WHAT IS ERYTHRITOL?
Sugar alcohol, also known as a polyol, is a form of carbohydrate that is naturally present in many fruits and vegetables.
Erythritol (pronounced Ear-rith-ri-tall) is commercially generated by fermentation using dextrose, a basic sugar made from corn. It’s about 70% as sweet as sugar and has a similar taste, feel, and texture to table sugar.
It is used as a sugar substitute in packaged meals and drinks to help offset the calories from added sugars and carbs.
Erythritol as a sugar replacement can be found as a tabletop sweetener, in beverages, chewing gum, chocolate, candies, and in bakery products.
ERYTHRITOL; HOW SAFE IS IT?
Despite the fact that erythritol is one of the newest sugar alcohols on the market (mannitol and xylitol have been around for a while). And several studies on both humans and animals have been done about the sugar alternative.
Erythritol was given the go-ahead by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1999, and the FDA did the same in 2001. Diabetes patients can use it without risk. Erythritol has no effect on insulin or glucose levels. As a consequence, it is a secure sugar alternative if you have diabetes.
A NEW STUDY SAYS; ERYTHRITOL RAISES THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK
Although the body does not break down this artificial sweetener, it can have several adverse effects. A new study says that the most common erythritol side effects include heart attack risk and stroke.
According to Jessica Cording, R.D., author of The Little Book of Game-Changers, “This danger might potentially be caused by the sweetener itself or it could be due to something else related with erythritol. Several goods made for those following the ketogenic diet include erythritol, as Cording notes. She speculates that they may consume a lot of saturated fat, which carries cardiometabolic risk factors.
Artificial sweeteners like erythritol also have the potential to make you desire sweet items even more—and maybe overeat them in the process, Cording adds. I frequently witness this happening, she claims. Someone could use artificial sweetener products in the belief that they are a “freebie” that would enable them to reduce their calorie intake as a better option, but this could lead to an increased desire for sweets. According to Cording, eating too many sweets on a regular basis can affect a person’s weight. And increase their chance of being overweight or obese both of which are risk factors for heart disease.
How it leads to heart attack?
The results of erythritol being added to blood or platelets were also examined by the study’s researchers. These cell fragments that clump together to stop bleeding. During an injury, platelets are necessary to help form a blood clot to stop the bleeding. But they can also lead to heart attacks and strokes.
The researchers discovered that erythritol stuck around in the blood for at least three days after it was consumed. But the substitute also made it easier for the platelets to spring into action and form a blood clot, leading to more clots in models. As a result, they theorized, these clots could raise the risk of stroke or heart attack.
REFERENCES-
- https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/27/health/zero-calorie-sweetener-heart-attack-stroke-wellness/index.html
- https://indianexpress.com/article/health-wellness/can-artificial-sweeteners-in-your-low-cal-or-keto-diet-raise-the-risk-of-heart-attack-and-stroke-8472526/#:~:text=A%20new%20research%20by%20Cleveland,of%20heart%20attack%20and%20stroke.
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/popular-artificial-sweetener-erythritol-linked-to-higher-risk-for-blood-clot
Does Erythritol ups risk of heart attack?