Brain drain
. You've probably heard the adage "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" as many times as I have over the years. In fact, there have been plenty of days where I've used it as my personal mantra. But all morale-boosting aside, there are some instances where it isn't true. Take aspartame, for example. For years, the food industry and mainstream health "experts" have clung to the idea that this artificial sweetener is safe for human consumption because, they claim, there is no concrete proof that it's toxic. Of course, you and I both know that simply isn't true. But even if it was, the argument doesn't hold much water: Just because something may not be poisonous doesn't make it safe -- after all, I buy non-toxic carpet cleaner, but I don't think it would be a good idea to put it on ice and drink it with a twist of lemon. But it looks like some new research has shot even more holes in the mainstream's already-flimsy case for aspartame. A recent review published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that while aspartame may not kill you, it certainly won't make you stronger. In fact, it may have a significant weakening impact on your brain, setting you up for problems ranging from mental and emotional disturbances to learning disabilities. According to this recent analysis, despite what earlier studies and reviews have claimed, aspartame does appear to cause both direct and indirect changes in brain chemistry. The researchers found that, among other negative effects, aspartame can disturb the brain's ability to metabolize amino acids and proteins, damage the integrity of nucleic acids, and interfere with the functioning of neurons. Based on all of the data they examined, the research team concluded that "excessive aspartame ingestion might be involved in the pathogenesis of certain mental disorders, and also in compromised learning and emotional functioning." Sacrificing your mental and emotional function to save calories is hardly a worthwhile trade-off. Save yourself the risk -- and the calories -- by sticking to natural sweeteners like stevia or lo han, which are both available in natural food stores. Source:
"Review raises questions over aspartame and brain health," FoodNavigator (www.foodnavigator.com), 4/3/08 | 
