What Artificial Sweeteners Are Doing To Your Health

Once touted as a miracle food, artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes took the market by storm in the 1970s. But experts continue to warn against consuming erythritol as a sugar substitute as it could increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.

A recent study showed that erythritol, a sugar alcohol commonly used as a sugar substitute in cookies, diet soda, jelly, candy, gum, protein bars, mouthwash and toothpaste, as well as foods labeled “sugar-free” or “natural” have zero nutrients and can cause more health-related issues than natural sugar. Popular brands like Truvia, Splenda, Vitamin Water Zero, Gatorade G2 Natural and Halo Top Ice Cream contain erythritol and are popular with those on a “keto-friendly” diet.

Our bodies naturally make sugar alcohols including erythritol in very low levels as part of our metabolic process. But it’s also commercially manufactured by fermenting corn, and this is where the problem starts. While digestive issues are common side effects of erythritol and other common sugar substitutes, it can cause other more serious health issues. Erythritol causes more platelet activity in the blood, which means it becomes thick and sticky, increasing the risk of blood clots, cardiovascular events and even death.

More research needs to be done on the long-term effects of erythritol and other popular sugar substitutes, but advocacy groups in both the U.S. and Europe are calling for the FDA to review recent data and better clarify the risks associated with consuming these and other sweeteners.

Watch out for prepackaged foods that claim to be “low sugar,” “sugar-free,” “reduced sugar,” “lite,” “low carb,” “keto-friendly,” “artificially sweetened” or “natural.” It’s important to read the ingredients and reduce the use of or stop consuming foods that have these ingredients: erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, sucralose, aspartame or sugar alcohol.