This Common Sugar-Free Sweetener May Hurt Your Brain Health

If you’ve ever opted for erythritol instead of regular sugar in hopes of being a little kinder to your blood sugar, you’re not alone. This sugar alcohol has become a staple in everything from keto protein bars to sugar-free ice cream and diet drinks.

It’s long been marketed as a better-for-you alternative for people with diabetes or anyone trying to lower their sugar intake, mainly because it contains almost no calories and doesn’t spike insulin.

But new research suggests erythritol may not be as harmless as we thought. In fact, it may actively disrupt brain blood vessels, increasing the risk of stroke. And the amount used in the study? It mirrors what you’d find in a typical sugar-free drink.