 years these sweeteners will be pulled from the markets due to the long term effects to our bodies.