1. Though it sounds new, erythritol (ear-RITH-ri-tall) has been around as long as grapes, peaches, pears, watermelon, and mushrooms. 2.Sugar has 4 calories per gram, but erythritol has zero. That’s because your small intestine absorbs it quickly and gets it out of your body through urine within 24 hours. 3. Erythritol does not cause weight gain or gut issues as it does not get synthesised in the body.