Saudi Gazette A common myth among weight watchers is that drinking diet beverages will help keep them slim and healthy. As these drinks are sugar-free, contain less than one calorie per can and so, they won't add any extra calories to their diet. But sorry, diet beverage drinkers, these drinks do not only make you fat they also possess dangerous ingredients which can affect your health drastically. The danger of diet drinks lies in the artificial sweetener NutraSweet that contains aspartame. If the amino acid aspartame has a high content in the blood it can act as a powerful brain toxin. Neurons exposed to aspartame become overly excited and fire nerve impulses rapidly until exhaustion. If exposure lasts for several hours these neurons eventually die. Excessive intake of aspartame can produce brain cell damage. Recent studies show that excitotoxins such as in NutraSweet and MSG, a commonly used food additive, play a major role in degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson, Alzheimer, and other nervous system disorders.These diseases are all characterized by a slow destruction of brain cells that are sensitive to excitotoxin damage. Strokes, brain injury, seizures, hypoglycemic brain damage, migraine headaches, and dementia are all diseases which are directly linked to building up of high levels of excitotoxins in the brain. In a clinical study, ophthalmologists tested MSG and aspartame on mice. After completing the experiment they dissected the animals and microscopically examined their tissues. In the animals given MSG and aspartame, almost all the nerve cells in the inner layer of their retinas had been destroyed. There is clear evidence that excitotoxins can aggravate an already existing condition. It may even lead to nerve cell damage in sensitive people. These food additives can cause serious nervous disorders. So, why take the risk of drinking those hazardous beverages? People are unaware of these dangerous health hazards though medical fraternities are trying their best to make the general public aware of these life-threatning diseases caused by diet drinks. Pregnant women should especially avoid these dangerous drinks because the excitotoxins could pose serious threats to the development of the fetus's brain that will manifest itself later in life as learning disabilities. The health risks far outweigh the low calorie advantage of drinking diet sodas. If you are watching your weight or are on diet then go for ice water-flavored with mint leaves, lemon or orange slices or simply drink water. __
