Phenylalanine
If your a health freak, you've probably seen it on half of the labels of food that "seems" to be a good pick. It's the base of aspartame which is the sugar substitute called NutraSweet. When ingested on a regular basis it's been known to cause migraine headaches, cancer, ADHD, ADD, and miscarriages. However, phenylalanine is an amino acid that has been processed by man into another form. In its natural form it can be found in almost all meats, dairy, eggs, nuts, beans, and other foods high in protein. Although it is is only labeled as dangerous for phenylketonurics to ingest phenylalanine, it can also be dangerous for those without PKU.
People with PKU suffer from an enzyme deficiency. This enzyme is what is used in people without PKU to metabolize a specific amino acid called phenylalanine, which is the chemical in aspartame. Regardless if you have an immediate reaction, the long-term effects could sneak of on you.
How to avoid it
- Choose "lower sugar" over sugar free products
- Check your labels
- Ditch Diet Soda
- Swap Stevia packets for artificial sweeteners, if you're worried about calories
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