The truth about ASPARTAME!

Should you be avoiding aspartame?
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Hi I am Ann Reardon, Food scientist & dietitian, How to Cook That is my youtube channel, it is filled with hundreds of episodes made just for you. Join me for debunking, and crazy food science videos every second Friday. This week we are looking at aspartame. Is aspartame safe? Does aspartame cause cancer? Does aspartame kill ants? How much aspartame is ok? Should I avoid aspartame? Are artificial sweeteners bad for you?
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[@nileredscandy]

As a chemist it’s always a pet peeve when people say something is bad because it is a chemical. Honey contains sucrose, which is a chemical, yet it is always touted as a replacement for white sugar 🙄

[@ArchitGupta1411]

Isn’t everything a ‘chemical’?

[@ivanpetrov5255]

Isn't everything a chemical, technically? "Natural is good, artificial is bad" is always such an unnuanced take.

[@LemonSoulz]

Lol what a dumb comparison as white sugar also has sucrose. People not using honey to avoid chemicals.

[@Djjunior95]

@@ivanpetrov5255I wonder if those people obsessed with everything being natural breathe air, since oxygen is a chemical element, not a “Natural element”.

[@jackiecozzie4803]

some people haven't heard of bioCHEMISTRY. It's almost like we're made up entirely of chemicals or something 🙄

[@KanaHyoshi]

I am a type 1 diabetic. Any time I would drink diet soda or use artificial sweetener, the first thing out of anyone's mouth is "you know that's actually bad for you". Despite the fact that normal sugar could kill me faster.

[@elizabethprosher]

Hello fellow Type 1! I was looking for another diabetic. I don’t drink a lot of diet soda, but every so often I have one as a treat. Of course, everyone has an opinion about what you consume when you’re diabetic. 🙄

[@blueismylove3128]

Just go "so is normal sugar, but you have no problem consuming that 😒"

[@Rime_in_Retrograde]

@@blueismylove3128 From what I understand, normal sugar is objectively worse, but it seems like everyone's gotta be a backseat driver when it isn't even their car 🤷🏻‍♀

[@MiotaLee]

If aspartame causes diabetes then I'm I the clear cause I've already got it lol

[@markiangooley]

I have been type 1 since 1970. Here in the USA, cyclamate was banned less than three months after my diagnosis. I barely got to try any, and got by with saccharin until aspartame became available. I had just turned 9 years old, and my European (naturalized American) parents weren’t big on sweetened drinks or using much sugar anyway. I’ve gotten a bit of flack for drinking diet drinks and using sucralose, and maybe I shouldn’t indulge my taste for sweetness. My current doctor says that I’d probably be better off going without, but that it’s far better to drink these artificially sweetened drinks than to snack.

[@LuccaAce]

As a librarian, I appreciate the information literacy training you're doing, Ann. Thanks for helping teach people how to better understand the information overload around us

[@Ludak021]

Well, I thought I was going to learn to cook, instead, ants!

[@amethyst1826]

@Ludak021 Ann teaches cooking, too, just go back over some of her videos, or buy her book!!

[@wllm4785]

I don't know for sure but I'm gonna guess that Ann has some serious training in the sciences. I'm a medical lab scientist and her methods are always spot on.

[@stormyjlb]

As a veterinary researcher, I LOVE how you describe research methodology and how not all research is reliable evidence!

[@mxclaireharris]

Hmm but only when it suits her outcome. I've seen her use dodgy studies that have supported her position at times. I love the channel but it's not without bias.

[@lunabtxt]

Wha? Could you please give an example of when she's done that? I'm curious@@mxclaireharris

[@otiskelly3682]

The human brain is programmed to be biased there's nothing we can do about that besides try to recognize it

[@p3pito771]

@@mxclaireharrisNo one is.

[@archiemisc]

Which studies were those, exactly?@@mxclaireharris

[@Merendino666]

I know I'm not the only one who thinks it's crazy that a channel that used to be dedicated to making delicious desserts and cakes is now mostly dedicated to unraveling the nonsense we deal with on a daily basis. Love you Ann. Please don't stop making videos anytime soon!

[@lelemarie6125]

Growth 🙌🏾❤

[@BreakNiche]

Mama Reardon is a food scientist. She doesn't take this stuff lightly.

[@cloudstrife4534]

I’m glad she still does videos on delicious desserts, because those are great! But her deep dives and debunking videos are amazing!

[@thatstranger6114]

She is the voice of reason the world needs to hear. If only they would listen.

[@heatherangel9700]

@@cloudstrife4534 Yes! Honestly I really miss her baking videos and hope she doesn't stop doing them all together. Curse you, Stupid Algorithm!

[@rhymebeat1142]

I love how the "aspertame caused cancer" results could also be interpreted as "aspertame significantly increases your life span." It's why controlling for everything is important.

[@doggyspeak]

aspartame out here making rats resistant to life-threatening cancers

[@Eventide215]

Yeah that's the thing. Cancer is still widely unknown to us.. we have a decent idea of some things (like the plutonium) causing cancer but we still don't know exactly *why* cancer is caused. However, it being so deadly also makes it great for a headline. So the second any news place gets the chance to say something new about cancer they jump right on it. The issue is, like was said in the video, people take the headline and run with it even though the headline pretty much says nothing. Then there's the fact people don't pay attention to wording. Like "possibly causes cancer" and they'll drop that "possibly" bit and just say it flat out causes it then spread that misinformation around until there's widespread panic and suddenly everyone's boycotting because there's aspartame in something meanwhile it very likely isn't even a problem.

[@Miss_Distress]

@@Eventide215Living causes cancer

[@FaenumVena]

anyone whos kept rats as pets know they are predisposed to cancer thanks to lots of inbreeding, so a rat that lives longer is going to have an increased chance of having cancer. I really do wonder what these people are thinking when they do these experiments when a quick google search will tell them everything they need to know before wasting money.

[@Gauron.]

Scared and concerned assasin: WHY WONT YOU DIE?!? Me gobbling down aspartame pills like no tomorrow: You have no power here!

[@optima1774]

I was genuinely so worried for your ants, especially that bait and switch initially!! I am glad it isn’t actually toxic and your colony is okay

[@caitlinomeara377]

I worked as a pharmacy tech right around the time they did that study on rats in 2006 and my pharmacist said they fed the rats more aspartame than any human could ever consume at once based on the amount given and the rat’s weight. Or something like that, haha. In summary, the “too much of anything can be bad for you” holds true.

[@bethgramkow5225]

They did the same thing with red dye years ago.

[@tonnyengert]

In animal studies that always happen to see the toxicity of a thing. I do animal studies. In normal resaerch in human aspartame is linked to cancer in Europe. But over here the rules for food is strict and differents then in the USA. Over here a lot of what you eat is forbidden and why, because it is cancer causing

[@patrickmccurry1563]

I actually consume aspartame in quantities similar to the studies though. 6-8 liters of diet soda a day. Zero health issues after decades, so I'm always skeptical of those panicking about the horrors of the chemical.

[@brotherben4600]

@@bethgramkow5225 Are you speaking about Red Dye 40? ..Who told you it was safe? the skittle company?

[@PixelatedH2O]

@@patrickmccurry1563 Why would you possibly want to drink that much?

[@roky1337]

This is the kind of content that should become viral! Thorougly researched, deep dive, looking AT THE ACTUAL METHODOLOGY of a study, not just the title and abstract. Cudos Ann, keep it up!

[@helenllama]

And who has FUNDED the study is also important. In the Aspartame studies results drastically differ depending on who has funded them.

[@roky1337]

@@helenllama maybe, I have not seen any reviews or reporting on the claim you make. A methodologicaly sound study, with proper and transparent protocols, recruitment, and reporting is valid regardless of the source of funding. And if you closely examine the listed sections, the funder doesn't matter. If the funding makes them look at only one part of the issue that presumably does not have adverse effects, and they come to the same conclusion with proper protocols, there is nothing wrong with this study. If they fudge the numbers, p-hack, or have flaws in the methodology, then the funder doesn't matter again, as you discard the study on the basis of it being a poorely conducted study.

[@mikemondano3624]

Why not read the articles yourself?

[@LordmonkeyTRM]

Kudos*

[@roky1337]

@@mikemondano3624 I mean, people don't have time to read thousands of papers or research each specific topic. I work as an environmental researcher, and spend 40-50 hrs per week on that, but I rely on Ann and other knowledgeable and trustworthy people to research some other topics where I'm not an expert.

