A Moment on the Lips, Forever in the Hips: The Dangers of Aspertame and Other Sweeteners

1039 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay artificial sweeteners effects on health

Sweetness is usually correlated with sugar. The problem with sugar, otherwise known as sucrose, is that it has a lot of calories. These calories lead to weight gain if not spent by exercise, but now that humans have the knowledge and technology to create various substances, there are artificial sweeteners that do not have calories at all and taste even sweeter than sucrose. Many Americans avoid sugar-sweetened drinks by drinking beverages filled with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame to avoid weight gain. However, studies have shown that the adverse neurological and visceral effects of aspartame demonstrate that artificial sweeteners are more harmful than helpful; therefore, artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, should not be ingested.
Aspartame can cause neurological effects that are hazardous to humans. Aspartame is metabolized into 50 percent phenylalanine, 40 percent aspartic acid, and 10 percent methanol (Maher and Wurtman). The main problem lies in the lone amino acid. Phenylalanine is a vital amino acid, but it is also a “neurotoxin”—a molecule that causes adverse effects in the brain. Increased phenylalanine levels in the brain can repress enzymes required to make certain neurotransmitters which results in drastic consequences. For instance, phenylalanine can repress enzymes needed to make serotonin neurotransmitters, and if these neurotransmitters are not created, the organism can suffer neurological problems such as depression, anxiety, and seizures. Results from a study by Timothy J. Maher and Richard J. Wurtman show that 50 percent of lab rats went into convulsions after being dosed with 250 milligrams per kilogram of aspartame. One can of diet soda usually contains only 50 milligrams per kilogram of asp...

... middle of paper ...

...ercise to avoid weight gain, or avoid sugary drinks all together. Most people probably would not choose the latter, although it is the healthiest choice. After all, what is life without sweetness?

Works Cited

Collison, Kate S, et al. “Prediabetic changes in gene expression induced by aspartame and monosodium glutamate in trans fat-fed C5731/6J mice.” Nutr Metab (Lond). 2013. PubMed Central. Web. 18 November 2013.
Maher, Timothy J, and Wurtman, Richard J. “Possible Neurologic Effects of Aspartame, a Widely Used Food Additive.” Environmental Health Perspectives. 1987. PubMed Central. PDF file. 18 November 2013.
Swithers, Susan E. “Artificial Sweeteners Produce the Counterintuitive Effect of Inducing Metabolic Derangements.” 2013. Cell Press. PDF file. 19 November 2013.
Taubes, Gary. “What Really Makes Us Fat.” New York Times. 30 June 2012. Web. 29 November 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Nutrasweet, Equal, Spoonful And Equal Measure

    1485 Words  | 3 Pages

    Aspartame, or more commonly known as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful and Equal Measure; was discovered purely by chance in 1965 by a chemist named James M. Schlatter, who was testing an antacid drug (Prantini; 2014). The commercial industry believed that “a wonder product” had been discovered, which stood to revolutionise the food industry as an artificial sweetener. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener which is found in many of our foods and beverages universally. Aspartame is two-hundred times sweeter than sugar and is commonly used as a tabletop sweetener, a sweetener in prepared foods, diet foods or drinks, flavored waters, chewing gum, condiments and is even found in flavoring of medicines. It is found in majority of our food products marketed for weight control (Prantini; 2014). Aspartame has a sweeter taste in comparison to sugar, and therefore less of the sweetener can be used in food products in order to achieve the same level of sweetness as if sugar was used; which results in an individual consuming fewer calories and less sugar (American Cancer Society; 2014).

    Read More

  • A Summary Of Michael Pollan And Michael Moss

    1204 Words  | 3 Pages

    America’s obesity epidemic is a hot topic these days. Many people, experts or not, offer an opinion on the best solution to our nation’s weight gain, two of them being Michael Pollan and Michael Moss. Pollan and Moss present different opinions on the subject and offer solutions to the issue. Although Pollan’s article has good points, Moss’s article does a much better job of discussing obesity and providing a viable solution.

    Read More

  • Obesity In Michael Moss's Escape From The Western Diet

    1217 Words  | 3 Pages

    American health, specifically our obesity epidemic, has grown into a trending media topic. A quick Google search will bring up thousands of results containing a multitude of opinions and suggested solutions to our nation’s weight gain, authored by anyone ranging from expert food scientists to common, concerned citizens. Amongst the sea of public opinion on obesity, you can find two articles: Escape from the Western Diet by Michael Pollan and The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food by Michael Moss. Each article presents a different view on where the blame lies in this public health crisis and what we should do to amend the issue. Pollan’s attempt to provide an explanation pales in comparison to Moss’s reasonable discussion and viable

    Read More

  • What Is The Killer At Large Essay

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    This documentary shows great examples of how obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic as important as terrorism, according to Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona. He stated, “Obesity is a terror within us. It destroys our society from within.” If we don’t take responsibility and change our horrible eating patterns we are going to be doomed. One of the main reasons for obesity, other than the lack of a healthy diet, is the modernization of our world.

