STORY AT-A-GLANCE
Aspartame breaks down into methanol in your body, which is not safely bound like it is in fruits and vegetables. This can lead to symptoms of methanol poisoning, such as headaches, dizziness and vision problems
Unlike animals, humans lack the protective mechanism to effectively convert methanol into harmless formic acid. Instead, it’s converted into carcinogenic formaldehyde
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B) in the summer of 2023
Aspartame has been linked to various health issues beyond cancer, including metabolic disorders, neurological symptoms, mood disturbances, and exacerbated cortisol production which can adversely impact your neurobehavioral health, immune function and more
To determine whether aspartame is to blame for your health problems, eliminate all artificial sweeteners from your diet for at least two weeks, then reintroduce it at high dosage to gauge your sensitivity