A common artificial sweetener may trigger insulin spikes that lead to the build up of fatty plaques in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a new study in mice indicates.

The common artificial sweetener aspartame could be putting consumers at greater risk of heart disease through a newly discovered chemical trigger on the lining of arteries.

Not all artificial sweeteners are created equal. A new study out of Sweden reports that one of the most popular sugar substitutes — found in diet drinks, chewing gum and low-sugar yogurt — increases insulin levels in animals,