Erythritol: The Smart Sweetener Choice

At The Good Chocolate, we’re committed to bringing you delicious, guilt-free chocolate that’s free of added sugar but full of flavor. One of the key ingredients we use to achieve this is erythritol, a natural, zero-calorie sweetener. Recently, some questions have come up about erythritol and its potential health impacts, and we want to provide you with the facts.

What is Erythritol?

Erythritol is a type of sugar alcohol found naturally in certain fruits, such as grapes and melons. It’s used as a sweetener because it has virtually zero calories, does not raise blood sugar, and is gentle on your digestive system. This makes it a fantastic choice for those looking to reduce their sugar intake without sacrificing sweetness.

Why We Use Erythritol in Our Chocolate

Best performing Sweetener

Erythritol is a superior sugar substitute from an ingredient performance standpoint. It develops a rich, creaminess in chocolate that other sweeteners don’t.

1. Erythritol is Better for Your Teeth: Unlike sugar, erythritol doesn’t feed harmful bacteria in your mouth, reducing your risk of cavities. (Mäkinen et al., 1996). This makes it an attractive alternative to sugar for maintaining dental hygiene.
   
2. Erythritol has Antioxidant Properties: Research, such as the study by den Hartog et al. (2010) suggest that erythritol may have antioxidant benefits, helping reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.

Generally Recognized as Safe

Erythritol has been extensively studied and is classified as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and is accepted as a sweetener by the European Food Safety Authority. Additionally, here are three widely reviewed studies confirming erythritol’s lack of toxicity, potential benefits for diabetics and minimal human health risks:

1. No evidence of human toxicity: Munro et al. (1998): This comprehensive review found no evidence of toxicity or harmful effects in animal studies or human trials, concluding that erythritol is well-tolerated at high doses.
2. Low Glycemic Impact: Erythritol doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin levels, making it perfect for people managing diabetes or looking to reduce sugar intake. Bornet et al. (1996)
3. Minimal risks or GI stress: Grembecka (2015): This research reviewed sugar alcohols like erythritol, confirming that erythritol poses minimal risk to human health and is not associated with gastrointestinal distress at moderate intake levels.

Addressing Recent Research: The Hazen Study

A recent study, often referred to as the Hazen Study, suggested a potential link between high levels of erythritol in the blood and cardiovascular events. Naturally, this raises concerns, but here’s what you need to know about the study :

1. No Direct Link Between Dietary Erythritol Consumption and Heart Issues

The study found an association between elevated blood erythritol levels and cardiovascular events, but it didn’t measure how much erythritol participants were eating. In fact, most participants likely weren’t consuming erythritol-containing foods at all. Instead, their bodies naturally produced erythritol as part of glucose metabolism, which happens in all of us. Peter Attia points out that the study did not collect any data on dietary erythritol consumption, “This study provides no evidence whatsoever that the association between circulating erythritol and cardiovascular events has anything to do with dietary erythritol intake.”

2. Erythritol is Naturally Produced by Your Body

Your body makes small amounts of erythritol on its own, even if you don’t consume it in food. The elevated Erythritol levels found in the study may be related to underlying health conditions rather than dietary erythritol intake. Dr. Duane Mellor observes, “It is also important to note this is the risk of plasma erythritol and not dietary erythritol.  This is important as there is a biochemical pathway in mammals including humans which means we can make this sugar alcohol from sugar…So, the observation that higher levels of erythritol may not be associated with dietary intakes but instead with overall lifestyle and other risk factors is entirely plausible.”

3. Expert Consensus: Correlation Does Not Mean Causation

Leading experts agree that the study shows a correlation, but that doesn’t mean erythritol causes cardiovascular problems. Many believe that high erythritol levels could be a marker of poor health, not a cause of it. Prof. Oliver Jones noted, “We should be mindful that correlation is not causation,” and because the study participants already had many cardiovascular risk factors, it’s possible that these factors, rather than erythritol, were responsible for the increased risk.

The Bottom Line

The Good Chocolate chooses erythritol because nearly all the scientific evidence collected over several decades demonstrates it’s a safe, effective alternative to sugar. We understand that new research can raise concerns, but we are committed to using only the best, well-researched ingredients to bring you healthier chocolate without sacrificing taste.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out. We’re always here to help and to keep you informed about what goes into the chocolate you love.

Feel free to contact us directly at info[at]goodchocolate.com