Aspartame and sugar Alternatives

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Aspartame and sugar Alternatives
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What is Wrong with White Sugar?

• Refined white sugar has been linked to dental
  cavities, increased cholesterol levels, heart
  disease, hypoglycemia, diabetes, obesity,
  osteoporosis and nutritional deficiencies.
• Can create dramatic fluctuations in blood sugar
  which, over time, can wear down both the pancreas
  and the adrenal glands.
• Because it provides no nutrition, most dietitians
  agree that white sugar has no legitimate place in
  a healthy diet.

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Manufacturing of Table Sugar

• Modern sugar cane farming, chemical fertilizers
  and pesticides are used to grow the sugar cane
  plants.
• The mature sugar cane is harvested and sent to
  refining factories, where the cane's vitamins,
  minerals and other nutrients are separated from
  the sucrose.
• After further refining, the cane juice is dried,
  processed into crystals and bleached to remove
  its naturally dark color.

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What is Aspartame?

• Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetening ingredient
  that provides the sweet taste of sugar without
  the calories. Aspartame has been used in numerous
  foods and beverages for more than 20 years and is
  enjoyed by millions of Americans every day.

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Where Can Aspartame be Found?

• Aspartame is used to sweeten products such as
  low-calorie tabletop sweeteners, carbonated soft
  drinks, powdered soft drinks, puddings, gelatins,
  frozen desserts, yogurt, hot cocoa mixes, teas,
  breath mints, chewing gum and other foods, as
  well as some vitamin and cold preparations.

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Acceptable Levels of Aspartame

• 50 mg / kg of body weight

• Average aspartame Contents of Selected foods

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History of Aspartame

• Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by a researcher,
  Mr. James Schlatter, at G.D. Searle Company.
• Schlatter was a scientist doing research with
  amino acids, working to develop a treatment for
  ulcers. In 1965, while creating a bioassay, an
  intermediate chemical was synthesized --
  aspartylphenylalanine-methyl-ester (aspartame).
  In December of 1965, while James Schlatter was
  recrystalling aspartame from ethanol, the mixture
  spilled onto the outside of the flask. Some of
  the powder got onto his fingers. Later, when he
  licked his fingers to pick up a piece of paper,
  he noticed a very strong sweet taste.
• Since that time aspartame has become one of the
  most highly valued and widely used sweeteners in
  the world, known for its clean taste and amazing
  sweetness (180-200 times sweeter than sucrose).
  Aspartame also quickly became a highly valued
  ingredient among people with diabetes because it
  literally changed their lives, allowing them to
  enjoy foods that are sweet and tasty without
  ingesting sugar.

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How is Aspartame Handled by the Body?

• Aspartame is broken down in the body to the amino
  acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine as well as
  a small amount of methanol. It is a mixture of 40
  percent aspartic acid, 50 percent of
  phenylalanine, and 10 percent of methanol.
• These components are also found naturally in
  foods such as meats, milk, fruits and vegetables.
  
• The body uses these components in exactly the
  same way whether they come from aspartame or
  common foods.
• In fact, the foods you consume every day provide
  much greater amounts of these components than
  does aspartame

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The Molecular Structure of Aspartame
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Methanol and its Break Down in our Body

• Methanol (methyl alcohol or wood alcohol) is a
  colorless, poisonous, and flammable liquid. It is
  used for making formaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl
  t-butyl ether (a gasoline additive), paint
  strippers, carburetor cleaners for your car's
  engine, and chloromethanes, et al. This poison
  can be inhaled from vapors, absorbed through the
  skin, and ingested.
• Methanol is the type of alcohol you read about
  when people become blind from drinking it. In
  aspartame, methanol poisoning and poisoning from
  methanol's breakdown components (formaldehyde and
  formic acid) can have widespread and devastating
  effects. This occurs in even small amounts, and
  is especially damaging when introduced with
  toxic, free-form amino acids, called
  excitotoxins.
• Methanol is quickly absorbed through the stomach
  and small intestine mucosa. The methanol is
  converted into formaldehyde (a known carcinogen).
  Then, via aldehyde hydrogenase, the formaldehyde
  is converted to formic acid. These two
  metabolites of methanol are toxic and cumulative.