[@dndndndndn419]

Anne is really out here single-handedly setting the record straight on the endless misinformation cycle of TikTok. Thank you!

[@mwater_moon2865]

1. not single handedly. She wasn't the first, she'll not be the last, I am glad she does do it, but there were sites like Snopes before KZbin or Tiktok existed. The internet has always been a morass of (mis)information. 2. I'm actually kinda disappointed on this one, she misses a KEY point, though she does touch on it by pointing out the scientific method means changing one factor. See, the issue as I've heard for the last umpteen years is that aspartame in and of itself isn't bad, but HOW it reacts and WHAT it turns into in vivo is the issue. Namelly, over 30C/86F it starts to change into formaldehyde, which IS a known carcinogen. So while in a scientific setting you can control for just one factor, that's not LIFE and the cancer finding was based on observed outcomes, aka the real world.

[@Miss_Toots]

Not single handedly and not just on tik tok

[@mastasexyrobotblasta4790]

@@mwater_moon2865your body produces 1000 times the formaldehyde than you could ever ingest from aspartame. It gets turned into formic acid after helping your body to form proteins, which leaves our bodies through our urine. Formaldehyde = carbon, hydrogen, oxygen; the human body makes 1.5 ounces of formaldehyde a day, and it is found naturally in EVERY living system, whether plants or animals.

[@MrKitab00]

@@mwater_moon2865 yes, this is the issue many stubborn and egotistical voices skip over so they can verbally abuse individuals who call out corporate apathy

[@metalgearsolidsnake6978]

Spiderman into spiderverse Playstation 5< marvel Spiderman 2< Fire Ocon he can´t drive!

[@AndromedaCripps]

This is heartening to hear, my mother has diabetes and navigating the world of sugar substitutes is confusing at best and terrifying at worst. It’s obviously even better for your diet to just skip sweeteners all together, but people don’t always realize the kind of mental toll that huge dietary changes can take on a person, especially at an advanced age. After going your whole life being able to have a plate of pasta, or a dinner roll, or a slice of pie for dessert, suddenly NOT being able to eat what feels like ANYTHING you enjoy can be debilitating and depressing. Anyway, my mom is a lover of Diet Coke, which uses aspartame as a sweetener, and although cutting back on coke and increasing her water intake a few years ago did positively affect her day-to-day health, it’s good to know that a coke every once in a while isn’t chronically endangering her. For her, sometimes getting a Diet Coke can satiate that craving that might’ve caused her to eat something that would spike her blood sugar. Thanks Ann for your review of the research!!!

[@PhantomQueenOne]

I was recently diagnosed with Type 2. I can't handle artificial sweeteners as they taste like crap and aspertame gives me gastritis. What I can eat has been halved. Well that sucks. No more sweets and I had to drop carbs severely. Thank goodness I never drank tea with sugar so I can still have that.

[@AndromedaCripps]

@@PhantomQueenOne Sorry to hear that! I wish you good health (physical AND mental)!! ❤️

[@laurarodrigues6377]

I have a sentitivity issue with artificial sweetners. I already have gastritis and sweetners make it so much worse with stabbing stomach pain. I think it is valid for people to have an option if they want to go for that, but in my country (Brazil) there was a governmental push for reducing sugar content in all foods. Instead of reducing sugar it made it so that all companies started adding sweetners to everything. I now have to read every single label very carefully, from juices to yogurt and even Tomato Sauce. It should be an informed choice. I now can't have my favorite drinks anymore without aggravating my bad stomach condition.

[@senbebe3320]

Oh no ahh I wish governments wouldn’t just do that without considering important situations like yours ❤️ damn someone should let the government know about that 😂

[@WorldThatNeverWas08]

I also have a sensitivity issue when it comes to artificial sweeteners, but mine manifests as awful migraines. I'm already prone to migraines, but artificial sweeteners will set them off every single time, quicker than any other trigger. I live in the US, so I don't have to read labels as closely for the majority of everyday products, thankfully. It only really becomes an issue if I'm traveling abroad.

[@TatsuZZmage]

sesame seed got added to a lot of stuff recently for a similar reason

[@hkandm4s23]

Me too. So frustrating because my kids seem to have the same issue. Kids yogurt, juice, canned fruit etc all get artificial sweeteners nowadays. I had so many struggles in high school and college until I figured out out - I was chewing gum every day. Now I have to thoroughly read every label and I'll have to pack my kids lunch when they're in school because they add sweeteners to the school lunch to adhere to government standards limiting sugar.

[@thornback5641]

Maybe see how you react to Stevia and Xylitol(lab made Birch sap sugar) if you haven't as both exist naturally and might effect you less then the 100% unnatural stuff that comes out of labs like Aspartame.

[@melchiorlise2466]

I am a biology student and part of our studies is oncology, and I am constantly amazed by this capacity people have of ignoring actual risks they take in their lives for which there is significant datas, and freaking out about overly specific, very inconclusive, very mild risks. Some people think aspartame is Satan yet they smoke, they drink and they don't protect themselves from the sun, which basically is the holy trinity of cancer. And for some people it doesn't matter how many time you tell them how irrational it is, if they associated something with a positive emotional response in their lives no amount of evidence will convince them it's bad for them to. Best exemple is THE SUN, in people's mind the sun means summer, it means vacation, the beach, family outings, so it can't possibly be bad right ? But take something that is unfamiliar for them, and it'll be very easy to feel threatened by it because there's no sense of normalcy associated with it.

[@Kagrenackle]

Exactly this. My mom has had two small melanomas removed (so far) from her skin and still doesn't apply sun screen when going outside. It boggles my mind.

[@shadowshatto]

I don't drink or smoke but the sun one is hard for me to do. I live in Arizona, I'm actually not often out in the sun at all, I work nights and my vitamin D is chronically low, however having to put on and reapply sun screen every like 2-4 hours when it's always either white or sticky and greasy feeling, just sounds like a nightmare and I never see anyone else doing it ever, only maybe at the pool.

[@pippetandpossum]

​@@shadowshattoYou're using the wrong sunscreen❤ try looking at European, Australian, Korean, Japanese sunscreens. The ingredients are different, they use newer filters so they aren't white and sticky

[@pippetandpossum]

​@@shadowshattoI would recommend looking up LabMuffinBeautyScience, she has a doctorate in Chemistry and does a really great job at educating about sunscreen

[@crowdemon_archives]

Meanwhile the same can be said about people's perspectives of animals... 😅 Or maybe I'm just a weird fuck who would stare down a venomous snake or grab a bug with my bare hands (obviously within reasons, and no I won't grab shite I can't identify).

[@qatherine7176]

One addition to Ann's excellent review of aspartame's safety profile: there ARE some people who need to avoid aspartame for medical reasons. People with the genetic condition phenylketonurea (PKU) are unable to process the amino acid phenylalanine correctly, and if they consume foods with too much phenylalanine, they will develop issues with their nervous system, especially as children. So people with PKU have to adhere to a careful diet to get enough nutrients but not too much phenylalanine. Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine, so people with PKU need to know that and avoid it. That is why a lot of products with aspartame have a warning for people with phenylketonurea. The fact that it contains phenylalanine is totally harmless to anyone without PKU; phenylalanine is a normal amino acid that our bodies need to make protein!

[@Draggonny]

I always wondered about those warning labels I saw on crisp packets and such. Thanks for the info.

[@acookie7548]

I love the internet. Thank you for commenting this! PKU’s probably such a niche medical condition that I and a lot of other people are now aware of 👍🏼

[@bryanaperry8760]

Yes. It can also be a migraine trigger, but so can plain sugar so...

[@tsundor1]

@@bryanaperry8760 as someone with chronic migraines literally anything and everything can be a migraine trigger that sometimes it's not even worth cutting out lol

[@shadowkissed2370]

I am allergic to aspartame and it seems like things I can eat get less and less because aspartame is being put into everything. It makes me worried about children and adults with this genetic condition.

[@richardfeldkamp1707]

My main problem with aspartame is the taste and aftertaste. For me the taste is overpowering and the aftertaste can last for a couple days. This could be a genetic trait such as those associated with other compounds. The most egregious use of aspartame I found was in Belgian fruit flavoured beers. For me it destroyed the tasty flavours of the beers that I had enjoyed for years, all to save money.

[@bartiz12]

While I like aspartame based drinks, I can immediately tell whether something has sucralose in it. It's aftertaste instantly hits me with strong, bitter note, for that reason anything, that has it, is ruined for me.

