For some of you, the word aspartame sends up a giant red flag; for others, it may be news to you that you should be avoiding this ingredient at all costs. If you’re in the second camp, this post will be a very important one for you.
First, let’s define it: Aspartame is a synthetic chemical used to sweeten foods and beverages without the calories of regular sugar. Originally created by a chemist’s mistake in his quest to create an anti-ulcer drug, this chemical has now managed to find its way into everything from lemonade to popsicles.
So why it is so dangerous?
Aspartame, more commonly known as NutraSweet or Equal, is one of the most toxic substances being consumed today. Currently used in over 4,000 products worldwide, it has had a controversial past, being one of the most tested and debated food additives in the history of the FDA.
While the manufacturer maintains that aspartame is not a danger to your health, you need to be aware that though the FDA has approved the product for mass consumption, overwhelming evidence shows that aspartame can have neurotoxic, metabolic, allergenic, fetal, and carcinogenic effects.
If you’re wondering why such a toxic ingredient hasn’t been banned, you simply need to consider the billions of dollars generated by the sale of aspartame each year—it’s clear that the artificial sweetener industry has reached Big Tobacco status. With so much money at stake, are we surprised to learn that dollars are driving the sales while consumers suffer the detrimental consequences?
Our advice? READ THE LABEL ON EVERY PRODUCT YOU BUY. And this part’s easy: if aspartame is an ingredient, put it down and walk away. No food, beverage, gum, or breath mint is worth the risk it carries. Now that’s a truth you can embrace and trust.