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Phenylalanine and its Breakdown in our Body

• Phenylalanine is an amino acid. Well, amino acids
  are good for us, right? Don't they keep us
  healthy? The answer is yes, amino acids are
  necessary for good health, EXCEPT when you
  separate the individual amino acid from its
  protein chain, and use it as an "isolate" or by
  itself.

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Aspartic Acid and its Breakdown in our Body

• The Aspartic acid, in aspartame, is also an
  excitotoxin. An excitotoxin, is a deleterious
  substance that excites or over-stimulates nerve
  cells. This occurs in the brain, as well as the
  peripheral nerves, because aspartic acid, in free
  form, is an absorption accelerant easily
  crosses the blood-brain barrier.
• This pathological excitation of nerve cells
  creates a breakdown of nerve function, as we will
  see. Basically, they are a group of compounds
  that can cause special neurons within the nervous
  system to become overexcited to the point that
  these cells will die.
• That's right, they are excited to death.
  Excitotoxins include such things as monosodium
  glutamate (MSG), aspartate, (a main ingredient in
  NutraSweet), L-cysteine (found in hydrolyzed
  vegetable protein) and related compounds.

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Studies and Experimental Data

• G.D. Searle approached Dr. Harry Waisman,
  Biochemist, Professor of Pediatrics, Director of
  the University of Wisconsin's Joseph P. Kennedy
  Jr. Memorial Laboratory of Mental Retardation
  Research and a respected expert in phenylalanine
  toxicity, to conduct a study of the effects of
  aspartame on primates. The study was initiated on
  January 15, 1970 and was terminated on or about
  April 25, 1971.
• Seven infant monkeys were given aspartame with
  milk. One died after 300 days. Five others (out
  of seven total) had grad mal seizures. The actual
  results were hidden from the FDA when G.D. Searle
  submitted its initial applications.
• Neuroscientist and researcher John W. Olney found
  that oral intake of glutamate, aspartate and
  cysteine, all excitotoxic amino acids, cause
  brain damage in mice (Olney 1970). Dr. John W.
  Olney informed G.D. Searle that aspartic acid
  caused holes in the brains of mice.
• Ann Reynolds, a researcher who was hired by G.D.
  Searle and who has done research for the
  Glutamate (MSG) Association, and was asked to
  confirm Dr. Olney's tests. Dr. Reynolds confirmed
  aspartame's neurotoxicity in infant mice.
• Excitotoxic compounds like MSG, aspartate,
  cysteine seem to create hypothalamic lesions,
  particularly in young animals. The reason for the
  latter is likely the fact that the blood brain
  barrier closes most slowly (if ever completely)
  around structures like hypothalamus. The outcome
  for such animals (rats) was obesity,severe
  behavioral changes, etc.

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By H. J. Roberts, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.C.C.P.

• Every patient with unresolved neurologic,
  psychologic, allergic, dermatologic,
  gastrointestinal and metabolic/endocrine problems
  should be queried about aspartame intake.
• The diagnosis of multiple sclerosis should be
  deferred pending at least several months
  observation in the case of persons consuming
  aspartame.
• A pregnant woman should not risk the health of
  her fetus by consuming aspartame products.
• Visual, neurologic or bowel problems in diabetics
  should not be ascribed to a presumed underlying
  retinopathy or neuropathy until evaluating the
  response to aspartame abstinence.
• Cataract surgery ought to be deferred in heavy
  aspartame users to evaluate for spontaneous
  improvement after abstinence.
• Patients presenting with seizures, headache,
  atypical facial or eye pain, the Meniere
  syndrome, depression, the carpal tunnel syndrome,
  normal-pressure hydrocephalus, and a host of
  other unexplained neuropsychiatric problems, or
  who fail to respond to conventional treatment,
  must be queried about aspartame use especially
  if invasive studies are planned.
• Young adults who express concern about "possibly
  having early Alzheimer's disease," based on
  recent confusion and memory loss, ought to be
  observed at least one month after stopping
  aspartame before this diagnosis is pursued.
• Gynecologic surgical procedures to evaluate gross
  menstrual changes should be deferred pending the
  response to abstinence.

