I'm sure we're all aware of the controversy around this so what's your opinion. Do you avoid it, actively search it out or just not bothered one way or the other? Personally, I avoid it, not because of the scare stories, but because, like chocolate, it leaves me feeling really thirsty.
Aspartame, yay or nay?
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What controversy? Some people have an allergy to it like some people have an allergy to seafood or nuts. There are scores of reputable studies out there that say it's completely safe and then there's all the nutters who say it isn't.
There are questions as to whether the initial testing of aspartame was undertaken in the correct way. However, that was decades ago, and there is now huge amounts of evidence that apart from people who have specific allergies aspartame is safe when consumed in normal amounts.
Personally it took me some time to get used to drinking artificially sweetened drinks, when I was losing weight. And, I only became used to sucralose and acesulfame potassium. While I am confident that aspartame is safe, as I haven't become used to drinking it, I find drinks sweetened with it to not taste very nice, and hence avoid it for that reason.
From what I've read, aspartame has better proven safety than the artificial sweeteners I do consume.
Personally it took me some time to get used to drinking artificially sweetened drinks, when I was losing weight. And, I only became used to sucralose and acesulfame potassium. While I am confident that aspartame is safe, as I haven't become used to drinking it, I find drinks sweetened with it to not taste very nice, and hence avoid it for that reason.
From what I've read, aspartame has better proven safety than the artificial sweeteners I do consume.
I try to avoid it as it's a trigger for my IBS but in some of my favourite low calorie drinks it's unavoidable.
I don't believe it's dangerous in normal amounts though.
I don't believe it's dangerous in normal amounts though.
I am quite happy to drink drinks with it in, doesn't concern me in the slightest. My sweetener of choice though is Sodium Saccharin 
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As others have said, there is no controversy. It's the same as any other substance that can trigger an allergic reaction.
I avoid all artificial sweeteners because I hate the taste of them. I don't have a particularly high sugar intake generally, so on the odd occasion when I fancy soft drink or whatever, I go with the full sugar version.
I avoid all artificial sweeteners because I hate the taste of them. I don't have a particularly high sugar intake generally, so on the odd occasion when I fancy soft drink or whatever, I go with the full sugar version.
Originally Posted by JulesF:
“As others have said, there is no controversy. It's the same as any other substance that can trigger an allergic reaction.
I avoid all artificial sweeteners because I hate the taste of them. I don't have a particularly high sugar intake generally, so on the odd occasion when I fancy soft drink or whatever, I go with the full sugar version.”
“As others have said, there is no controversy. It's the same as any other substance that can trigger an allergic reaction.
I avoid all artificial sweeteners because I hate the taste of them. I don't have a particularly high sugar intake generally, so on the odd occasion when I fancy soft drink or whatever, I go with the full sugar version.”
Same as me. I tend to drink only tea or water these days as all squashes are artificially sweetened.
Originally Posted by burton07:
“Same as me. I tend to drink only tea or water these days as all squashes are artificially sweetened.”
“Same as me. I tend to drink only tea or water these days as all squashes are artificially sweetened.”
I drink Rocks Organic squashes when I want something more interesting than water. They are delicious and contain no artificial sweeteners whatsoever. No artificial anything actually.
It's been proved over and over again to be safe and The World Health Organisation and the European Food Safety organisation have endorsed it.
Originally Posted by earthling13:
“I'm sure we're all aware of the controversy around this so what's your opinion.”
“I'm sure we're all aware of the controversy around this so what's your opinion.”
Controversy?
I've never heard of it and had to Google it.
It may be because I take my beverages without sugar or sweeteners and I never drink stuff like Coke or 7Up or any "fizzy" stuff.
Where else might I find it?
Originally Posted by Toby LaRhone:
“Controversy?
I've never heard of it and had to Google it.
It may be because I take my beverages without sugar or sweeteners and I never drink stuff like Coke or 7Up or any "fizzy" stuff.
Where else might I find it?”
“Controversy?
I've never heard of it and had to Google it.
It may be because I take my beverages without sugar or sweeteners and I never drink stuff like Coke or 7Up or any "fizzy" stuff.
Where else might I find it?”
Lots of low cal/diet/'light' versions of products contain it - yoghurts, desserts, gelatine, sauces etc.
