FORZA, Continued from page 26
that through the use of dimethylbutyl, phenylalanine production is blocked. The lengthy list of negative health effects attributed to aspartame were discussed earlier, but what are the health effects of dimehtylbutyl, if any? When tested on lab rats, repeat- ed intake of higher amounts of dimethylbutyl led to an array of health issues, such as liver degeneration, hypothermia, and diar- rhea. However, when administered in lesser amounts, no signifi- ciant health effects on the rats were noted. No safety tests have been conducted on neotame, though it was approved as safe by NutraSweet, and, because of this, approved by the FDA. While this may seem unproblematic to some individuals, one has to consider that neotame has a higher level of toxicity than aspartame. Some people are concerned by neotame's potential health effects such as neurotoxic and immunotoxic damage. How to avoid neotame: avoid the artificial sweetener Sweetos and NutraSweet and products with the ingredient "neotame" or "neohexyl-aspartame."
High fructose corn syrup is in nearly everything. This may be due to the fact that the U.S. government subsidizes corn, while making cane sugar unaffordable. Food companies have a few main options: they can choose to reduce the sizes of products that they sell, they can choose to increase the prices of the prod- ucts that they sell, or they can decide to switch their ingredients from sugar to high fructose corn syrup.
High-fructose corn syrup is a corn syrup that has undergone enzymatic processing to convert some of its glucose into fruc- tose to produce a desired level of sweetness. But because of its processing, some brands of HFCS may contain mercury, a known neurotoxin. Moreover, many studies have indicated that it suppresses the sensation of being full, causing people to eat more of it. Rats fed HFCS developed fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, while those on a fructose-free diet did not. And when they were given a high-fat diet, they gained more weight than those who had been on a fructose-free diet.
Fructose is commonly thought of as "fruit sugar," but fruit also
contains glucose and fiber, sometimes a great deal of it, not to mention other nutrients. But studies indicate that fructose, processed and stripped of its co-factors, causes metabolic syn- drome in animals. The metabolic processes involved in the breakdown of fructose can lead to a buildup of uric acid, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. How do you avoid high fructose corn syrup? Well, that's a tough one to answer, seeing that it is in rougly 52,000 food items.
However, you can be sure that high fructose corn syrup is not in any "certified organic" products, although it can be part of the ingredient list on products labeled "natural." Lastly, my recommendation for a natural sweetener is Stevia, an herb that is much sweeter than sugar with no known side effects. Stevia has many helpful properties. Stevia can be used in cooking and as a tabletop sweetener. It is available from most grocery stores, in liquid form, powder and even in the convenient small packets. Since it is so powerful, one of the new Stevia cookbooks would probably be a good purchase for those who want to use it in recipes. Only a very small amount is recommended and that is all that is necessary to obtain the same amount of sweetening as sugar. Stevia has become popular in spite of the FDA. In 1997 it was reported by 60 Minutes that manufacturers of
aspartame paid off the FDA to keep Stevia from being approved. Yet aspartame is a sweetener with dangerous side effects.
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