3/5/2021

D-Tagatose Sweetener: Calories, Benefits, and Side Effects - Perfect Keto

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D-Tagatose Sweetener: Calories,Benefits, and Side Effects
Medically reviewed byDr. Anthony Gustin, DC, MS
on June 4th, 2020
Written by Corey Nelson

What is D-Tagatose? | D-Tagatose Nutrition Facts |4 Possible Health Benefits of D-Tagatose |Safety and Side Effects of D-Tagatose |Is D-Tagatose the Latest, Greatest Keto-Friendly Sweetener?
D-tagatose is a simple carbohydrate that’s chemically related to fructose butboasts some fantastic advantages over glucose, sucrose, fructose, and othertraditional sweeteners.
Keep reading to learn the latest info about D-tagatose, possible health benefits,
and the real deal about sugar substitutes on the ketogenic diet.

What is D-Tagatose?
D-tagatose is a sweetener that’s approximately 90% as sweet as table sugar[*].
But along with containing lower amounts of calories and net carbs than sugar, Dtagatose is also a low glycemic index food.
And unlike most sweeteners, D-tagatose does not promote cavities[*]. As a result,the US Food and Drug Administration has approved D-tagatose as a tooth-friendlyingredient[*].
As far as its chemical structure, D-tagatose is an isomer of fructose. Isomers havethe same molecular formula, but different arrangements of atoms.
D-tagatose occurs naturally at low levels (no more than 3.5 grams per kilogram) inapples, pineapples, oranges, raisins, dates, pasteurized cow’s milk, and various
other whole foods[*].
But for industrial production, most D-tagatose manufacturing uses enzymaticconversion of lactose from milk to obtain D-tagatose[*].
Overall, the nutritional properties and other benefits of D-tagatose make it an
attractive sugar substitute[*].
But what about baking? A seemingly minor change in a recipe can have disastrous
consequences for baked goods.
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3/5/2021

D-Tagatose Sweetener: Calories, Benefits, and Side Effects - Perfect Keto

As a matter of fact, researchers in the field of food science have shown that mostpeople like baked goods with D-tagatose about as well as those made withsugar[*].
Basically, the properties of D-tagatose make it similar to baking with sugar. It
seems to brown a little faster than sugar, then offers similar, rich caramel and malt
flavors[*].

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D-Tagatose Nutrition Facts
D-tagatose offers many similar culinary properties to table sugar, including taste,texture, and sweetness.
But when it comes to nutrition facts, D-tagatose is a totally different story fromsucrose.
As a low-calorie sweetener, it contains 1.5 calories per gram (per US labelingguidelines) or 2.4 calories per gram (based on EU labeling guidelines).
Either way, D-tagatose has about 40-60% less digestible calories than sugar andother simple carbs.
And as you’ll learn in the next section, the functional properties of D-tagatose areentirely different from those of sugar, too.

4 Possible Health Benefits of DTagatose#1: Low Glycemic Index and Low Net Carbs
D-tagatose has a low glycemic index, and it’s also extremely low in net carbs. For
healthier sugar substitutes, these are two essential traits.
The glycemic index (GI) of a food is a measure of how rapidly it raises your bloodglucose.
Whereas glucose has a GI of 100, D-tagatose has a glycemic index of 3, meaning it
raises your blood sugar extremely slowly[*].
Research shows that substituting lower GI foods in place of higher GI foods may
reverse insulin resistance, reduce inflammation in your body, and more[*].
As a result, lots of people focus on eating low GI foods for easier fat loss, lowering
their blood sugar, and enhancing their overall health.

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D-Tagatose Sweetener: Calories, Benefits, and Side Effects - Perfect Keto

And since D-tagatose doesn’t appear to raise blood glucose levels, it’s also
effectively got zero net carbs[*].
Net carbs are a measure of how many carbs your body uses, not the amount you
consume. As you may be aware, counting net carbs is essential for the keto diet(the fewer the better).

