Aspartame.

Aspartame. Its the miracle drug of the past century! You can eat ice cream and other novelties guilt free!That slice of cake or pie too! Drink soda while on a diet! You can even have a perfectly brewed cup of coffee or glass of tea in mere moments! Energy to get through the full day in just a few gulps! Sounds amazing, doesn't it? So, why is it that this incredible ingredient has been submitted as toxic to the FDA 26 times, over a 23 year period? Why is it used at all? Aspartame is considered the ultimate cheat! You still taste the sweetness! You still get to enjoy your favorite foods without all the sugar! Everywhere you go are ads and warnings saying how sugar is bad! So, this miracle worker has stepped in! It has a smiliar consistency to sugar, making it ideal as a cooking substitute! But perhaps the best evidence in the case for aspartame is that, of all its benefits, it comes with zero calories per serving!

The FDA has been approached with many possible side effects of Aspartame, but refuses to recognize it as harmful. They list it as a sweetner, not an additive. That being said, since its inception in 1969 (and introduction into the U.S. over the next decade), the following symptoms and side effects have been found in numerous serial Aspartame users. They include, but are not limited to, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, methanol toxicity, partial blindness, muscle spasms, shooting pains, seizures, headaches, depression, anxiety, memory loss, birth defects from mothers who used Apartame while pregnant, mood changes, and even cancer and death!

Aspartame works similar to a protein, rather than a carbohydrate like sugar. Its unique structure contributes to its total lack of calories. It is sweet on the tongue, but does not send the proper signals to the brain that the body is getting a sweet treat! Thus, cravings continue, and in some cases can actually get worse since there is no sensation of satisfied. So, you are able to enjoy your treat food, but your body doesn't realize that its being given a treat!

With its possible health risks, some people believe it is easier to just avoid this chemical altogether. That is a difficult task- its in everything from chewing gum to yogurt! A single cube of sugar only has 14 calories. So rather than 2 servings of a potential poison, take the 28 calories! Drink regular soda, or better yet water, instead of diet soda! Take the time to brew your coffee and tea, rather than using instant mixes and powders. Eat actual food instead of meal replacement shakes!