3 ms·

Right but, what are the odds you aren't all that healthy to begin with if you decide to swap normal sweeteners for chemicals?

ben_w 1y ago
"Normal sweeteners" are, in fact, chemicals. For example erythritol itself occurs naturally in some fruit and fermented foods, making it a "normal sweetener".
- leptons 1y ago
  It's only present in miniscule amounts in fruit and other produce. As a sweetener it's 1000x to 10000x more concentrated, which puts it in a completely different context.
airstrike 1y ago
Plenty of "fit" products like Quest protein bars use them https://www.samsclub.com/p/quest-protein-bar-variety-chocolate-chip-cookies-cream-brownie-14-ct/P03022780 https://www.samsclub.com/p/quest-protein-bar-variety-chocola...
abeyer 1y ago
and specifically in that high risk group, those chemicals are correlated with an even higher rate of cardiovascular issues than baseline https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01504-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01504-6
sharifhsn 1y ago
“Normal” sweeteners are also chemicals.
hilux 1y ago
Probably a significant majority of Americans use sugar substitutes. Of course, a significant majority of Americans aren't all that healthy - I guess I'm not sure what your point is.
antonvs 1y ago
Using traditional sugar as a sweetener is well established as having negative effects, including inflammation. Many of the alternative sweeteners have a much lower glycemic index, so are thought to be healthier than ordinary sugar in that respect. If you regularly consume ordinary sugar, you may be in the “not that healthy to begin with” category yourself.
- OutOfHere 1y ago
  Are you trying to justify erythritol on the basis of inflammation from sugar -- because you can't. Stevia is a wholly suitable alternative, although its taste and dosing takes some getting used to. Good quality honey in moderation is also fine if the HbA1c stays optimal.
  - antonvs 1y ago
    I wasn't trying to justify erythritol specifically, I was responding to this statement: > "you aren't all that healthy to begin with if you decide to swap normal sweeteners for chemicals?" I'm pointing out that there are health issues for everybody with "normal sweeteners", so choosing to substitute them doesn't imply that "you aren't all that healthy to begin with".

ben_w 1y ago

"Normal sweeteners" are, in fact, chemicals. For example erythritol itself occurs naturally in some fruit and fermented foods, making it a "normal sweetener".

leptons 1y ago
It's only present in miniscule amounts in fruit and other produce. As a sweetener it's 1000x to 10000x more concentrated, which puts it in a completely different context.

airstrike 1y ago

Plenty of "fit" products like Quest protein bars use them https://www.samsclub.com/p/quest-protein-bar-variety-chocolate-chip-cookies-cream-brownie-14-ct/P03022780 https://www.samsclub.com/p/quest-protein-bar-variety-chocola...

abeyer 1y ago

and specifically in that high risk group, those chemicals are correlated with an even higher rate of cardiovascular issues than baseline https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01504-6 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01504-6

sharifhsn 1y ago

“Normal” sweeteners are also chemicals.

hilux 1y ago

Probably a significant majority of Americans use sugar substitutes. Of course, a significant majority of Americans aren't all that healthy - I guess I'm not sure what your point is.

antonvs 1y ago

Using traditional sugar as a sweetener is well established as having negative effects, including inflammation. Many of the alternative sweeteners have a much lower glycemic index, so are thought to be healthier than ordinary sugar in that respect. If you regularly consume ordinary sugar, you may be in the “not that healthy to begin with” category yourself.

OutOfHere 1y ago
Are you trying to justify erythritol on the basis of inflammation from sugar -- because you can't. Stevia is a wholly suitable alternative, although its taste and dosing takes some getting used to. Good quality honey in moderation is also fine if the HbA1c stays optimal.
- antonvs 1y ago
  I wasn't trying to justify erythritol specifically, I was responding to this statement: > "you aren't all that healthy to begin with if you decide to swap normal sweeteners for chemicals?" I'm pointing out that there are health issues for everybody with "normal sweeteners", so choosing to substitute them doesn't imply that "you aren't all that healthy to begin with".