NO BRAINER –
Feb. 10, 2026 – Found in everything from protein bars to energy drinks, erythritol has long been considered a safe alternative to sugar.
Research suggests this widely used sweetener may be undermining one of the body’s most crucial protective barriers – with serious consequences for heart health and stroke risk.A study from the University of Colorado suggests erythritol may damage cells in the blood-brain barrier, the brain’s security system that keeps out harmful substances while letting in nutrients.
The findings add troubling new detail to previous observational studies that have linked erythritol consumption to increased rates of heart attack and stroke.
In the recent study, researchers exposed blood-brain barrier cells to levels of erythritol typically found after drinking a soft drink sweetened with the compound. They saw a chain reaction of cell damage that could make the brain more vulnerable to blood clots – a leading cause of stroke.
