Erythritol has earned a near-perfect reputation in the clean-eating world. It’s natural, calorie-free, keto-friendly, and widely considered one of the safest sugar substitutes on the market.

But new research from the University of Colorado suggests that this confidence may be dangerously misplaced.

In Episode 87 of the Orange Pill Podcast, we unpack a startling new study from the DeSouza laboratory that shows how erythritol may quietly compromise the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the brain’s most critical line of defense against toxins, inflammation, and vascular injury.

This episode breaks down:

• How erythritol triggers a 75% surge in oxidative stress inside brain endothelial cells
• Why the body’s antioxidant defenses can’t keep up
• How nitric oxide suppression and endothelin-1 elevation promote dangerous vessel constriction
• Why erythritol may disable the brain’s natural “clot-buster” response
• And most critically, why these effects occur at blood concentrations reached after a single serving

This isn’t a story about extreme overconsumption.
It’s about everyday exposure hiding behind a “natural” label.

If you consume sugar-free snacks, energy drinks, or keto products, this episode is essential listening.