Aspartame is a popular artificial sweetener that continues to make headlines due to the safety issues associated with it. There are several misconceptions about aspartame that you should scrutinize.

Aspartame was linked to diabetes, autoimmune disorders, birth defects, depressions and several forms of cancer. But, are the fears subjected towards aspartame reasonable?

Here are five myths about aspartame that you should learn about.

MYTH 1: Aspartame causes cancer.

FACT: Despite the claims that aspartame causes cancer, there was no study that can back up these claims. In fact, it was the other way around. According to Stuff.co.nz, numerous studies and growing scientific consensus believe the opposite.

Reactions added that the claims against aspartame are from anecdotal or flawed studies. When one consumes aspartame, it breaks into different compounds, methanol is one and it has been scrutinized because it metabolized formaldehyde, a known carcinogenic under long-term exposure.

However, this element is used immediately by making amino acids and it never builds up in the body. Leftover formaldehyde is turned into formic acid, which gets out of your body through pee or is broken down to carbon dioxide and water. Thus, this substance doesn't get stored in our bodies at potentially harmful levels.

MYTH 2: Aspartame is dangerous to pregnant and breastfeeding women.

FACT: The FDA and the Council on Scientific Affairs of the American Medical Association believe that pregnant women and breastfeeding moms can safely consume aspartame.

Foods sweetened with aspartame can satisfy a pregnant woman's sweet tooth without the extra calories, leaving her with more room for nutritious food.

MYTH 3: Aspartame can lead to weight gain.

FACT: Aspartame.org debunks claims associating aspartame to weight gain. "Products made with aspartame can help with weight control because they are lower in calories than their sugar-sweetened counterparts," it explained. Moreover, aspartame does not increase hunger, appetite or food intake.

MYTH 4: Aspartame is dangerous to diabetic individuals.

FACT: According to Joslin Diabetes Center, aspartame does not contain calories in the usual amount. Thus, consuming it cannot affect one's blood and glucose level or weight gain.

Per the report, the safety of aspartame has been well-established and consuming products sweetened with aspartame have no difference from eating food that is not associated with any adverse health effects.

MYTH 5: Aspartame causes headaches or migraines.

FACT: A Duke University Medical Center study was conducted among individuals who believed that aspartame caused their headaches. However, the results show otherwise. Aspartame does not cause headaches or migraines.

Many factors can cause headaches, including stress, sleep disturbance and physical illnesses. It is not safe to assume that a headache is related to aspartame when the cause may be a serious physical or psychological condition.