[@ThisIsNathalie]

while the aftertaste doesn't last as long for me, I also can't stand the taste of aspartame or any artifical sweetener really. I always taste it and it's a deeply disgusting one for me. I think it's the neurodivergence in me that makes me more sensitive to these ingredients?! While others enjoy these beverages and say "tastes just like the original!" I have to pull myself together not to gag

[@chessprovoko5785]

After drinking half a can of diet soda (w/ aspartame) I get lightheaded, yet it doesn't happen with regular soda.

[@labgrownhumanbrain]

i don't mind aspartame TOO MUCH but yeah the aftertaste is awful

[@invertexyz]

I think it's something your taste buds have to get used to. If you're not cutting out sugary drinks entirely, then it will be hard for the aspartame to become your taste buds' new "normal". I find if I have a sugar-based soda and then try an aspartame drink it will taste watered down and "off". But once I'm only drinking aspartame drinks my taste buds associate that as the dominant "sweet flavor" and it stops being something I notice as a difference.

[@thesealab8947]

As a biochemist, I took one look at aspartame and could say with confidence that there is nothing to worry about. The only people who should be concerned are those who have a condition called phenylketonuria (the inability to metabolise phenylalanine), but thankfully this has been well understood for a very long time and hence the warning labels that tell you the product contains phenylalanine. Great content, you're brilliant.

[@hserieshooligan1997]

Aspartame is broken down into formaldehyde in various tissues according to pub med. As a biochemist how can you say there is nothing to worry about?

[@alpaca6462]

​@@hserieshooligan1997 do you know how chemistry works or are you just here to fear monger? lol

[@alpaca6462]

​@@hserieshooligan1997 sorry maybe that was mean. The human body already produces formaldehyde. In fact it produces over 1000 times the amount that aspartame would produce. We just pee it out. It's not harmful at all

[@hserieshooligan1997]

@@alpaca6462 I do I have a degree in pharmaceutical science but yeah I did not know it occurred naturally as part of our metabolism U learn something new everyday lol

[@AFndjdj7373]

You can’t just look at how it’s metabolised, or its biochemistry, to know it’s safe. There’s some research showing that aspartame can modify the gut microbiome in a negative way.

[@mayzydayz611]

I personally avoid aspartame because of an intolerance, and it's worrying seeing how many people are panicking. It reminds me of when people started freaking out about gluten when it is safe for the majority of people.

[@markpolo97]

I've always had headaches from Apartarme (even when Nutra Sweet sent free gum to everyone in the US, I had a horrible headache afterwards), but have always assumed that's just me.

[@Meagan-Renee]

@@markpolo97 You aren't alone. It gives me migraines. I've had enough accidental experiments with aspartame over a lifetime to be pretty sure about that.

[@iWhacko]

I just can't handle the stuff. It gives me dry mouth after drinking even just a sip. And it always makes me nauseous, and sometimes gives me a headache, so I just avoid it.

[@sunblade704]

A friend of mine always gets headaches from Aspartame, I didn't even knew you could be sensitive to it tbh

[@joshuarichards8065]

I just avoid sweeteners because they mostly taste bad.

[@Aphelia.]

You don't just read the research papers to us, you SHOW us how to research and think scientifically. This is such valuable information Ann, thank you!

[@karenneill9109]

Especially for certain segments of the US population, where they are intentionally not taught how to analyze scientific validity. There are states where ‘intelligent design’ HAS to be taught as a scientific theory, with equal weight as evolution. You can’t teach those kids critical thinking in that context.

[@paulghignon4092]

@@karenneill9109 critical thinking isn't taught to kids. I've heard overwhelmingly by people after entering college how much their mind is blown during critical thought classes, which my state requires as a mandatory class in order to graduate college; but strangely enough not for high school.

[@paulghignon4092]

Yeah, and I wish more people would do this, especially here in the US where all research is driven by private industry. Unfortunately here in the US a huge portion of research papers are misleading, biased, and often carry a political agenda. One that really blows people's mind is the notion that 97% of scientists believe in climate change, and that it's primarily driven by humans. The UN intentionally put their thumb on the scale to get those results, by firstly limiting what research papers were included to only have a sample size of less than 100. Second they never asked the scientists what they believed, only looked at their papers. Then lastly only looked for certain words in the papers that implied climate change was happening, but not that they believed humans were the cause. Many of the scientists later came out and sued the UN over the fact that they didn't entirely agree with what they said they believed. Later studies turned up that roughly 97% of scientists believe in climate change, around 92% believe humans have contributed to it in some form, and only about 20% believe that humans are the sole primary cause of climate change. That's why the UN changed it later to being 97% agree that climate change is real, which is of course accurate and correct. It's just there's a lot of debate around all of the causes and to what degree humans are impacting it. The even more scary part is that it's pretty much impossible to do anything about it, because the laws of thermodynamics is a big big pain lol.

[@TheDonCheadle]

​@@paulghignon4092I assume when you mention the UN it refers to the IPCC a body of the UN? The 100 paper sample size and lawsuits claim I cannot find. The 97% consensus that climate change is anthropogenic has stood up to systematic review and independent studies. It is still the consensus today.

[@paulghignon4092]

@@TheDonCheadle the lawsuit and such is pretty well buried to time because it happened in the early 2000s and wasn't widely discussed even then. Also you should go do a bit of digging on their methodology on how the IPCC comes to that conclusion. You may have just shown what it's like to exhibit confirmation bias, which many do on subjects that seem to popular to agree with. Don't just google it, actually look at the studies and their methodology being used.

[@harmonyispimp]

As someone who was just diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes this past week, I thank you. This was super informative.

[@rosethorne9155]

Thank you so much Ann!! I suffer from frequent headaches and I drink tea with my medicine and to help calm them. I started doing this as a teen, and I thought I'd spare my teeth (my dentist cautioned me about it). So I swapped the sugar out for aspartame. My headaches got worse, and lasted longer! It wasn't until I found an online support group for headache and migraine sufferers that aspartame can cause or worsen headaches. I think that it's probably fine for lots of people, but I'm not one of those people. 😅

[@Cheezitnator]

I'm right with you. Even a tiny bit of aspartame gives me terrible headaches. I just put a little honey in my tea. Don't need much and it helps soothe throats too.

[@mongopunisher91]

Yeah I get aura migraines and aspartame definitely triggers it.

[@ChubbyUnicorn]

Just a couple years ago, Anne was worried she couldn't continue her channel because it cost so much and took a lot of time. It's wonderful to see her hard work pay off. Nearly 5 million subs!

[@K1ngRaven]

Can we all just take a second to appreciate how Ann manages to deliver high quality videos with actual useful information every two weeks?

[@Sableagle]

I've been trying to create one this week. So far, I have some slides but no script. Now I just need to learn to program in Python and figure out this "conservation of angular momentum" thing.

[@mitchietorres_stan]

THEE youtube queen

[@Roddy556]

The videos are especially impressive when you compare them the ear poison she sampled at 0:12. I can not stand the robo voice ones. Also the worst thing about aspartame is the taste.

[@Valspartame_Maelstrom]

can we all stop with this kind of try-hard, redundant comment?

[@SegelDK]

@@Valspartame_Maelstrom Yes, so tired of these premade generic bot comments.

[@bomb2themax]

I get headaches whenever I have aspartame so I just avoid it. I appreciated this video because my husband drinks diet sodas, so it's good to know the actual risks

[@GyroCannon]

Ann consistently makes great content with all the well informed nuance (e.g. possible carcinogen doesn't mean definite carcinogen, and it's dose-based), and I worry that her work will go unappreciated in the world because people gravitate towards short clickbait extremes (e.g. aspartame gives you cancer, avoid at all costs) Please know that those of us with critical thinking capabilities really appreciate you!

[@iliatimpanaro9605]

I'm a scientist and I have to read papers every day for a living. Even I couldn't be bothered to read the endless stream of publications on aspartame to figure out if it is actually bad for you, so thank you for this thoroughly researched video. I love your scientific approach to things!

[@seafoodpizza]

Research also says that stress causes cancer, but talk therapy and counseling doesn't make the big pharma any money. So the stress theory is ignored.

[@phildman132]

@@seafoodpizza It definitely makes therapists and stress councillors a lot more money though, so it definitely isn't being ignored by those with money to make.