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Aspartame Versus Table Sugar

• A can of soft drink sweetened with sugar contains
  about 150 Calories, compared to only one or two
  Calories in a can of soft drink sweetened with
  aspartame.
• since it is sugar-free, aspartame can make an
  important contribution to good dental health.
• For people on the Atkins Diet, aspartame is ideal
  as it is does not contain any carbohydrates
• When aspartame-containing beverages are left at
  high storage temperatures, the aspartame can
  degrade and form small amounts of methanol.
• Diketopiperazine (DKP) is another breakdown
  product of aspartame.
• One small study (which has not been repeated) did
  find some worsening of depression when depressed
  patients took large doses of aspartame
• It has not been shown to be dangerous to
  diabetics in any way, where as sugar has.

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Aspartame Versus Table Sugar

• Aspartame products have been shown to not satisfy
  cravings as well as regular sugar products
• Overweight subjects who consumed fairly large
  amounts of sucrose (28 of energy) mostly as
  beverages, had increased energy intake, body
  weight, fat mass and blood pressure after 10 wk.
  These effects were not observed in a similar
  group of subjects who consumed artificial
  sweeteners.

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Is Aspartame Safe?

• Yes. Aspartame's safety has been documented in
  more than 200 objective scientific studies.
• The safety of aspartame has been confirmed by the
  regulatory authorities in more than 100
  countries, including the U.S. Food and Drug
  Administration, Health Canada, and the European
  Commission's Scientific Committee on Food, as
  well as by experts with the United Nations' Food
  and Agriculture Organization and World Health
  Organization.

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Benefits of Aspartame

• Aspartame offers people with type 1 and type 2
  diabetes greater variety and flexibility in
  budgeting their total carbohydrate intake and
  helps them satisfy their taste for sweets without
  affecting blood sugar.
• People with diabetes are more likely to stick
  with a healthful meal plan when they can include
  foods they enjoy.
• Consuming products with aspartame can reduce
  calories, which helps people with diabetes manage
  their weight.

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Risks Associated with Aspartame

• Individuals with the rare genetic disease,
  phenylketonuria (PKU), cannot properly metabolize
  phenylalanine.
• (PKU) is detected at birth through a mandatory
  screening program, and these individuals must
  monitor their intake of phenylalanine from all
  foods including foods containing aspartame.

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Other Natural Sugar Alternatives

• Any refined sweetener, whether it's white sugar,
  honey or another variation, is broken down by the
  body into glucose, and is associated with the
  same problems, like weight gain and cavities.
  Even so, natural sweeteners have their
  advantages. Most are less refined than white
  sugar, have a slightly higher nutritional value,
  and tend to be broken down more slowly in the
  body, creating less impact on blood sugar.
  Following are some sweet substitutes to try
• --Agave nectar. This liquid sweetener comes in
  light and dark varieties, and is a good
  substitute for corn syrup.
• --Brown rice syrup. Brown rice syrup has a mildly
  sweet, delicate flavor and is processed by the
  body more slowly than white sugar.
• --Date sugar. Made from ground dates, this pale
  brown sweetener makes an excellent substitute for
  brown sugar.
• --Evaporated cane juice. Also called "milled
  cane" or "unrefined cane juice," this
  less-processed version of white sugar contains
  some vitamins and minerals, is unbleached and is
  available in organic versions.
• --Fructose. This is available in both powdered
  and liquid versions. Fructose, which is plant
  sugar, releases glucose into the bloodstream more
  slowly than white sugar and this makes it more
  suitable for diabetics.
• --Fruit juice concentrate. Made from apples,
  grapes, peaches, pears, pineapples, berries or
  other fruit, these sweeteners have the
  consistency of thick syrup and an intense flavor.
  
• --Honey. Clover is the most common, but honey
  comes in dozens of varieties, depending on the
  flower that produces it. Look for raw,
  unpasteurized honey, which retains its beneficial
  enzymes and nutrients. Honey is also available
  powdered.
• --Maple syrup. Nearly twice as sweet as white
  sugar, maple syrup adds rich flavor and trace
  minerals to nearly any recipe. Maple sugar is
  made by evaporating the liquid from maple syrup.
• --Molasses. Molasses contains the nutrients
  extracted from sugar cane and sugar beets.
  Blackstrap molasses, from the bottom of the
  processing vats, is thick, dark and high in
  nutrients.
• --Turbinado. Made from the initial pressing of
  the cane, turbinado contains molasses and has a
  sweet, rich flavor and blond color.

