The Health Dangers of Aspartame

The Health Dangers of Aspartame

I previously discussed a company that launched an anti-aspartame campaign in New Zealand, and ever since, I’ve been sent tons of questions concerning the various dangers of aspartame.


Aspartame is a non-saccharine artificial sweetener currently used in over 6,000 diet and low calorie food products. Popular trademark brands of the sweetener in the United States include NutraSweet®, Equal®, and Tropicana Slim®, which are used to sweeten a number of sodas and chewing gums.

However, research done on aspartame has shown that it may not be completely safe for human consumption, and may cause a number of health complications if taken in large amounts. Efforts to revoke FDA approval on aspartame have so far been unsuccessful, so it is advisable to simply avoid these products whenever possible.

What Can Aspartame Do to You?

Aspartame is an NMDA receptor antagonist, which means that it inhibits the release of neurotransmitters that cause pain within the body. NMDA receptor antagonists are often used as a form of anesthesia for animals, but not on humans due to the fact that they often cause brain damage in rodents. The possible side effects of aspartame on humans include headaches, brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma [1] [2].

Why Was Aspartame Approved by the FDA?

Aspartame gained FDA approval while it was owned by Donald Rumsfeld, who was at that time the CEO of the pharmaceutical company G.D. Searle & Company. Rumsfeld earned millions of dollars by marketing the product as NutraSweet, and when medical research into the product confirmed the risk of brain tumors, Rumsfeld simply hired another FDA board member to overturn the ban that the current board had inflicted.

Did you know? Despite its apparent danger to animals and humans, aspartame has been approved by the FDA a total of 26 times over the last 23 years. Read more

3 Reasons to Avoid Food Additives

3 Reasons to Avoid Food Additives



Food additives are things added to food during processing, typically to enhance color or freshness. While some of them are natural, many aren’t—and all those unnatural additives can cause nasty side effects. Think about the artificial sweeteners hiding in diet soft drinks, or the emulsifiers (used to keep food from separating) in the salad dressing sitting in your refrigerator. Just these two things alone could easily destroy gut health. [1] [2] [3] But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unnatural additives. Also, when you realize that most of them aren’t even tested for safety at all…well, it’s enough to make you extremely confused. [4]

Crucial Reasons Why You Should Avoid Food Additives

Food additives aren’t inert ingredients; they’re active and present a real health risk. If you know the reasons why food additives are dangerous, it may help you steer clear of certain foods that may contribute to longterm health concerns. So while there are more reasons than we could count as to why you should avoid food additives altogether, here are 3 more you really need to know.

1. Food Additives Destroys Heart Health

A recent study suggests eating lots of phosphate-rich foods like soda, processed cheese, baking powder, and many processed foods increases production of the FGF23 hormone, which can put a strain on the heart. [5] And research from the American Heart Association also suggests men should cut processed red meat out of their diets because of an increased risk of heart failure. [6] While a study with women is expected soon, in the meantime, let’s all stop eating such things. And remember: limiting your intake of processed red meat is always a good idea as well. Read more