[@alakani]

I never bothered researching it because it tastes like Cthulhu's cloaca

[@iliatimpanaro9605]

@@alakanithat was the main reason for me too tbh. Horrendous taste and aftertaste

[@AwakenedAvocado]

So basically you're a useless scientist and the reason we got into this covid mess

[@signalred]

This is the kind of content we need much more of on KZbin. Clear, informative, to the point, well-researched. And I love how you often reiterate that just because a study was done that found a certain conclusion it doesn't have to mean much. So many people are quick to find one or two studies that support their argument without even checking the actual study or looking into whether it's even significant. It's a good lesson in checking your sources, which is becoming more and more important in our fast digital world where headlines and thumbnails seem to matter more than the actual content.

[@JK-zm5td]

So true👏❤️‍🔥

[@1lmp1]

To be honest, it was NOT well researched.

[@ronaldhudson169]

Not to mention they reject any study that does not support their point of view, regardless of quality.

[@stijn3085]

It's not well-researched at all. She nitpicked a few bad studies and ignored all the good ones.

[@shadowkissed2370]

I am allergic to aspartame, and the US is adamant about putting aspartame into everything from milk to gum. My allergy doctor told me there are a lot of people allergic to Aspartame but they do not realise it.

[@hinatahyuuga120]

I have anaphylaxis level allergy

[@KasumiRINA]

It's the problem with gluten in Eastern Europe. Not just bread, but things like sausages and any dry products will be contaminated.

[@GG-kn2se]

I know people allergic to corn in America, they can’t go to a restaurant it’s so widespread especially because of things like corn derivatives.

[@adjiar]

Ann is truly one of the best KZbinrs out there. So, so smart, and nice, and loving, and down to earth. She's so great!

[@medicwebber3037]

I love how clearly you explain PERCEPTION vs. UNDERSTANDING without throwing in anyone’s face the idea that they are ‘stupid for believing something’. People are so defensive these days it’s become very difficult to correct their information. You have a very easy manner about you and I think that goes a long way toward keeping people calm enough to not only accept the new information, but allow themselves to _think_ on it. I really appreciate that about you! ❤

[@cloudstrife4534]

Well said, I couldn’t agree more!

[@reineh3477]

These days? Mark Twain said "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled." To change a persons believes has been difficult for a very long time.

[@suzannestrickland1586]

I did not know there were 2 different pronunciations. Thank you for that lesson. I love that you included the very important fact that "safe" does not equal "healthy". I often remind people that, here in the USA, cigarettes are FDA approved. This was a wonderful short and sweet video. Thank you!

[@LikaLaruku]

I grew up calling it "ah-spar-tah-may" & no one ever corrected me.

[@chaosdandelion]

I didn’t even know what aspartame was then ! 😂

[@dust_bin_gaming7319]

Many people would be surprised to know the other kinds of meat the FDA approve as 'beef substitute' for the commercial industry.

[@fridaytax]

I am unclear how you can get "FDA approved" from "FDA regulated" cigarettes. The sale of cigarettes in the USA is allowed by the government (i.e., they are not prohibited). FDA is the regulatory authority responsible to ensure products are sold in accordance with the relevant legislation. So their "approval" is merely that the products meet the legislative standard, not that they in any way support or endorse cigarettes. FDA is also responsible for advising people of the associated dangers of cigarettes, again within the confines of relevant legislation. So FDA is limited to what government legislation allows them to regulate, no more.

[@-Devy-]

Nor does "natural" equal neither "safe" nor "healthy".

[@heatherm4078]

Thank you SO much for all of your hard work! I come from a medical family, and doing your own research can still be crazy overwhelming. I can't imagine trying to do it without a medical background! We need many more like you who use their education and intelligence to help us understand!! Also, your hair is gorgeous! 🤭

[@peterking8586]

I was working at Atomic Energy and we did a study of cancer rates between 2 different markers. The first was around nuclear power plants, the second was around old Roman forts. Both came out with similar elevated cancer rates, leading to the conclusion that old Roman forts give you cancer & the phrase “Lies, dang lies & statistics”. The realistic conclusion was if you look for a given outcome that you’ll find it. The second observation we made was following Chernobyl, we have radiation detectors around all our facilities. This allowed us to monitor the radiation cloud from the fallout. And obviously I can’t discuss specifics, but I felt happy living where I did at the time & I can happily report all children & grandchildren still only have one head.

[@KasumiRINA]

Children have one head, but adults in Ukraine have thyroid issues... Chernobyl was a crime, one of many ways russians destroyed and keep destroying Ukrainians, apart from the disaster itself, forcing people to have may day parade right after in Kyiv and Kharkiv was insane.

[@carlvanderlinden2423]

This is perfect science communication. Not just "what did the blurb say?" but "what was the actual data, how significant is that data, what is a reasonable conclusion to draw from the data?" Critical thinking in interpreting experimental results is essential. Hope to see much more like this!

[@racingrattata]

I'm glad you made this video, but it's still impossible to reason with certain people, unfortunately. My mother is one of those people - she smokes and she used to drink heavily, but she will go on and on about how terrible aspartame is. Her friend also used to say she was "allergic" to Wifi, but that complaint magically went away over time. Then it was 5G. It's frustrating that some people are completely resistant to basic logic.

[@CrankyB1tsch]

completely resistant to basic logic ....you mean mentally ill

[@Henrik_Holst]

yep, most of the people that where allergic to electrical fields vanished when social media became popular. Strange :)

[@BigIndianBindi-jy1cz]

this woman is a bimbo because she says flax seeds cause cyanide poisoning which is total trash BS. You are picky choosy.

[@ghostwhite1648]

Well, the USA worships an SS nazi rocket scientist without the replicated technology or data, don’t think logic is very basic for anything.

[@Annie_Annie__]

My mom gives me a hard time about aspartame too. I have fibromyalgia and she is utterly convinced that I got it from drinking a couple Diet Cokes a day. I even stopped drinking sodas at all 3 years ago (for unrelated reasons) and she still sends me memes about how all my symptoms are caused by aspartame and I need to cut it out of my diet. She’s also convinced that MSG causes my migraines and that it gives her headaches and makes her nauseous. As a result, she won’t eat from any Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Thai restaurants. She says they all cover their food in MSG, but no other restaurants do. I can’t seem to convince her that my migraines are completely unrelated to eating Chinese or Japanese food and that I’m going to continue to eat sushi no matter what she thinks.

[@laigyun]

Thank you for treating this topic sanely. I did research on artificial sweeteners in my clinical nutrition class in nursing school, and the conclusion I came to on aspartame is that there's no current significant cause for concern UNLESS you are hypersensitive to it or if you have phenylketonuria. Another thing I found is that so many of the studies that seemed both frivolous and negative were in fact funded by the sugar industry. I found it super interesting that NO studies I found compared the toxicity of aspartame with the toxicity of sugar. For all that we can't be completely certain that aspartame is completely safe we have mountains of research documenting very significant and proven negative health impacts from sugar. I guess the take home message is that if you are that concerned about your health, try unsweetening your diet in general.

[@emmaradd5357]

Ann, I love these types of videos you make. I think they're really important to educate the general public on how science is conducted and peer-reviewed, and generally how to be a more critical thinker with regard to what you're consuming on the internet. It's so valuable, and you make it so simple to understand!

[@AimeeColeman]

On the plutonium (sorry, this is my PhD field and I can't stop myself from talking about it), there are a couple of things: Firstly, plutonium has a range of isotopes, each of which decay with their own half-lives, energies and daughter nuclei, so when we say "this dose of plutonium", we usually specify the isotope "this dose of plutonium -238". If i said that consuming water could be very dangerous because it contains hydrogen, and I meant consuming Hydrogen-3-heavy water is dangerous, i might scare someone 😅. Secondly, cancer is a statistical game, as is radioactive decay. The amount of radioactive decay undergone in 1ug of pt-235 is a normal distribution, and the number of cells damaged by this inside the body after inhilation, in the specific way that will cause cancer is a normal distribution. With this type of distribution, there is never a 100% probably of getting cancer, because it's never a 100% result in statistics. The probability of getting cancer from inhaling 1ug of pt-235 might be lower than you'd think, considering that approximate absorbed dose for lung tissue in this situation is so high that there's a good change the person will die of acute radiation toxicity before there is time for cancer to develop. When we talk about toxicity, the LD-50 is a good metric, because it recognises that statistically some people will die and some won't by luck and/or body composition, so there cannot be such thing as the LD-100 (at least a hard line im dose anyway), because you cannot predict a threshold, above which everyone will die, and below which some people will survive. This is not a result of chemistry or physics, but statistics. You can never say a point on a normal distribution gives 100% certainty. Sorry for the rable 😅

[@rottenfiggy]

Never be sorry for rambling about something you know about

[@NastyMick]

I'd listen to you expertly ramble all day. It's fascinating.👍

[@boraxmacconachie7082]

Thanks for writing this! I'm a chemist, and I have to say, that 100% made me squirm a bit too

[@FakhriaNoori]

Technically.. being naked in outer space for an hour would 100% kill you 🫠 #imthatperson

I'm pretty sure there's an LD100 of concentrated plutonium though, because we humans are not very resistant to incineration 😬

[@okwaho5316]

You don't fully understand how nice it is to have at least one channel that feels genuinely trust worthy and actually have people best interest at heart. So thank you, also you guys are wicked at doing deep research dives.

