Top Foods to Avoid: Aspartame

Aspartame (the full name is aspartylphenylalanine) is a synthetic sweeter that is marketed as a low calorie product and is often used ostensibly in conjunction with diabetes management and weight loss. The controversial sugar substitute is sold as NutriSweet, Equal and Aminosweet and is an ingredient in thousands of food and beverage products worldwide.

Aspartame contains only 4 calories per gram and is 180 to 200 times sweeter than sucrose (common table sugar). The artificial sweetener is highly touted by big food as ‘safe for human consumption’ and is commonly found in foods and drinks like diet sodas, chewing gum, …read more