🏋️‍♂️ is this artificial sweetener dangerous?

Today’s newsletter is presented by Testogen. If your testosterone levels need a little boost, Testogen's supplements are here to help. And right now, you can take 20% off with the code BARBEND.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

• The story behind Eleiko’s 18-pound coffee mug

• Examining all things erythritol

• MrBeast hangs out with Derek Lunsford

Featured

A Biceps Buzz

The most talked-about gift for every meathead this year is undoubtedly the 18-pound Eleiko coffee mug. In fact, it was so popular that eager consumers crashed the Eleiko website in a mad rat race to acquire one for themselves.

Originally brainstormed as an April Fool’s joke, Eleiko set out to manufacture a mere 300 mugs, several orders of magnitude lower than the unexpected ravenous demand. A leader in calibrated weights and high-end Olympic barbells, Eleiko seriously underestimated the weight of getting into the coffee mug game. See what all the buzz is about, and throw yourself into the middle of the howling throng of people who want to drink coffee out of something heavy.

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Nutrition

Oh So Sweet

If you look at the back of your favorite low-carb protein snacks, you will often see one common ingredient: erythritol. A zero-calorie sugar alcohol, erythritol is dominating classic sweeteners like stevia and aspartame in its quest to be world champion. But the question remains: Are there any downsides to erythritol?

Unlike actual sugar, erythritol won’t spike your blood glucose levels or rot your teeth, but it will still make your food taste pretty darn sweet. Still, some people do have problems with bloating and gas when consuming sugar alcohol — but don’t worry, you can’t catch a buzz from it no matter how many Quest bars you eat. Become better acquainted with the ingredients of your packaged foods by understanding the fundamentals of erythritol.

Bodybuilding

Olympia and the Beast

In the clearest example of worlds colliding that we’ve ever detailed in this newsletter, internet darling MrBeast recently got to hang out with the 2023 Mr. Olympia winner, Derek Lunsford. And as you’d expect, MrBeast’s first experience seeing a posing routine in person was a life-altering one. 

In addition to his sheer size (MrBeast jokes that Lunsford’s arms are bigger than his entire body), the YouTube megastar was in awe of the symmetry and definition on display. You can see the entire posing routine and witness, through the eyes of an internet influencer, how truly impressive an Olympia-level physique is.

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Everything Else

Vikings Probably Did It

• Take a trip to Scandinavia — where the herring and hamstrings are both plentiful — and learn how to execute the excruciating Nordic curl.

• Protein has a lot going for it, but is there a downside to the best macronutrient known to humankind? BarBend investigates the possible correlation between protein and acne.

• The 2024 Arnold Classic is already entering hype mode. The bodybuilding contest has released its roster of competitors for next year’s show, and it’s full of household names.