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does aspartame cause stomach problems

by Nestor O'Conner Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Subjective reports of digestive disturbances after consuming aspartame

Aspartame

Aspartame is an artificial non-saccharide sweetener used as a sugar substitute in some foods and beverages. It is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid/phenylalanine dipeptide. Aspartame was first made in 1965 and approved for use in food products by the U.S. Food and Drug Admini…

sweetened foods or beverages include loose stools, diarrhea, constipation, less frequent stools, nausea, stomach cramps, bloating and gastroenteritis.

People often experience an upset stomach, diarrhea (possibly bloody), abdominal pain and painful swallowing when using aspartame as a sweetener. Skin and Allergies. Hives and intense itching, lip or mouth swelling and worsening of asthma all can occur due to aspartame.

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What are the negative effects of aspartame?

Some research suggests that aspartame increases the risk of:

  • certain types of cancer, including lymphoma, leukemia, urinary tract tumors, and neurological tumors
  • type 2 diabetes
  • preterm delivery
  • toxicity in the kidneys
  • toxic liver disease
  • harmful changes to the salivary glands

Does aspartame cause stomach problems?

Aspartame is a product that is generally regarded as safe but recently it has been discovered that it have many side effects. Those side effects include abdominal pain and stomach ache. The only way you can find out weather the cause is really aspartame is to stop using it for a while – if the stomach ache disappears, than it is likely to be so.

How does aspartame affect your body?

Key Facts About Diet Soda Chemical

  • Dozens of studies have linked aspartame — the world’s most widely used artificial sweetener — to serious health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, seizures, stroke and dementia, as ...
  • Evidence also links aspartame to weight gain, increased appetite and obesity-related diseases. ...
  • The U.S. ...

Is aspartame harmful to the body?

Dozens of studies have linked aspartame — the world’s most widely used artificial sweetener — to serious health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, seizures, stroke and dementia, as well as negative effects such as intestinal dysbiosis , mood disorders, headaches and migraines.

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What does aspartame do to your gut?

UK researchers have found that sugar substitutes such as saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame – found in soft drinks and processed foods – can cause beneficial bacteria in the intestines such as E. coli (Escherichia coli) and E. faecalis (Enterococcus faecalis) to become pathogenic, or disease causing.Jun 25, 2021

Can artificial sweeteners cause stomach problems?

Non-caloric artificial sweeteners (NAS) have been shown to wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal microbiome generally causing “dysbiosis” or an imbalance in the bacteria in our guts. Dysbiosis can result in gas, bloating, or have more serious impacts resulting in gastrointestinal diseases or widespread inflammation.Jul 8, 2020

What symptoms does aspartame cause?

Aspartame (α-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine-o-methyl ester), an artificial sweetener, has been linked to behavioral and cognitive problems. Possible neurophysiological symptoms include learning problems, headache, seizure, migraines, irritable moods, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Can aspartame cause loose bowels?

Sugar substitutes: Seeing “diet” or “sugar-free'” on a label may be a red flag if you get diarrhea from eating certain foods. “Some of the natural and artificial sweeteners in diet drinks and foods, such as aspartame, sucralose, maltitol and sorbitol, may not digest properly for some people,” explains Dr.May 3, 2021

Do artificial sweeteners alter gut bacteria?

The researchers found that the artificial sweeteners caused an increase of bacteria in the Bacteroides genus, and a decrease of the Clostridiales genus, which they believe induced the glucose intolerance.Jul 5, 2021

Can sweeteners cause stomach bloating?

Sweeteners can also cause gas and bloating. Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener, can't be digested. Fructose, a natural sugar added to many processed foods, is difficult for many people to digest. To avoid bloating, be aware of these sweeteners in the foods you eat and limit the amount you consume.Sep 10, 2011

How long does it take for aspartame to get out of your system?

Aspartame Withdrawal Symptoms: How Long Can You Expect Them to Last? It can take 14-30 days to get through the often debilitating symptoms of aspartame withdrawal.May 24, 2021

Which is worse sugar or aspartame?

Aspartame is about 200 times sweeter than sugar, and as such only a small amount of the sweetener is needed to match the sweetness provided by sugar.Dec 4, 2020

What are the long term effects of aspartame?

