Dozens of studies have linked aspartame — the world’s most widely used artificial sweetener — to serious health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, seizures, stroke and dementia, as well as negative effects such as intestinal dysbiosis, mood disorders, headaches and migraines .
What does aspartame do to your gut?
UK researchers have found that sugar substitutes such as saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame – found in soft drinks and processed foods – can cause beneficial bacteria in the intestines such as E. coli (Escherichia coli) and E. faecalis (Enterococcus faecalis) to become pathogenic, or disease causing.
Does aspartame cause stomach problems?
Gastrointestinal Symptoms. People often experience an upset stomach, diarrhea (possibly bloody), abdominal pain and painful swallowing when using aspartame as a sweetener. Skin and Allergies. Hives and intense itching, lip or mouth swelling and worsening of asthma all can occur due to aspartame.
Can aspartame cause bowel issues?
“Some of the natural and artificial sweeteners in diet drinks and foods, such as aspartame, sucralose, maltitol and sorbitol, may not digest properly for some people,” explains Dr. Talabiska. Sugar substitutes can cause laxative effects , especially when paired with other triggering foods.
Can aspartame cause gas and bloating?
Candies, soft drinks, jams and jellies, and baked goods that have artificial sweeteners, like sorbitol, acesulfame potassium, and aspartame, can make you gassy . “High-fructose corn syrup can also cause excessive gas and diarrhoea,” Dr Knotts adds.
What are the signs of aspartame poisoning?
Breathlessness, elevated blood pressure and skipped or racing heartbeat are all symptoms of aspartame toxicity. Gastrointestinal Symptoms. People often experience an upset stomach, diarrhea (possibly bloody), abdominal pain and painful swallowing when using aspartame as a sweetener.
Can artificial sweeteners cause gastrointestinal problems?
Non-caloric artificial sweeteners (NAS) have been shown to wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal microbiome generally causing “dysbiosis ” or an imbalance in the bacteria in our guts. Dysbiosis can result in gas, bloating, or have more serious impacts resulting in gastrointestinal diseases or widespread inflammation.
Is aspartame harmful to the body Why?
Authors of a 2017 review concluded that aspartame may affect the immune system and, as a result, it may lead to oxidative stress and inflammation. Their findings suggested that aspartame could affect the cells of various body organs, including the brain, the heart, the liver, and the kidneys.
How much aspartame is safe per day?
The FDA also sets an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for each sweetener, which is the maximum amount considered safe to consume each day during a person’s lifetime. The FDA has set the ADI for aspartame at 50 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg; 1 kg=2.2 lb) of body weight per day.
Does aspartame affect your heart?
Researchers found drinking ‘diet’ versions of sugary drinks with artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame, and stevia doesn’t diminish heart health risks .
Does aspartame cause nerve damage?
It has also been shown that aspartame metabolites induced amino acid imbalance within the neuron microenvironment , thus producing nerve damage [36], [37].
How does the body get rid of aspartame?
Aspartame is fully broken down in our gut to aspartic acid and phenylalanine , which are absorbed and enter our body. In addition, the methyl group from the modified phenylalanine is released in the gut to form methanol. Methanol is also absorbed by the body and most of it used to produce energy.
Does aspartame cause anxiety?
Aspartame (α-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine-o-methyl ester), an artificial sweetener, has been linked to behavioral and cognitive problems . Possible neurophysiological symptoms include learning problems, headache, seizure, migraines, irritable moods, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Can artificial sweeteners make you bloated?
Sweeteners can also cause gas and bloating . Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener, can’t be digested. Fructose, a natural sugar added to many processed foods, is difficult for many people to digest. To avoid bloating, be aware of these sweeteners in the foods you eat and limit the amount you consume.
Does aspartame make you gain weight?
Some research indicates that even acceptable daily intakes of aspartame, as regulated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), might make you hungrier and lead to weight gain .
Can diet soda cause gas and bloating?
If you find that you’re increasingly bloated after drinking diet soda, it may be because some artificial sweeteners can also cause excess gas . An overabundance of high-fructose corn syrup — which is found in many “regular” sodas — may also lead to gas and bloating.