#2: Prebiotic Properties
According to research published in the World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dtagatose has prebiotic properties[*].
Probiotic foods like yogurt, kefir, and kombucha supply your gut with more
beneficial bacteria, but probiotic foods feed the healthy bacteria that help yourgut, brain, and immune system function correctly.
Studies suggest that combining prebiotic foods with probiotic foods orsupplements may also enhance the benefits of taking probiotics for maintaining ahealthy microbiome[*].
And one study found that D-tagatose has the ability to encourage growth oflactobacilli in particular, microscopic organisms that might reduce allergies,decrease cancer risk, control cholesterol levels, and lower inflammation[*][*].

#3: Short Chain Fa y Acid Production
Along with supporting probiotic bacteria that help you stay healthy, the prebiotic
properties of D-tagatose have another upside.
In a 2004 study, scientists found that a daily dose of tagatose in healthy men andwomen boosted production of butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids[*].
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate are special fats your gut bacteria
produce when you eat fiber. (Another healthy source of SCFAs is grass-fed butter,
which is high in butyrate.)
These fats are anti-inflammatory and may help prevent colon cancer, promote
brain health, and regulate your immune function[*][*].
And some research suggests that many of the health benefits of dietary fiber occur
because it enables your gut microbiome to produce more SCFAs[*].
Therefore, according to that line of thinking, D-tagatose may have overlapping
health benefits with fiber since it can also increase SCFA production.

#4: Blood Sugar Lowering E ects
D-tagatose can lower blood sugar and insulin levels in people with type 2 diabetes
as well as people without diabetes[*].
Keeping blood glucose in check is vital for regaining insulin sensitivity, which is atreatment goal for diabetic patients[*].
However, preventing insulin resistance is also key for avoiding type 2 diabetes andother serious health conditions.
Researchers think D-tagatose lowers blood glucose by interfering with theabsorption of carbs or by preventing your liver from using stored glycogen[*].

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D-Tagatose Sweetener: Calories, Benefits, and Side Effects - Perfect Keto

And perhaps most impressively, a six-month trial found that low doses (5-7.5grams, three times daily) of D-tagatose improved HbA1c scores, a measure of
insulin sensitivity, in diabetic patients[*].

Safety and Side Effects of DTagatose
Overall, D-tagatose appears to be safe.
Although there’s no recommended daily intake level, the US Food and Drug
Administration categorized D-tagatose as GRAS in 2002[*].
A GRAS ruling stands for “Generally Recognized as Safe” and comes from theFDA’s analysis of scientific literature, as well as any known adverse incidents withcommercial products.
Basically, the FDA deems D-tagatose safe for its intended use as a food additive.
Some human trials of D-tagatose have found that doses of 30 grams or morecause gastrointestinal side effects like flatulence, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting[*][*].
However, only a minority of people appear to be affected, and mostly only withlight to moderate symptom severity[*].
The GI side effects of D-tagatose seem to be unpleasant but harmless. They’re may
be due to osmotic (water-retaining) effects of high D-tagatose doses moving
through your intestines.
D-tagatose may interact with some prescription drugs, especially blood sugar
lowering drugs, and could cause hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar
levels).
And in people with diabetes or a history of kidney stones, temporary rises in uricacid blood levels caused by high dose D-tagatose may be an issue[*].
If you’re diabetic, have had kidney stones, take prescription drugs, or want to try Dtagatose specifically to lower your blood sugar, speak to your physician first.

Is D-Tagatose the Latest, Greatest
Keto-Friendly Sweetener?
D-tagatose is a very promising keto sweetener, but only time will tell if it catcheson. So far it’s not a mainstream ingredient, but recent studies on its health benefits
may change that.
In the meantime, it’s far from your only option for satisfying your sweet tooth on
keto. Check out Your Guide to the Top 4 Keto Sweeteners for the best widely
available keto-friendly sweeteners.
On the other hand, if you’re new to keto, it’s not always a good idea to indulge
urges for your favorite foods. Rather than keeping up old eating patterns, you
could learn how to stop sugar cravings instead (we believe in you!).

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