Long-term aspartame administration resulted in many degenerative changes affecting mainly the myelin sheath, in the form of focal and extensive demyelination; disruption and splitting of myelin lamellae with loss of compact lamellar structure; and excessive enfolding with irregular thickening of myelin sheaths.

Can you reverse aspartame damage?

By abstaining from aspartame-containing products, and using meditation, the damage can be reversed. This would allow affected people to become less aggressive, more thoughtful and be much more emotionally stable.

What is the safest artificial sweetener to use?

Aspartame — "safe" One of the most common sugar substitutes, aspartame is approved for use in more than 90 countries around the world and is used in 6,000 different products, including soft drinks, cereals, breath mints, chewing gum, hard candies.Dec 19, 2016

Which artificial sweeteners cause diarrhea?

Artificial Sweeteners Mannitol and sorbitol linger in the stomach, Schiller says, which can result in bloating and diarrhea. These sweeteners are found in hard and soft candies, jam and jelly, chewing gum, cough drops, and other sugar-free products.Sep 27, 2016

What are the Side Effects of Too Much Aspartame?

Researchers found that the adverse effects of aspartame only happen with huge doses exceeding the acceptable daily intake. However, people diagnosed with phenylketonuria should avoid aspartame at all costs.

What is Aspartame?

Aspartame is approximately 200 times sweeter than regular sugar. Just a small amount often goes a long way. It is most often found in:

Can Aspartame Cause Digestive Problems?

Consuming artificial sweeteners does have an effect on the body. There have been reports of gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances. Reported symptoms include:

Do Aspartame Cause Harm to Gut Bacteria?

The controversy lies on whether aspartame affects the gut microbiome or not.

What are the Benefits of Aspartame?

Despite the controversies, many calorie-conscious consumers are still using aspartame. It is a low-calorie sweetener with negligible calorie content. Additionally, aspartame provides the following benefits:

What foods contain aspartame?

Aspartame is used to reduce the amount of sugar present in food and drinks. It is commonly found in the following: 1 Breath mints 2 Candy 3 Carbonated sodas (even diet soda) 4 Cereals 5 Chewing gum 6 Dairy products like low-fat flavored milk and yogurt 7 Flavored water 8 Frozen desserts like popsicles, and ice cream 9 Fruit juices 10 Gelatins 11 Instant coffee and tea 12 Nutrition bars 13 Powdered drinks 14 Puddings 15 Syrups, sauces, and condiments 16 Tabletop sweeteners

Why is aspartame used in food?

Aspartame is used to reduce the amount of sugar present in food and drinks. It is commonly found in the following: In addition, some medicines and chewable vitamins also contain aspartame to lessen the bitterness and significantly improve their taste.

What is aspartame made of?

Aspartame is made up of the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. The dipeptide is completely broken down in the small intestines by the same digestive enzymes that break down the proteins in foods such as eggs, milk and lentils. Methanol is also a byproduct of aspartame digestion similar to the production of methanol from digestion ...

Does aspartame cause GI problems?

The reported GI symptoms associated with aspartame have not been confirmed in double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials using capsules containing varying doses of aspartame compared to identical appearing placebo capsules for periods lasting up to six months. ( Nehrling et al ., Leon et al.) Symptoms were reported by both the aspartame and placebo groups, all mild to moderate, with no statistically significant differences between groups in the number of subjects experiencing symptoms or in the number of symptoms per subject. Researchers suggest the high incidence of symptoms reported by subjects in both groups may have been due to the power of suggestibility over the duration of the studies, but also state lack of differences in complaints between the groups does not rule out the possibility of idiosyncratic responses to aspartame.

Does aspartame affect the gut microbiota?

Before taking a look at two studies on this subject, it is worth noting here that the most recent review of the safety of aspartame released by the European Food Safety Authority (2013) stated that neither aspartame nor its digestion products ever reach the colon, so aspartame itself cannot affect the gut microbiota.

Can low calorie sweeteners affect the gut microbiota?

Studies by Suez et al. and Palmnas et al. suggest the gut microbiota may be altered by the consumption of low-calorie sweeteners (LCS). Given the very different chemical composition of the LCS currently in use and their very different metabolic fates once ingested by humans, it is highly unlikely they would all have the same effect on the gut microbiota. So the first question that must be raised when such studies are published is, “Which low-calorie sweeteners were used?”

Does aspartame affect gastrointestinal health?

