| Aspartame, known commercially as Nutrasweet, is an artificial sweetener that is 200 times sweeter than sugar. Aspartame consists of the amino acids phenylalanine and aspartic acid as well as methanol, or methyl alcohol or wood alcohol. Although aspartame is widely used in the food industry, research shows that consumption of the chemical in high doses can have detrimental effects on the body, triggering headaches, mood swings, changes in vision, nausea and diarrhea, sleep disorders, memory loss and confusion. |
