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Introduction to Aspartame Aspartame can be described as a substance that is used in place of sugar, in products like diet sodas and other sugar-free foods and beverages. It is a non-carbohydrate based sweetener, unlike sugar and therefore, it contains almost no calories. In simple words, aspartame can be defined as a non-caloric sweetener. In spite of that, it is much sweeter than sugar, i.e., almost 180 times stronger than sugar and therefore, it can be used in smaller quantities. However, sugar retains its sweetness even after it has been heated, but that is not the case with aspartame, which tends to break down upon being heated.
Therefore, when aspartame is heated, it loses its sweetness. There are also several Aspartame side effects that may cause or aggravate serious health conditions and so it is important to consult a doctor before including it in your diet. Benefits of aspartame The use of aspartame has become very popular in today’s world, with over 500 million people across the globe, opting for products that are sweetened with aspartame.
One of the biggest advantages of aspartame is that people who are diabetic, or are on a low calorie diet, can enjoy a variety of desserts that are low in fat and calories, but are still enjoyable. With the introduction of aspartame in a diet, it becomes quite easy to reduce the levels of blood sugar, which is great for people who suffer from diabetes. Moreover, products that are made with aspartame are much lower in calories, than foods and beverages that contain sugar.
Therefore, people who are fighting against obesity can still continue to enjoy sweets on occasion, without gaining any weight. The use of aspartame can enhance certain the flavors of certain foods, especially fruits. Since aspartame is much sweeter than sugar, its effect is likely to last longer in certain products like chewing gum; for example sugar-free gum made with aspartame is likely to taste sweet up to four times longer than gum that has been sweetened using sugar.
In fact even the American Dental Association recommends the use of aspartame over sugar, because the use aspartame does not lead to tooth decay. Studies indicate that the benefits of aspartame can be both physiological and psychological. Therefore, aspartame could be recommended by health experts too, in situations concerning obesity and weight management, diabetes and dental problem. Aspartame side effects An excessive consumption of any product could have an adverse reaction on the human body. In spite of the various advantages of aspartame that are mentioned above, there are several people who are advised to restrict their consumption of certain products, as there could be a few harmful side effects of aspartame too. In fact since the time aspartame has been introduced into the market, there have been several debates and controversies associated with it. This is because some of the aspartame side effects can be quite serious.
Given below are some of the most common aspartame side effects: • It could lead to unnatural reactions in the body, as the brain prepares the body to receive sugar and glucose after registering the taste of something sweet. This could create an imbalance in the body, in the long run
• When people realize that a type of food tastes great, in spite of not containing sugar, they tend to go overboard and eat or drink more than what they do. This could lead to weight gain. Therefore, it is important to know what quantity of aspartame can be consumed on a regular basis, without leading to any adverse aspartame side effects. Aspartame is a commonly known sweetener, providing lesser calories. It is a non-saccharide, made up of aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester. It is around 200 times sweeter than sugar, though it tastes like sugar adding taste to products like low calorie foods and sweets. Aspartame comprises of phenyl alanine and aspartic acid. The former acts as a methyl ester. It is chemically known as L-alpha-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester. On breakdown, it is hydrolyzed into phenyl alanine, methanol and aspartic acid. This is in turn, absorbed by blood. They are not accumulated in the body, but utilized. Aspartame provides both psychological and physiological advantages.
It is especially preferred by those who are calorie-conscious and people suffering from diabetes. It helps in suppressing the cravings of diabetics, without any change in the blood sugar levels. Thereby, aspartame helps in adhering to diabetic’s diet schedule. Aspartame-containing products like biscuits and baked products aid in weight management assistance. It deepens the flavor of fruits in products. It increases the sweet taste of chewing gums by four times. The probability of dental caries and decay is negligible and therefore be used as a safe substitute. It aids in obesity management and reduces the risk of dental caries. It helps in planning a healthy and balanced diet schedule.
Aspartame is not a full-time pill aiding in weight loss. These low calorie sweeteners helps in managing a dietary regimen, thereby helping individuals in weight reduction. Presence of aspartame helps in providing a larger menu and wider variety of foods. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the approval regarding the safety of aspartame.
Aspartame sweetened products available in the market are desserts, iced tea, gelatin, hard candies, chewing gum, ice tea powder, yoghurt, carbonated beverages, over the table jams, cocoa mix, ice creams, mints, ice cream toppings and so on. Adverse side effects of aspartame consumption includes loss of memory, seizures, headache, blindness, protruding eyes, ringing sound in the ear, palpitation, depression, lack of sleep, breathlessness, diarrhea, skin rashes and so on.
