Allulose

Food manufacturers have many different sweetener choices: sweeteners that contain calories
like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and honey. Sugar Alcohols such as sorbitol is another group
of sweeteners, these sweeteners are lower in calories than sugar, they have 40 – 100 % the
sweetness that sugar have, they do not raise your blood sugar, and they prevent cavities. The
third group of sweeteners we call non-nutritive sweeteners because they are so sweet
compared to sugar that you only need very little amounts not enough to provide any calories.
This group includes sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal, NutraSweet), and stevia. Allulose is
a relative new sweetener, it is nonnutritive but it also has similarities to the sugar alcohols.

Allulose is found in very small amounts in figs, raisins, and jack fruit and is also naturally in
maple syrup and brown sugar. Because it’s present in tiny amounts in only a few foods, it’s
known as a rare sugar. To create a larger supply, food manufacturers use enzymes to produce
Allulose from corn and other plants. Production of this sugar does include the use of toxic
chemicals which is something to be aware of.

Allulose is absorbed by the body but is not metabolized, so it provides almost

no calories. The chemical structure of regular sugar is what we call a
disaccharide, the two monosaccharides that makes up sugar are called
fructose and glucose. Allulose is a monosaccharide called D-psicose, it has the
same chemical formula as fructose, but it is structurally different which is why
it is not digested. Allulose has only 1/10th the calories found in table sugar.

Allulose’s ability to act like sugar is what gives Allulose its potential in comparison to the other
low to zero calorie sweeteners on the market. Not only does it have a similar taste and texture,
with no after taste, it can also be used in equal amounts to sugar, it does not lose it sweetness
when heated, and it browns when baked.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated Allulose as Generally Recognized as
Safe (GRAS) to be used in a variety of foods. Research shows that Allulose is well-tolerated with
no adverse side effects. Currently, Allulose isn’t widely available, but it’s found in certain Quest
snack bars and KNOW Better cookies. Although you won’t find granular Allulose in your local
grocery store, it can be purchased in a variety of online locations for about $20 per pound. As it
replaces sugar cup for cup, this is a hefty price tag. Right now, Allulose is so new that its primary
use is by food manufacturers to reduce the sugar and calories in foods.

Allulose gives consumers another safe, good-tasting, very low calorie sweetener alternative.
Remember, it’s always best to use the least amount of any sweetener that you can, even low
calorie sweeteners, so that you train your taste buds to enjoy the natural taste of foods.