NutraSweet is a popular non-nutritive sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar. NutraSweet, the sugar substitute, combines 2 natural amino acids found in proteins such as milk, fish, chicken and meat. The 2 components of NutraSweet are phenylalanine and aspartic acid. The combination product is also referred to as aspartame.

NutraSweet is present in at least 6000 consumer foods and beverages. These range from diet soda and instant breakfast foods to breath mints, cereals, yogurt, chewable vitamin supplements and even pharmaceutical products.

Once used by itself, NutraSweet tends to be combined with other non-nutritive sweeteners to provide a more natural taste. The product was first manufactured in 1965and granted FDA marketing approval beginning in 1981. NutraSweet in acid conditions such as those found in soda has a half life of around 300 days. At a more neutral pH it lasts only a few days.

Some consumer organizations vilify NutraSweet as a potential cause of a long list of medical disorders. These include multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, seizures, cancer, headache, memory loss and anxiety.

More than 100 governmental investigations throughout the world fail to confirm these concerns. In fact full risk assessment by the European Food Safety Authority and others finds NutraSweet safe for infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, adolescents, diabetics and the obese. No chemical appears to have been studied more thoroughly than NutraSweet.

It seems important to remember the total amount of phenylalanine and aspartic acid associated with the highest levels of NutraSweet intake averages only about 1-2% of the aspartic acid and phenylalanine consumed in the average diet. As an essential amino acid, phenylalanine is required for normal growth and maintenance of life.

Unfortunately most people consuming NutraSweet fail to lose weight. Although compared to sugar sweetened beverages, those with the greatest amount of abdominal obesity will lose some weight with NutraSweet.