Previous reviews have found that erythritol may be a good replacement for sugar, although much research has been done in animals, said Joan Slavin, professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, who was not involved. Were. New Research.
“There are going to be studies that show whether it is good, bad or indifferent,” Dr. Nestle said. He said that while people have been consuming artificial sweeteners for years, “it’s really hard to put your finger on a specific problem.”
Doctor. Slavin said examining the health effects of sugar substitutes and alternative sweeteners is especially challenging when they are consumed as part of a larger diet.
Doctor. Slavin said people who consume high amounts of artificial sweeteners may already be at risk for cardiovascular problems. If they have conditions like diabetes or obesity, they may be using artificial sweeteners to try to cut down on sugar, she said. “That’s the really important thing, for people not to say, ‘Hey, this stuff is terrible, it’s giving us heart attacks,'” Dr. Slavin said. “No. It’s another data point that says, ‘Hey, we need to look at this.'”
For some people, sugar substitutes such as erythritol can be an important tool for those trying to reduce the amount of added sugars they consume, Dr. That can help with weight management and blood sugar control, Slavin said. But there are alternative options for reducing our overall sugar consumption, Dr Hazen said. While research on the health risks of erythritol is still developing, people may want to avoid large amounts of artificial sweeteners, Dr. Especially if they already have heart disease or are at risk for heart attack or stroke, Freney said. It can start with small changes, she suggested — if you consume five artificially sweetened beverages a day, for example, try replacing two of them with water. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, she said.
“If you take erythritol, you won’t die on the spot,” Dr. Nestle said. “You will not.”