[@mskpir00]

Nutrition made simple is one other good channel

[@SilverTwil]

I agree...I'm actually allergic to aspartame but it's nice to know the actual facts vs the sensationalized stuff you normally see online.

[@Jablicek]

Without meaning to diminish Ann or any of the research, there's nothing that's 100% reliable. The science changes as we accrue more data, but we do have a lot of very good best guesses.

[@helenx6218]

This one is really interesting. It took me aaaages to work out what was triggering my migraines. Turns out it was certain artificial sweetners. However, just because my body can't work out what to do with aspartame or acesulfame K, doesn't mean I think they should be banned, clearly other people eat these all the time and don't get migraines. That makes it a me problem, not a poisonous additive.

[@sarathoughtonnothing]

I so so appreciate how throughly you show things, not just what is the answer but why, and what are the studies, and how credible are the studies. We know we can trust your statements because you show your work!

[@redaleta]

Type 1 diabetic. The minute Aspartame came I inundated emails regarding the dangers of Aspartame. I shared these emails with my chemist siblings and they laughed so hard and loud. I'm a southern so I needed my sweet tea and aspartame did the trick for me. It's a tool that can be used. I will say that I have switched to stevia because I can grow stevia and process in a way that works for me.

[@morgan0]

raw stevia leaves taste really good imo

[@solitarelee6200]

Fascinated to hear how you process it. I don't really like the taste of stevia, but it's all personal, my mother can't STAND the taste of aspartame but is fine with stevia. But I've never seen someone process it themselves, that would be very cool to see!

[@angelawossname]

I remember decades ago I switched to drinks sweetened with aspartame. A friend said to me "you know that will give you cancer?" I pointed to the coke she was drinking and said "that will give you type 2 diabetes long before this gives me cancer". She shut up after that.

[@cybercraft5393]

​@angelawossname I think what you've said is really a great takeaway. I don't drink diet drinks because 1. I don't like the taste, 2. The artificial sweeteners do give me headaches (which is possibly placebo effect) and some effect my digestion. 3. I don't drink enough normal sugar beverages for it to matter. Like 1/2 - 1 glass of coke or tea a day maybe? I'm not gonna worry about that lol. I have people who drink multiple cans of soda a day in my family though and agree the diabetes is a more immediate concern for them.

[@elvinhaak]

@@cybercraft5393 Wow... Still one glass of coke or tea with sugar a day ;-) Don't seem to be a big risk. For me: about one or two small bottles or cans a year in average and no sugar or sweeteners in my tea or coffee since many years. Not that I'm healthy now... soo many other risks in live.

[@casechow]

I fully expected poor Dave to be lowered into a pool of dissolved aspartame for testing purposes. ❤

[@brynnc2033]

Ann I'm in love with you!! I'm so grateful there is someone on all of these crazy apps with their head screwed on straight and capable of giving sane reasonable advice. I know I can always watch your videos for a nice relaxing night and be entertained while I learn something new. Keep up the good work, we appreciate you!

[@leenadupre4851]

Ann!!! You are incredible! Thank you for spending your time doing the research to make helpful, informative videos like this!!!!

[@filip.su.]

As someone who works in science i can't thank You enough for this video. Im always enraged by mass media or influencers cherry picking publications or making a strong conclusion based on abstracts from/or just a few publications. We need more people like You Ann!

[@DanaSatter]

Exactly! It's honestly so exhausting.

[@Locke42485]

Indeed, there's still people who think face masks actually help.

[@iliatimpanaro9605]

Yes! You would think they could afford a scientific advisor… instead they just spread misinformation.

[@attila4585]

@@Locke42485 Just shut up…

[@jeanvignes]

THANK YOU! For insulin-dependent diabetics like me, an occasional serving of aspartame (for me? less than three servings per week) is not the giant health risk I should be focusing on. Instead, I should be walking far more, sitting far less, and improving my blood glucose control overall. Guess what? Aspartame is one tool in my arsenal against elevated blood glucose (along with injected insulin, exercise, moderate to low carb foods, reducing stress, avoiding illness in general, etc.) If I'm craving something sweet, then a sugar-free ice pop is a much better choice than a "natural fresh fruit" ice pop due to the high load of sugar in the fruit. Truth.

[@katherinestone3169]

Ann, I love your videos for a variety of reasons - the information you present is interesting, you present it in an engaging way, and it’s clear that you truly do your research with each and every video. I also appreciate the huge messes you make for your debunking videos! 😂 I just wanted to say that today your curls are ON POINT. I’ve been discovering my own curly hair over the last ~18 months, and I dream of them eventually looking the way yours do here. That’s all. I can’t wait for the next video!

[@JohnJalas]

Don't trust a thing she said when she failed to mention basic facts like this "On January 21, 1981, the day after Ronald Reagan's inauguration, Reagan issued an executive order eliminating the FDA commissioners' authority to take action and Searle re-applied to the FDA for approval to use aspartame in food sweetener."

[@marnicarroll1091]

Thank you, Ann, for always breaking things down and giving us such wonderful information 💜💜💜

[@CoolAsFreya]

Not only did she explain objectively the research into aspartame, she explained it in a simplified easy to understand way but without talking down to the audience!

[@zarzee8925]

She has such a gift. She IS a gift.

[@usakoutada4903]

That's what she always does. I love that about her 😊.

[@AppleStrawberryLove]

I've never cared for the taste of most sugar substitutes personally. But I loved the analysis of the studies. It truly is a pet peeve of mine when people run with a study and then I look into it and find out it's misused. My favorite was a study on red wine on life expectancy. My alcoholic side of the family was like "see? My drinking will let me live longer!" They did not like when I pulled up the study and found the part where the researchers listed all the cancers you'd be at higher risk of while you live longer. I just told them I'd rather live shorter but without throat or stomach cancer, thanks.

[@hefoxed]

Health studies are really really hard. Something like alcohol drinking probably has so much confounding issues -- higher rates of cancer could be because able get old enough for those cancers to appear, or something like more able to pay for diagnosis. So there's a related example with dogs. There's this debate about the health and behaviour effects of gonadectomy (full spay/neuter) and dogs. The majority vet conclusion is that gonadectomy is healthier at least for some timings/breeds. But, there's studies finding overall more cancers and other issues in gonadetomized dogs. However, intact dogs have shorter lifespan, which looks to be due to higher rates of death to infections/trauma per some studies ... which could be traced back to confounding issues: intact dogs are more common in lower income households, which in practice can mean they are housed outside more (more trauma and infection opportunities) and have less vet care (less vaccination, less ability to treat and pay for diagnosis even if able to go to vet). So, a lower lifespan means less likely to get later in life diseases.There's also confounding issues on size which tmk is unique to dogs, with larger, particular xlarge, dogs having a significantly shorter lifespan regardless of hormones, and dogs in lower income households more likely to be working and guard dogs, which may mean overall larger (demographics and needs can depend on area/culture/etc.). There's also one study including hormone sparing sterilization (vastecomy, ovary sparing spay) which is opposite of intact dogs in sociecomics: these options are not financially accessible atm so imply higher income, but also are likely larger (so shorter lifespan) and pure breed dogs (shorter lifespan for breeds with bad breeding standards) due to earleir studies finding overall more issues with gonadectomy in those demographics (that are likely not an effect by lower lifespan as they appear earlier: joint/muscle issues due to growth plates not closing, hip dysphlia, alc tears, possibly allergies, skin issues, etc -- hormone deprivation influences something that has receptors throughout the body so effects can appear in every area), and there does appear to be cancers that are specifically notable increased by gonadectomy (blood/bone cancer, and weirdly enough prostate cancer), but also cancers decreased by it (mammary, testicule), as well as other issues. So,.. it's an utter utter mess. Personally, I'd opt for hormone sparing sterilization for dogs based on the data I've seen, in particular due to anxiety issue (as there's both studies in dogs showing increased issues in neutered dogs [despite low income dogs having increased behaviour issues due to less training/other effects of poverty] and studies including biological mechanisms in better controlled rodent studies). Also, reducing poverty and increasing services to struggling people is really important to improve pet welfare. So... yea, shorter lifespan can just mean don't get old enough to get certain cancer. ... can't really take those health studies on face value either, nor even medical advice sometimes as history has shown... sigh. But hopefully medical care is better then nothing. We need better done studies. Anyhow, I hate the taste of fake sugars and some do seem to give me stomach aches, but that isn't hard to do.

