If your chewing gum, candy or diet drink contains aspartame you should throw it out. Why? Aspartame is a known health risk. People have been sold the idea that aspartame helps to control your weight. If the truth be told, aspartame, which is metabolized in the body to the cancer-causing substance methanol (formaldehyde), has been shown to have the following health risk:

Birth Defects: In the book, "While Waiting" a prenatal guidebook, it is stated that Aspartame is suspected of causing brain damage in sensitive individuals such as a fetus. Some researchers have suggested that high doses of aspartame may be associated with problems ranging from dizziness and subtle brain changes to mental retardation.

Brain Cancer: In a two-year study conducted by the manufacturer of Aspartame, 12 of 320 rats fed a normal diet and Aspartame developed brain tumors while none of the controlled rats developed tumors, and five of the 12 tumors were in rats given a low dose of aspartame.

In 1981, an FDA statistician stated that the brain tumor data on Aspartame was so "worrisome" that he could not recommend approval of NutraSweet.

Diabetes: Diabetic Associations such as The American Diabetes Association (ADA) actually recommend this chemical poison to persons with diabetes, but according to research conducted by a US diabetes specialist, Aspartame leads to the precipitation of clinical diabetes, causes poorer diabetic control in diabetics on insulin or oral drugs, leads to the aggravation of diabetic complications such as retinopathy, cataracts, neuropathy and causes convulsions.

Emotional Disorders: In a double blind study of the effects of Aspartame on persons with mood disorders (i.e. depression, bipolar disorder), findings showed a large increase in serious symptoms for persons taking aspartame. Since some of the symptoms were so serious, the Institutional Review Board had to stop the study. Researchers concluded that "individuals with mood disorders are particularly sensitive to this artificial sweetener and its use in this population should be discouraged."

Additionally, there are numerous reported cases of low brain Serotonin levels, depression and other emotional disorders that have been linked to Aspartame and often are relieved by stopping the intake of Aspartame.

Aspartame can be found in the following products and should be avoided — instant breakfasts, breath mints, cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, cocoa mixes, coffee beverages, frozen desserts, gelatin desserts, juice beverages, laxatives, multivitamins, milk drinks, pharmaceuticals and supplements, including over-the-counter medicines, shake mixes, soft drinks, tabletop sweeteners, tea beverages, instant teas and coffees, topping mixes, wine coolers and yogurt.

For the diabetic and those seeking to decrease their sugar intake, a natural and safe alternative would be the use of Stevia — a powdered leaf safely used for hundreds of years as an alternative sweetener in countries such as Japan.

Stevia and stevia-sweetened products can be purchased at your local health food store.

Dr. Shantell Jovin LAcp., ND

Naturopathic Physician and Licensed Acupuncturist

n This informative column is intended to educate the community about important issues regarding their health, and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a primary physician. For more information or for a physical referral please call the Oncology Consultants at 325-6284 or 322-5845.