What The Hell Is Allulose? And How Does It Taste SO much Like Sugar?
by The Candidly Team
Here are 4 words we get very sick of typing when we write about health:
More. research. is. needed.
But alas, that’s where we’re at with many things. We can’t just come out here and make big, TikTok-level claims without knowing more. But here’s one thing we do know. Sugar ain’t great.
We’ve written about this HERE and HERE. And we try not to obsess about it, but we also fully get why so many people are hoping for a healthful substitute.
It feels like once every 10 or so years, there’s a new “sugar alternative” on the shelf that both intrigues us and semi-freaks us out. New is scary. New needs more research.
So all that said, what do we know about sugar’s newest possible substitute - allulose?
Let’s get into it, shall we?
First, the seemingly good stuff
“Allulose is a naturally occurring sugar found at low levels in figs, raisins, wheat, maple syrup and molasses,” according to The Cleveland Clinic. It can also be commercially reproduced from things like fructose and corn.
It’s about two-thirds as sweet-tasting as sugar, however it has far few calories (10x less than sugar). It doesn’t count as an added sugar and doesn’t spike your blood sugar. Apparently you pretty much pee it out without really digesting it.
Also, it doesn’t rot your teeth.
But here’s where some of the hype really gets going. Unlike with countless sweeteners that taste like they shouldn’t be consumed by humans, allulose has no repulsive aftertaste. It tastes very much like sugar.
And finally, it’s FDA-approved under the umbrella of “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). However, this doesn’t mean it’s been tested that extensively. For example, it isn’t approved for use in Canada or Europe where they say it needs more time and testing.
So now for, the more murky stuff
As Cleveland Clinic points out “when allulose is used as an artificial sweetener — such as in ‘sugar-free’ and ‘keto-friendly’ muffins, ice cream and more — you’re getting much more of it than is natural.” They therefore, claim (unsurprisingly) that “more research is needed to understand its safety.”
We don’t know a lot about the effects that long-term consumption of this sweetener can do to our bodies. We do know it’s best to consume at not-too high levels because eating too much can contribute to digestive issues. And as artificial sweetener researcher Stanley Hazen, MD, Ph.D., put it, “We don’t have studies regarding the safety of allulose at this time. But if it follows similar trends to what we see in some other sugar substitutes that are sugar alcohols like erythritol, I would suggest there’s reason to be cautious about how much of it you consume.”
Because some sugar substitutes that are linked to some serious health issues have “some similar properties” to allulose on a chemical level, some worry it could present similar problems. By the way, that was a very intentional ridiculous overuse of the word “some.” That’s what we mean by murkiness.
We just need to know more before we can say anything definitive. We hate to be as confusing as the women’s magazines of yore, but that’s where we’re at.
Allulose might be unique. It might be better, but it’s still new. That said, sugar is old, and we know too much of it has been linked to things like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
So while we’re waiting for answers, here are some things we’re gonna keep doing to satisfy our sweet tooth:
Sweetening our smoothies and creamy frozen desserts with beautiful, ripe whole fruits. Ever added coconut and date to your smoothie? It’s better than a Pina Colada.
Drizzling THIS health-boosting and possibly breast cancer fighting honey when we need some pure sweetness.
Walking every single day because it’s been proven to reduce our sugar cravings.
Tracking new data very closely and immediately sharing it with you. Stay tuned.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be used in place of professional advice, medical treatment, or professional care in any way. This article is not intended to be and should not be a substitute for professional care, advice or treatment. Please consult with your physician or healthcare provider before changing any health regimen. This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent disease of any kind. Read our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
