Controversial sweetener aspartame should be ingested in ...

Aspartame is like the savvy
criminal who develops multiple aliases to keep law enforcement officials in the
dark, or a person with multiple personality disorder who seemingly changes faces with the snap of
a finger. aspartame goes by the brand names NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful and
many more. But what is it exactly? It sounds like some French dessert I
can?t afford ? something you would
pair with a glass of vintage Dom P?rignon.??

In fact, it is quite the
opposite. Aspartame is the most common artificial sweetener used in the world
today. Many foods, diet sodas and zero calorie waters all use this ?wonder substance? as a tasty, low calorie alternative to sugar. Aspartame is proven to be more than two hundred times as sweet as natural sugar, making it easy to achieve equal
taste with less substance.?

Even with its widespread use, aspartame is
considered by some to be harmful, and, alarmingly, poisonous. A Google search of ?aspartame? provides thousands of testimonials from doctors, scientists and patients claiming negative side effects. And yet, it is the most
extensively studied additive in history and has been approved and
re-approved by the Food and Drug Administration multiple times.??

So who?s right? Quite simply, it is
impossible to tell at this point. The
truth lies somewhere in the middle ? in the gray area.

Proponents of aspartame have the biggest gun in this fight. Being the patriotic American I
am, I like to believe that the FDA is the final word on scientific issues
around the world. Anytime you throw the word ?federal? in front of something, it
just sounds more commanding. After more than 50 years, and hundreds of tests and
investigations, the FDA continues to come to the same conclusion: Aspartame
is safe for human consumption and has no link to any severe side effects.?

Supporters also reference positive/neutral assessments from panels
all over the world, including the European Union, just to debunk any
conspiracy theories. Advocates say the argument is simple. The highest
scientific powers in the world all declare aspartame safe for humans, thus the
unanimous approval for its use in food and drink products.

A controversial test done at Duke
University used 40 participants that had previously
complained of headaches caused directly by the intake of aspartame. Scientists
controlled diet and activity, isolating aspartame as the only significant
variable. This experiment had participants consume levels of aspartame well
above normal human intake, labeling the consumption ?abuse dosages.??The results highlighted both the
short-term (24 hours) and long-term (six months) effects of ingestion or lack thereof. Aspartame
was not associated with any increase in headaches, or any other major side effects.

Keep in
mind, however, that this wouldn?t be a controversy if aspartame critics didn?t
have substantial ammunition. While their arguments lack the clout and authority
of a federal organization, they do provide a convincing debate. Critics argue that actual human users of aspartame, as opposed to lab rats, do experience adverse side effects. They point to a
list of more than 90 documented symptoms including migraines, insomnia and
seizures. Even more disturbing is the supposed link to chronic illnesses. Some researchers claim that aspartame ingestion triggers or worsens conditions such as brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes and many others.?

Aspartame is composed
mainly of aspartic acid, a type of amino acid. If taken independently, aspartic
acid produces ?excitotoxins? that can lead to neural cell death. However,
aspartame combines aspartic acid with various other proteins and chemicals, ensuring
the digestion process occurs differently, preventing a sizable influx of aspartic
acid.

Another important aspect of aspartame is its significant
discrepancy in calories compared to natural sugar. Obesity is a widespread
epidemic in America and something that can be life
threatening if not addressed. Aspartame provides the best of both worlds, it allows food and
drinks to be tasty, but still low calorie. This was previously unattainable with
natural sugar.? ? ? ? ?

So who is
right? Who is wrong? Regrettably, I cannot provide a definitive answer. The
question is multi-layered and complex, and I?m still debating on the ?rabbit
ears? or the ?loop-swoop-and-pull? methods when tying my shoes. My best
assessment tells me that Americans need to find a happy medium. If you
continually ingest large, or abusive, amounts of aspartame, you should consider backing off.?

While losing weight or staying fit are definitely
admirable goals, other options exist. If losing weight is your main concern,
you should consider drinking more water, and ramping up your exercise regime.
On the flip side, you shouldn?t be obsessing over the contents on nutrition
labels, frantically punting any food or drink with aspartame across the
supermarket. It seems like the dull, uninformative answer, but is probably the
most accurate. As is the case with seemingly everything in life, you should
enjoy aspartame responsibly, but never abuse the privilege.

David Embers is a sophomore in biology. Please send comments to?opinion@kstatecollegian.com.?

Source: http://www.kstatecollegian.com/2012/09/24/controversial-sweetener-aspartame-should-be-ingested-in-moderation/

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