    Read More

  • High Fructose Corn Syrup : The Diabetic and Obesity Dangers

    1277 Words  | 3 Pages

    The use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contributes drastically to obesity. In the normal process of glucose consumption the pancreas responds by producing insulin to transport sugar to the body cells to use as energy. It then stimulates the production of the hormone leptin, which regulates appetite and fat storage, and suppresses production of the hormone ghrelin. When properly functioning, these hormones serve to regulate food intake and cause hunger to dissipate. However, fructose (the most commodious substance in HFCS)

    Read More

  • Obesity in America

    1216 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to the USDA, at the start of century 21st American people have increased their daily caloric intake by consuming five hundred calories more than in 1970. As cited by Whitney & Rolfes (2011), there are many recognized causes of obesity such as genetics, environment, culture, socioeconomic, and metabolism among others; but the cause most evident is that food intake is higher than the calories burned in physical activity. Excess of energy from food is stored in the body as fat causing an increase of weight. During the course of the last 40 years, obesity has grown enormously in the United States and the rates remain on the rise (pgs. 272-273).

    Read More

  • The Obesity Epidemic: Fast-food Companies Are to Blame

    1754 Words  | 4 Pages

    Goldstein, Hesh. Why There is an Obesity Epidemic. 16 Nov. 2009. 12 Nov. 2011 .

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders

    2394 Words  | 5 Pages

    "Obesity." Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 21 Oct. 2015.

    Read More

  • Problems with Obesity in America

    603 Words  | 2 Pages

    23 July 2018. Print. The. Brody, Jane E. “Attacking the Obesity Epidemic by First Figuring Out Its Cause.” New York Times.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech To Persuade People Not To Drink Energy Drinks?

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    On the fox news program publish March 06, 2014 mentions how energy drinks effects the organs.

    Read More

  • School Cafeterias and School Vending Machines

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... in food in the cafeteria lead to clogging the arteries that eventually lead to heart diseases (Ardis). Nevertheless, artificial sweeteners have not been tested in humans and show kids they are healthier, rather than real sugar and real sweeteners, when in reality they contain ingredients that can cause cancer.

    Read More

  • Sugar

    1538 Words  | 4 Pages

    Probably some of the most pleasurable and enjoyable memories of a person has to do with sweets. When thinking back to birthdays, there is always the memory of the wonderful cake that mother beautifully made and decorated with frosting and glazes. A typical night out with dad can be transformed into a magical evening with a trip to the ice cream parlor. The end of a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner turns heavenly when a hot apple pie is brought to the table and topped with delicious, melting vanilla ice cream. A good wedding is never complete without the cutting of the splendid multi-level wedding cake, when the happy new couple gets to playfully shove and smear cake and white frosting into each other’s smiling faces. Everyone knows that as a child, the only good part about going to the dentist is getting the candy bar at the end of the visit. Why do some people get sick after eating too much suger? Some people do not even know that the abuse of sugar can lead to negative effects on your body. There is something strangely enjoyable and resplendent about the consumption of sugar. Why is it that sugar is so deliciously enjoyable and at the same time a food product that has many negative affects on people’s health?

    Read More

  • MSG: The Risky Taste

    2479 Words  | 5 Pages

    Food additives have been around for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. They have been used for a wide variety of purposes: to preserve food to keep it from spoiling, to enhance flavor, or the simple purpose of making food look more presentable to whoever is going to consume it. But the most prominent food additive is what is called M.S.G. This food additive, whose name is short for Monosodium Glutamate, has been in the U.S. for over 60 years. This is a food additive that has been known to kill, which is why it should be removed from the market in the first place, or at least be heavily regulated by the FDA. One might not care about this topic because they think it is nothing to get worked up over, but MSG is not something to laugh about. Before anything too radical happens, one must follow the first rule of engaging the enemy; know more about the enemy, in this case, MSG. There are things that need to be known about MSG’s history and origin, the chemical composition, the risks of having it in the body, such as diseases linked to consuming it, people that want to keep it in the market (yes, there are people who want to keep this stuff), food that contains MSG, and a solution to the many problems it causes. With these key points in mind, let's explore the origins of MSG and the problems associated with it.

    Read More

  • Food Deserves Labels

    1489 Words  | 3 Pages

    American Cancer Society. “Aspartame. What is Aspartame?” Learn About Cancer, Carcinogens. N.P. 17 February 2011

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Energy Drinks

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    Scientists Ricardo Mora-Rodriguez and Jesus G Pallares executed a study observing the performance outcomes and side effects of energy drinks. They confirmed that due to their high carbohydrate concentration and lack of salts, energy drinks are not a good beverage choice when prolonged exercise in a warm environment is likely to require rehydration. They also found that ingestion of high doses of caffeine, although ergogenic, could result in negative side effects that could counteract the caffeine’s ergogenic effect. Even though energy drinks have the ability to increase a certain amount of energy, the energy would be short lived, due to lack of hydration. A similar study was performed by a team of scientists in Nepal. They tested on medical students at a Nepalese medical school. After the experiment, they concluded that energy drinks give energy and increase the stamina but they produce neurologic, psychiatric, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal complications on health. Certain students that participated in the study started to experience palpitation (increased or irregular heartbeat), nausea, constipation, and abdominal pain. These symptoms are just a few of the health risks that regularly consuming energy drinks can

    Read More

More about A Moment on the Lips, Forever in the Hips: The Dangers of Aspertame and Other Sweeteners

Open Document