N'ICE: Gluten-Free and Aspartame-Free

The dangers of aspartame are often touted by experts and internet hacks alike. So how does one separate fact from fiction?

Aspartame: A Brief History

Before we can judge whether or not aspartame is truly dangerous, we must first look at its beginnings. Aspartame is the “technical” name for brands like Nutrasweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. It was approved to be used on dry goods in 1981 and for carbonated drinks in 1983 - which is why Diet Coke is chock-full of it. Originally, it was approved for dry goods in 1974, but neuroscientist Dr. John W. Olney and James Turner, consumer attorney, objected to it as well as the investigations of G.D. Searle’s research practices - this caused the Food and Drug Administration (or, FDA) to place the approval of aspartame on hold. But in 1985, Monsanto bought G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The Nutrasweet Company into separate subsidiaries.

Negative Side Effects of Aspartame Consumption

According to the FDA, aspartame makes up 75% of all adverse reactions to food additives that are reported; some of the reactions are even deadly. It sounds like an exaggeration, but it isn’t - there are 90 different reported symptoms pertaining to aspartame, and we have listed only a few:

• Muscle spasms
• Weight gain
• Rashes
• Seizures
• Slurred speech
• Joint pain
• Loss of taste
• Memory loss
• Vertigo
• Tinnitus
• Heart palpitations
• Irritability
• Tachycardia
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Vision problems
• Nausea
• Numbness
• Weight gain
• Anxiety attacks
• Breathing difficulty

Researchers and physicians also note that chronic illnesses can be triggered or worsened by aspartame, like:

• Brain tumors
• Multiple sclerosis
• Epilepsy
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Parkinson’s disease
• Alzheimer’s
• Mental retardation
• Diabetes
• Lymphoma
• Birth defects
• Fibromyalgia

There are plenty of reputable scientists, researchers, and doctors that shun aspartame, and nutritionists often advise avoidance of the sweetener, quoting unverified sources. For example, Dr. Janet Starr Hull, who has a doctorate in Nutrition, has an entire website dedicated to denouncing aspartame. She claims that aspartame safety news is a “business decision to discredit/discount the research results that aspartame DOES cause cancer, major nerve disorders, birth defects, and brain imbalances.” However, Dr. Hull also sells her own “aspartame detox kit,” as well as her own books - it seems she’s pulling a profit from aspartame fears as well.

Why It’s N’ICE To Be Gluten-and-Aspartame-Free

That’s not to say that the businesses that sell aspartame are necessarily good or evil, but it doesn’t appear to be a black-and-white issue. The good news is, with N’ICE products, you don’t have to worry about ingesting aspartame, because N’ICE lozenges are aspartame-and-gluten-free.

Gluten has been in the news lately - celebrities stay away from it to lose weight, but some people legitimately have gluten sensitivities - particularly those with celiac disease. When those with celiac disease ingest gluten, it can have a negative effect on their body; symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, brain fog, anemia, muscular disturbances, and joint or muscle pain. Some also have adverse skin reactions to gluten and develop rashes.  

Gluten and aspartame sound scary, but they can taste so good. Luckily, N’ICE has isomalt, a healthy sugar derivative, in its lozenges, so you don’t have to deal with a yucky, flat taste, when you are sick or feel a sore throat coming on. The lozenges are also safe to use for diabetics and come in a variety of flavors for a variety of people.