007 People who use the artificial sweetener aspartame are be

[gaurav_techie]

“People who use the artificial sweetener aspartame are better off consuming sugar, since aspartame can actually contribute to weight gain rather than weight loss. For example, high levels of aspartame have been shown to trigger a craving for food by depleting the brain of a chemical that registers satiety, or the sense of being full. Furthermore, studies suggest that sugars, if consumed after at least 45 minutes of continuous exercise, actually enhance the body’s ability to burn fat. Consequently, those

who drink aspartame-sweetened juices after exercise will also lose this calorie-burning benefit. Thus it appears that people consuming aspartame rather than sugar are unlikely to achieve their dietary goals.”

 

The statement claims that use of aspartame is harmful to health. We are told that aspartame contributes to weight gain by means of depleting the brain of the chemical that registers satiety. The statement also claims that aspartame sweetened juices consumed after exercise prevents one from losing weight as opposed to consuming sugars under the same conditions. Let us view the given information from different perspectives.

 

 

Firstly, the statement suggests that the information presented to us via the examples has been excerpted from a study. We assume this due to the usage of the words “have been shown to”. However, we have not been presented with details of the study, the sample population considered, their eating habits, their ages, and their health profiles etc. From the face value of the information presented here we are tempted to conclude that aspartame is bad for health. However, due to lack of information on the study under the headings mentioned above we cannot logically arrive at a conclusion.

 

Secondly, when aspartame is consumed, it is broken down into methanol. Methanol can be converted into formic acid that could cause neurotic dysfunctions. However, there are certain beverages such as beer that produce 60mg to 100mg of methanol. These beverages have not been known to lead to neurotic dysfunction when compared to an equal quantity of aspartame-sweetened beverage. The statement has not explained this anomaly.

 

Thirdly, the statement also makes a mention of people suffering due to high levels of aspartame consumption. In all probability, an excess of any substance will lead to abuse of the physiological system of the body. The definition of “high levels” is unclear. Therefore to categorize aspartame as a harmful substance when the levels of intake are abusive may be unfair.

 

In conclusion, due to a lack of concrete and statistical information, we are unable to arrive at a stance where we can support or refute the conclusion of the statement. The statement must provide us with further information regarding the study and how the results have been arrived at.