Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Beware Keto Diet Items - Brain Cell Damage? (Patreon)

Published:
2025-07-21 18:25:50
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:
haven't archived this post yet. have a subscription? use the importer!

Content

P.S. Before diving in, always check ingredient labels—after the first couple of lines, you’ll likely want to put the item back on the shelf.

Dangers of Erythritol, a sugar alcohol commonly used in keto-friendly and sugar-free products, has been flagged for potential health risks, particularly in a 2025 study from the University of Colorado Boulder:

  • Brain Cell Damage: Lab tests showed that erythritol, at levels equivalent to one sugar-free drink (about 30 grams), caused stress in human brain blood vessel cells within three hours. It increased reactive oxygen species (free radicals) by nearly 100%, damaging proteins and DNA, and reduced nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax, potentially leading to constriction and impaired blood flow.

  • Increased Stroke Risk: The same study found erythritol blocked tissue plasminogen activator, a “clot buster” that prevents blood clots from causing strokes, potentially increasing stroke risk. This aligns with a large observational study of 4,000 people linking higher blood erythritol levels to increased heart attack and stroke risk over three years.

  • Vascular Health Concerns: Erythritol increased endothelin-1, a protein that narrows blood vessels, raising blood pressure and further contributing to stroke risk. These effects were seen in lab settings but suggest a mechanism for cardiovascular harm.

Study Limitations: Critics argue that the concentrations tested may exceed typical dietary exposure, and the body’s natural production of erythritol (e.g., from glucose) complicates causation. More human studies are needed. I would stay away from it anyhow..... no shortcuts to health!

h/t Sanjay for the info

https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-warn-popular-sugar-substitute-linked-to-brain-cell-damage/

Files

Previews only

Comments

JobberWokker

You know, glycine tastes sweet while at the same time supports sleep quality, enhances cognitive function, promotes collagen and tissue health, improves metabolic health, reduces inflammation, supports muscle maintenance, protects against oxidative stress, improves gut health, may support mental health, and offers cardiovascular benefits. Actually goes well in coffee for those who don't like black.

Smokin' Joe

Interesting. I wonder if this is similar with other sweeteners - aspartame, sucralose etc. I don't really trust any of them.

VirgoMoon

Thanks for sharing this James. When I started following a keto diet (for the most part) I saw lots of tempting recipes that contained ‘keto friendly’ sweeteners like erythriol, monk fruit sweetener, etc. I did some research on them as I react badly to the older fashioned sweeteners like aspartame, Splenda, etc., which I discovered caused my bladder inflammations when I was younger. My conclusion: they are all the same garbage. I avoid all artificial sweeteners like the plague and won’t even chew gum. I’m ok to have nothing sweet unless it’s a special occasion, and then I will have real sugar.

KingM

Interesting! Thanks for sharing James, my wife made me several home backed goods using erythritol when i was on keto, Alulose is a better alternative i think Monk fruit and stevia are much much better cause they are natural but difficult to bake with

Adam Toth

I have been on the carnivore diet for 4 years and never felt better. I lost over 10kg (22 pounds) look and feel 10 years younger and had many chronic health issues vanish like high blood pressure, pimples, sensitivity to the sun, digestion problems, the list is way too long. Before that I did keto for 2 years and it was also pretty good but you need to avoid the fake foods on all diets. Anything with more than 2-3 ingredients is usually a problem. Anything made in a lab is at best medicine but typically just poison. You should not eat sweet food on low-carb diets. All sweeteners are bad. This has been shown in weight loss studies.

TG

I've been seeing worrisome stats about erythritol for awhile now and switched away from it myself. Allulose + stevia + monkfruit (various combos thereof) remain my mainstay sweeteners. I use allulose + stevia in my coffee, and for baking generally allulose + monkfruit (as substitutes both for cane sugar and brown sugar, there are brown sugar-style variants available right through Amazon). I've noticed that some makers of condiments and snacks have already taken notice and gone in similar directions, reformulating their existing product lines. Read those labels before buying! You have more options than you think.

PseudoLuk

ALLULOSE is worth consideration, expensive, but positive health benefits, including lowering Uric acid, and may have GLP-1 like effects. But as Adam said, you should not eat sweet foods. It really serves no purpose, and potentially jacks up your appetite...something most of us do not need.

mmeno

Love the breakdown. Really appreciate you applying your deep-dive style to health topics too. Quick thought: this study is an in vitro cell model, which is solid for understanding mechanisms but sits low on the evidence hierarchy for real-world outcomes. Would be awesome to see a quick “evidence tier” pyramid tag added to posts like this. Similar to how you rank macro or on-chain signals. Helps separate early-stage noise from things worth taking action on. Here’s a simple tier format that might help: Tier 1: Meta-analysis / Systematic Review – strongest, decision-grade evidence Tier 2: Randomized Controlled Trial – human cause-and-effect Tier 3: Observational Study – correlation, not causation Tier 4: Mechanistic / In Vitro / Animal – early-stage insight, not yet real-world Tier 5: Editorial / Opinion / Case Report – hypothesis only, high bias risk Could be a helpful layer for readers to calibrate signal strength quickly.

Wicksley Snipes!

Ketosis is a biological state. Sugar alcohols can actually disrupt ketosis. “Keto” is a diet. There is a discernible difference, and it would be helpful for people to know. Remember, “keto” is not ketosis. Ketosis can be very useful. To treat epilepsy, for example (I have it, hence, why I’ve done the research). Does this biological state serve your individual needs? Does it not? Risk:Reward ratio applies, as per usual. Every human is different w different needs. “Diet” as in, what we eat, should be considered holistically, according to our individual needs. These cookie cutter diets can lead to a lot of problems. Do the research. Analyze the data. We all have different needs, goals, access to resources etc.

Wicksley Snipes!

Plus, sugar alcohols taste like shite! To my palate, at least. Sample size of one over here. Pass the sugar. The dose makes the poison. Lulz.