Erythritolis touted as a zero-calorie sweetener.
For those monitoring calories, it adds sweetness without cost to the diet.
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What Is Erythritol?
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So, it is natural.
It is not digested to be used for energy by the body.
Rather, it is absorbed into the blood and excreted in the urine.
It is made commercially by a natural process of microbes such as yeast-fermenting corn.
Erythritol: Healthy, Unsafe, or Somewhere in Between?
Erythritol has some definite benefits to its use but also some drawbacks.
If you’re looking for a sugar substitute, you may wish to weigh the facts.
But further research is needed on this.
On the positive side, this sweetener can offer real benefits for dental health.
It has proven effective at minimizing the development of cavities and keeping bacterial growth in the mouth low.
Research shows erythritol can reduce inflammation in the small intestine due to eating a high-fat diet.
Investigators found erythritol decreased the expression of genes causing inflammation in the small intestine.
It’s easy to see why some people may be wild about erythritol while others are wary.
Daily Erythritol Dosage: How Much Can You Have?
All in all, it’s a question of finding your limits.
Consider taking a sweetener that contains just stevia since there are differences between these two.
Erythritol vs. Stevia
Stevia is made from the leaves of the stevia plant.
Erythritol on Food Labels
Finding sweeteners like erythritol on labels may require a little detective work.
Remember, though, that erythritol is not the only sugar alcohol.
Others include sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, isomalt, xylitol, and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH).
It will break down the different components in the food, such as carbohydrates, cholesterol, and sodium.
It does occur naturally in some foods, but in such low amounts it must be artificially produced.
Erythritol has been linked to some heart issues.
If too much is consumed, it can lead to digestive problems.
Regnat K, Mach RL, Mach-Aigner AR.Erythritol as sweetenerwherefrom and whereto?Appl Microbiol Biotechnol.
2023;15(1):204. doi:10.3390/nu15010204
National Institute of Health.Erythritol and cardiovascular events.
Witkowski M, Nemet I, Alamri H, et al.The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk.Nat Med.
2021;22(11):5558. doi:10.3390/ijms22115558
Food & Drug Administration.How sweet it is: all about sweeteners.
Center for Science in the Public Interest.Thaumatin.
American Diabetes Association.Nutrition for life: sugar substitutes.
Food & Drug Administration.Aspartame and other sweeteners in food.
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