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Healthy Sweetener Use Guide
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Economic Forces Behind Aspartame

• Before aspartame received its final green light
  from the FDA for use in dry foods in 1981 and in
  beverages in 1983, scientists objected to its
  approval.
• Initially granted FDA approval for use in dry
  foods in 1974, but was later blocked by
  objections raised by attorney James Turner and
  John Olney, M.D.
• Investigators described aspartame safety studies
  conducted by G.D. Searle between 1967 and 1975 as
  shoddy science' and sloppy tests.' Ninety out
  of 113 aspartame safety tests showed
  discrepancies.
• FDA scientists and outside researchers insisted
  that more rigorous and reliable testing was
  needed.
• Despite these concerns, on July 18, 1981
  aspartame was approved for use in dry foods by
  FDA Commissioner Arthur Hull Hayes who,
  incredibly overruled his own Public Board of
  Inquiry which recommended that approval be
  denied. He also ignored the law, Section
  409(c)(3) of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (21
  U.S.C. 348), which says that a food additive
  should not be approved if tests are inconclusive

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Economic Forces Cont

• In 1981, John Olney, professor of psychiatry and
  neuropathology at Washington University, St.
  Louis cited risks involved with the use of
  aspartame.
• Olney, who was instrumental in banning the use of
  cyclamates, warned that aspartame had brain
  damaging properties.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics raised
  concerns about the effects of phenylalanine on
  PKU carriers who were unaware that they had the
  defect. Astonishingly, even the National Soft
  Drink Association had serious doubts about the
  safety of aspartame.
• In 1983, the NSDA filed a 30-page objection to
  aspartame's use in beverages and then,
  inexplicably reversed its opposition. Aspartame
  received approval for use in soft drinks in 1983
  and shortly thereafter, Commissioner Arthur Hull
  Hayes left the FDA. He was then (allegedly) hired
  as a consultant (at the rate of 1,000 per day)
  with G.D. Searle's public relations firm.
• As said by Senator Howard Metzenbaum We had
  better be sure that the questions that have been
  raised about the safety of this product are
  answered. I must say at the outset, this product
  was approved by the FDA in circumstances that can
  only be described as troubling.

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Economic Forces Cont

• Prompted by mounting safety concerns within the
  scientific community, Ohio Senator Howard
  Metzenbaum called for Senate hearings on
  NutraSweet.
• Introduced the Aspartame Safety Act of 1985 on
  Aug. 1 of that year.
• The bill called for clinical studies to ascertain
  the safety of aspartame, a moratorium on the
  introduction of aspartame into new products until
  independent testing was complete, labeling of
  products including the amount of aspartame in
  each serving and the allowable daily intake, and
  a warning that aspartame is not intended for
  infant use.
• The bill also required the FDA to set up a
  clinical adverse reaction committee to collect
  reports of adverse effects and to send written
  notices to physicians about aspartame. In a March
  3, 1986 news release, the Senator stated "we
  cannot use American's children as guinea pigs to
  determine the safe' level of NutraSweet
  consumption." Sadly, the bill that potentially
  could have stopped an ongoing tragedy, was killed
  in the Labor and Human Resources Committee, and
  never reached the Senate floor.
• After suffering a 28 million dollar loss in the
  previous year, G.D. Searle was bought by the
  chemical company, Monsanto in 1985. Monsanto then
  created the NutraSweet Company as a subsidiary,
  separate from G.D. Searle. Over the next decade,
  aspartame consumption soared and reports of ill
  side effects increased.
• In June of 1996, FDA Commissioner Dr. David
  Kessler lifted all restrictions on the use of
  aspartame and granted it blanket approval,
  despite the fact that this neurotoxin (mislabeled
  as a food additive) is in reality, a dangerous
  drug that changes brain chemistry and interacts
  with other drugs. He did so without public
  notification. He also ignored a request by
  Senator Metzenbaum (then retired) to initiate
  additional safety testing. Aspartame could now be
  used as freely as sugar.

