The safety of aspartame, also known as Nutrasweet or Equal, has been called into question by many health care advocates as well as the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) after giving the manufacturer of the sweetener a green light to introduce it to consumers as a no-calorie dietary sweetener. Numerous side effects have been reported, and the FDA recalled this product in 2002 labeling it a neurotoxic drug. Furthermore, the FDA has compiled a list of 92 known symptoms, side effects and diseases related to aspartame consumption after receiving more than 7,200 consumer complaints since 1980.
Mental, Neurological Side Effects
Mental and neurological side effects from aspartame poisoning can include anxiety attacks, slurring of speech, the inability to think straight, facial pain, confusion, depression, aggression, anxiety, dizziness, feeling unreal, personality changes, phobias, memory loss, panic attacks, lack of concentration, brain fog, irritability, migraines, slurred speech, tremors, insomnia, vertigo, seizures and convulsions, according to Healthy Holistic Living.
Vision, Hearing, Throat Side Effects
Janet Starr Hull, creator of the Aspartame Detox Program, describes symptoms of blindness, decreased vision, night vision problems, burning sensations in the eyes, vision and hearing loss, tinnitus, intolerance to noise, severe hearing loss, difficulty swallowing, burning in the throat and laryngitis.
Respiratory Side Effects
Symptoms of asthma, breathing difficulties, chest pain, chronic cough and shortness of breath also appear in Starr Hull's list.
Musculoskeletal Side Effects
A constellation of musculoskeletal side effects range from arthritis, joint pain, swelling, muscle spasms, numbness and tingling of the extremities and all appear on the FDA-compiled list of symptoms.
Cardiovascular Side Effects
Cardiovascular symptoms include palpitations, hypertension and tachycardia.
Reproductive System Side Effects
Menstrual problems, sterility, impotency and sexual problems in both sexes have resulted.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
The FDA complaint list includes side effects of abdominal pain, bloating, edema, excessive thirst and hunger, weight gain, nausea and vomiting, burning urination and diarrhea.
Food Allergy Side Effects
Healthy Holistic Living says that certain food allergies are another side effect of aspartame consumption and are the cause of the majority of migraine headaches reported since aspartame's introduction to the market.
Systemic Side Effects
According to DiagnoseMe.com, the breakdown of aspartame into formaldehyde in the body causes systemic side effects consisting of damage to the nervous and immune systems and irreversible genetic damage from long-term exposure. A plethora of other systemic side effects have also been noted, including rashes, blood sugar problems, fatigue, flushing of the face, hair loss, hives, infections and itching.
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