Aspartame / Nutrasweet Detoxification

Back to the Aspartame (NutraSweet) Toxicity Information Center

Aspartame can be found on the ingredients list in the following products:

Soft drinks, over-the-counter drugs & prescription drugs (very common and listed under "inactive ingredients"), vitamin & herb supplements, yogurt, instant breakfasts, candy, breath mints, cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, cocoa mixes, coffee beverages, instant breakfasts, gelatin desserts, frozen desserts, juice beverages, laxatives, milk drinks, shake mixes, tabletop sweeteners, tea beverages, instant teas and coffees, topping mixes, wine coolers, etc. Eliminate or replace prescription drugs that contain aspartame -- the pharmacist can tell you the ingredients of drugs.

Please check labels carefully and compare it against the list of "Sweeteners to Avoid" on page 2 of the Aspartame Poisoning Fact Sheet. Many people make the mistake of not checking labels carefully and continue to poison themselves. (Note: In some countries such as Australia, the word "aspartame" may not appear on the label, but the phrase "Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine" appears instead. In Europe, aspartame may be listed on the label with an E Number of E951.) Also, some drug and supplement manufacturers are allowed to avoid listing aspartame on the label if they state the words, "contains phenylalanine". In addition, many people do not realize that their children may be given aspartame- or other artificial sweetener-containing foods or drugs at school without their knowledge. Talk to the school director and to the local PTA to assure that this does not happen.

Healthy Sweetener Use Guide

Sweeteners to Use Sweeteners to Avoid
Stevia * Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel)
Other Low Carb Sweeteners Neotame
Evaporated Cane Juice Sucralose (Splenda, Altern)
Fruit Juice Acesulfame-K (Sunette, Sweet & Safe, Sweet One)
Rice SyrupCyclamates
HoneySaccharin
Licorice Root (small amounts)Refined Sugar #
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)High Fructose Sweeteners #
Amasake...
Vegetable Glycerin...
Sugar Alcohols (xylitol, sorbitol) ^...
Maple Syrup (Without Added Sugar)...
Barley Malt...
* Safe for Diabetics# Can Be Used in Very Small Amounts
While Transitioning to Healthier Sweeteners
^ Use in Small Amounts
Avoid if you have bowel disease

Note: Many diabetics can use some amount of healthy caloric sweeteners such as evaporated cane
juice. Check with your healthcare practitioner for more information.

Other Sweeteners (Diabetic-Safe, Low-Carb)

In addition to stevia, there are other natural sweeteners that are used by diabetics and persons eating a low carbohydrate diet. Such sweeteners include:
Stevia may be the best choice for a diabetic-safe, low-carbohydrate sweetener See the Healthier Sweetener Resource List for manufacturers and retailers.

Many people find it much easier to avoid toxic sweeteners by shopping at the local, large health food store when possible. Many health food stores have banned artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame) for obvious reasons. But it is still important to check labels as some health food stores are unknowingly selling aspartame, acesulfame-k, and sucralose! Please refer to the Healthier Sweetener Resource List on the Internet at:

http://www.holisticmed.com/sweet/

for resources for proven safe sweeteners such as stevia.

There are a number of steps individuals can take to detox and recover (to the extent possible) from aspartame poisoning:

  1. Avoid all aspartame as well as all of the "Sweeteners To Avoid" listed above. Remember to check ingredients carefully.

  2. Since aspartame can be very addicting, it is not a good idea to cut out both aspartame and caffeine at the same time. Aspartame is far more toxic and should be eliminated immediately. Be aware that aspartame withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

  3. Avoid other excitotoxins in foods including MSG, monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed proteins, autolyzed yeast, yeast extract, and glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and cysteine supplements (which are often in "free-form" unlike when found in food). Many practitioners recommend taking a magnesium supplement (e.g., magnesium gluconate) to help overcome the excitotoxic damage from aspartame and MSG.

  4. Consider using one or more of the powerful health-building steps detailed in the articles on the Holistic Medicine Web Page on the Internet at:

    http://www.holisticmed.com/#docs

    This is very important for persons who want to avoid other toxic or potentially toxic products and who want to gradually increase their health and vitality. Start with printing out and reading the articles.

  5. Outlines of a few simple detoxification ideas can be found on the Internet at:

    http://www.wnho.net/wtdaspartame.htm
    and
    http://www.dorway.com/detox.txt
    and
    http://www.sweetpoison.com/

  6. Healthcare practitioners who are often knowledgeable about aspartame poisoning include: Environmental Medicine Doctors, Holistic & Alternative Medicine Physicians and many conventional physicians, Oriental Medicine Doctors, Chiropractors, and Osteopaths. The Directories of Practitioners Web Site on the Internet can help you locate such a healthcare practitioner for treatment if needed:

    http://www.holisticmed.com/www/directory.html

  7. It is very important to keep a positive outlook. Once you switch to non-poisonous sweeteners, you can be proud that you are no longer ingesting a poison that distributes formaldehyde, an excitotoxin, and DKP throughout the body. You will now be taking good care of yourself!

    It can take 60 days without aspartame (and in more severe poisoning cases longer) before symptoms begin to improve.

  8. It is normal for persons to be very angry with the board of director and managers at Monsanto, Ajinomoto, MSD Investing (Dell), Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, public relations firms, government beaurocrafts and others involved in the approval, manufacture and distribution of poisons (e.g., aspartame) to the general public and deceiving the general public in order to satisfy their greed.

    While anger is a normal and healthy initial reaction, it is important to have the goal of forgiving these individuals and companies over time. It is still possible to strongly voice an opinion against the sale of aspartame, avoid products made by companies involved, and share toxicity information with others to warn them, yet forgive the persons involved. Forgiveness will help with healing because it allows the body, mind, and spirit to relax, and thereby promotes and deeper and more perminant healing. Books that can help with this process include:


  9. Finally, please create a link on your web page or your company web page so that people can find the Aspartame (NutraSweet) Toxicity Information Center web page on the Internet:

    http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/