[@GrandHighGamer]

The whole red wine thing is so hard to seperate, considering it has to consider the lifespan of people studied, the simple factor that people that have time for a class of red wine every evening are likely living more comfortable lives with fewer sources of stress.

[@serenityf.6234]

I totally support the point of looking at the details of the study, but imo trying to linking red wine to higher risks of cancer in age is also not an absolute correct conclution: you will Aways have higher risk of cancer when you're actually lucky enough to reach a higher age, because at some point the body is simply breaking down due to age ^^ But you often actually have a better chance when you get cancer in old age than when young due to it often spreading slower (of course it depends on cancer types & body conditions). And people having cancer in old age doesn't actually mean they're all dying of it, it's just a list of possibilities, while you can have cancer you can still die of a different health issue or even accident. Also complex things like cancer are really difficult to link to one cause only anyway, even if you have 1000 people in a study drinking red wine and getting cancer in old age it wouldn't be a certainty of causation vs correlation if they don't check all other parts those peoples' lifes for things like smoking, other dietary details, environmental factors etc...

[@krankarvolund7771]

I've seen something like the chemical thought to be preventing cancer in red wine was in so few quantities, you'd need to drink thousands of bottles of wine per day to have an effect XD But yeah, I known that study, I've even seen it advertised in middle school as to why the french lifestyle is the better (I'm french of course we jumped on that conclusion XD).

[@katstorm13]

Splenda/sucralose is the only one that tastes ok to me.

[@lilabluestars85]

Your videos are so awesome! So well informed and fair! Thank you!

[@BeefForLess]

I love the amount of effort you put into research for your debunking videos. They are either engaging or thorough and interesting. I just would like to point out how you present examples too. They're comprehensive, easy to understand and most importantly, you treat us the viewers, with respect by speaking to us as equals. This may be a no-brainer thing to do but not everybody remembers this in the moment. Anyway, what a great video! I eagerly look forward to your next video.

[@KelsHoag]

I sincerely hope that there are science teachers out there showing your videos in their classes. How you explain the scientific method as it applies to daily use is fantastic!

[@MorbidEel]

That will probably result in complaints from parents ☹

[@resourcedragon]

@@MorbidEel: I wish you were wrong! In the US, at least, I know you would be correct, at least in _certain_ demographics, (the ones given to wearing weird outfits that incorporate the US flag and perhaps include religious symbols). Here in Australia I think most parents would be happy to see their kids learning to think critically.

[@stormelemental13]

Teacher in training here, already got a list of Ann's videos that I intend to use in my classes. He's just excellent at explaining what good science is, regardless of field.

[@reesheidi]

As I was watching this I was thinking how I can incorporate the ant study into my scientific method unit for yr 7 & 8😊

[@angustheterrible3149]

​@@resourcedragonyou watch too much TV if you think anything you just said is a remotely accurate representation of the US.

[@felinemoonchild]

As someone at high risk of developing diabetes and therefore trying more sugar substitutes, I'm SO GLAD to see you make this video!

[@sinine1100]

It seems that while aspartame may not cause cancers, it (and other low/no-calorie sweeteners) still causes the insulin spikes that contribute to the development of insulin insensitivity diabetes. (I'm not sure if I can post links here without spam filters booting me.)

[@superlynnie]

As someone at high risk of developing diabetes, you should be consulting your doctor before trying sugar substitutes. NOT youtube. smh

[@tukicat1399]

Whilst I am sure you have consulted your doctor, its a better idea to wean yourself off sugars and carbs, and eat more greens and meats and dairy. Remove that need for cakes and sweets and its sooo much easier.

[@felinemoonchild]

@@sinine1100 Thank you for some actually helpful information.

[@felinemoonchild]

@@superlynnie Yeah, because I'm exclusively consulting YT about my health, not watching this video to get some information to talk to my doctor about. LOL WTF

[@n0rmal953]

Love your videos as always. Well written, entertaining and educational. Great work!

[@annawswe522]

Anne is always so informative and tryes to be as honest as possible.

[@anartificer]

I didn't realize they didn't euthanize the rats at a set date in that study. IIRC, they also gave them an enormous amount of aspartame relative to their size, which is problematic in itself. Rule of 0 of Toxicology, everything is a poison if you consume enough of it.

[@Alchemydude667]

I’m a diabetic who works out plenty, and a diet soda every now and then is a lovely little treat and lets me have a cocktail out with friends without worrying about the sugar in the soda. If there was any health advise I would need, it’s not to cut out the diet sodas, but I could maybe use a salad a few more times than I do chicken or meat.

[@mastergrillex]

Meat is pretty much the best source of nutrients you can put into your body, so you really shouldn't swap that for a bunch of leaves

[@Snargfargle]

I had an aunt who ate only salads for a year and complained that she actually gained weight. I saw her prepare herself a salad once when the family went out to eat. After she'd loaded it with boiled eggs, olives, cheese, croutons, garbanzo beans, ham, and ranch dressing it had enough calories that she might as well have made it out of candy bars.

[@Rime_in_Retrograde]

My mom was having some kidney troubles and the doctor advised her to stop eating meat until she could see a specialist and they could do more tests. Long story short, I now have a backlog of vegetarian recipes and have mostly cut out (red) meat from my diet - I haven't quite been able to give up fish or chicken. If you're looking for tasty non-meat recipe recommendations, a couple of my favorites are spinach fatayer and tzatziki sauce. Indian food also tends to have a relatively large selection of vegetarian and vegan options if you want to try something new, but don't want to cook. Hopefully this was helpful, during Covid I may have gotten into cooking... 😅

[@mochabearry]

@@Snargfargleolives are a healthy fat she should leave in, though.

[@Ryan-wx1bi]

Hold up. Did you just basically say chicken is worse for you than diet soda? Sounds to me like your diabetes was diet induced.

[@music4mushu]

Great video as always! Thank you for breaking down all of this information for us who are not very science minded. Will share this with my family who has been discussing aspartame.

[@torikilgore5568]

Your hair looks INCREDIBLE!!!!! (And thank you so much for this video. You are an incredible teacher and asset to this platform!)

[@himselfe]

I can not overstate just how valuable your approach to presenting factual information is. Well researched, balanced, non-sensational. It's an exceptional rarity!

[@writergirl768]

When I had my daughter and we needed to supplement her diet with formula, my friend would passive aggressively say “Well be careful, let me send you something that shows that baby formula has the same chemicals as round up weed killer” and almost has me consider making my own formula. This show honestly kept me from endangering my kid. After a while, I had enough of my friend’s comment about me using formula that I just said, “Apples contain cyanide, doesn’t mean we die eating them. It’s the dose that matters,” she stopped her comments after that.

[@MissRora]

You can die with a high enough intake of water. We call that drowning.

[@jazmo6662]

Apples do contain cyanide but it's in the pips not the flesh. Most people don't eat the pips.

[@resourcedragon]

@@MissRora: That's true but it's also true that a woman killed herself by drinking too much water. It was some sort of a radio contest - about 15 or 20 years ago now, if my memory serves me correctly.

[@xSuccubunnyx]

Shame on your friend for not only spreading gross misinformation but also for shaming the way mothers choose to or need to feed their babies.

[@krankarvolund7771]

Apparently, Roundup have also been found in breast milk ˆˆ' The thing is Roundup is way too much used and is a bioaccumulative, it will contaminate our crops and everything and everyone that uses or eat our crops. So, it's pretty much impossible to not consume doses of Roundup, unless you're carefully sourcing all your ingredients from trusted farmers who don't use Roundup and don't own crops near farms who use it (yeah pesticides don't magically get stopped by property lines).

