Kelly Turner
Many sugar alternatives have no calories, but they have an unpleasant taste or they leave an unpleasant mouthfeel. Allulose is said to combine the best properties of sugar and sweeteners – almost no calories and a good taste. The sugar substitute could be approved in the EU this year. But does allulose have side effects?
What is allulose?
Allulose is not a completely unknown sugar substitute. In science, allulose is also known under the name psychosis. It is a monosaccharide, i.e. a simple sugar, but only occurs in nature in such small quantities that it has simply been ignored up to now. However, it has now been possible to extract the sugar alternative in large quantities from sugar beet or corn and enrich it with enzymes. These cause glucose to first be converted into fructose, which in turn is converted into allulose.
Allulose sugar has the same taste as regular sugar. The special feature: there are only 0.2 calories in one gram of allulose, while household sugar has four calories per gram.
What are the benefits of allulose sugar?
Sugar is an important source of energy for our bodies. However, nowadays we consume far more sugar than we need. The result: Our body stores the excess calories in fatty tissue. Allulose, on the other hand, is not recognized by our body as an energy supplier, even though it is real sugar. It has virtually nowhere to dock. Because allulose is almost completely non-metabolized, it neither accumulates in fat cells nor causes blood sugar levels to rise significantly. People with diabetes and overweight in particular benefit from these properties.
Another advantage: in contrast to many other sugar substitutes such as stevia or aspartame, allulose should not have an unpleasant (after)taste and should not leave a furry mouthfeel. Nevertheless, allulose has the same sweetness as conventional sugar.
Does allulose have side effects?
Few calories and a pleasant taste – that sounds good. However, there is also a downside. Because allulose can only replace sugar by up to 20 percent, as excessive consumption could cause digestive problems such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Long-term harmful side effects are not yet known. This is another point where allulose differs from other sugar substitutes. For example, migraines and dizziness can occur after consuming aspartame. Saccharin is even said to be potentially carcinogenic.
Where can I buy allulose?
Allulose has been available in the USA and Asia for some time under the name psicose, but due to the complex production of the substance, it is only available in specialist shops and at exorbitant prices. At the moment, miracle sugar is only available in liquid form. Allulose cannot yet be bought in Germany. But that could change very soon because allulose is currently in the approval process by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
