🍽️ Food & Health - science, news, myth-busting ☠️

driver8 · 2023-03-04T08:04:03Z

Artificial Sweetener Erythritol is Tied to Increased Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke added in high levels to processed foods, widely used in sugar-replacement and reduced sugar products. Some people have higher-than-normal levels of erythritol in their blood, which might be leading to an increased risk of blood clots. Looking at 4,000+ people (US + EU) who were undergoing elective cardiac evaluation, researchers found that those with greater erythritol levels in their blood had a higher chance of experiencing adverse cardiac events ... (and) increased blood clot formation. In fact, it's best to limit or eliminate all artificial sweeteners. The merits and shortcomings of alternative sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, stevia and saccharin, have been debated for years ... linked to higher calorie consumption and higher blood sugar levels ... (and) increased (risk of) death from circulatory disease. • Strokes: A study following 81000 women for 12 years found a marked increase in stroke risk with artificial sweeteners (JAMA, 2019;321(16):1554-1555).• Cancer: High consumers of artificial sweeteners were found to be at a 13% increased risk for developing obesity-related cancers, including colorectal, stomach, liver, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophageal, ovarian, endometrial, and prostate cancers (PLoS Med, 2022 Mar 24;19(3):e1003950.• Diabetes: Using artificial sweeteners was associated with increased risk for obesity and diabetes (Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, Feb 23, 2017; Brit J of Nutrit, Sept 2014;112(5):725-734), even in people who were not overweight (BMJ, July 21, 2015). How Artificial Sweeteners May Increase Risk for Diabetes and Weight Gain• Artificial sweeteners may increase risk for diabetes and weight gain by changing the bacteria in your colon (Nature, Oct 9, 2014;514(7521):181-6; Cell Metab, Nov 4, 2014;20(5):701-3). One week of consuming artificial sweeteners changed the gut bacteria of apparently healthy humans to cause higher blood sugar levels after taking sugared foods and drinks. Obese people who have taken aspartame or saccharin within 24 hours, have much higher blood sugar rises after taking sugar than those who do not use these artificial sweeteners (Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, May 24, 2016). High blood sugar levels call out more insulin and high insulin levels increase weight gain and case inflammation to increase diabetes risk.• Artificial sweeteners light up the brain's pleasure centers, promoting calorie consumption; but as they are calorie-free, you would seek more of other foods (Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 10, 2013). Sugared Drinks Are Even More HarmfulIt is well established that taking in too much sugar, particularly in sugar-sweetened beverages, is associated with weight gain, obesity, type II diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease (JAMA Intern Med, 2014;174(4):516-524). Sugar in liquid form raises blood sugar more quickly than any other type of food. One can of sugar-sweetened soda contains 25 to 50 grams of sugar, the recommended upper limit for sugar for an entire day. Because of their high sugar content and lack of fiber, fruit juices and fruit drinks are just as unhealthful as sodas.