Originally Posted by Brawlad:
“It is revealed that the testing process of Aspartame was among the worst the investigators had ever seen and that in fact the product was unsafe for use. Aspartame triggers the first criminal investigation of a manufacturer put into place by the FDA in 1977. By 1980 the FDA bans aspartame from use after having 3 independent scientists study the sweetener. I
A lot more of interest on this page”
“It is revealed that the testing process of Aspartame was among the worst the investigators had ever seen and that in fact the product was unsafe for use. Aspartame triggers the first criminal investigation of a manufacturer put into place by the FDA in 1977. By 1980 the FDA bans aspartame from use after having 3 independent scientists study the sweetener. I
A lot more of interest on this page”
http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/...aspartame.aspx
Quote:
“Amid the continuing disquiet, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted a comprehensive review of the evidence in 2013 and concluded that aspartame was safe for human consumption, including pregnant women and children.”
“Amid the continuing disquiet, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted a comprehensive review of the evidence in 2013 and concluded that aspartame was safe for human consumption, including pregnant women and children.”
Originally Posted by Brawlad:
“A lot more of interest on this page”
“A lot more of interest on this page”
That site is ridiculously biased.
Aspartame is probably the most studied food substance in the world and despite a huge amount of studies - all over the world, funded by different groups with different interests, there's never been any evidence to suggest that it's harmful in anything other than extreme dosages.
Can't stand the taste and don't trust it. It turned my grandmother into a newt and then she spontaneously combusted. The coroner said it was a growing problem with aspartame.
I hate the way that Lidl appear to have aped Tesco in removing their concentrated blackcurrent and orange juices with sugar from the shelves, leaving only ones with sweeteners. Apart from cola, all of Aldi 's own-brand drinks have been full of sweeteners since I've been shopping there, so I can't stand any of them either. Now I have to pay Sainsbury's prices for such drinks, and they don't taste as good as Lidl's used to.
The minimum charge for alcohol was abandoned because too many posh people complained that they shouldn't be made to pay for the antics of alcopops and special brew-swilling chavs in parks. Well why should I 'suffer' because of fat people who consume too much sugar and fat? I doubt Britain's swelling obesity crisis is going to be slowed or ended by Lidl dropping their very popular blackcurrent juice drink.
I hate the way that Lidl appear to have aped Tesco in removing their concentrated blackcurrent and orange juices with sugar from the shelves, leaving only ones with sweeteners. Apart from cola, all of Aldi 's own-brand drinks have been full of sweeteners since I've been shopping there, so I can't stand any of them either. Now I have to pay Sainsbury's prices for such drinks, and they don't taste as good as Lidl's used to.
The minimum charge for alcohol was abandoned because too many posh people complained that they shouldn't be made to pay for the antics of alcopops and special brew-swilling chavs in parks. Well why should I 'suffer' because of fat people who consume too much sugar and fat? I doubt Britain's swelling obesity crisis is going to be slowed or ended by Lidl dropping their very popular blackcurrent juice drink.
Nasty artificial sweetness. I have a reaction to it and avoid it altogether.
I first realised when o/h bought a large pack of diet fizzy drinks one summer - I eventually noticed it was the aspartame making me poorly.
I resent that old favourites like Robinsons squash have abandoned natural sugar as a sweetener. Bloody nannying again.
They should have maintained a sugared range and sold it in more discreetly designed bottles in the alcohol aisles of supermarkets.
That way normal people would be happy and the "Think of the children" hand-wringers could have their chemical cocktail squash in the squash aisle for the kiddies.
I first realised when o/h bought a large pack of diet fizzy drinks one summer - I eventually noticed it was the aspartame making me poorly.
I resent that old favourites like Robinsons squash have abandoned natural sugar as a sweetener. Bloody nannying again.
They should have maintained a sugared range and sold it in more discreetly designed bottles in the alcohol aisles of supermarkets.
That way normal people would be happy and the "Think of the children" hand-wringers could have their chemical cocktail squash in the squash aisle for the kiddies.
A huge nay for me, with a capital N!
Just do a quick bit of research, it's very bad for our health, as is flouride.
Just do a quick bit of research, it's very bad for our health, as is flouride.
Originally Posted by RubyNyx:
“A huge nay for me, with a capital N!
Just do a quick bit of research, it's very bad for our health, as is flouride.”
“A huge nay for me, with a capital N!
