# Aspartame Artificial Sweetener, how bad is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 4, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628 "2012-09-04T10:29:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/21 "2012-09-05T13:57:51Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > While I whole heartedly dismiss the claims presented by the OP on behalf of “Dr.” Hull one can allow for a reading that would suggest in this particular case that aspertame may mimic Lyme disease if it doesn’ttrigger or cause it. I’d be inclined to be so forgiving if this was the only example of a pathogenic ailment on that very long list of symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/22 "2012-09-05T17:32:10Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > In my experience, Lyme disease has started to become one of those illnesses that alternative medicine practitioners have latched onto as an unverifiable go-to diagnosis. “Started to become”? Lyme disease started to become that in the 1980s. There was a period of time back then when concern over Lyme disease was in the news all the time, and from my recollection, that’s when people first started to talk about “chronic” Lyme disease, whose symptom is just generally feeling bad, but comes with no detectable bacteria. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/23 "2012-09-06T20:38:21Z")
[Good wiki article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame_controversy). Did you know that [Michael J. Fox](http://rense.com/general24/sugarfreemichael.htm) actually suffers from “aspartame poisoning” that has been mis-diagnosed as Parkinson’s, and that [Heath Ledger](http://rense.com/general80/heath.htm) died from drinking diet soda (as an Internet wit replied “Only if he used it to wash down all those pills”). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/24 "2012-09-07T18:33:28Z")
Aspartame - Donald Rumsfeld’s [mind-blowing experiment](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZOwnzvDYQ40/TRuj7LwFp1I/AAAAAAAABeY/hGBaq72rD1k/s1600/Rummy+Fiesta+ASPARTAME+RedactedNews+500.jpg) gone wrong. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/25 "2012-09-08T01:26:39Z")
I blame the likes of Dr. Joseph Mercola. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/26 "2012-09-08T02:04:58Z")
> [@Michael63129](#): > > There is some truth to this; while not related to aspartame itself, people who drink diet sodas are known to [gain more weight](http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/01/news/la-heb-diet-soda-weight-gain-20110701) because they think they can eat more and end up eating more calories overall … Thank goodness I’m not one of them, not being an idiot and all. 😉 I just prefer the lighter taste of aspartame over sugar and, especially, corn syrup, and realize I eat too much crap as it is without MORE empty calories. But I have lost some water weight lately. She thinks it’s because of the aspartame, but I think it’s because I drink nothing between early morning and early evening because taking pee breaks at work is a pain, but the water my body needs has to come from somewhere so it gets it from me (I got me the bloat) for now. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/27 "2013-01-12T19:15:35Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I blame the likes of Dr. Joseph Mercola. Absolutely. I would like to beat that man senseless. One recent study is making the rounds now, and being described as proof of the link between aspartame and cancer. I looked at the actual study, and here’s what it said: Conclusion: Although our findings preserve the possibility of a detrimental effect of a constituent of diet soda, such as aspartame, on select cancers, the inconsistent sex effects and occurrence of an apparent cancer risk in individuals who consume regular soda do not permit the ruling out of chance as an explanation. Could it be any more mealymouthed? No wonder idiots eat this stuff up. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/28 "2013-01-12T20:06:58Z")
I’m not sure how much good it will do, but > [@](#): > > Acute, subacute and chronic toxicity studies with aspartame, and its decomposition products, conducted in mice, rats, hamsters and dogs have consistently found no adverse effect of aspartame with doses up to at least 4000 mg/kg bw/day. Critical review of all carcinogenicity studies conducted on aspartame found no credible evidence that aspartame is carcinogenic. The data from the extensive investigations into the possibility of neurotoxic effects of aspartame, in general, do not support the hypothesis that aspartame in the human diet will affect nervous system function, learning or behavior. Epidemiological studies on aspartame include several case-control studies and one well-conducted prospective epidemiological study with a large cohort, in which the consumption of aspartame was measured. The studies provide no evidence to support an association between aspartame and cancer in any tissue. The weight of existing evidence is that aspartame is safe at current levels of consumption as a nonnutritive sweetener. [Cite](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17828671&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/29 "2013-01-12T20:22:32Z")
