Aspartame and acesulfame-K are popular artificial sweeteners. They are found in various food and drink products, including yoghurt, soft drinks and sugar-free chewing gum. Many people believe that these products are a healthier alternative to sugar, but more and more new studies link them to an increased risk of cancer.
What are acesulfame-K and aspartame?
aspartame is a very common artificial sweetener that consists of two amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid.
Acesulfame-K is another artificial sweetener that is often used together with aspartame. It is around 200 times sweeter than sugar, making it a popular choice for those looking to cut back on sugar intake, but also popular with manufacturers because it is cheap.
The dangers of Aspartame and Acesulfame-K
A study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego found that rats fed high doses of either aspartame or acesulfame-K developed more tumors than those not exposed to the sweeteners.
While this study was conducted on rats, the researchers believe that the results may also apply to humans. They advise people to limit their consumption of food and drinks containing these artificial sweeteners.
Aspartame, is associated with several health problems, such as headaches, weight gain and depression.
In 2016, another study found that aspartame could increase the risk of breast cancer. Although further research is needed to confirm these findings.
If you are concerned about your cancer risk, talk to your doctor. They can help you make healthy choices to reduce your risk.
How does aspartame cause cancer?
Recent studies have shown that aspartame can cause cancer. In our body, proteins are metabolized in the digestive process and then metabolized into amino acids. Aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine and aspartic acid during digestion.
- Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid, which means our body needs it to function properly.
- Too much phenylalanine can be toxic.
- High levels of phenylalanine have been linked to schizophrenia and other mental disorders.
- Aspartic acid is a non-essential amino acid, meaning that our bodies can produce it themselves.
- However, too much aspartic acid can be harmful.
- In large doses, aspartic acid can damage the nervous system.
The carcinogenic properties of aspartame are due to the presence of 13C in the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid.
So how do these chemicals cause cancer? The answer is not entirely clear. They can damage DNA or disrupt cell signaling.
Reports: Evidence of stable isotope 13C causing all cancers,by Reginald B. Little. Department of Natural Sciences, Stillman College the author concludes that this is evidence that stable unusual, nonprimordial isotopes (2D, 13 C, 15 N, 17 O, 25 Mg 33 S) cause cancer and 13 C directly causes cancer.
How does acesulfame-K cause cancer?
Acesulfame-K contains the chemical methylene chloride, which is a known carcinogen. It is used as an industrial solvent and has been linked to human cancer.
The precursors of acesulfame-K have structures similar to peptides and oligonucleotides. Degradation of oligonucleotides, which can lead to cancer, can be triggered by interactions between acesulfame-K and other compounds.
Human and bacterial cells are both sensitive to acesulfame-K's disruptive effects.
Unlike aspartame, which slows down bacterial E. Coli reproduction, experimental findings show that acesulfame-K has the opposite effect on the colony of E. Coli. In addition enriches E. coli amino acids with stable isotopes of C-13, N-15 and O-17.
Soft drinks acesulfame-K and aspartame can increase the growth rate of cancer-causing E. Coli in the digestive tract.
When a regular soft drink containing acesulfame-K and aspartame is combined with carbonates (which contain large amounts of C-13 and O-17 under pressure), the number of E. Coli in the digestive tract increases and acts as a fermentation reactor for E. Coli to produce the amino acids (which are isotopically enriched), for example, phenylalanine, leucine, glycine, lysine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid.
Are there any safe artificial sweeteners?
The short answer is no. There is no such thing as a safe artificial sweetener. All of the artificial sweeteners currently on the market have been linked to health problems in one way or another.
If you're looking for a safe alternative to sugar, your best bet is to avoid all artificial sweeteners and stick to natural alternatives.
How to avoid Aspartame and Acesulfame-K?
If you want to avoid aspartame and acesulfame-K, you can do a few things.
- Check food labels for these ingredients and try to eat naturally sweetened foods.
- You can also look for products certified by diabetes organizations or the World Health Organization (WHO).
- As always, talk to your doctor or a dietitian if you have questions or concerns about aspartame and acesulfame-K. Should these recommend artificial sweeteners, perhaps it is best to get a "second opinion"?
Sources
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