GETTING THE GOODS ON THE GOODIES


By Dr. Tara Macart



Posted: 30 August 2007


With Diabetes on the rise and obesity at an all time high, artificial sweeteners have a market of billions.

Consumers assume if a chemical is widely available in food products, then it must be safe to eat. We rely on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada to protect us from consumables that could be hazardous to our health ­ But, how deep do they dig?

Dr. Russell Blayloch M.D. and Dr. Hymen Roberts M.D. say that aspartame is a neurotoxin and can lead to symptoms that mimic multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer's disease. Aspartame is made up of three ingredients: 50 per cent phenylalanine, 40 per cent aspartic acid, and 10 per cent methyl alcohol (a poison known as wood alcohol). When aspartame is metabolized, it breaks down into formaldehyde (another toxic chemical). Not only does aspartame break down into toxic byproducts in the body, but this also happens just sitting on a shelf. This process is accelerated by heat and motion.

Aspartame entered the food industry in 1981. Coincidentally, there has been an increase in the incidence of human brain tumors. A link is possible, though difficult to prove. The Ramazzini Foundation published a study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, which found a statistically significant increase in lymphomas and leukemia in rats when subjected to food supply laced with aspartame. Another study in January of this year shows aspartame to alter animal genes. This supports the suggestion that aspartame is carcinogenic. As a result, the Consumer Science Protection Institute warns people against consuming artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame potassium and saccharin. So far they say sucralose (Splenda) is safe, but I seriously wonder.

Sucralose, on the other hand, is the most popular artificial sweetener going. Using the slogan, "tastes like sugar because it's made from sugar," puts people at ease thinking it is familiar to the body. Little do they know that sucralose resembles DDT more than it does sugar, since it is made by chlorinating a sucrose molecule.

How safe is Sucralose? Nobody really knows. Only six human trials have been done on sucralose ­ only two of which were presented to the FDA before their approval. In those two trials, 36 people were studied, 23 of them actually consumed the test substance, and the longest trial lasted three months focusing on tooth decay. The word 'thorough' does not come to mind.

Because Splenda is considered a food additive, not a drug, the testing standards are far less than they were for Vioxx, for example.

As for long term studies, there are none.

As far as I am concerned, the public at large (including children and pregnant women) has volunteered to be test subjects on the long term use of sucralose. In the meantime, the companies that sell Splenda make billions. Personally, I think sugar is better. It is natural and it has been studied for years. We recognize it, metabolize it and eliminate it.

Moderation is the key, however. Excess of anything can be hazardous. So, eat sugar responsibly.


Dr. Tara Macart owns and operates Opti-Balance naturopathic medical clinic in Qualicum Beach, alongside her husband Jonathan.