You’re one of THEM!!! Seriously, though – my grandfather actually did have lyme disease once. (He was bitten by a deer tick while working in his garden) If you had it, you’d know it. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/30 "2013-01-13T05:36:48Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’m not sure how much good it will do, but > > [Cite](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=17828671&ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum). > > Regards, > Shodan So? Even if it’s supposedly safe in mice, rats, hamsters and dogs, where are the safety studies in gophers, prairie dogs, badgers and giraffes? Did [Donald](http://rense.com/general67/rum.htm) [Rumsfeld](http://www.whale.to/a/rumsfeld_h.html) and his cronies suppress them which is why we’ve never heard the results? How about when you drop a chunk of meat in a glass of Diet Coke and it’s dissolved by morning? Just asking questions. 😕:(:mad::smack: ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/31 "2013-01-13T05:57:15Z")
Nobody has brought up the fact that Aspartame is only ONE MOLECULE away from plastic. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/32 "2013-01-13T06:00:04Z")
We also need to look into banning dihydrogen monoxide. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/33 "2013-01-13T07:35:38Z")
It is really, really bad… Tasting, serious my god how does anyone chock that chemical tasting crap down! ---
**Author:** ![St.Barthgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@St.Barthgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Barthgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/34 "2013-01-13T07:47:13Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > We also need to look into banning dihydrogen monoxide. It’s seriously one of the most egregious pollutants ever foisted upon unsuspecting Americans… BUT REALLY: no go for the Aspartame. Really. Truly. Not Kidding. For Once. Sure, different genes mean different people… but it’s not worth testing . it’s Poison… i’m not a hippie freak. PLENTY of stuff, as you’ve heard, on the interweb. Avail yourself of it, please..if you care AT ALL about yourself or the people you might influence. ---
**Author:** ![colander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@colander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colander)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/35 "2013-01-13T08:09:47Z")
> [@St.Barthgirl](#): > > It’s seriously one of the most egregious pollutants ever foisted upon unsuspecting Americans… > > BUT REALLY: no go for the Aspartame. Really. Truly. Not Kidding. For Once. > > Sure, different genes mean different people… but it’s not worth testing . it’s Poison… > > i’m not a hippie freak. PLENTY of stuff, as you’ve heard, on the interweb. Avail yourself of it, please..if you care AT ALL about yourself or the people you might influence. Well, that’s us told. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/36 "2013-01-13T13:53:32Z")
Don’t care about myself and have no influence over others, so break out the Faygo Diet Chocolate Soda! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/37 "2013-01-13T14:21:33Z")
> [@St.Barthgirl](#): > > It’s seriously one of the most egregious pollutants ever foisted upon unsuspecting Americans… > > BUT REALLY: no go for the Aspartame. Really. Truly. Not Kidding. For Once. > > Sure, different genes mean different people… but it’s not worth testing . it’s Poison… > > i’m not a hippie freak. PLENTY of stuff, as you’ve heard, on the interweb. Avail yourself of it, please..if you care AT ALL about yourself or the people you might influence. You eat the components of Aspartame every day. It’s amino acids, nothing more. Let’s see your cites. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/38 "2013-01-13T14:23:55Z")
> [@St.Barthgirl](#): > > It’s seriously one of the most egregious pollutants ever foisted upon unsuspecting Americans… > > BUT REALLY: no go for the Aspartame. Really. Truly. Not Kidding. For Once. > > Sure, different genes mean different people… but it’s not worth testing . it’s Poison… > > i’m not a hippie freak. PLENTY of stuff, as you’ve heard, on the interweb. Avail yourself of it, please..if you care AT ALL about yourself or the people you might influence. I know, right? That and vaccines…all sorts of information out there! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/39 "2013-01-13T14:45:06Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > In my experience, Lyme disease has started to become one of those illnesses that alternative medicine practitioners have latched onto as an unverifiable go-to diagnosis. A hypochondriac acquaintance of mine has had self-diagnosed “end-stage Lyme disease” for half a decade now (having switched form “multiple chemical sensitivity” and “chronic fatigue” before). No need to do any actual testing – she knows what she has, so why put her body through the stress just to confirm what she already knows? 😉 WTF is “end stage Lyme disease”? I know what secondary lyme is, mrAru has had it twice already - but in his defense he got lyme from being outside dealing with stuff on the farm and the navy hospital not diagnosing and treating it properly. [I think he has had lyme 4 times now in 20 years] Believe me, if you have secondary Lyme, you know it. It is _not_ pleasant at all. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628/40 "2013-01-13T16:11:59Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The things that flag it as bullshit for me (at least as presented in that link) are the ‘detox’ program: > > -Which comprises an assortment of quackery (detoxify, raw foods) and banal stuff that _everyone should be doing anyway, regardless_ (Exercise, 'be happy with yourself). Also, if I wanted to convince people that something mundane was secretly making them sick though actual evidence for this was rather thin, I’d make a point of telling them to “begin recording any health changes.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspartame-artificial-sweetener-how-bad-is-it/633628.md?page=3)