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Re: Kahn!!!
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:36 am
by Andy Balham
Geoff WreckdoM wrote:that's my Ricardo Mantalban
And everyone should have one; you can never be too prepared...
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 6:42 am
by MouthReliant
The problem with diet drinks is they contain aspartame which is a dipeptide derivative containing two naturally occurring amino acids, aspartic acid and phenyl alanine. L-Aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester is the chemical name. When the sweetness of the dipeptide was discovered (1965) it was thought to be safe since it was composed of two naturally occuring amino acids.
The problem with aspartame is (1) it allows much greater concentrations of aspartic acid and phenylalanine to be ingested relative to normal food consumption, (2) many people cannot metabolize and tolerate phenylalanine above minimal doeses (people who suffer from phenylketonuria) and (3) the methyl ester is metabolized to methyl alcohol which is further metabolized to formic acid which is toxic.
A few 12 oz. servings sweetened with aspartame per week may not cause problems, but at the time aspartame was approved by the FDA the effect of high doses caused by drinking multiple 12 oz. portions per day was overlooked.