Aspartame, the Most Dangerous Food Additive on the Market Today

What does aspartame do in the body? To answer this question we need to know that aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. Ingesting aspartame leads to unnaturally elevated levels of these chemicals.  Let's look at all three individually.

When phenylalanine, an amino acid which is normally found in the brain, is found in excess, levels of seratonin in the brain tend to decrease.  This often leads to emotional disorders such as depression.  (How many patients are on seratonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac today as a result of the diet drinks they drank yesterday?)  Even a single use of aspartame can raise the blood phenylalanine levels. High blood phenylalanine can be concentrated in parts of the brain and is especially dangerous for infants and fetuses.  Excessive buildup of phenylalanine in the brain can cause schizophrenia or seizures.

Methanol/wood alcohol is a deadly poison.  Free methanol is created from aspartame when it is heated to above 86 degrees Fahrenheit.  This occurs during the processing of many products we find in the grocery stores such as jello and yogurt.   Methanol breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde in the body. The EPA recommends a limit of consumption of 7.8 mg/day. Approximately 1 quart of aspartame-sweetened beverage contains about 56 mg of methanol. More than 7 times the EPA limit!

It is interesting to note that the troops of Desert Storm were "treated" to large amounts of aspartame-sweetened beverages, which had been heated to over 86 degrees F in the Saudi Arabian sun. Many of them returned home with numerous disorders similar to what has been seen in persons poisoned by formaldehyde.

While the FDA was created to protect the American population from harmful drugs and food substances, it is obvious that this entity is failing to do so, at least where aspartame is concerned.  However, as Americans I believe it is our personal responsibility to make wise, informed decisions regarding both our nutritional and health care needs.  We have one body and a lifetime to care for it.  Let's make good choices!