[@gynosphinx]

Didn’t expect the ending bit, and I appreciated it. You’re right - there are things I know I can do to better my health. Sometimes it just takes hearing someone new say it 😊 As for the rest of the video: always informative, always interesting, always thorough and well thought out. Thank you again.

[@TheKiaraLady]

I love these videos, so well explained and easy to understand. And I love the positive messages!

[@reinerbazzi9744]

As a diet coke addict, i feel like this video will be my saving grace

[@reinerbazzi9744]

@@robertpedersen8217 damnnnn i only drink 8-10 per day

[@therealnoniebee]

Aspartame is bad for me personally. I have chronic migraines. I recently found that artificial sweetners are a major trigger for me. After cutting them out I've reduced my migraines by 80% at least. (They are still triggered by allergies and stress) Particularly the migraines that come with hardcore sweet cravings. I've yet to narrow down exactly WHICH sweetners but I'm pretty sure Aspartame is one of them. I have friends who also suffer from migraines. They also list aspartame as a severe trigger. So when I see it saying "can cause headaches" Ibelieve it. The migraines sweetners trigger are also called "aura" migraines, with flashing lights. They can be related to strokes and seizures. Same reason I can't be on the contraceptive pill as it can make them worse and increase chance of those.

[@DannyDevitoOffical-TrustMeBro]

Things like aspartame make me feel ill or hurt my head, as well. Generally, I'm quite sensitive to things with potent artifical tastes or smells. Interestingly, this is the fault of my eyes--more specifically, the way my ocular prescription influences the way my brain processes information. I'm very headache prone because of this. So is aspartame carcinogenic? Probably not. Is it, as an artificial substance, _good_ for us, though? I tend towards no, it's not, sweetners generally aren't anyways. It's better to avoid things with added sweeteners, even plain white sugar, unless you've got a specific need that means one of these is a better alternative. I think people on both sides are over simplifying or not doing enough research.

[@zsanica]

Aspartame triggers migraines for me too! A few years ago I'd started stress eating, more to just chew on something, so I swapped to gum to kind of help--didn't think anything of it being sweetened with aspartame--and I went through *a lot* of gum in a month. Normally I get 2 migraines a year, but suddenly I had 5 in about 4 weeks. I'd booked an appointment with my doctor because I was pretty worried, but before I saw her, my partner found the small studies linking it to migraines. Cut out the gum, and yeah, all the extra migraines stopped, no concerns from my doctor.

[@AllyMarie_123]

I finally got around to watching this video and, per usual, great job and thank you for making these videos! The misinformation floating around all over the internet is scary. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into all your content!

[@lilacsmoon9067]

i really like these kind of researched, clearing misconceptions type of videos :) you're one of my favourite channels

[@TomWDW1]

Wow. You do such AMAZING work, Ann. Thank you so much for this video. Every year or so I keep hearing conflicting reports on whether or not aspartame is bad for you, carcinogenic, etc. It's so nice having a professional make a video like this instead of some TikTok "influencer" telling us to eat plain sugar cause it's "better" for us. Love your work.

[@HowToCookThat]

Thanks Thomas 😀

[@sirtra]

Keeping a queen ant for an entire year, only to risk killing it for science is a whole new level of dedication. Love your work Ann!

[@Aphelia.]

I would've been extremely sad it anything bad happened to the ants :(

[@cl5470]

She knew it wouldn't be harmed.

[@garywebster3044]

She absolutely knew that ants would be fine.

[@sirtra]

Whilst the risk was really really really small, in terms of science, it was not absolute zero 😉 (pun intended)

[@psychedelikchameleon]

I really appreciate the time and effort that these videos take. They sift through a tangled mess of mis and dis information, tiktok nonsense and click bait, and fish out the facts. I feel like I'm learning and also becoming more critical of articles about health and food (which for several reasons are really important to me). When you mentioned super hot drinks my poor monkey brain immediately wanted a coffee so I'm pausing to go and make one.

[@ClanImprobable]

I love these sorts of video deep dives, thank you Ann.

[@gamegamezero7704]

Let us gives a standing ovation to Ann for being a Voice of reason in a world of shock value sound bytes

[@lhandicapeerecyclable8174]

This video coming out now is a blessing ! I was just diagnosed with pregnancy diabetes and was told to consume more aspartame to replace the glucose doses I usually take, and while I strongly believe my doctors' are always right, I still wanted to know more about this subject, and I know I couldn't trust the whole internet for that, so thank you so much Ann for clarifying this topic for all of us non-scientific persons !

[@lurji]

accidentally read this as "i was diagnosed with pregnancy" 😭😭😭

[@Aphelia.]

Have a healthy pregnancy 💜

[@junejunejuniejune]

You should try to not consume either. Just because it doesn't cause cancer (which is actually not proven) does not mean its good for you. Aspertame is linked with osteoarthritis for instance. I reccomend the Glucose Revolution book, teaches you how to eat in a way that causes less glucose spikes. You can do things like cut out soda completely, and start your day with a savory breakfast (veg and cheese omlette) to curb sugar cravings. I love Ann, but this video is sending the wrong message because its saying something is safe when in reality its just not a good thing to consume anyway.

[@unholyheretik]

​@@junejunejuniejune As a Type one Diabetic? No. ❤ people can drink all the diet soda and eat all the crap they want.

[@robokill387]

@@junejunejuniejune It's not the aspertame itself that causes osteoarthritis. It's the products it's most consumed in, i.e, extremely acidic, calcium leeching carbonated drinks. Aspertame itself is absolutely safe. "Just because it doesn't cause cancer (which is actually not proven) does not mean its good for you. " true, but that can be said about literally everything in existence.

[@VTach1024]

Great video. I love that you go in to what to look for in reliable research.

[@MultiSugarplum09]

Amazing content, I was quite conflicted about this topic but this video has clarified all my doubts! Great work Ann! 😊

[@TempestuousInquiry]

I'm so thankful that my kid introduced me to your channel. I'm relearning so many things that I was given misinformation about growing up and I feel secure in knowing that my kid has access to better info than I did (and interest in it as well). It allows us to have informed discussions and we both learn something! Love your channel and your videos ♥

[@tlozfreak888]

My mother and I have a habit of reading studies (particularly about food, she's a nutritionist and I'm a nerd) and it's always up in the air whether any given study is easy to interpret, much less actually a good study. Thanks for the video!

[@hajrakhan2129]

Loved the video as usual! thank you!

[@levankiknadze5354]

This is why I like and trust her. She does the research and explains everything in an easily digestible manner. Thanks again Ann.

[@kookoo47]

Thanks, Ann! I've always known the "causes cancer if you consume WAY more than one person should consume anything" but it's good to have a more specifically knowledgeable person explain the ins and outs of how studies are conducted and conclusions are made.

[@franciscoapodaca]

Love your content like always.

[@leen-treeske]

thx for your hard work looking everything up so we can be informed ❤

[@MurderWho]

Aspartame and artificial sweeteners are something I'd like to know more about the body's processing/reaction to them. I've always gotten headaches from artificial sweeteners in general, (not currently aware of any that don't give me headaches), but all of the reasons people give as to why they might give headaches are just unmitigated bullshit. I've really noticed the increase in foods that use artificial sweeteners over the past decade, as I'll be eating like, a PB&J, and get a crushing migraine. And then, no, I didn't pick up the wrong brand of jam, it is in fact the peanut butter that now has xylitol. Cookies and biscuits of all kind, some brands of bread, a lot of cake mixes, store-ready doughs of any sort unless they were made in-house, frozen dinners and a lot of frozen foods that have no business being sweet anyways . . . it feels like I get a nasty headache surprise every few months on some product where it never even occurred to me to check the label for artificial sweeteners. And they keep getting new sweeteners, and new names for the sweeteners, too -_- There's almost no connection in the chemistry between some of the different sweeteners, so I figure the difference must be in how the body reacts to sweet things . . . somehow. But sugar doesn't cause headaches, which is good, because I'm a candy fiend.

[@tsm688]

I suspect it's an allergic response. The same thing that proects your body from infection can occasionally pick up a sensitivity to random things for no apparent reason other than it being around when you were sick. For me it's eggs.

[@MurderWho]

@@tsm688 There's no particular reason for me to have developed the variety of allergic responses that would be required to explain my reaction to all the very differently structured molecules that are various sweeteners. Although not impossible that I just *happen* to develop an allergic response to each new molecular shape of sweetener I encounter, it's not the most likely of explanations.