The question also arises whether aspartame has an effect on individuals with gastrointestinal disease s, such as celiac disease, cystic fibrosis and tropical sprue. A 2007 review by Magnuson et al ., found no studies in the scientific literature that evaluated plasma levels of amino acids following aspartame ingestion in these populations, but other studies indicate these individuals display impaired absorption of amino acids and peptides. Based on these studies, they suggest plasma amino acids levels of aspartic acid and phenylalanine would be similar or lower following consumption of aspartame compared to levels seen in normal individuals.

Can aspartame cause diarrhea?

Subjective reports of digestive disturbances after consuming aspartame sweetened foods or beverages include loose stools, diarrhea, constipation, less frequent stools, nausea, stomach cramps, bloating and gastroenteritis. These symptoms are common after ingesting many other foods and beverages and can also be caused by medications, illnesses and psychological and emotional problems.

Is methanol a byproduct of aspartame digestion?

Methanol is also a byproduct of aspartame digestion similar to the production of methanol from digestion of other foods. All three of these end products of aspartame digestion – aspartic acid, phenylalanine and methanol – are indistinguishable from those derived from a mixed diet and are absorbed and utilized by the body in ...

How long does it take for stomach pain to go away from diet soda?

All the above is irrelevant: if you're having stomach pain and you suspect it's the diet sodas, try going off the sodas for 2 weeks. If you stomach pain goes away, drink a soda and see if it comes back. I drank Coke Zero for 3 months (avg about 3 cans per day) until one day I got really awful burning stomach pain.

Is aspartame safe for stomach?

Aspartame is a product that is generally regarded as safe but recently it has been discovered that it have many side effects. Those side effects include abdominal pain and stomach ache. The only way you can find out weather the cause is really aspartame is to stop using it for a while – if the stomach ache disappears, than it is likely to be so.

Does aspartame cause stomach pain?

There are plenty of natural-remedy and holistic-advice websites that will tell you that aspartame CAN cause stomach aches. They will also tell you aspartame can cause hair loss, headache, infertility, bad breath, kidney stones, and leprosy.

How does aspartame affect weight?

One way aspartame and other nonnutritive sweeteners may affect body weight is by increasing people’s appetite, which may lead to a higher food consumption.

Why do drug manufacturers use aspartame?

Drug manufacturers also use aspartame to make certain medications more palatable.

How much aspartame should I take daily?

The EFSA ruled aspartame safe for human consumption and set an acceptable daily intake or ADI of aspartame at 40 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight. The EFSA’s ADI for aspartame is 10 mg lower than the amount the FDA consider safe.

What is the compound that makes up aspartame?

Phenylalanine is one of three compounds that make up aspartame. However, aspartame provides significantly lower amounts of phenylalanine than everyday food sources, such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

Why is the body ill equipped to deal with dietary sugars when they do arrive in the gut?

Because the body no longer expects calorie intake in response to sweet tastes , it may be ill-equipped to deal with dietary sugars when they do arrive in the gut, according to this view.

How many calories are in aspartame?

Aspartame contains 4 calories per gram (g), similar to sugar. It is, however, around 200 times sweeter than sugar. This means that only a tiny amount of aspartame is necessary to sweeten foods and drinks. For this reason, people often use it in weight-loss diets.

When was aspartame approved?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aspartame for use in food and drink back in 1981. Agencies in Europe, Canada, and many other countries also approve its use. Furthermore, the following authorities endorse it: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Why do people eat aspartame?

The reason for aspartame poisoning is that it dissolves into solution, travels throughout the body and deposits within tissues. Unlike saccharin, the body digests aspartame. The digestive and absorption process results in aspartame accumulating in our bodies ...

What foods contain aspartame?

Cut out products like low calorie pudding, diet sodas , and gelatin mixes, and any powdered drink mix containing aspartame. Even some dried fruits and cereals contain aspartame. Reading food labels and avoiding aspartame can literally be a life changing activity.

Does aspartame cause psychiatric problems?

Serious psychiatric problems are known to occur due to aspartame and include aggressive or suicidal behaviors, severe depression, birth defects and severe cognitive problems in the baby, anxiety, insomnia, phobias and irritability.

Can aspartame cause stomach pain?

