Aspartame is a safe sugar substitute during pregnancy, according to the US FDA, but some doctors recommend limiting its use due to concerns about calorie intake, caffeine consumption, and the risk of miscarriage. Women with phenylketonuria should avoid aspartame, while those with diabetes may benefit from using it.
Aspartame is a sugar substitute found in various foods. It can sweeten low-calorie versions of desserts or yogurt and is found in many diet sodas. There has been concern about aspartame and pregnancy expressed by many people and fueled by allegations on the internet. At present, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has investigated these allegations, found them to be false, and considers aspartame and pregnancy compatible. However, some doctors recommend limiting its use for a few important reasons.
The first reason aspartame and pregnancy may not mix is because pregnant women probably shouldn’t consume “diet” foods. If you’re really concerned about calorie intake during pregnancy, you may not be getting enough calories. You can eat plenty of nutritious foods without overeating and not having to resort to low-calorie foods to stay healthy.
Another potential consideration regarding aspartame and pregnancy are the types of foods in which aspartame is usually contained. If your consumption of this aspartame is primarily through diet sodas, you may want to give this matter some thought. Many diet sodas contain high levels of caffeine, and doctors recommend people limit caffeine consumption to no more than 200 milligrams per day. Some recent studies suggest that consuming 200 milligrams of caffeine or more can significantly increase the risk of miscarriage. If you can avoid caffeine, you probably should.
One consideration about aspartame and pregnancy is that using some sugar substitutes may actually be better for some women. Women with diabetes typically cannot consume sugar and are safer with aspartame. Other sugar substitutes are not as safe. Saccharin has definitely been linked to a higher incidence of birth defects.
There is a group of women who shouldn’t mix aspartame and pregnancy. Women who have phenylketonuria (PKU) should never consume anything with aspartame. This is because this sugar substitute is rich in phenylalanines. People with PKU cannot process this amino acid and high blood levels can have tragic consequences during pregnancy, with great risks for the unborn child. PKU is diagnosed early, so most women will know they have the disease.
While there’s some buzz on the internet about the links between aspartame and pregnancy, there still remains scant evidence that it’s unsafe for pregnant women. On the other hand, you may just want to avoid it and choose less chemically produced foods. However, the occasional ingestion of this sugar substitute shouldn’t be a cause for alarm, and food certification agencies across the United States continue to certify its safety.
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