The discovery of aspartylphenylalanine-methyl-ester (Aspartame)

Aspartame was discovered in 1965 by an international pharmaceutical company, G.D. Searle and Company. A group working on an ulcer drug were looking for an inhibitor of the gastrointestinal secretory hormone gastrin. While creating a bioassay (potency of a substance by its effect on living cells or tissues) an intermediate chemical was synthesized, aspartylphenylalanine-methyl-ester (aspartame).

While a researcher was recrystalling aspartame from ethanol, the mixture spilled onto the outside of the flask. Some of the powder got onto his fingers. Later, when the researcher licked his fingers to pick up a piece of paper, he noticed a very strong sweet taste. He realized the sweet taste might have been the aspartame. Believing the dipeptide (peptide composed of two amino-acid residues) aspartame was not likely to be toxic. The researcher tasted a little bit and discovered its sweet taste.

The First Report: The discovery was reported in 1966 with no mention of the sweetness of aspartame. In 1969, investigators first reported the discovery of the artificial sweetener in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The researchers reported an accidental discovery of an organic compound with a profound sucrose (table sugar) like taste. Preliminary tasting showed this compound to have a potency of 100-200 times sucrose.

The End Result: Today, hundreds of millions people worldwide consume foods and soft drinks stamped with the NutraSweet, They dump packets of aspartame in their coffee, and consume artificially sweetened products such as: cereal, puddings, gelatins, cheesecake, chewing gum, diet soft drinks, children’s vitamins, chilled juices, and over 93,000 other products.

So What Is It? What is aspartame, a.k.a. NutraSweet (aspartyl phenylalanine-methyl ester). Aspartame (C14H18N2O5 ) is a compound of three components. The components are methanol, aspartic acid and phenylalanine (free form amino acids).

Yummy! Methanol! Methanol (methyl alcohol or wood alcohol) is a colorless. It is a poisonous and flammable liquid. It is used for manufacturing formaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl t-butyl ether (a gasoline additive), paint strippers, carburetor cleaners for your car’s engine, and chloromethanes. This poison substance can be inhaled from vapors, absorbed through the skin, and ingested. In aspartame, methanol poisoning and poisoning from methanol’s breakdown components (formaldehyde and formic acid) can have widespread and devastating effects.These devastating effects occurs in even small amounts. It is especially damaging when introduced with toxic free-form amino acids, called excitotoxins (a pathological process by which nerve cells are damaged and killed). Methanol is quickly absorbed through the stomach and small intestine mucosa. Methanol is converted into formaldehyde (a known carcinogen). Then the formaldehyde is converted to formic acid. These two metabolites of methanol are toxic and cumulative.

Phenylalanine Disaster: Phenylalanine is an amino acid separated from its protein chain, and use it as an “isolate” or by itself is toxic. Phenylalanine is a neurotoxin and excites the neurons in the brain to the point of cellular death.

Aspartic Acid, An Accelerant: The Aspartic acid in aspartame is also an excitotoxin. An excitotoxin is a deleterious substance which excites or over-stimulates nerve cells. This occurs in the brain, as well as the peripheral nerves. Aspartic acid in free form, is an absorption accelerant and can easily crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Excitation: This pathological excitation of nerve cells creates a breakdown of nerve function. This group of compounds cause special neurons within the nervous system to become overexcited to the point which cells will die.

Excitotoxins Connection: Excitotoxins have been shown to play a key role in degenerative nervous system diseases such as: Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and many others. Research shows, an imbalance of these excitotoxins during critical periods of brain development can result in an abnormal formation of brain pathways (mis-wiring of the brain). This can lead to serious disorders such as behavioral problems (hyperactivity, aggression, attention deficit disorders, learning disorders, poor learning ability)-and a lifetime of endocrine problems such as menstrual difficulties, infertility, and premature puberty.

Fat Animals: One of the earliest observations seen in animals exposed to large doses was gross obesity. Some neuroscienttists have voiced their concern, the explosion of childhood obesity may be related to excitotoxins in food.

Some Additional Benefits: Aspartame creates altered brain function, nerve damage, and systemic organ complications. Information collected reveals aspartame clinically exacerbates any borderline predisposing illness. Aspartame complicates certain known medical illnesses like Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, diabetes, retinopathies, allergies, mentation disorders and much, much more!

True Toxin Not True North: Aspartame is a true toxin and is unique in this hazardous respect. No other food can be provided as a comparison to the toxic nature of NutraSweet. Research has shown the manufacturer Monsanto and the FDA are manipulating the public (via the media) into thinking, aspartame is safe! It is not!

It is sad public health has taken a backseat to greed! Stay away from all artificial sweeteners if you value your health -Birdy