Consuming foods with erythritol – an artificial sweetener, more than doubles the risk of blood clotting in healthy people, according to a new pilot study. The research, conducted by the Cleveland Clinic found that the sweetener - commonly used in keto-friendly and other reduced-sugar products, can cause deadly heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues.

Consuming a standard serving of 30 grams of the sweetener according to the study, makes the platelets more active, raising the risk of blood clots, researchers found in the interventional study, published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.

The study says clots can break off blood vessels and travel to the heart. Previously as well, studies have linked erythritol to a higher risk of death due to stroke or heart attack. “What is remarkable is that in every single subject, every measure of platelet responsiveness went up following the erythritol ingestion,” said lead study author Dr. Stanley Hazen, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Prevention at the Cleveland ClinicLerner Research Institute.

Sugar, however, does not have the same effect.

“This is the first direct head-to-head comparison of the effects of ingesting glucose versus ingesting erythritol on multiple different measures of platelet function,” Hazen said. “Glucose doesn’t impact clotting, but erythritol does.” According to the study, Erythritol makes it easier for platelets to activate and form blood clots. When platelets clump together, they can block blood flow in blood vessels.

Many sugar-free products contain erythritol and are recommended for those with obesity, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome as ways to manage sugar and calorie intake. According to experts, people with these conditions are already at higher risk for adverse heart-related conditions.

According to the researchers, the study does have limitations, since the size of the participants – with just 20, and the lack of long-term testing, emphasizing the importance of further research.

Currently, erythritol is classified by the US Food and Drug Administration as GRAS - generally recognized as safe - allowing its use without restriction in food products. The study, however, adds to increasing evidence that erythritol and other sweeteners may not be as safe as previously thought.

In June, xylitol - another sugar alcohol found naturally in some plants, was found linked to potential negative health impacts.

A few natural ways to reduce your sugar and maintain healthy blood sugar levels include:

According to experts, fibre helps slow down the digestion of carbohydrates and sugar absorption. And so, you must incorporate foods like leafy greens or non-starchy vegetables like onions, tomatoes, and peppers into your daily diet.

Also, include fruits like berries as they are low in sugar.

Regular exercise helps improve insulin sensitivity – helping your body cells to thrive.

Drinking at least 6-8 glasses of water helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar.

Doctors say stress impacts your blood sugar levels and so, you need to find ways to cope through exercise, hobbies, or therapy.

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