{"id":87652,"date":"2025-05-09T15:09:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T15:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/87652\/"},"modified":"2025-05-09T15:09:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T15:09:10","slug":"urgent-warning-as-just-one-popular-drink-can-damage-your-brain-and-blood-vessels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/87652\/","title":{"rendered":"Urgent warning as just ONE popular drink can \u2018damage your brain and blood vessels\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

JUST one energy drink or sugar-free soda containing a key ingredient could damage the brain and blood vessels, researchers have claimed. <\/p>\n

American scientists linked a common sugar substitute<\/a> to a higher risk of vascular health<\/a> issues, including stroke<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"Sugar<\/a><\/p>\n

2<\/p>\n

Common sugar substitute erythritol has been linked to a higher risk of vascular health issues, including strokeCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Erythritol<\/a> (E968) is an\u00a0artificial sweetener<\/a>\u00a0that commonly replaces sugar in low-calorie, low-carbohydrate and keto products.<\/p>\n

It tends to be used in energy drinks<\/a>, protein bars<\/a> and snack foods and is often marketed as “healthy”, according to researchers at the University of Colorado<\/a> Boulder\u2019s Integrative Vascular Biology Laboratory. <\/p>\n

But they claimed that the amount of erythritol found in a single beverage<\/a> serving may be enough to negatively impact brain and blood vessel health.<\/p>\n

First author Auburn Berry, a graduate student at the university, said<\/a>: \u201cWhile erythritol is widely used in sugar-free products marketed as healthier alternatives, more research is needed to fully understand its impact on vascular health.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn general, people should be conscious of the amount of erythritol they are consuming on a daily basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study – presented at the 2025 American Physiology Summit last month – investigated how erythritol affects oxidative stress and nitric oxide production in brain blood vessel cells.<\/p>\n

Oxidative stress happens when harmful molecules – called free radicals – build up in your body and there aren\u2019t enough good molecules – called antioxidants – to stop them.<\/p>\n

This can damage your cells, leading to ageing and contributing to diseases like cancer, heart problems, or diabetes<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, nitric oxide is a gas made by your body that helps your cells communicate.<\/p>\n

It relaxes and widens your blood vessels, improving blood flow, and plays an important role in keeping your heart, brain, and immune system healthy.<\/p>\n

TikTok\u2019s viral protein Diet Coke trend explained Why doctors warn against mixing protein into your cola<\/p>\n

They exposed human brain blood vessel cells to an erythritol solution containing roughly the same amount found in an energy drink or artificially sweetened soda – about 30g – and left this in the solution for three hours.<\/p>\n

They found that exposing cells to that amount of erythritol caused significantly higher levels of oxidative stress, compared to untreated cells.<\/p>\n

The sweetener-steeped cells produced nearly 100 per cent more free radicals, researchers said.<\/p>\n

Levels of two key antioxidant enzymes also increased in the erythritol-treated cells, suggesting the cells were responding to the extra oxidative stress, and they produced less nitric oxide.<\/p>\n

The 3 feared risks of artificial sweeteners <\/p>\n

They could increase risk of heart attack and stroke <\/strong><\/p>\n

Research published earlier this year suggests\u00a0aspartame, a common sugar substitute, may negatively impact vascular health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was shown to trigger insulin spikes in mice, which can lead to atherosclerosis – plaque buildup in arteries – and increased inflammation. <\/p>\n

This could potentially raise the risk of heart attack or stroke, researchers suggested. <\/p>\n

Researchers fed mice daily doses of food containing 0.15 per cent aspartame for 12 weeks – the equivalent of consuming about three cans of diet soda each day for humans<\/p>\n

Aspartame-fed mice developed larger and more fatty plaques in their arteries compared to mice who weren’t given sweeteners.<\/p>\n

When the research team analysed the mice’s blood, they found a “surge” in insulin levels after aspartame entered their system.<\/p>\n

They said aspartame – which is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar – seemed to “trick” the receptors into releasing more insulin.<\/p>\n

