I have seen this thread in the past and it may have been on the Weight Watchers Newbie Board, but I think that Aspartame (Nutrasweet) is bad for you. I used to use it a lot and never felt right. I stopped cold turkey two years ago and have not had the stomach cramps or muscle pains that I used to have.
I have heard from others that it causes migraines, diarrhea, and muscle problems.

The big issue is that most sugar-free, lo-cal food items contain the dreaded Nutrasweet. Some of you may not even realize it's there, but check your labels. It's in almost everything! For example, I used to love drinking Crystal Lite, especially the flavored teas--yep, Nutrasweet.

I found one diet soda that doesn't have it--Diet Rite. It tastes pretty good. So many other items recommended on these weight loss boards contain Nutrasweet. I wish food manufacturers would wake up and use something else. I have heard that Splenda is in a few lo-cal foods. That's a step in the right direction.

What do you think? Have you had a bad experience with Aspartame (Nutrasweet)?

Some people have a 'reation' to it because of another condition they have. For the most part I think it is safe. Remember when saccarine came out they thought it was safe then said no it wasn't but the study was bogus now it is back and safe to use. I also think moderation is the key in all aspects.

I must be one of those people.

Kelly--you've lost over 60 pounds!!?? That is fantastic. Did you do it all on Weight Watchers?

here is always so much controversy about this sweetener,which to me
is lethal and I would never use,so I want to write out what is written
in the book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing,by Dr. James Bacl
M.D. and his wife nutritionist Phyllis Balch,and personally I trust
nutritionists more than I do a doctor,so here it is.

Aspartame consists of three components:the amino acids phenylalanine
and aspartic acid,and methanol,which is also known as methyl alcohol
or wood alcohol.although it has been claimed that the amino acids in
aspartame are metabolized in the same way that their natural
counterparts,found in foods,are metabolized,research suggests
otherwise.Consumption of aspartame in sodas for instance appears to
cause a flooding of the amino acids in the bloodstream-a prompt rise
that does not occur after the ingestion of dietary protein.This
rise,it is believed,may cause problems.No one disputes that aspartame
should be avoided by people with phenylketonuria(PKU).People with PKU
lack the enzyme needed to convert phenylalanine into tyrosine,another
amino acid.As a result,high concentrations of phenylaline accumulate
and can cause brain damage.It should be noted that a number of people
who have disorders other than PKU-people with iron deficiences and
kidney disease for instance may also be prone to high levels of this
amino acid.for such people the consumption of aspartame may increase
the risk of toxicity.Methanol the third ingredient in aspartame is
known to be poisonous even when consumed in relatively modest
amounts.Disorders caused by toxic levels of methanol include
blindness,brain swelling,and inflamation of the pancreas and heart
muscle.Although the FDA states that exposure to methanol through
aspartame consumption is not of sufficient quantity to be of
toxicological concern the cumulative effects of high doses of
aspartame are unknown.Regardless of any claims of the FDA a significan
number of people have reported suffering ill effects as a result of
aspartame consumption.Reported reactions include headaches,mood
disorders,memory loss,and confusion and even convulsions.Aspartame
appears to be especially dangerous for children.Needless to say,if you
have experienced a reaction to aspartame,you should refrain from using
foods that contain this additive.Better yet,avoid all additives,and
enjoy a diet rich in fruits and fresh squeezed juices.These foods are
naturally sweet,free of artificial coloring and preservatives,and full
of nutrients needed for good health.

Well, For me I won't be using it,and especially giving it to kids,in
my opinion you might as well drink some poison,it would be the same as
having nutrasweet.So there it is.You can all decide for yourselves if
you want to have it or not.Better sweetners are out there and one is
Stevia a natural herbal sweetener.

I'm one of those people who can't use aspertame. I get awful migrains. It took me a while to find out their cause but when I did and eliminated it from my diet "voila" no more migrains. Just a regular head ache once in a great while. I know I won't be eating it any time soon..... Sis

Wind,

Thanks for the medical information. I didn't know all of that, but I know that once I stopped using aspartame, I felt better.

Sis, I'm glad you discovered the problem was aspartame. I wonder how many folks are out there with migraines and don't know the cause?

The problem is that so many items have Nutrasweet (Aspartame).

Domina,

I'm a "recovering" aspartame user.

I used to drink several diet pepsis a day, eat sugar-free yoplait, sugar-free jello, etc. nearly every day, and they all had aspartame in them.

I quit "cold turkey" two years ago after reading some of the information surrounding its approval by the FDA, and the headaches I always attributed to allergies vanished.

FYI...the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has aspartame on their list of Food Additives to Avoid (http://www.cspinet.org/reports/food.htm)

There is a huge controversy over Aspartame, Olestra, etc. Bottom line: people have to research for themselves and make a personal decision about what they put into their bodies.

Sucralose (Splenda) is a good alternative to aspartame, and more and more products are starting to use it.

Jo
192/167/135

I'm also glad you found out what was causing your headaches. I had general body aches. I remember when I went "cold turkey" my body reacted by having intense body aches and then they disappeared (withdrawal?)

What I get so mad about is that so many products have aspartame and it's difficult to find the ones that don't. Wake up, food manufacturers!!

I did find Diet Rite Cola which has no aspartame.