Erythritol - The Healthy Sugar?

By Anita Karlson

Expert Author Anita Karlson

Sugar is not the only substance in today's western diet causing problems in my digestion, there are several other substances, some natural and some chemically produced. And I am not the only one experiencing problems as a result of eating food presented to us in the grocery store. More and more people experience problems as a result of their diet.

Artificial sweeteners are an alternative to sugar. Many of them have been discovered by accidents in chemical laboratories. This is how aspartame, the most used artificial sweetener today was discovered. In 1965, James Schlatter, a scientist at the Searls Laboratories, licked his fingers whilst working on anti-ulcer medications and noticed a very sweet taste.

Artificial sweeteners are much cheaper than sucrose and it does not have the same negative effect on the teethes nor does it cause weight gain as sugar does. So these food additives have been more and more used as a substitute for sugar. We find them in diet and sugar free products. The experts are divided in their opinion on weather it is harmful or not. Today six of these substances are approved by the FDA.