Under increased temperature, such as baking technique, aspartame hydrolyzes into its respective amino acids. Food products with a higher pH, result in the degeneration of this sweetener. In beverages that are marketed in a powdered form, the aspartame undergoes non-enzymatic browning reaction, referred to as Maillard reaction, thereby resulting in disappearance of flavor and aroma. When consumed within the recommended intake, it is also advised for pregnant mothers. It substitutes their craving for sweets, thereby keeps a check on the calories.
Given the fact that most of us lead very hectic lives that already deny us the chance to take the time to prepare a healthy, nutritious meal on a regular basis – it is important to understand the effects that the easily available and convenient (not to mention – usually tasty) junk food has on our bodies after a significant period of time. Unfortunately, the burgers, hot dogs and other forms of junk food that make up such a regular part of our daily food consumption significantly lacks any of the nutrients as well as vitamins that are an essential part of the proper functioning of the bodies. However, because of the fact that we regularly ignore these little details, problems like obesity and other major medical issues tend to crop up. Obesity is one of the most common conditions all over the world and is usually the result of a lack of proper nutrition and exercise. The fast foods that we consume are crammed with empty calories that serve no purpose other than being converted into fat cells and stored in the fatty tissue straight after ingestion. These fatty tissues then continue to build up – thereby leading to obesity: which in turn also causes the development of other conditions such as heart failure, chronic respiratory illnesses and increased cholesterol levels.
Moreover, something else that we need to be aware of is the effect that artificial foods have on our bodies. For instance, aspartame rashes and other side effects are a very common condition to be suffering from, but before we get into those details it is important to understand the regularity with which this artificial food is used, its benefits as well as the controversies surrounding it. Aspartame is, essentially, an artificial sweetener that does not contain any saccharide and is regularly used as a substitute for sugar in the manufacture of certain foods and beverages. Its chemical composition will show it as being a methyl ester of dipeptide of the natural amino acids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylanine. Some of the more well known aspartame benefits include the fact that it is supposedly 200 times sweeter than sucrose and, upon metabolism can generate upto about 4 kilo calories of energy per gram. As a result, aspartame and weight loss are very closely related in that the metabolism of the body is significantly increased when Aspartame is ingested. The history of the substance shows that it was discovered in the year 1965 and was widely used in the manufacturing business around the 1980’s. The substance itself is odorless and white in color while being marketed under several brand names. Although the substance is quite stable in its solid form, when stored as a liquid, the substance will break down and lose its sweetness over time, especially when stored in liquids and environments above 30 degrees Celsius. Because of the fact that there are a few cases in which aspartame side effects in children, during weight gain and in pregnancy are known to occur, there has been a medical lobby against the use of the substance for a long period of time. As a result, it is advisable to have a brief understanding about the various levels of consumption that are suggested and avoid ingesting anything more than the mentioned levels. European medical fraternities have agreed that a healthy adult should not exceed a maximum daily intake of aspartame of more than 21.3 mg/kg of body weight per day.
Because of the major interest in aspartame side effects due to aspartame in gum side effects as well as other carriers, a number of medical tests have been conducted. However, significant research has shown that the substance does not appear to trigger headaches or even change an individual’s mood. More importantly, these does not appear to be any truth in the rumors that some aspartame side effects include damage to the reproductive systems as well as the structural development of teenagers. General research on most controversies surrounding the substance appear to show that most of the problems start with a conflict of interest that had marred the FDA’s initial approval of the substance and points to a lack of significant research into the uses as well as dangers of the substance. However, the FDA deny anything of the sort and have continually made a number of press statements stating that they had conducted extensive and intensive research on the substance and are extremely confident that it does not pose any dangers to the consuming public, as long as each individuals daily consumption remains well below the approved daily intake amount. Recent surveys have shown that the average intake is well below that level.
With regards to aspartame and weight loss, largely because of the caloric contribution of the substance is relatively negligible, it is regularly used as a supplement during a weight loss program. However, a number of critics of the substance allege that it actually promotes hunger and leads to significant weight gain. In truth, essentially, there appears to be either insufficient or no data at all to support this view. Because of the various risks associated with the various types of foods we consume on a regular basis, especially the ones manufactured in large food companies that are looking to cut costs, it is important that we are aware of the dangerous ingredients to a certain degree in order to prevent our bodies from early deterioration or other medical complications. On a closing note, the people that should be a little more worried about the ingestion of aspartame than others is individuals that suffer from diabetes and hypertension as the substance has been seen to cause more toxicity in the bodies of these individuals. For any further information on aspartame and its side effects, you can always go online and read up on one of the many website dedicated to spreading awareness about the substance.
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