Just do a quick bit of research, it's very bad for our health, as is flouride.”
Why don't you point us in the direction of this research? Bet you can't find anything reputable.
No doubt less harmful to health in normal doses than the equivalent amount of sugar. Obviously some people are allergic to it and should avoid it.
Originally Posted by RubyNyx:
“A huge nay for me, with a capital N!
Just do a quick bit of research, it's very bad for our health, as is flouride.”
“A huge nay for me, with a capital N!
Just do a quick bit of research, it's very bad for our health, as is flouride.”
Rubbish! If The World Health Organisation, the European Food Standards authority and the NHS all say it's safe why would you listen to some cranky scaremongering site. you are about 20 years out of date.
Originally Posted by burton07:
“Same as me. I tend to drink only tea or water these days as all squashes are artificially sweetened.”
“Same as me. I tend to drink only tea or water these days as all squashes are artificially sweetened.”
Not all of them are. Blossom Cottage,Bottle Green and Rocks have not been messed about with.
Aspartame is safe, regardless of what any hillbillies say on the net. Most people who have used it have used it for decades without it causing harm to health. I consume a healthy balance of sugar free squash, sparkling/still water and decaf coffee/tea (though using Hermesetas instead) and it has done wonders for my health.I am now at a really healthy weight and I owe it to sweeteners. This enabled me to reduce my intake of Sugar which is known to cause lots of health related issues.
Originally Posted by Michael09:
“Aspartame is safe, regardless of what any hillbillies say on the net. Most people who have used it have used it for decades without it causing harm to health. I consume a healthy balance of sugar free squash, sparkling/still water and decaf coffee/tea (though using Hermesetas instead) and it has done wonders for my health.I am now at a really healthy weight and I owe it to sweeteners. This enabled me to reduce my intake of Sugar which is known to cause lots of health related issues.”
“Aspartame is safe, regardless of what any hillbillies say on the net. Most people who have used it have used it for decades without it causing harm to health. I consume a healthy balance of sugar free squash, sparkling/still water and decaf coffee/tea (though using Hermesetas instead) and it has done wonders for my health.I am now at a really healthy weight and I owe it to sweeteners. This enabled me to reduce my intake of Sugar which is known to cause lots of health related issues.”
While it does not contain the calories present in sugar I'd be interested to know what effects it has on triggering an insulin response.
In their favour sweeteners are less calorific and better for teeth etc but to be honest I find them a lazy way towards a healthy lifestyle plan rather than a comprehensive approach.
I've eaten healthily for years and trained myself out of my sweet tooth. When I do have something sweet every now and then I want it to be the real McCoy made with delicious natural ingredients e.g a trifle made with proper custard, sugared jelly and dairy cream.
I would find that much more rewarding (and probably healthier) than daily trying to cheat my body into thinking it's getting something sweet.
I drink Diet Coke, so you can say I actively seek aspartame.
It's made by joining together the amino acids (the building blocks of life) aspartic acid and phenylalanine. An 8-oz glass of milk has six times more phenylalanine and thirteen times more aspartic acid than an equivalent amount of pop sweetened with aspartame.
And an 8-oz glass of fruit juice or tomato juice contains three to five times more methanol than an equivalent amount of soda sweetened with aspartame. http://www.joslin.org/info/correctin...aspartame.html
People with the rare genetic disease, phenylketonuria know they have to avoid anything with phenylalanine, not just aspartame, but other than that, I do wonder what it is about this sweetener (and not milk or fruit juice) that has so many people declaring it poison, especially when so many controlled studies have been done which have not shown a correlation of aspartame use with any of the adverse reactions people claim.
It's made by joining together the amino acids (the building blocks of life) aspartic acid and phenylalanine. An 8-oz glass of milk has six times more phenylalanine and thirteen times more aspartic acid than an equivalent amount of pop sweetened with aspartame.
And an 8-oz glass of fruit juice or tomato juice contains three to five times more methanol than an equivalent amount of soda sweetened with aspartame. http://www.joslin.org/info/correctin...aspartame.html
People with the rare genetic disease, phenylketonuria know they have to avoid anything with phenylalanine, not just aspartame, but other than that, I do wonder what it is about this sweetener (and not milk or fruit juice) that has so many people declaring it poison, especially when so many controlled studies have been done which have not shown a correlation of aspartame use with any of the adverse reactions people claim.
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