A popular sweetener increases the risk of blood clots.
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HEART THREAT
Sugar is considered one of the main enemies of youth and health. In particular, studies have shown that addiction to sweets accelerates the aging of the brain and causes memory impairment. High-calorie sweets are the main contributor to weight gain. Then comes diabetes.
It would seem: artificial sweeteners can become salvation. After all, they are virtually calorie free! And you can enjoy the sweet taste with complete impunity. It was with this message that sugar substitutes were created and promoted. However, life once again confirms the words of Friedrich Engels: “However, let us not be too fooled by our victories over nature. For each of those victories, she takes revenge on us. Each of these victories, however, firstly has the consequences that we expected, but secondly and thirdly – completely different and unforeseen consequences, which very often destroy the meaning of the first.
A scientific study published this week showed that the popular sweetener erythritol (erythritol, erythrol) increases the risk of blood clots. The threat of cardiovascular accidents, heart attacks and strokes is increasing. Whoops, side!
DANGEROUS BOUQUET
– It turned out that erythritol in healthy volunteers easily enters the bloodstream in fairly high concentrations. They are enough to cause platelet aggregation (ie, the formation of clumps. – Ed.) And an increase in the risk of thrombosis, – Aleksey Moskalev, geneticist, gerontologist, doctor of biological sciences, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, he told KP.RU.
However, this is not the only side effect of sweeteners, the expert points out.
“Meta-analyses of years of human studies have shown that artificial sweeteners, when used consistently, do not have a beneficial effect on body weight and blood glucose levels,” warns the scientist. – Some studies have even found that sweeteners contribute to obesity and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. The threat of neurodegenerative diseases (diseases associated with brain degradation, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and others – Ed.), oncological and cardiovascular pathologies is also increasing.
THE RESPONSE OF THE DECEIVED BRAIN
What happens in the body when a person consumes artificial sweeteners? In fact, we trick our brain, explains Alexey Moskalev.
“Tricked by the sweet taste, the brain doesn’t actually get glucose like it does with sugar,” says the scientist. – In response, the brain activates systemic insulin insensitivity to raise blood sugar levels and obtain the coveted glucose.
In addition, the “deceived” brain compensates for its hunger by eating excessively. And that’s why. Sugar substitutes tend to be sweeter. Therefore, they more strongly activate sweet receptors, which are found not only in our mouth, but also in the intestinal wall, brain, blood vessels, pancreas, adipose tissue, and bones. Generalized hyperactivation of such receptors disrupts the production of hormones that regulate human eating behavior. The division of fat cells begins, the cerebral blood flow weakens.
“Artificial sweeteners negatively change the composition of the intestinal microflora, which also worsens glycemic control (normalization of blood glucose levels. – Ed.). Since some of the carbohydrates are consumed by the beneficial intestinal bacteria, ”adds Professor Moskalev.
TO THE POINT
Where are artificial sweeteners found?
If you do not buy them to add to tea or cakes, then it is not a fact that they do not get into your body in a hidden way, – warns the well-known doctor and TV presenter Alexander Myasnikov. Sweeteners are found in drinks, ice creams, jellies, chewing gum, candies, yogurts, marinades, etc. of the “zero calorie diet”.
Among other adverse effects, artificial sweeteners increase the effect of alcohol and delay its removal from the blood, says Dr. Myasnikov.
QUESTION-EDGE
How to avoid health risks
In the healthy lifestyle departments of supermarkets, you can find natural sugar substitutes. For example, stevia. “The advantage is that stevioside reduces inflammation in the body, which is the basis of many diseases,” says Alexey Moskalev. However, the expert still does not recommend getting carried away by this sweetener and using it continuously. “Most of the mentioned mechanisms of influence on health (“deception” of the brain, etc., see above) also apply to stevia”, points out the scientist.
What to do if you have so much desire for sweets that your cheekbones are reduced?
“I vote to eat some fruit”, Professor Moskalev shares his recipe. – In addition to fast carbohydrates (sugars), fruits contain dietary fiber that prevents a rapid jump in blood glucose levels. We also get very useful substances: polyphenols, vitamins and trace elements.
Dr. Myasnikov answers like this: “If you want something sweet, eat a piece of sugar or a spoonful of honey.” The main thing is not to share.
ON A NOTE
The World Health Organization considers up to 25 g of sugar per day as the norm, including its content in all products. That’s about 6 teaspoons. However, both WHO experts and endocrinologists urge efforts to reduce this rate by at least half.