[@confettikittyxo4824]

Thank you for this video and information, Ann! For years I was fear mongered into believing my dad would get cancer and d!e because of the diet Pepsi he always drank. I was legitimately so scared I'd lose my dad and there was no reason for it other than strangers, who are scientifically illiterate, wanted me to feel that way. It wasn't until I found other food scientists and their content that I was able to understand what these studies really meant. Now I understand that the dose makes the poison; that the dose they give rats or mice is not anywhere comparable to the amount a human has to consume for the same effects. We desperately need more science based content creators like yourself to push back against the anti-science rhetoric that is so incredibly common online. "Wellness" and "natural" content creators are saturating social media with mis and even DISinformation in order to sell their products or scare people away from certain, harmless, replacements that improve their life, even if it seems insignificant to others. I appreciate your content and the time, effort, and energy you put into your work. I originally came here for baking and chocolate content but have definitely stayed and been enthralled with the science content! Much love from a very long time viewer!

[@StephBer1]

Thank you Anne. Please continue with these type of videos. You are the only source I can go to that tells me the truth on 'research'. So many videos say to cut everything out of your diet, but we also have to live in the real world and not worry about everything, although I HATE the taste of sugar substitutes! 😂 Even though it's not in your field, could you please look into the studies about HRT and cancer/stroke. Honestly, I've heard so many different conclusions, even from specialists, that I don't know what to believe. I've heard that there were hundreds of studies, and there was a 50% risk, then only one study, and a .005% risk. I feel like it's the most crazed topic at the moment. All my friends are confused. Our Mums were on it for 30 years without a problem. 💖💖

[@fiveminutefridays]

Anne you are my critical of methodology QUEEN - I love your hands-on cooking videos so much as well but it is SO SO satisfying to see you rip to shreds all these terribly designed, misrepresented studies that are used for catchy headlines, walk viewers through how and why the data could be manipulated to "say" something it doesn't really support, and think critically about the issue at hand with the information available.

[@pyro-millie5533]

Glad to hear its safe for those who can use it. Personally, I have to check every label on anything sweet for it because its an instant migraine trigger for me. I’m talking one sip of diet soda = migraine in minutes. Same with Sucralose. Luckily Eritherol and Stevia are gaining more use because they are zero cal and don’t give me the headaches. Stevia has an aftertaste I don’t particularly care for, but its not nearly as bad as the distinct aftertaste of sucralose or aspartame, and is actually pretty good in iced drinks like tea or lemonade, or anything with mint, because its a kinda sharp sweet flavor. Monkfruit (Eritherol) is earthy, behaves like sugar when cooked, but is sweeter so you don’t need as much, and tastes great in coffee and other rich things. I’ve not been as careful about sugar as I should be lately, but this vid made me remember what I’ve found helpful as a prediabetic whose supposed to be watching it but physically cannot touch Splenda.

[@ExhaustedScarf]

I hear you. I also have Migraine problems with Aspartame, which is such a shame. I wish I could enjoy most chewing gum. I personally use Monkfruit “sugar” because it’s also zero carbs, helpful for my low-carb neurology condition diet, zero calories, helpful for weight management, and it’s super sweet with no bitter aftertaste. It kinda tastes like fruity gum. Monkfruit is easily my favourite sweetener, and I carry a container with me everywhere.

[@EcoMouseChannel]

Monk fruit is NOT Eritherol. That is made from wood like birch bark. It's the sweetener that has that cooling mouth feel. But it's also responsible for gastrointestinal sensitivity in some. Real monk fruit extract is from the Luo Han Guo fruit, found in a very specific region in a high valley in China. So it's very expensive as a pure extract sweetener. A good brand that has high purity would have a mongroside percentage in the 60% or higher. And you only use 1/64th or 1/32nd of a teaspoon. You get a tiny bottle, but look at the serving size, from 425 to 650 (depending on % of purity) If you are buying monk fruit in a big bag, it's cut with other sweeteners like Eritherol or now Allulose. While they are also natural sweeteners, zero on the glycemic index, no calorie etc... They are not the same as pure monk fruit extract powder. It really doesn't have an aftertaste like the low grade stevias do, and doesn't seem to have any of the downsides the other alternative "natural sweeteners" have. The only downside is it can only come from China, and we might find that some day in the future, it's no longer available to buy in our region.

[@jvinson4181]

I so appreciate your research and education and sharing these videos with us, thank you.

[@minipretzels]

Thank you for posting ann! It always makes my week

[@Lleanlleawrg]

When I was around 12-13 years old, something like that - I was driven to the hospital because I had horrific aches and pains in my stomach. The hospital first thought my appendix was bursting, so they slotted me for surgery, but were going to do some preliminary tests just to be safe. Tests turned up blank. They had no clue what it was, but it wasn't my appendix, so the surgery was canceled, and I was sent home. Some days later it happened again. And it would keep happening every now and then for a few years before I finally realized the common denominator. I generally didn't go for the artificial sweeteners, but once in a while I'd be offered something containing them and I'd be in agony at some point later that day. Aspartame is one of the artificial sweeteners I seem to be very sensitive to, and I started reading about it, and got into some weird rabbit holes like what this video is debunking. Took me a while to snap out of it, and for years I'm just thinking it's safe for most people, but i guess i have an intolerance or something. It's not just aspartame, but it's not all artificial sweeteners. It always annoys the shit out of me that people try to use the word "chemical" to signify whether something is healthy or not. Water is a chemical. Likewise for the natural/artificial thing. Natural is not a synonym for good, and artificial is not a synonym for bad. Smallpox is natural. Mercury is natural. Arsenic is natural. Honey is artificial, it's just that the bees are the artificers. If honey is natural, then so is gasoline I guess.

[@ladybabbleon]

I'm the same way. Artificial sweeteners make me feel ill, but aspartame really messes with my stomach and g.i. tract. And it tastes weird. As bad as it sounds, I'm happy I have someone to commiserate with, lol! Oh, and sucralose also gets me. Not as bad as aspartame, but it's definitely #2 on my "do not eat" list.

[@fuglbird]

Pro tip: Honey is natural and gasoline is not.

[@blueismylove3128]

​@@fuglbirdYeah, I'm not so sure about their reasoning for why honey isn't "natural" lol, but I agree with the rest of it. Natural means occurring in nature, and bees are nature. If honey isn't natural then tree sap isn't natural, and trees are the "artificers".

[@sarahsander785]

@@ladybabbleon It's good to hear that there are other people out there who think aspartame tastes weird. I always get strange glances from people if I tell them I avoid aspartame for taste reasons. It's far easier to go down the "it causes cancer"-route, because I feel most people don't taste any diffrence. It is okay if the things are really hot or cold, but as soon as they got to a good eating/ trinking temperature they taste gross. I even once got into a fight with a waiter because they delivered diet coke instead of a normal one and they didn't believe me that I tasted the diffrence ...

[@bloochoo2870]

Lol yes honey is natural…and of course natural is always going to be healthier than processed as our bodies just so happen to be natural. Conversely a processed construct like a car for instance would there for benefit from processed fuel like gasoline!

[@quiz-sandwich]

The tricky part is that those scientific studies are often funded by huge companies that are interested in that particular thing to be safe. And there have already been big stories how FDA approves very dangerous things. I would avoid aspartame anyway :)

[@el5001]

There are other organising than fda whibhave approved of it (in Europe that is known to be much more strict). Also studies that haven't been funded by private companies

[@jayemover_16]

Ann having an ant colony is very cute, maybe we could get a short video just on them, like an ant colony vlog?

[@katyahum9826]

Very thorough research, good material

[@bcp4596]

I so appreciate how you make research accessible. I teach research methods and stats to PhD learners, and one of my constant struggles is getting past their tendency to jump to conclusions and over-simplify things. People want the scientific process to be so simple, but the process is anything but.

[@TylaStark]

oh my gosh. even having seen so many of your videos, im still so frickin surprised when you pull out a whole ANT COLONY just to teach us something. i love it. so many people just expect to be taken at their word these days, but you take the time to show us, even when it takes a lot of work.

[@ashleighjames2022]

Thankyou for going into detail about this!

[@birdzilla01]

Thank you for breaking this down so well!

[@Novur]

Had this same argument about twenty times when the DEADLY CARCINOGEN headlines hit, it just about sent me round the twist. I'm glad to have a video I can just put on instead of talking until I'm blue in the face ❤️

[@corytc5095]

Such an underrated channel. No one takes the time to find facts and do real research like Ann does! Thank you ma'am!!!