By Kathleen McCoy, BS
1. Aspartame E951
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved aspartame decades ago. It’s currently used in thousands of consumer foods and drinks, along with prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. It hides in places we don’t expect!
Because aspartame isn’t heat-stable, it’s typically found in drinks and foods that haven’t been heated.
According to an animal study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, “A re-evaluation of the current position of the international regulatory agencies must be considered an urgent matter of public health.” This recommendation is due to the study’s findings that aspartame has carcinogenic effects.
Animal research has also found that aspartame may impair memory performance and increase oxidative stress in the brain.
In addition, if you are pregnant or nursing, avoid this dangerous artificial sweetener at all costs. A 2014 study points to alarming news for women who consume artificial sweeteners during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It appears that aspartame, in particular, can predispose babies to metabolic syndrome disorders and obesity later in life.
Common side effects of aspartame include headaches, migraines, mood disorders, dizziness and episodes of mania.
2. Sucralose E55
Sucralose, derived from sugar, was originally introduced as a natural sugar substitute. However, in reality, it’s a chlorinated sucrose derivative.
Sucralose was originally found through the development of a new insecticide compound and wasn’t originally intended to be consumed.
At 600 times sweeter than sugar, it’s easy to see how the use of sucralose can contribute to an addiction for overly sweet foods and drinks.
A study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health found that cooking with sucralose at high temperatures can generate dangerous chloropropanols — a toxic class of compounds. Human and rodent studies demonstrate that sucralose may alter glucose, insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 levels.
Last but not least, it isn’t biologically inert, meaning that it can be metabolized and have a toxic effect on the body.
3. Acesulfame K E950
Composed of a potassium salt that contains methylene chloride, acesulfame K is routinely found in sugar-free chewing gum, alcoholic beverages, candies and even sweetened yogurts. It’s often used in combination with aspartame and other noncaloric sweeteners.
ACE K has undergone the least amount of scientific scrutiny even though long-term exposure to methylene chloride, a main chemical component, has been shown to cause nausea, mood problems, possibly some types of cancer, impaired liver and kidney function, problems with eyesight, and more.
In addition to sweetening foods, it’s becoming increasingly popular as a “flavor enhancer.” ACE K is heat-stable and routinely found in highly processed foods and baked goods. The human body can’t break it down, and it’s believed to negatively affect the metabolism.
4. Saccharin E954
In the 1970s, saccharin and other sulfa-based sweeteners were believed to possibly cause bladder cancer, and it was required to carry the following warning label: “Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.”
The FDA removed this warning, but many studies continue to link saccharin to serious health conditions. Sadly, it’s the primary sweetener for children’s medications, including chewable aspirin, cough syrup, and other over-the-counter and prescription medications. It’s believed that saccharin contributes to photosensitivity, nausea, digestive upset, tachycardia and some types of cancer.
5. Xylitol (Erythritol, Maltitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol and other Sugar Alcohols that end in –itol)
Sugar alcohols like xylitol aren’t absorbed well by the body and cause an allergic reaction for those who have a sensitivity to them. In addition, they have gastrointestinal side effects that include bloating, gas, cramping and diarrhea.
Xylitol in particular is linked to issues such as: