Sweetness is usually related to sugar. The problem with sugar, otherwise known as sucrose, is that it contains a lot of calories. These calories lead to weight gain if not spent on exercise, but now that humans have the knowledge and technology to create various substances, there are artificial sweeteners that contain no calories at all and taste even sweeter than sucrose. Many Americans avoid sugary drinks by drinking drinks full of artificial sweeteners like aspartame to avoid weight gain. However, studies have shown that the adverse neurological and visceral effects of aspartame demonstrate that artificial sweeteners are more harmful than helpful; therefore, artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, should not be ingested. Aspartame can cause dangerous neurological effects in humans. Aspartame is metabolized into 50% phenylalanine, 40% aspartic acid, and 10% methanol (Maher and Wurtman). The main problem lies in the lone amino acid. Phenylalanine is a vital amino acid, but it is also a “neurotoxin,” a molecule that causes adverse effects in the brain. Increased levels of phenylalanine in the brain can repress the enzymes needed to produce certain neurotransmitters, with drastic consequences. For example, phenylalanine can repress the enzymes needed to produce the neurotransmitters serotonin, and if these neurotransmitters are not created, the body can suffer from neurological problems such as depression, anxiety, and seizures. The results of a study conducted by Timothy J. Maher and Richard J. Wurtman show that 50 percent of laboratory rats had seizures after receiving a dose of 250 milligrams per kilogram of aspartame. A can of diet soda usually contains only 50 milligrams per kilogram of asp... half paper... exercise to avoid weight gain or avoid all sugary drinks. Most people probably wouldn't choose the latter, even though it is the healthier choice. After all, what is life without sweetness? Works Cited Collison, Kate S, et al. “Prediabetic changes in gene expression induced by aspartame and monosodium glutamate in trans fat-fed C5731/6J mice.” Nutr Metab (London). 2013. PubMed Central. Network. November 18, 2013. Maher, Timothy J and Wurtman, Richard J. “Possible Neurological Effects of Aspartame, a Widely Used Food Additive.” Environmental health perspectives. 1987. PubMed Central. PDF files. November 18, 2013.Swithers, Susan E. “Artificial Sweeteners Produce the Counterintuitive Effect of Inducing Metabolic Disorders.” 2013. Cellular Print. PDF files. November 19, 2013.Taubes, Gary. “What really makes us fat.” New York Times. June 30, 2012. Web. November 29 2013.