Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Aspartame... Why should you consider avoiding it?

Aspartame is composed of 3 chemicals.

  • Aspartic Acid: When the body breaks down aspartic acid, it creates a chemical that can lead to degeneration of neurons. This can have a significant influence on diseases such as Alzheimer’s, MS and Parkinson’s.
  • Phenylalanine: Increasing phenylalanine can reduce serotonin levels in the brain making you more susceptible to depression. Elevated phenylalanine has also been implicated in higher cancer risk.
  • Methanol: This chemical compound breaks down to formaldehyde - a deadly neurotoxin!

Using aspartame to support a low carb diet may not be that effective if you are trying to lose weight. Aspartame is shown to:

  • Stimulate fat storage and weight gain
  • Increase carbohydrate cravings
  • Increase your appetite
  • Ruin your body’s ability to count calories
  • Double your risk of obesity
  • Reduce bacterial flora in the gut by 50%

As a healthier substitute you can try stevia or agave nectar.

*Source*

1 comment:

Unknown said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01dNAvW48YQ