Emergen-C® helps promote immune health, especially used as a prevention during cold and flu season. Each individual packet is a delicious fizzy drink mix that delivers 1,000 mg of vitamin C as ascorbic acid, as well as 24 nutrients with antioxidants, electrolytes and 7 B vitamins.
I am not saying that Emergen-C is not a good product, but I can’t use it, unfortunately, and if you have ever had a reaction to the aspartic acid in aspartame, you may have a similar reaction to the aspartic acid in Emergen-C, like I did.
Bright Squiggly Lines
Aspartame is 40 percent aspartic acid, and I experienced severe vision reactions to it. After drinking a diet cola, I would develop bright squiggly lines in my line of vision, and the lines would grow to the point that I was temporarily blinded. Then, the bright light would disappear into my head and leave me with a screaming migraine.
Once I realized that the aspartame in sugar-free diet colas was the source of this, I removed all aspartame from my life, and I never experienced another one of the squiggly line/migraine episodes. Until I started using Emergen-C, that is.
Several months after my recovery from aspartame poisoning, I adopted a stellar wellness program. I was taking around 4,000 mg of ascorbic acid every day, and my friend who owned the local health food store suggested that I try the Emergen-C, which has 1,000 mg ascorbic acid in each packet.
Gladly, I tried it, and bam – the bright, squiggly lines and migraines started up again. The migraines were not as bad as those caused by aspartame, but the squiggly lines were blinding.
I went on the hunt to figure out what I had gotten into. I was disappointed to learn that it was the aspartic acid in the Emergen-C.
Aspartic Acid
The research shows that isolated aspartic acid can negatively affect the brain and central nervous system. Well, I knew that was right!
Aspartic acid, also known as aspartate, is considered a non-essential amino acid, which can be synthesized within the body. The problem comes from isolating the amino acid – this can be dangerous to your health.
When I was researching aspartame toxicity for my book, Sweet Poison, I learned from the researchers that isolated amino acids (like the two found in aspartame) are loose cannons in the brain.
Amino acids are supposed to remain in combination, as they are in nature. When amino acids are separated (isolated) in the lab, they lose their natural ability to work in synchronicity; one with the other, and can no longer “balance” one another out. Hence, they can become damaging to the brain, and toxic to the nervous system.
The Research
The health side-effects of isolated aspartic acid have been well known for many years. Sadly, there are just so many chemicals out there, modern manufacturers and consumers are losing site of what is causing what.
Many studies have proven the adverse effects of isolated aspartic acid, but this particular study is one of my favorites. In October 1994, this study was published in the journal Neurology showing that headaches occurred in patients using too much aspartic acid. The researchers also observed that headaches occurred in people who used too much aspartic acid in the form of aspartame. They observed that this is particularly true in aspartame-susceptible patients.
Bingo! This confirmed that my toxic reaction to aspartame repeated as a toxic reaction to the aspartic acid in Emergen-C because I was already aspartame-susceptible.
No More Reactions
Unfortunately, I cannot use Emergen-C anymore, but if you have not used aspartame and are not aspartame-susceptible, the aspartic acid in the fizzy vitamin packet may not adversely effect you. This may explain strange brain, nerve, and vision reactions many of you may have experienced from the aspartic acid in Emergency-C, for those who have been scarred by aspartame, like me.
I did contact the Alacer company, maker of Emergen-C, and passionately informed them of my reaction to their product, and why. I never received a response.
I wanted to tell them that this can be easily remedied – simply add 7 more essential amino acids to the vitamin drink, and they will balance one another out.
Stay healthy during this exceptionally cold winter season, and do keep taking your vitamins rich in ascorbic acid. If you are experiencing aspartame-like reactions and using Emergen-C, however, this may explain why.
