Carcinogenic Sweeteners: One should always understand that, generally, “artificial” does not sound good. From my personal experience I can say that many people use (unconsciously) very dangerous sweeteners, sweeteners that can be replaced with healthy alternatives.
After a lot of extensive personal research, I will try today to go over few sweeteners I do not use today.
Acesulfame Potassium (E950) a.k.a. Acesulfame K
Acesulfame K is a potassium salt containing methylene chloride , a known carcinogen. It is a substance that is also used for degreasing and peeling the walls before painting (!!!). Side effects reported in the long-term include bad breath, dizziness, headache, changes in the condition, hypoglycemia, vision problems, cancer, liver and kidney damage.
Studies regarding the effects of potassium acesulfame are contradictory (depending on who they are doing).A study published in Preventive Medicine in 2008 shows that the use of artificial sweeteners for over 10 years leads to the development of urinary tract tumors, while a 2005 National Toxicology Program study shows that there is no evidence of rodent cancer.
One of the reasons why this sweetener should be avoided is because it can affect your thyroid, which can lead to a decrease in metabolism and consequently weight gain. The thyroid is responsible for setting the metabolism and burning the calories you consume. If it does not work, you get fat. It has been shown that high doses of acetoacetamides, a compound resulting from the dissolution of potassium acesulfame, affect the thyroid in rodents, rabbits and dogs. Fortunately, low doses do not affect the thyroid, but repeated and long-term consumption could lead to such problems. It’s not worth it.
Personally, I avoid this sweetener even though I have consumed a period for the simple fact that it is added in almost all the protein shakes on the market.
ASPARTAME (E951)
I remember that in Spain, I saw on many shelves Aspartame, in a colorful packaging that promised you a dreamlike silhouette.
Going back, aspartame is a synthetic combination of chemicals that contain apx. 50% phenylalanine, 40% aspartic acid and 10% methanol. Aspartame causes more side effects, health problems and disease than any combination of food additives.
Aspartame has a lot of side effects, the most common being migraines, abdominal problems, seizures, weakness, joint pain.
The biggest concern with aspartame is its association with cancer. Only two years after aspartame was approved for use in soft drinks in 1983, the increase in brain cancer went up by 10%.
After consumption, aspartame spreads in the body in the aspartate, phenylalanine and methanol. No amount of methanol is good for the body. Manufacturers say that methanol is so small that it does not affect the body, but those who run the studies do not agree. Multiple sclerosis is caused in part by a high level of methanol. Countries with high amounts of methanol in food have a high degree of multiple sclerosis.
The two main components of aspartame – phenylalanine and aspartic acid – are amino acids that if consumed from food, they are not harmful. But when they are chemically manipulated, they can cause problems.
Initially the body decomposes the ester linkage between the two amino acids to turn them into free amino acids, which would normally not interfere in free form in the body. These chemicals in their free form can lead to health considerations such as headaches, dizziness, seizures. High concentrations of aspartame can flood the central nervous system and “fry” neurons. A phenomenon called excitotoxicity occurs when the nerve cells are overloaded, and then they swell and die. The long-term use of excitotoxins such as aspartame is linked to degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia.
Personally, I avoid it 100%.
CYCLAMATE (E952)
It is a very controversial sweetener, used in the US in the 1970s and then proposed to be banned.
Studies on animals have revealed that there is a direct link between long-term consumption of this sweetner and cancer.
SACCHARINE (E954)
Although banned in many countries (Canada, for example), saccharine has as well as other artificial sweeteners, a carcinogenic effect . Rodent studies have revealed that this sweetener results in cancer in the bladder, but it would not apply to humans, and the mechanisms are different. I would avoid it anyway.
SUCRALOSE (E955)
It is another synthetic sweetener that is commonly found in protein powder, consumed at a fairly large scale.
Research has revealed that sucralose can lead to a decrease in the thymus gland, an important regulator of the immune system, and can lead to dysfunctions of the liver and kidneys. A recent study at Duke University found that sucralose reduces the number of healthy bacteria in the gut that are required for good digestion.
An independent study in Italy announced that they found that sucralose causes leukemia in mice. But the study was not published.
I recently started to buy unsweetened or sweetened protein powder with stevia or xylitol. Unfortunately these sorts are quite rare but not impossible to find.
I consume stevia less frequently, xylitol . Sweet sweeteners include erythritol, sorbitol, mannitol.
So, what sweeteners are good and what are to be avoided?
