🍬

Allulose Benefits for Metabolic Health

Sep 9, 2024

Lecture Notes on Allulose and Metabolic Health

Presenter: Dr. David Perlmutter

Guest Speaker: Dr. Benjamin Bickman

Introduction

  • Discussion on allulose as a replacement for fructose-containing sugars.
  • Allulose may help with body weight, blood sugar control, and metabolism.
  • Dr. Benjamin Bickman, an expert in bioenergetics, discusses the role of insulin and metabolism in health.

Metabolism and Insulin

  • Bioenergetics: Study of energy in living organisms, focusing on energy expenditure.
  • Insulin: Key hormone in metabolic health, affects muscle, neuron, and fat cell function.
  • Insulin resistance is linked to obesity, diabetes, and dementia.

Insulin Resistance

  • Definition: Condition where insulin isn't as effective, leading to high levels of insulin (hyperinsulinemia).
  • Causes: Primarily due to chronically elevated insulin levels.
  • Linked to heart, liver, brain, and reproductive problems.
  • Affects 88% of adults in the US.

Dietary Influence on Insulin

  • Macronutrients: Carbohydrates spike insulin the most; fats have no effect, proteins have a modest effect.
  • Average person consumes 70% of calories from carbohydrates and eats frequently, leading to constant elevated insulin.

Allulose

  • Allulose as a sweetener does not spike insulin like fructose.
  • Increases GLP-1, delaying gastric emptying, helping control appetite.
  • Inhibits glucagon, stabilizing blood glucose levels.
  • May increase AMPK activity, improving glucose clearance.

Health Implications

Uric Acid

  • Allulose may reduce uric acid production by replacing fructose, potentially reducing gout symptoms and improving metabolism.

Insulin Sensitivity

  • Activating AMPK through allulose can improve insulin sensitivity.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

  • Allulose may help prevent liver from accumulating fat by replacing fructose and improving insulin sensitivity.

Cognitive Function

  • Potential for allulose to support brain health by improving insulin sensitivity and promoting mitochondrial function.

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)

  • Importance of CGMs for personal metabolic monitoring and avoiding glucose spikes.

Conclusion

  • Allulose is a promising alternative sweetener with potential health benefits beyond being calorie-neutral.
  • It plays a role in reducing uric acid, improving insulin sensitivity, and may benefit liver and brain health.

Full transcript