What I Learned in School

Aspartame is evil. Or at least not something to be consumed. Did you know Diet Soda addiction is a recognized addiction and treatment centers for kicking the addiction actually exists? But, I digress a little.

When warmed up, the two acids and one menthol that compose aspartame break down into different components. One of these components is formalin-a member of the formaldehyde family. The same formaldehyde we preserve dead people in. When the aspartame cools back off, most of the particles rebind, but not all.

Let's talk diet soda (but the same happens to anything we ingest with aspartame). Regardless of whether or not that soda had ever been warm before, it warms up when it is ingested and breaks down into some amino acids, formalin, and some other things I didn't write down in my notes. Our body is inherently thrifty and, when there is something in the blood that is "extra" it puts it into storage-even if it doesn't recognize what that something is. The formaldehyde then? The body doesn't recognize it but put it into storage anyway. Just in case.

So, where is "storage?" Lipids-fatty tissue anywhere in the body. And, get this, the cell membrane of every individual cell in our body is made up of fat, so, not only does the formalin get put into the tissue around our mid-line, but also goes into the lining of our cells.

Keep in mind that a normal fat cell should be the consistency of a marshmallow-soft and gushy.

By definition, formalin/formaldehyde PRESERVES things (think cadavers). So, now that it is in the fatty tissue, it is essential a FAT PRESERVER! It starts hardening, turning the nice gushy marshmallow into something that is more like an M&M-everywhere that it is. The greater problems arise because all the cells in your body are affected by this, not just the fat ones. And, when the lining of the cell is like the hard part of an M&M, it gets a lot harder for your cells to do their job. Yuck.

On top of all that, aspartame is wildly addictive and has many other side affects. One google search comes up with lots of information I'd almost rather not know. On the bright side, as far as artificial sweeteners go, the PURE Stevia (not mixed with other stuff) that is gaining popularity these days actually comes from a plant and the body knows what to do with it. It doesn't turn marshmallows to M&Ms.