Artificial Sweetener Aspartame is Generally Safe

Artificial sweeteners are food additives trying to reproduce the taste of sugar while reducing food energy. Artificial sweeteners are 4 calories per gram, 180 to 200 times sweeter than regular sugar, so they can be used to lose weight. Some examples of artificial sweeteners include saccharin, sucralose and aspartame. It is controversial whether there is a health risk to the artificial sweetener. Because several studies have shown that they cause disease in laboratory rats.

The environmental impact of manufacturing artificial sweeteners is not very clear. The three most common sweeteners - aspartame, sucralose and acesulfame - are produced in industrial laboratories. For example, aspartame is sugar that is fermented by bacteria and then chemically modified. Nonetheless, the 2009 study by Carbon Trust for Coca-Cola found that diet coke had a much lower carbon footprint than regular cola. Conversely, the result has changed. Our body is good at processing sugar and we can handle traditional soda byproduct easily at wastewater treatment facility. However, most artificial sweeteners do not contain calories because they can not be digested, and they do not change substantially even by sewage treatment. Recent studies have shown that when an artificial sweetener reaches a waterway, it begins to decompose into potentially toxic compounds in the sun. Although the impact on the ecosystem is unknown, a new step in wastewater treatment may be necessary

The safety of several artificial sweeteners including saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame and cyclamate has been studied. There is no clear evidence that artificial sweeteners marketed in the United States are related to human cancer risk. For more information, see Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer Facts. Calcium is an essential dietary mineral that can be obtained from foods and supplements. Results generally support the relationship between increased calcium intake and reduced risk of colorectal cancer, but the results are not always consistent at all times. It is unknown whether there is a relationship between the high intake of calcium and the reduction in risk of other cancers such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Several studies have shown that increased calcium intake may increase the risk of prostate cancer. For more information, please refer to the fact sheet on the prevention of calcium and cancer.

Artificial sweetener is a controversial topic. The most common types are Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, Sugar Twin. Several animal studies showed an increased risk of cancer after exposure to aspartame and saccharin, but the dose administered is not practical. Furthermore, it was found that the increased cancer risk of saccharin is applicable only to rats. The results of the aspartame study were contradictory. Unlike white sugar, brown sugar, honey, and other forms of sugar, it is noteworthy that artificial sweeteners do not increase blood glucose and do not contain calories. However, individual sensitivities can lead to symptoms such as headache in natural sweeteners such as artificial sweeteners or stevia of all kinds. If you find that the sweetener may cause unpleasant side effects, please discontinue use.