Aspartame is also linked in some studies to weight gain, GI disorders, mental health issues and more:
According to some studies, aspartame and other artificial sweeteners can lead to weight gain instead of weight loss 12. Aspartame has been linked to increased appetite, diabetes, metabolic derangement and obesity-related diseases 2.
One study showed that aspartame causes greater weight gain than a diet with the same calorie intake but no aspartame 1. Another study found that even acceptable daily intakes of aspartame might make you hungrier and lead to weight gain 3.
…some research suggests an association between aspartame intake and metabolic damage to the central nervous system (CNS), such as changes in enzyme and neurotransmitter activities 2. Aspartame acts as a chemical stressor by elevating plasma cortisol levels and causing the production of excess free radicals. High cortisol levels and excess free radicals may increase the brain’s vulnerability to oxidative stress which may have adverse effects on neurobehavioral health 3.
There is also some evidence that high-aspartame consumption may lead to weaker spatial orientation, irritability, depression, and other neurobehavioral conditions 14. However, these studies are limited in scope and further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of aspartame on human health.
Worth researching more, especially if you eat/drink anything with this stuff - and it’s in a lot of food products.
That is if you go find fruits in their original form. Current grocery store fruit have been bred to be full of sugar. Bananas used to have large seeds. Sadly if you want to eat anything sweet you’re just going to have to accept the fact that it’s not healthy.
I think there are some fruits which have been around in different varieties. In India, we have so many varieties of bananas, some of which are less sweet. Then there are also seasonal fruits like JackFruit, Mangos , Papaya which are all quite sweet and are mostly in their natural form. Again there are so may varieties that we can pick the one most suited to our taste :). That said, such sweet fruits are still bad in large amounts.