The mice’s elevated insulin levels appeared to fuel the growth of fatty plaques in their arteries, researchers added.<\/p>\n

But scientists not involved in the study said you don’t need to pour out your diet soda just yet – as we don’t yet know whether the artificial sweetener has the same effect on humans.<\/p>\n

They may increase sugary cravings <\/strong><\/p>\n

Some studies link artificial sweeteners to increased appetite and cravings for sugary food. <\/p>\n

One – published in 2021<\/a> – found that sucralose made people feel hungrier. <\/p>\n

Researcher Professor Kathleen Page said: \u201cDrinking\u00a0artificially sweetened drinks<\/a>\u00a0may trick the brain into feeling hungry, which may in turn result in more calories being consumed.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Gavin Partington, of the British Soft Drinks Association, said the study should be \u201ctreated with caution\u201d because it was based on a \u201ctiny\u201d number of participants.<\/p>\n

Other studies suggested that artificial sweeteners can alter people’s gut microbiome and cause weight gain. <\/p>\n

But it should be noted that lots of research supports that sugar substitutes can help with weight loss and maintenance. <\/p>\n

They may be linked to type 2 diabetes <\/strong><\/p>\n

People who regularly consume artificial sweeteners may be more at risk of developing\u00a0type 2 diabetes<\/a>\u00a0compared to those with a lower intake, a study published in 2023 showed. <\/p>\n

The additives may stop the body from being able to regulate blood sugar levels healthily, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital suggested. <\/p>\n

Prior studies have discovered that the sweeteners\u00a0saccharin\u00a0and\u00a0sucralose\u00a0can increase the\u00a0blood sugar levels\u00a0of healthy people. <\/p>\n

Researchers said their findings suggested that increased oxidative stress and reduced nitric oxide production in brain blood vessel cells – which may impair blood flow – could lead to a higher risk of vascular events like stroke.<\/p>\n

Dr Berry explained to\u00a0Medical News Today<\/a>\u00a0that the\u00a0sweetener\u00a0\u201cdisrupts the production of nitric oxide,\u201d which is vital for the blood vessels to dilate and ensures proper blood flow.<\/p>\n

This reduction in nitric oxide can impair blood vessel function, disrupt circulation, and potentially cause neurovascular damage, she added.<\/p>\n

Dr Berry suggested that people concerned about heart or brain health should consider limiting their intake, warning that \u201cregular erythritol consumption may impair blood vessel health and function\u201d.<\/p>\n

She told Medical News Today<\/a>: \u201cThe most important point of our study is that non-nutritive sweeteners, in this case erythritol, can have negative health effects.<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on our cell studies and recent clinical studies, people should be conscious of the amount of erythritol they are consuming on a daily basis,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

\"Businesswoman<\/a><\/p>\n

2<\/p>\n

Erythritol is used in protein bars and energy drinksCredit: Getty<\/p>\n

Professor Thomas Holland from the Rush University Medical Centre Institute for Health and Ageing – who was not involved in this study – told the outlet that erythritol could lead to increased rates of cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

\u201cErythritol triggers a surge in harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species which cause cellular damage,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf particular concern is when these reactive oxygen species cause damage to neural tissue, which can lead to increased rates of cognitive decline.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimilarly, [reactive oxygen species] can cause damage in various organ systems leading to a slew of disease processes. The body tries to defend against this by increasing its internal antioxidant defenses, but the elevated stress remains.\u201d<\/p>\n

He advised people go for more natural options like honey or date-syrup, or stevia if they’re avoiding sugar. <\/p>\n

According to the NHS<\/a>, all sweeteners used in the UK undergo rigorous safety assessments before they can be added to food and drinks.<\/p>\n

Sweeteners approved for use in the UK<\/p>\n

Lower-or no-calorie sweeteners are substances used instead of sugar to sweeten foods and drinks.<\/p>\n

They’re found in products such as drinks, desserts and ready meals, cakes, chewing gum and toothpaste.<\/p>\n

Sweeteners approved for use in the UK include:<\/p>\n