Aspartame – Benefits and Possible Side Effects Synthesized in 1965, aspartame also referred to as E951 – is an artificial sweetener used in many foods and beverages instead of sugar. It is known that this non-saccharide sweetener is 200 times sweeter than regular sugar.
Aspartame started to be sold under the name of NutraSweet brand for the first time and it has been sold as AminoSweet since 2009. Since its approval by the FDA, Aspartame has been the subject of various medical and political debates, unfounded news on the Internet, and hearsay. According to a medical review in 2007, it was concluded that aspartame consumption levels are safe when used as a non-nutritive sweetener. However, it contains aspartame phenylalanine and should be avoided by anyone with phenylketonuria (PKU).
Foods Containing Aspartame
Non-alcoholic beverages: Aspartame is found in many diet beverage products such as diet cola. Because it contains less calories than other sweeteners like sugar cane and high-fructose corn syrup. Since it tastes similar to normal sugar, most people who want to reduce their sugar intake or lose weight benefit from diet soft drinks. Other soft drinks containing aspartame; flavored seafood, flavored ice tea, powdered beverage mixes, protein nutrition drinks, fruit-vegetable juices and flavored syrups placed in coffees.
Chewing gums and candies: The most popular brands, especially those that write “sugar-free” in their packages, often contain aspartame. It is a common ingredient / sweetener commonly used in products such as peppermint gums, hard and soft candies, as well as normal candies. Be sure to choose normal sugar-free gums and candies to moderate intake of aspartame.
Flavor Enhancers; Aspartame-containing substances such as maple syrup, jams, jelly, fruit powders, ketchup, barbecue sauce and unsweetened chocolate are what you use to prevent unwanted calorie intake in your diet. Aspartame adds a delicious taste to these foods without risking calorie intake.
Desserts: Desserts such as sugar-free cookies, sugar-free cakes, mousse, ice cream and ice cream sauces often contain aspartame. Aspartame is added to these foods to protect their normal taste while preventing calorie intake.
Yoghurt; Non-sugar, nonfat and drinkable yoghurt drinks are aspartame containing dairy products. Normally, skimmed or low-fat dairy products such as yogurt or milk are often sweetened with non-calorie or low-calorie artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame.
Benefits of Aspartame
Aspartame is a popular sweetener for home use because it does not provide a volume compared to table sugar. While it is subject to various discussions and unfounded news, below you can find several benefits of aspartame.
Dental Problems: Aspartame does not contribute to tooth decay compared to sucrose (processed table sugar). Streptococcal mutants are oral bacteria that live in dental plaques. These bacteria metabolize sucrose, lactose, fructose, glucose and cooked starch as lactic acid. When concentrated, lactic acid can affect teeth as tooth mineralization. Studies show that 6-carbon sugar and 6-carbon sugar and disaccharides transform into acid that can cause tooth demineralization by dental plaque bacteria. However, sucrose is completely unrelated to this. Sucrose turns into dextran from the most efficient bacteria that act as glue on the surface of the tooth. Dextran also creates a nutrient reserve for bacteria.
Weight Control; One of the most attractive aspects of aspartame is that it is not nutritious, meaning it does not contain calories. Since 1 teaspoon of table sugar is 4 grams and each gram contains 4 calories, this is 16 calories. Another example is that 1 can of cola contains 8 teaspoons of added sugar, which means it contains about 128 calories. People who maintain weight control generally prefer products that contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and others instead of regular table sugar. On the contrary, some researchers suggest that artificial sweeteners may be associated with weight gain, although the cause is not yet known.
Diabetes: According to many beliefs, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners can be a good alternative for diabetic people. Unlike table sugar, aspartame is not carbohydrate and does not raise blood sugar levels. However, diabetic people should consult a doctor or dietitian about how to use sugar alternatives.
Safety and Health Effects of Aspartame
Just like other artificial sweeteners, aspartame has been a major topic of discussion for years. Critics of aspartame suggest that it causes various diseases, especially cancer. However, according to the national cancer institute and other institutions, there is no solid scientific evidence to suggest that aspartame and other approved artificial sweeteners can cause cancer or other conditions. Various studies have confirmed that aspartame can be safe even for pregnant women when consumed in moderation. Aspartame is regulated by the FDA and must be reviewed and approved by the FDA before it is released.
Cancer: There is no link between aspartame and cancer, according to reviews of epidemiological, carcinogenicity in humans or vitro genotoxic studies in humans. Depending on the doses used, these studies have not found significant evidence that aspartame causes cancer.
Pregnancy: While aspartame is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the amount of use is important. Aspartate (the common amino acid found in aspartame) does not pass through the placenta, so pregnant mothers can consume products containing aspartame.
Neurological and psychiatric effects: Aspartame is said to cause problems such as mood swings and headache in newspapers and some television shows. According to the evaluations, it has not been observed to cause neurotoxic effects when used in available doses. However, people with rare liver diseases, phenylketonuria or high levels of phenylalanine should not use aspartame.
