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Created with Fabric.js 1.4.5 ASPARTAME - Equal and Nutrasweet A very sweet substance used as an artificial sweetener, chiefly in low calorie products. It is a derivative of Aspartic Acid and Phenylalanine. Exposure: Intake is generally overlooked as calorie counting has become a priority over one's health. The chart shows multiple resources for people to intake Aspartame. The makeup contains naturally occurring methanol bonded to pectin which allows the methanol to be passed through the digestive system. The Phenylalanine methyl bond is known as a Methyl Ester. This ester is very weak allowing the methyl to break off forming methanol which is very dangerous to the body. Makeup: Effects Decreased Vision: Phenylalanine and methyl esters are consumed in aspartame. Under acidic or alkaline conditions these are broken down and exposed to heat. The methanol is toxic to the retina, causes swelling to the optic nerve and degeneration of ganglion cells. Convulsions: The amino acids are not broken down completely by the reaction with endo or exo proteases during the digestive process. They by- pass the blood to brain barrier enabling them to directly alter neurological function. Phenylalanine in it's solid form is not digested, the excess lowers one's seizure threshold. Mood Changes: The excess of Phenylalanine that aspartame provides your body changes your brain's physiology. To cross the blood to brain barrier, phenylalanine shares the same transport mechanism as tryptophan. This is an amino acid essential in making serotonin, a neurotransmitter needed to regulate mood. When phenylalanine is consumed in large amounts, it reduces the amount of serotonin being produced. Weight Gain: Aspartame use causes individuals to consume more food. When carbohydrates are consumed, due to insulin secretion, serotonin levels rise in the brain, triggering the "full" sensation. When aspartame is consumed, the transportation for serotonin is blocked, leaving people never feeling "full". PKU syndrome is a genetic disorder in which the body is unable to break down,in order to digest, the amino acid called phenylalanine (Phe). People with PKU syndrome are missing an enzyme called phenylalanine hydroxylase which is needed to help digest Phe. Since Phe is found in foods containing protein you must be placed on a specific diet that eliminates high protein foods, such as, meat and milk products. The diet will consist of a synthetic formula which is used as a nutritional substitute.If your Phe levels get too high, it can damage the brain and cause severe intellectual disability. Therefore, if you have PKU syndrome you need to keep your blood Phe levels in the range of 2-6 mg/dl. Since Phe is part of the makeup of aspartame, as shown above, aspartame is very dangerous to people with PKU syndrome. Phenylketonuria (PKU) Syndrome The diagram below shows how a healthy person metabolizes Phe compared to a person with PKU syndrome. In a healthy person, the leftover Phe is converted into tyrosine by phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). Tyrosine is a hydrophilic amino acid and is important in the synthesis of some hormones. A person with PKU lacks the PAH and therefore, are unable to convert the leftover Phe into tyrosine. Resources:www.mercola.com/aticle/aspertame/weight-gain-myth.htmwww.mercola.com/article/aspartame/hiddem_dangers.htmlwww.sweetpoisom.com/aspartame-side-effects.html Healthy Vs. PKU http://aspartame.mercola.comhttp://m.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/aspartamehttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/phenylketonuria.html http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001166.htmhttp://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/phenylalanine/faq-20058361https://www.food.gov.uk/science/additives/aspartame#toc-5
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