5 reasons Aspartame can be harmful
That artificial sugar that you think is helping you lose weight contains Aspartame, which could be dangerous.
Products containing Aspartame appeared in the US market in the 1980s as a non-calorie sweetener, which contains phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol. Many studies have since pointed out possible health risks of consuming the substance. Here are a few risks of excessive consumption.
1. Aggravates diabetes – Consumption of aspartame can be harmful for people with diabetes as it can become difficult to control the level of sugar. It can also aggravate some conditions which are related to diabetes, including cataract, neuropathy and retinopathy.
2. Abnormality – Excessive consumption during pregnancy can lead to some serious birth defects in children. Aspartame is an excitotoxin, which can damage or kill the cells in the nervous system. Too much exposure to phenylalanine or aspartic can lead to severe brain damage and birth defects.
3. Eye-sight problem – Contents of Aspartame can damage the retina and optic nerves. Excessive consumption can also lead to blindness, blurred vision and even pain in the eyes.
4. Prevents weight loss – Aspartame contents can be found in diet products, which increase hunger and can interfere in your weight loss regime, since food cravings can prevent you to lose weight.
5. Seizures and brain defects – Aspartame has the ability to change the entire working of the brain as it can damage the nervous system. In some of the worst cases it can also lead to death.
Photo Credits: euractiv