Neotame - A hidden additive.

The sugar versus sweetener debate gets a little more complicated of late. Not only should we be on the lookout for aspartame, saccharin and splenda added to our food and beverages, the latest additive to be hidden under the title “artificial flavor” is Neotame. A Nutrasweet (Monsanto Chemical Corp.) concoction that is between 8-13000 times sweeter than sugar – in 2005 this sweetener had sales that had increased four fold over the previous 12 months. The cost seems to be the key “Neotame is more cost effective than all other sweeteners except saccarin,” Craig Petray, NutraSweet’s CEO told FoodNavigatorUSA.com.”  At Holistic Med they surmise about Neotame being as toxic as its cousin aspartame, “Neotame has similar structure to aspartame — except that, from it’s structure, appears to be even more toxic than aspartame. This potential increase in toxicity will make up for the fact that less will be used in diet drinks. Like aspartame, some of the concerns include gradual neurotoxic and immunotoxic damage from the combination of the formaldehyde metabolite (which is toxic at extremely low doses) and the excitotoxic amino acid. Given all of the suffering being caused by Monsanto’s aspartame, the prudent course would be to start out with the assumption that it may cause toxic damage or cancer from long-term exposure and conduct many thorough, long-term, and independent human studies to see the effects.”

Many people who have used aspartame complain of its long list of negative consequences due to ingesting this additive, including chronic fatigue symptoms, weakness, dizziness, and other general and often serious side-effect. You can read a complete list at Sweet Poison. 

Aspartame is a sweetener that is so provocative there have been numerous books written about the detrimental side effects.

One has to question whether, with the controversy over aspartame, launching another additive with a similar type of property is really a good idea. Although we have to remember that this controversy is by no means limited to these two artificial ingredients, there seems to be negative connotations with most of the artificial sugar/sweeteners, a summary of which can be read here.

According to the producer of Neotame: Neotame, is an exciting new sweetener and flavor enhancer, provides manufacturers flexibility in formulating great tasting products throughout their existing food and beverage portfolios. In addition, neotame’s versatility provides for the development of entire new ranges of products that meet the ever-increasing demands of consumers.

However, The Feingold Association has this to say on the subject: More stealth additives are hidden in foods. Neotame, which is N-[N-(3,3-dimethylburyl)-L—aspartyl]-L-phenyalanine 1-methyl ester, is another additive to be hidden under the disguise of “artificial flavor.” Neotame is a newer, much more potent version of aspartame, a synthetic sweetener eliminated on the Feingold diet. It is 30 times sweeter than aspartame, and about 8,000 times sweeter than table sugar. This means that the amount needed to sweeten foods is extremely small, which allows neotame to go “under the radar” and be added to foods without having to be declared on the ingredient label. Like a growing number of additives, neotame can be an “artificial flavoring.”
There are many companies making synthetic sweeteners, and like other synthetic additives, much of it is manufactured in China. One of the companies selling neotame is NutraSweet Co., the world’s largest producer of aspartame. Last year they introduced a version of aspartame in a blue packet, to compete with Equal. Now they are bringing out a blend of neotame and another synthetic sweetener, acesulfame potassium. This product will be packaged in pink, in competition with Sweet’N Low. And plans are in the works to introduce a third product (that will contain a small amount of real sugar) to compete with Splenda. Not surprisingly, it will have a yellow package.
Reprinted from Pure Facts, the newsletter of the Feingold Association of the United States, feingold.org.

Once again, be hesitant about products listing natural flavorings, artificial coloring or additives. Chances are you are eating something that you wouldn’t if it was listed exactly as it should be. Try to be aware of what you are really eating as it may just be the cause of your migraines, your headaches, muscle aches or a host of other problems that you just can’t seem to shake.

Call Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan to discuss your ongoing healthcare concerns, especially if you are suffering from unexplained headaches, migranes, muscle aches or extreme fatigue; Often a schedule of adjustments can put your body back on a healing path.  

Make an adjustment – Stay Healthy ~ Be Happy.
Call Fontana Chiropractic at 303.674.1500 or email the office in Evergreen Colorado at office@fontanachiro.com
 

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