There’s A New Sugar In Town – Allulose
Move over stevia. Not so fast erythritol. There is a new rising star in the unending search for the best sugar substitute. It’s name is Allulose. So, what is allulose? Allulose is a non-GMO simple sugar that has only has 10% of the calories of regular sugar.
We recently got our ketokrate that provides samples of keto and paleo friendly snacks made by companies that are not the big wig sugar pumping conglomerates. Let’s face it, I live in the fattest, most unhealthy state in the world (literally) so I really have to reach out to find normal human foods so I stay in the best health possible! In our ketokrate was an amazing looking cookie by Know Better Foods, and the sugar amount was 28g! “What?! this can’t be appropriate for ketogenic dieters, there’s no way!” I said.
Then I saw it…Allulose! It hit me…Essentially, allulose has one tenth the calories and carbohydrates of table sugar. Where 10g of sugar has 40 calories, and 10g of carbs–10g of allulose has 1 calorie and 1g of carbs.
Given that the Know Better cookies have 28g of allulose–this acts as 2.8g of carbohydrate in the body.
It’s ok if you’ve not heard of this new sugar yet. In fact, my wife’s first question after she at the cookie, was, “Hey! this has way too much sugar!..” I stopped her and said, “don’t worry, it’s allulose, and thats the way they have to report it!” Of course, her response was, “What’s allulose?!” And like her, just about all the recipients of the ketokrate were in an uproar wondering “what is allulose,” and “how can this cookie” be considered keto?! Keep reading…
Where to Get Allulose
At this time, you can get the best deal HERE at Amazon!
Is Allulose the Ultimate Sugar Alternative?
It’s interesting that the FDA doesn’t really know what to do with it because it’s a sugar, so you can’t technically say that something with allulose is “sugar free.”
For my fellow nerds on the chemistry end, think of it as allulose, D-Psicose or an epimer of fructose.
Like I said above, it’s very similar to fructose except allulose has one “OH” that is flipped in the other direction. That’s it.
A few more details.
- ~70% as sweet as Sucrose
- No aftertaste
- No gastric upset
- GI of 0
The end result is that our taste buds react to it the same way but in the same way some people don’t have the enzyme to digest lactose, humans don’t have the enzyme to digest allulose.
How do you use it? Just like granulated sugar but you need to use a little more. The literature says it is closer to 80% sweet as sucrose (table sugar) but I found in testing that it actually took more to taste similar.
How much to use? Simply start with multiplying it by 1.4 and adjust from there if needed. For example, 2tbs of sugar would be 2 x 1.4 = 2.8 so I’d use 3 tbs of allulose.
Very interesting read! I personally don’t use any sugar subs. I prefer natural alternatives as sweeteners like real sugar such as raw or organic but I know they still can cause obesity and other issues. However, still better for us than the fake sugars in moderation…for some of course. I’ll look more into this other sugar. I’m always reading and looking for new things to try and share with others. I’ve set a goal to try and get better fit and hopefully help others understand “diets” aren’t the answer! It’s definitely a lifestyle change and to eat real food! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Tammy! You are right! And allulose is a real food…it’s not a sugar substitute technically or a sugar alcohol. It’s a sugar with no effect on blood sugar or insulin. There are no ill digestive effects either. Allulose is safely excreted by the kidneys, so you get the benefit of a sweetener (a real sugar) without all the negative effects. It’s a real game changer. Thanks for your comment!
Hi Dr. Wade, my only concern is, since it is similar to fructose, does the liver metabolism Allulose in a similar way as fructose? Because my understanding is that fructose when metabolized by the liver is basically a poison and increase adipose development. Or as you said is it purely excreted by the kidneys and if so and problems with possible kidney harm?
Hi Jeremy. Interesting thoughts…there have been no maleffects from allulose even with heavy dosages like they did with asparatame and saccharine. It’s a real sugar, and yes, your body simply tends to excrete via the kidneys without harm. It’s not an artificial substance and although similar to fructose, it is different enough to where it does not have the same effect in the liver.
How can we be sure it is not made with GMO corn? I’ve heard that it is, from 3 folks now.
Amy
I am unaware that this particular brand is made from GMO corn. If you find evidence of this, please post it here!
Very nice article! I’ve personally been dealing with this sugar for more than two years already and am planning to have my own start-up company for mass production of it. It’s certainly an encouragement to see a recent article like this.
Sounds great! I look forward to your success! Please keep us/me informed!
Hi Jeremy, how are things coming along regarding your allulose production plans?
Do you know if any adverse effects on the GI system… since it’s not metabolized, but is absorbed, can it cause GI upset (gas, bloating, etc.)?
