Aspartame (E951) is the artificial sweetener with the very worst reputation.

For one thing, aspartame is on the list of additives that the Hyperactive Children’s Support Group recommend be avoided. I avoid it because I’ve seen first hand the immediate (albeit apparently temporarily) effect it had on the behaviour and brain state of a young family member whose behaviour would go completely off the wall whenever he consumed a product that contained it: seeing the physiological response it provoked in that one particularly sensitive child, it was quite clear to me that aspartame acts like a drug, and so, hyperactive or not, I don’t want it in my or my children’s diet.

Although the scientific evidence on the long-term side effects of aspartame is mixed (industry-funded research claims that it is safe, but a groundswell of opinion among consumer groups, medics and independent researchers link it to a vast range of health problems including cancer, asthma, nausea, depression, headaches, hyperactivity, seizures and brain tumours), manufacturers have started to get the message and have in many cases started to replace aspartame with other sweeteners.

However, whether or not aspartame deserves its reputation as

“by far the most dangerous substance added to most foods today”(Dr Joseph Mercola),

there is an increasing body of evidence to show that aspartame and artificial sweeteners in general actually make you more likely to put on weight.

[oops, I’ve run out of time today – the rest of this page will be along shortly – check back soon!]

 

 

Artificial and low-calorie sweeteners that you may wish to avoid:

E950-E955

  • 950 Acesulphame-K
  • 951 Aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal)
  • 952 Cyclamates
  • 953 Isomalt
  • 954 Saccharin
  • 955 Sucralose

E420-421

  • 420 Sorbitol
  • 421 Mannitol

E965-E968

  • 965 Maltitol or hydrogenated glucose syrup
  • 966 Lactitol
  • 967 Xylitol
  • 968 Erythritol

And

  • 1200 Polydextrose 

 

Further information

See the Food Intolerance Network’s factsheet on sugar-free sweeteners.

Dr Hull’s webpages on the dangers of aspartame poisoining, Sweet Poison 

Dr Mercola’s article, ‘Aspartame: by far the most dangerous substance added to most foods today’