Aspartame is the main component of the commercial brand Equal. Equal also contains dextrose, which is a sugar, maltodextrin, which is a sugar intermediate, as well as acesulfame potassium, which is another non-nutritive sweetener. However, for the purpose of this article, we are going to focus on aspartame alone.
Aspartame is created within a lab, and ultimately yields a product that is 200 times sweeter than traditional table sugar. However, this product also has negligible calories as well as negligible grams of carbs. The taste associated, while 200 times sweeter than traditional sugar, tends to be a little artificial as well as mildly bitter when it is heated.
One question that many consumers have when it comes to aspartame is, what impact will it have on my blood sugar, and what impact will it have on my digestive health? Aspartame has been shown to have minimal impact on blood sugars. However, the same cannot be said about the digestive system.
People consuming aspartame, especially in large quantities, have experienced bloody diarrhea, as well as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and upset stomach. It also changes and shifts the gut bacteria within the body changing many of the positive good gut bacteria into pathogenic or potentially harmful gut bacterias. This can ultimately lead to some longer term health impact.
Long-term consumption of aspartame has been linked to some chronic medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, seizures, memory loss, depression, and more. A fun fact about aspartame for you is it was the largest source of methanol in the American diet, of which methanol is a toxic substance, and it ultimately can convert into formaldehyde, which you may have heard of in other contexts as well. I hope this video was helpful and teaching you a little bit about aspartame. And if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
