Alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are substances that affect your body and can sometimes create a dependency. If you consume alcohol and caffeine, use them in moderation. Unlike the other substances, aspartame is an artificial sweetener that should generally be passed through your body with no ill effects.
Alcohol
Alcohol, a fermented beverage, affects your body, including your nervous system and heart. It can have neurological effects, like causing mood changes and loss of concentration. Moderate use of alcohol can have some benefits to your health, lowering your risk of developing heart disease. However, it can also raise a woman’s risk of breast cancer. Heavy consumption of alcohol can lead to problems like liver scarring and heart damage. Any quantity can disrupt your sleep, cloud judgment and interact with medications.
Caffeine
According to MayoClinic.com, caffeine is a substance that stimulates your nervous system, creating an invigorating effect. It is found in beverages such as coffee, tea and soda, and in foods like chocolate. Moderate caffeine consumption -- between 200 to 300 milligrams daily or around 3 cups of coffee -- does not usually have negative effects. However, heavy consumption can lead to problems like insomnia, nervousness, jitteriness, irritability, upset stomach, rapid heart rate and muscle tremors.
Nicotine
Nicotine is a substance found in tobacco, and is absorbed when you smoke or chew tobacco. According to the American Cancer Society, nicotine floods your nervous system with dopamine, a good neurotransmitter, which can make you feel calm and relaxed. However, it also causes addiction. While nicotine itself does not cause cancer, smoking tobacco leads to tar buildup in your lungs and can cause lung, mouth and esophageal cancer. The addictive nature of nicotine makes it difficult to stop smoking, which can further damage your health.
Aspartame
Aspartame is a no-calorie, artificial sweetener used as a sugar substitute. It is about 220 times sweeter than sugar, and is found in the diet version of many foods like yogurt, ice cream, gum and sodas. You cannot use it for baking, since aspartame loses its sweet qualities when baked. Aspartame has been studied extensively by the FDA, and it is generally safe for consumption. Individuals with the condition phenylketonuria should not eat aspartame since they are unable to metabolize it.
