All about Allulose and GLP-1
You’ve Heard of Ozempic and Wegovy. Now say hello to Allulose, a sweetener with a similar GLP-1 effect in the body
A new class of weight-loss medications often referred to as GLP-1 drugs, which include Ozempic and Wegovy, have taken the spotlight around the world. It’s no surprise. All you have to do is turn on the news or jump on social media and you’ll see people across the nation singing the praises of these new medications.
Recently, we’ve seen an increasing number of studies that show allulose, a low-carb and low-calorie sweetener, can trigger the release of GLP-1, the same hormone that promotes weight loss and stabilizes blood sugar.
There’s a reason allulose is the main sweetener in Two Spoons ice cream – we love everything about it and now, the potential impact on GLP-1 is just another reason to get excited.
So, what is GLP-1?
GLP-1, or Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, is a hormone released from the gut after consuming meals. It signals the body to release insulin, aiding in blood sugar reduction.
Produced in the intestines, GLP-1 supports stable blood sugar levels, slows digestion, promotes satiety (feeling of fullness), and prevents excess glucose production by the liver. All these things can ultimately promote weight loss.
When we consider the vital role of GLP-1 in blood sugar regulation and digestion, we can see there are several benefits:
- Glucose Management in Type 2 Diabetes
- Appetite Management and Weight Loss Facilitation
- Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
- Energy Maintenance
- Prevention of Diabetes
- Support for Metabolic Health
Although it's early, these studies are very promising in validating allulose as a versatile sweetener. We hope to see more extensive and longer-term research in the near future, as well as newer research exploring the full potential of allulose.
What is Allulose?
Allulose is a rare sugar that can be found naturally in certain fruits like figs. It has 90% less calories than sugar and isn’t metabolized in the body.
6g or more of Allulose per Serving
Every serving of Two Spoons has at least 6 grams of Allulose – an industry leading amount.
References/For Further Reading:
GLP-1 Studies:
- Tani, Y., Tokuda, M., Nishimoto, N., Yokoi, H., & Izumori, K. (2023, April 6). Allulose for the attenuation of postprandial blood glucose levels in healthy humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0281150
- Fukunaga, K., Yoshimura, T., Imachi, H., Kobayashi, T., Saheki, T., Sato, S., Saheki, N., Jiang, W., & Murao, K. (2023). A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of a Diabetic Diet Containing the Rare Sugar D-Allulose in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blind, Crossover Study. Nutrients, 15(12), 2802. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122802
- Iwasaki, Y., Sendo, M., Dezaki, K., Hira, T., Sato, T., Nakata, M., Goswami, C., Aoki, R., Arai, T., Kumari, P., Hayakawa, M., Masuda, C., Okada, T., Hara, H., Drucker, D. J., Yamada, Y., Tokuda, M., & Yada, T. (2018). GLP-1 release and vagal afferent activation mediate the beneficial metabolic and chronotherapeutic effects of D-allulose. Nature Communications, 9, 113. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02592-8
- Rakhat, Y., Kaneko, K., Wang, L., Han, W., Seino, Y., Yabe, D., & Yada, T. (2022). d-Allulose Inhibits Ghrelin-Responsive, Glucose-Sensitive and Neuropeptide Y Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus and Central Injection Suppresses Appetite-Associated Food Intake in Mice. Nutrients, 14(15), 3117. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153117
- Yermek, R., Wang, L., Kaneko, K., Han, W., Seino, Y., Yabe, D., & Yada, T. (2022). D-Allulose cooperates with glucagon-like peptide-1 and activates proopiomelanocortin neurons in the arcuate nucleus and central injection inhibits feeding in mice. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 613, 159-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.05.083
- Han, Y., Kwon, E.-Y., Yu, M. K., Lee, S. J., Kim, H.-J., Kim, S.-B., Kim, Y. H., & Choi, M.-S. (2018). A Preliminary Study for Evaluating the Dose-Dependent Effect of d-Allulose for Fat Mass Reduction in Adult Humans: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 10(2), 160. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10020160
Other:
- Hossain, A., Yamaguchi, F., Matsuo, T., Tsukamoto, I., Toyoda, Y., Ogawa, M., Nagata, Y., & Tokuda, M. (2015). Rare sugar d-allulose: Potential role and therapeutic monitoring in maintaining obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 155, 49-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2015.08.004
- Ochiai, M., Onishi, K., Yamada, T., Iida, T., & Matsuo, T. (2014). d-Psicose increases energy expenditure and decreases body fat accumulation in rats fed a high-sucrose diet. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 65(2), 245-250. https://doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2013.845653
- Perlmutter, D. (July 19, 2023). Yes, I'm excited about allulose. Dr. Perlmutter. https://drperlmutter.com/yes-im-excited-allulose/