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What exactly is Aspartame?
Aspartame consists of three ingredients: aspartic acid (40%), phenylalanine (50%) and methyl ester (10%).
Aspartic acid and phenylalanine are amino acids. Both readily enter the brain where they can interfere with normal brain function.
Phenylalanine is a neurotoxin which makes up 50% of aspartame. Certain people suffer from a genetic disease known as phenylketonuria or PKU. For these people and pregnant women with hyperphenylalanine, high-levels of phenylalanine can cause brain damage. This is why all foods containing aspartame must carry a warning label stating that the product contains phenylalanine.
Phenylalanine has also been linked to ADD/ADHD, depression, over-eating, obsessive compulsive disorders, seizures and cancer.
Methyl ester breaks down into methanol. Methanol is a highly dangerous toxin which causes damage to the optic nerve; it was the methanol in Moonshine which caused blindness. When methanol reaches the bloodstream it changes into formaldehyde and formic acid.
Formaldehyde is a carcinogen which also causes birth defects and damages the retina.
Formic Acid is the poison in ant stings which can trigger allergic responses.
Whilst methanol is also found in alcohol and fruit juices, it is at a low level and is always accompanied by a high proportion of ethanol. Ethanol counteracts the toxic effects of methanol in humans. It is the lack of ethanol in aspartame which makes the methanol toxic.
Aspartame
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