The Sweet Dirty Truth: Stevia vs. Aspartame

The Sweet & Dirty Truth Stevia vs. Aspartame In the past 13 years, the number of Americans consuming products containing sugar-free sweeteners has grown from 70 million to an astounding 160 million. And this number continues to rise. Stevia and Aspartame are two of the most widely discussed substitutes, but for very different reasons... Stevia Aspartame The Substitute Grown in a Field The Substitute Born in a Lab Origin: Stevia rebaudiana is from the Origin: Chrysanthemum family, a native to South America where it's been used as a sweeten- In 1965, James Schlatter, a chemist working on a drug for ulcers, accidently discovered Aspartame in his laboratory. er and medicinally for hundreds of years. Introduced in Japan in the 1970s, it now accounts for 40% of the Laboratory testing and further research occurred country's sweetener consumption. over the next decade. In 2008, the steviol glycoside rebaudioside A In 1974, the FDA approved Aspartame for use in dry foods. (a component of the Stevia plant) was approved for consumption in food products and is now widely grown in America in previously unused tobacco fields. In 1982, the FDA approved Aspartame for beverages. Stevia Aspartame Sweetening Ability: Sweetening Ability: 250x-300x 180x-220x sweeter than sugar in the same dosage. sweeter than sugar in the same dosage. Benefits of Stevia: Benefits of Aspartame: Calorie Free Calorie Free Decreases Urge for Sweets No Impact on Tooth Decay Extends Longevity of Sweetness for Specific Flavors No Impact on Tooth Decay All Natural Possible Health Benefits Useable in Baking for Sufferers of Hypertension and Diabetes Concerns with Stevia: Concerns with Aspartame: 50% Mood Phenylalanine is extremely dangerous for people with the condition phenylketonuria, as they cannot metabolize the amino acid. Increased Phenylalanine levels can result in memory loss, headaches, and frequent mood swings. 40% As with any change in diet, always check with your doctor. Folks with Aspartic acid has been linked to causing headache, fatigue, and depression. It has also been shown in some studies to initiate, as well as increase the damage of, many neurological disorders. low blood pressure may need to consult with their physician before consuming Stevia. 10% Methanol is more commonly known as wood alcohol, which is universally acknowledged as a harmful poison - when processed in your body this becomes formaldehyde. Products with Stevia: Products with Aspartame: Stevia is now the 2 most popular Aspartame is found in over 6,000 products worldwide, including: alternative sweetener and the 1 natural option. It is found in products like: Food: Food: Baked goods Chewing gum Tabletop sweeteners Breath mints Chewing gum Breath mints Pudding Flavored Syrups Beverages: Beverages: Ice cream treats Yogurt Yogurt Jams Diet soft drinks Diet soft drinks Iced tea Iced tea Julce beverages Juice beverages Field or Laboratory or What's the smarter choice? Sources: http://www.aspartame.org/ http://www.livescience.com/39601-stevia-facts-safety.html http://www.livestrong.com/article/45376-foods-stevia/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mercola/aspartame-health-risks_b_668692.html http://www.swankin-tumer.com/hist.html http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/food-nutrition/sugar-and-substitutes/sugar-substitutes-what-you-need-to-know.html http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/12/04/saccharin-aspartame-dangers.aspx http://sweetgreenfields.com/the-natural-solution/