Foods that affect your lifespan — in pictures

University of Michigan researchers say hot dogs are one of the biggest unhealthy culprits as they take 36 minutes away from a person's lifespan. Unsplash

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“We need to make sure the foods we eat aren’t hidden contributors.

“Our study shows that when participants consumed an artificially sweetened beverage with an amount of erythritol found in many processed foods, markedly elevated levels in the blood are observed for days — levels well above those observed to enhance clotting risks.”

He encouraged further research into the long-term effects of erythritol.

Researchers examined the effects of adding erythritol to either whole blood or isolated platelets, which are cell fragments that clump together to stop bleeding and contribute to blood clots.

Results revealed that erythritol made platelets easier to activate and form a clot, while preclinical studies confirmed ingestion of erythritol heightened clot formation.

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Erythritol is about 70 per cent as sweet as sugar and is produced through fermenting corn.

It is often recommended to people looking for an alternative to sugar to manage body weight.

Erythritol is generally recognised as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration which means there is no requirement for long-term studies into its effects, despite the recommendation from doctors.

“It is important that further safety studies are conducted to examine the long-term effects of artificial sweeteners in general, and erythritol specifically, on risks for heart attack and stroke, particularly in people at higher risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Hazen.