People think this is healthy, but it was just linked to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death

Xylitol is a popular sugar substitute and a naturally occurring alcohol in the body and in some foods. And many people may think it’s healthy, because it has zero sugar, is low in calories, and it’s marketed as an alternative to more conventional artificial sweeteners that contain saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose, which may be linked to cancer (although the verdict remains inconclusive). Because it has an extra-sweet taste and negligible effects on blood sugar levels and insulin, xylitol is now widely used in many sugar-free sodas and foods, baked goods, gums, toothpaste, and mouthwash. However, despite its growing use, the long-term impact of xylitol on heart health and cardiovascular risk has not been widely studied. But a new study from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has found a potential link between the sweetener and cardiovascular disease. Researchers in Germany conducted a long-term analysis of the effects of xylitol on the general population, looking at data from 17,710 participants in two prospective observational cohorts: the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer in Norfolk, U.K. The results: People with …