Natural sweetener erythritol linked to stroke risk

[Tom D]

MSN

A popular “natural” sugar substitute found in thousands of diet foods and drinks may be damaging the brain’s protective barrier and increasing stroke risk, according to research from the University of Colorado.

The findings added evidence to earlier observational research that associated higher circulating erythritol levels with an elevated risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke.

The sweetener appears in thousands of products, often unlabelled or buried in ingredient lists. These are often marketed as sugar-free:

• Sugar-free and “keto-friendly” ice cream, candy, and baked goods
• Protein bars and meal replacement shakes
• Energy drinks and diet sodas
• Sugar-free gum and mints
• Low-calorie yogurt and pudding
• Diabetic-friendly snacks and dessert

 

[J Grant]

RFK was supposed to be about natural foods and against this kind of thing - yet he is silent, and has not taken meaningful action against Big Ag and their harmful products like artificial sweeteners. They are all bad and should be banned. -

 

[Gobears81]

I've always had a sweet tooth, but tried to eliminate sugar by switching to sugar-free desserts/candy. Went OK for a couple of months, then my body decided to reject artificial sweeteners. Now, it feels like knives in my stomach, so I even had to change my protein shake.
For whatever reason, diet pops don't bother me, other than Diet Coke, which gives me a headache.
Came to the conclusion that the artificial sweeteners are much worse than the real thing.