People often experience an upset stomach, diarrhea (possibly bloody), abdominal pain and painful swallowing when using aspartame as a sweetener. Skin and Allergies. Hives and intense itching, lip or mouth swelling and worsening of asthma all can occur due to aspartame. 2. Metabolic and Endocrine Symptoms.

Can aspartame cause ALS?

Aspartame poisoning triggers many subtle diseases. Even under the best conditions and in the hands of the skilled physicians, these conditions are difficult to detect. Diseases such as ALS, multiple sclerosis, Lupus, post-polio syndrome and Lyme disease can all be triggered by aspartame. Other problems such as Meniere's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, thyroid disorders and Alzheimer's disease can all result from aspartame.

Does aspartame affect the nervous system?

The nervous system is a very delicate machine and very sensitive to minor amounts of toxins. Aspartame negatively impacts brain function and can trigger or mimic many serious disease processes.

Is aspartame bad for you?

The health dangers of aspartame are widespread and can affect multiple body systems. Additional health dangers include: persistent craving for sweets, aspartame addiction, irreversible brain injury and cognitive impairment, stomach ulcers, birth defects, hyperactive behavior in children, aggression, severe depression and suicide attempt and ultimately death. Scientists and anecdotal patient reports continue to show the global negative effects on the human body.

What are the side effects of aspartame?

Keep in mind that the more aspartame consumed, the greater the risks of side effects. Abdominal Pain. Depression.

Why is aspartame dangerous?

Because it is seen as a danger, the tissues that aspartame deposits itself into attempt to fight it off. This causes a reaction that causes the various side effects and symptoms.

What is Aspartame?

Aspartame is an ingredient that is found inside of many diet soft drinks, candy bars, sweeteners and more. It is marketed as a weight loss product, but it may cause the exact opposite effects.

Why does aspartame affect you differently?

Each individual experiencing symptoms of aspartame are affected differently due to factors such as consumption amount, health conditions, age and length of time of use of aspartame.

How old is too old to take aspartame?

Anyone, of any age, may experience side effects with the use of aspartame, but it is more common in adults 40 and older.

What health conditions prohibit the use of sugar?

People with arthritis, diabetes and other health conditions prohibiting the use of sugar quickly made the switch.

Is aspartame a sweetener?

Written by Chronic Pain Team in Chronic Pain. Aspartame is an ingredient that is used in many artificial sweeteners. In fact, over 4,000 products that individuals consume regularly contain aspartame. Until recently, many people believed that artificial sweeteners, including those containing aspartame, were safer than sugar.

What are the side effects of aspartame?

Your respiratory system can be affected within minutes of ingesting aspartame. Common side effects include: 1 shortness of breath 2 difficulty breathing 3 swelling in the throat 4 wheezing 5 coughing 6 chest pain

How long does it take for aspartame to go away?

They typically go away within a few hours and are harmless, unless they form in your throat or inner ear. Treat this condition with hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation and swelling. You may also develop eczema or general skin inflammation from an allergy to aspartame 2.

What to do if you have an allergic reaction to aspartame?

If you are diagnosed with an allergy to aspartame, you will need to avoid consuming all products that contain the substance 2.

How long does it take for your respiratory system to be affected by aspartame?

Your respiratory system can be affected within minutes of ingesting aspartame.

Is aspartame a sweetener?

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener, commonly used by people who are trying to cut down on sugar consumption. Aspartame may cause an allergic reaction in some people, resulting in gastrointestinal, respiratory and skin complications. If you develop an adverse reaction after consuming aspartame, you should stop using the sweetener ...

Is aspartame safe for humans?

Although the FDA has approved aspartame as safe for human consumption, in certain people, the body mistakes the chemical as harmful. As a result, the body creates various chemicals that attack the aspartame, which cause common side effects of an allergy 2. Most allergic reaction symptoms develop within minutes of consuming aspartame.

Does aspartame cause swelling?

The gastrointestinal system is commonly affected by an allergic reaction to aspartame. During the allergic reaction, your body produces histamine in the soft tissue of your intestines, which produces swelling. Gastrointestinal symptoms will subside after the substance is expelled from your body.

Why does sugar cause stomach upset?

They pull fluid into the digestive tract and if enough gets ingested, the result is diarrhea and gas.

Can artificial sweeteners cause stomach upset?

This can occur with as little as 10 grams consumed but often 50 grams and more cause digestive upset. The artificial sweetener type has not been proven to cause stomach upset.

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