No more aspartame in Diet Pepsi

PepsiCo has announced it will no longer be using the controversial sweetener aspartame in its Diet Pepsi drinks, although this change will only be enacted in the USA, and not in Europe. It will be replaced by acesulfame potassium (ace-K) and sucralose.
Artificial sweeteners are often used in soft drinks to offer low-calorie alternatives to the normal versions, with no or very little sugar included. This makes it a potentially useful alternative to people with metabolic conditions like diabetes, as well as those who just want to lose weight, but who still want to enjoy a soft drink. Sugar can affect the blood glucose levels of people with diabetes, and can easily be stored by the body by turning it into excess fat.
Health regulators insist that the artificial sweetener is safe, as it has been thoroughly scrutinised over the years, but a belief still persists in some people that it is linked to developing tumours and cancer. There are also some people with phenylketonuria (PKU), an inherited disease which means they are unable to consume aspartame safely, due to an inability to metabolise a certain aspartame component.
However, the many tests which have been carried out since it was first approved during the 1980s have indicated that aspartame is safe to consume, although regulators have agreed that there needs to be a limit on its consumption; a limit equivalent to 14 cans of sugar-free drinks.
In order to follow a healthy lifestyle, it is important to limit your consumption of sugar and processed food, which can contribute significantly to obesity, which can also lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. A healthy diet will include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and it is also very important to take part in regular exercise.