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Which Would a 6 Year Old Find More Appealing?
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OR..

• ?Not Quite as Exciting!
• ? Often out of Childrens reach or above their
  eye-level

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The Problem?
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The Sweetest Advice?

• Use "natural" sugar substitutes like honey and
  maple syrup in moderation, or stick to fruit to
  soothe your sweet tooth -- it's high in
  nutrients, phytochemicals and fiber, and is
  broken down more slowly than any kind of refined
  sugar.
• Some ideas puree frozen berries with unsweetened
  rice milk for a fast breakfast smoothie, stew
  pears and currants in apple juice and cinnamon
  for a simple dessert, freeze bananas for a
  cooling summer snack, munch on grapes instead of
  candy.

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Recipe's for low and Reduced Sugar Diets

• Blueberry Peach Pie
• Serves 6 to 8
• This fast and easy pie is loaded with juicy
  berries and peaches, and sweetened with honey.
  Top with ice cream or frozen vanilla yogurt.
• 2 cups fresh blueberries2 cups fresh peeled and
  sliced peaches1/2 cup light agave nectar or
  honey3 Tbsp. cornstarch1 cup water1 Tbsp. fresh
  lemon juice2 Tbsp. unsalted butter or canola
  oilOne prepared pastry crust
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees and bake shell for 10
  minutes.
• In a medium bowl, combine blueberries and
  peaches. Transfer 1 1/2 cups of the fruit mixture
  into a food processor. Puree briefly. In a medium
  saucepan, combine agave nectar or honey,
  cornstarch and water, whisking until smooth.
• Stir in pureed fruit and cook over medium-low
  heat for about 8 minutes, stirring frequently,
  until mixture is thickened. Stir in lemon juice,
  butter or oil, and remaining peaches and berries.
  Chill until partially thickened. Spoon into the
  cooked pastry shell and chill for 3 more hours.

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Plum Tart with Rose-Scented Cream

• Serves 8
• This dense and juicy tart uses only fresh and
  dried fruit and fruit juice for sweetness.
• 14 medjool dates, chopped1/4 cup unsweetened
  shredded coconut1/2 cup finely chopped pecans2
  Tbsp. apple juice6 medium plums, sliced8 oz.
  heavy whipping creamEssential rose oil (not
  perfume oil)
• Combine dates, coconut, pecans and apple juice in
  a medium mixing bowl. Mix well with hands, then
  press mixture into a glass pie dish. Layer crust
  with sliced plums.
• Pour whipping cream into a glass bowl and add two
  drops of essential rose oil. Beat whipping cream
  until soft peaks form, and spoon on top of tart.
  Chill or serve at room temperature.

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References

• American Dietetic Association (2003). Nutrition
  fact sheet straight answers about aspartame
  Journal of the American Dietetic Association,
  v103 i6 p801(2)
• Davis, G., (2002). A Tale of Two Sweeteners--
  Aspartame Stevia" of The Complete Guide to
  Vegetarian Convenience Foods and So, Now What Do
  I Eat?
• Roberts HJ. Difficult Diagnosis A Guide to the
  Interpretation of Obscure Illness Philadelphia,
  W.B. Saunders Company, 1958.
• Turner, L., (2001). You can satisfy your sweet
  tooth with some help from Mother Nature. (healthy
  sugar substitutes and analysis of sugar and
  substitutes) Better Nutrition, v63 i2 p44.

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References Cont

• Stoddard, Mary Nash, (1995). "The Deadly
  Deception" Compiled by the Aspartame Consumer
  Safety Network for volumes of available published
  information, ACSN, P.O. Box 780634, Dallas, Texas
  75378, [phone].
• Stegink, Lewis D., Filer L., (1984). "Aspartame
  Physiology and Biochemistry," Marcel Dekker,
  Inc., N.Y.
• USDA 1988. "1988 United States Department of
  Agriculture Situation and Outlook Report Sugar
  and Sweeteners." Washington, DC U.S. Government
  Printing Office, pp. 51.
• Whitney, E.N. Rolfes, S. R., (2002).
  Understanding Nutrition 9th Ed.
  Pg.93-128.Wadsworth Thompson Learning

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