Aspartame causes next-day cramping?

Jthanmyfitnesspal

Hi All,

Maybe this applies only to us older folks with more delicate digestive systems:

I've been having tea with Nutrasweet (aspartame) for ever. I never seemed to have any adverse effects, so I never worried about it.

Then I went on a vacation to a house that had no Nutrasweet, so I did without for an entire week. I really seemed to have less cramping, which was very evident in my early-morning jogs (done completely fasted). The rest of my diet was pretty much the same as ever. Note that I never have aspartame before jogging!

It seems pretty convincing, but doing without a sweetener in my tea is going to be difficult! Anyone else had this experience?

missysippy930

Not really, but I do have less inflammation in my joints avoiding excess sugar. I do have other sweeteners though. I am an “older folk”.
I am an advocate who says to listen to your body. It tells you things. Maybe experiment with other sweeteners. I know stevia is very sweet and you don’t need much.

Luke_rabbit

I think you would have to experiment with it. Since you were on vacation, many other differences might have been the cause - different food and drink, different sleep amount and bed, different activities, different terrain, etc.

Good luck playing scientist!

NovusDies

If you were jogging on vacation isn't it possible that it was a change in terrain that is a factor here?

LyndaBSS

I use only real sugar on those rare occasions when I need it. Any other sweeteners give me serious bloating and cramping.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

Well, let me say that jogging in the morning is a good test of the status of your digestive system. Many joggers (particularly older joggers) report that going on a jog in the morning can really accelerate things, causing cramping or a sudden need to "go." It's been an issue for me at times.

Well, it seems that Aspartame was part of the problem, with a very delayed effect, such that I didn't put #2 and #2 together, if you know what I mean.

psuLemon

Cramping is largely associated with a magnesium deficiency and/or an electrolyte imbalance. Its possible there was a fluctuation in your levels or maybe your foods weren't pretty much the same. But this would be the first i heard aspartame and cramping.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

psuLemon wrote: »

Cramping is largely associated with a magnesium deficiency and/or an electrolyte imbalance. Its possible there was a fluctuation in your levels or maybe your foods weren't pretty much the same. But this would be the first i heard aspartame and cramping.

There are lots of hits on the topic on Google. Of course, it's hard to draw any conclusions from that fact.