None reported so far! It is a real sugar, not a substitute or a sugar alcohol, so the initial absorption is the same other than it is soon excreted by the kidneys. Hope this helps!
You mentioned this sugar is dealt with through the kidney so would this be a bad idea to use if someone like had a kidney issue such as a nephritis? Mine are currently 40% efficient but stabilised
I see no problem with this as there is not “extra” work on the kidneys. It’s a very natural process for your kidneys to excreted allulose just like it does other substances. Be sure to check with your Nephrologist to be sure!
OOOOOhhhhh! I’m looking forward to trying this! I bake a lot and LOVE sweets… yet, I am a hard core LCHFer… so 🙂 🙂
Thanks for the info! Off to read the studies!!!
Mia
I’ve completely enjoyed it in so many recipes.
Is allulose paleo?
In my opinion yes. It is naturally occurring yet chemically made. It can be argued. Depends on how “paleo” you want to be. This is not an artificial substance.
I’d like to know how and WHAT (specifically) allulose is made from. What’s the process? Are there any other chemicals or solvents involved?
Thank you!
It is derived from fermented corn. Small amounts of the low-calorie sugar are also naturally found in figs, raisins, and maple syrup. It is considered natural. There are no harsh chemical extraction processes. It does not carry any constituents related to corn so those who have issues with corn or lectins are A OK to proceed with allulose.
Has there been any studies on whether it increases cholesterol production from the liver?
There is no known effect on cholesterol, but I must reference you to the publication “Eat Meat and Stop Jogging” by Mike Sheridan. It’s a provocative title obviously, but it has a ton of well cited studies on cholesterol that you really need to understand. People continue to die because of lack of understanding and they continue to implement practices that hurt them and not help, i.e. Cherio’s and Oatmeat along with other “whole grain” approaches. The only way I’ve ever helped bring harmful cholesterol and triglyceride levels into healthy ranges is to remove grains – period.
Interesting research but one fatal flaw from my perspective. The number of study subjects is not statistically significant in either of the studies referenced. This causes me to question why they used less than 30 (minimum standard) and the validity of their claim. If they really believe this stuff is as good as they say, then they need to publish studies reflecting or supporting this belief. I think I will reserve my opinion until some statistically significant research is published. Thanks for you information.
Agreed! We use it in our house. My son likes it. My wife prefers Erythritol or Swerve.
Two questions, please:
It is my understanding that sugars excreted in urine can lead to UTIs (e.g., http://www.endocrinologynetwork.com/sglt2/uti-risk-type-sglt2-inhibitor) . Have studies been done to see if allulose could cause UTIs in this manner?
Since allulose is not a fructose, have any studies been done to see if it is appropriate for individuals with fructose malabsorption to consume?
Thank you for the great article on this rare sugar.
Not to my knowledge. It does have a different chemical structure than fructose, of course. To date, I’ve not had any reports of UTI. The only rare occurrence seems to be GI upset in some individuals. It was reported to me in another post that 1 in 8 people don’t have the enzyme to digest allulose hence the GI upset. I do not have confirmation of this or a source to validate it. Thank you for your question.
Hi Dr Wade,
You do have some of the most comprehensive and well-articulated videos and articles about Allulose on the web!
I’m not connected with Jeremy (who commented above), but I have launched a business distributing Allulose in what we think is an innovative and useful way: As you know, Allulose is about 70% as sweet as sugar, so we have a blend of Allulose with a touch of Monk Fruit and Stevia, which brings it to 100%, 1:1 sugar product.
We are also not connected with the brave pioneer of Allulose sales to the public, Keystone Pantry.
So here’s the question: could we quote portions of your articles for use on our Facebook and website pages, and, well, not include the link to Keystone Pantries, our esteemed competitor? If there is a way that we could work with you on that, we’d be so grateful!
Thanks,
Martha Sandino
Founder of NutriTactics, presenting Keto Genie Allulose
Sounds like a good blend for the keto market. Have you had any feedback regarding those who do have digestive issues with allulose? It has to do with a portion of the population not having the necessary enzyme to break this substance down. I’ve had 2 clients so far that have pretty immediate reactions, but it is few and far between. Other than that, allulose continues to be a good sweetener without creating adverse blood sugar and insulin responses. Yes, I’m open to you quoting my article. Inbox me at drwadebaskin@gmail.com
I have two grand-daughters with fructose mal-absorption. Any ingestion of fructose (stone fruits, honey, raisins, etc. or too much table sugar) causes severe abdominal pain. They may have maple syrup as it’s handled differently in the body. How would they most likely react to allulose?
To Avoid any possible reaction, I’ve been using Tagatose lately, and it’s proven more effective and more accepted than allulose. Get it here at amazon https://amzn.to/2QqQLfV. Hope this helps!