Additive 2 - Aspartame

Aspartame is a sweetener commonly used on low calorie or sugar-free sodas, snacks that don't require heating or baking (Aspartame does not react well to heat) such as cereals, granola bars, protein bars, it's also found on ice cream, breath mints, fruit cups, jellies and so on. 
This additive is made from genetically modified E. Coli, a bacteria fed in a way that it can defecate a protein that contains Aspartamic Acid-phenylalanine used to produce Aspartame. In other words, Aspartame is made from bacteria's feces.
Once this additive enters your body, it breaks it down into methanol, which the body then converts into Formaldehyde, a cancer causing chemical. This particular conversion can cause changes in cell structure leading to decease and serious health problems. Also, this sweetener, once consumed, it breaks the blood-brain barrier, after it crosses that barrier it can damage and kill brain-cells. 
Aspartame accounts for more than 75% of the adverse reactions to additives reported to the FDA. These reactions include:

• Breathing difficulties
• Depression 
• Anxiety attacks
• Insomnia
• Rashes
• Seizures
• Weight gain and many more!

Now that you have learned the effects this awful additive has in your body, you might probably want to stay away from diet sodas and sugar-free gum, after all, it is not any better than the ones containing sugar.
And remember, always read your label and choose wisely.

                                                             http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/06/aspartame-most-dangerous-substance-added-to-food.aspx
                                                                                                              http://www.naturalnews.com/045692_aspartame_chemical_sweetener_surprising_facts.html
                                                                                                                                   http://www.livestrong.com/article/389334-a-list-of-foods-containing-aspartame/
                                                                                                                                                                                                   Eating clean for dummies by Wright Larsen