Allulose: The Zero-Sugar Sweetener, Explained
A rare sugar that tastes like sugar and is counted differently on the label. What it is and what to know.
When people hear "zero sugar", they often assume the sweetness comes from artificial chemicals. Atlas uses two sweeteners: stevia leaf extract and allulose. Stevia is familiar. Allulose is the one people ask about.
What allulose is
Allulose, also called psicose, is a simple sugar with the same chemical formula as fructose, arranged differently. It occurs naturally in small amounts in foods such as figs, raisins, and wheat, and is produced commercially by converting fructose with enzymes. It is roughly 70 percent as sweet as table sugar with a similar taste and texture, which is why formulators use it to keep zero-sugar products from tasting thin.
Why it has so few calories
Your body absorbs most allulose in the small intestine but does not use it for energy. Most of it leaves in urine and the rest passes through to the colon. The FDA recognizes an energy value of about 0.4 calories per gram, compared with 4 for sugar.
How it appears on the label
In 2019 the FDA announced it would allow allulose to be left out of the Total Sugars and Added Sugars declarations, while still requiring it to be counted in Total Carbohydrate. That is how a product can list 0 g of sugar and still contain carbohydrate. Atlas lists 0 g of sugar and 6 g of total carbohydrate per stick. Zero sugar on a label does not mean zero carbohydrate, and we would rather say so plainly.
Blood sugar and digestion
In human studies, allulose has had little effect on blood glucose or insulin in healthy adults, which is a reason it is popular in low-sugar products. Tolerance is the main caveat. Amounts much larger than a flavored drink mix provides can cause bloating, gas, or loose stools in some people, and sensitivity varies. If you manage diabetes, ask your clinician how a new sweetener fits your plan.
Why pair it with stevia
Stevia leaf extract is intensely sweet in tiny amounts but can leave a lingering aftertaste on its own. Allulose rounds out the flavor and adds body, which is a common reason formulators combine the two.
Where Atlas fits
Atlas is sweetened with stevia leaf and allulose, with 0 g of sugar and 25 calories per stick.
See the label and ingredientsSources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Declaration of Allulose and Calories from Allulose on Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels: Guidance for Industry. 2020.
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your clinician about your own needs. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Atlas Hydration is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.