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2025.01.21  |  Nutrition
Say Goodbye to Sugar Spikes: Alternative Options
In today's world of ultra-addictive foods, the average American is practically overdosing on sugar. While the damage may not be immediately obvious, these sugar spikes cause inflammation and eventually snowball into serious conditions like insulin resistance, diabetes, and heart disease.

For most patients at Instalab, this isn't news. We all know sugar is bad for us. But willpower is finite, and swearing off all sweet-tasting foods forever isn't a sustainable plan. Instead, we recommend finding an alternative that gives you the sweetness you crave without wreaking havoc on your metabolism and cardiovascular system.
Instalab Research Team
Say Goodbye to Sugar Spikes: Alternative Options
The Challenge with Sugar Alternatives
The problem with most sugar alternatives is that they either taste noticeably different from sugar or are too expensive to be practical. Take stevia, for example. It's 200–300 times sweeter than sugar but has a distinctly bitter aftertaste. Then there's saccharin, which often tastes metallic—not exactly what you want in your morning coffee.
So, what's left? If you're looking for a healthy option that tastes almost identical to sugar, there are two solid options:
The Best of the Best: Allulose
If you're okay with paying a little more for a premium option, allulose is the holy grail. It's a rare sugar that tastes nearly identical to sucrose—the sugar we all love—but here's the magic: your body doesn't metabolize it like regular sugar.
Allulose has a glycemic index of zero, meaning it won't spike your blood sugar, disrupt your insulin, or ramp up inflammation. Clinical studies demonstrate that allulose can be safely consumed without adverse metabolic effects, even in acute doses, and it may even have anti-inflammatory benefits. And unlike many alternatives, it has no weird aftertaste.
A 2 lb (32 oz) bag costs around $25–$30. While that's pricier than table sugar, the metabolic benefits are worth every penny. If you're aiming for flavor perfection, allulose is your best bet.
Budget-Friendly Option: Erythritol
If you're looking for a more affordable option, erythritol is a strong contender. It's slightly less sugar-like than allulose—it can create a subtle cooling effect when used in large amounts—but its taste is clean, sweet, and far better than most alternatives. It's also widely available in grocery stores and costs around $20 for a 2.5 lb (40 oz) bag.
Like allulose, erythritol doesn't mess with your blood sugar or insulin levels, making it a fantastic option for anyone focused on metabolic health. Research indicates that erythritol is metabolically inert and does not contribute to blood glucose spikes or systemic inflammation.
Sources
  • Barzilay, J., Abraham, L., Heckbert, S., Cushman, M., Kuller, L., Resnick, H., & Tracy, R. (2001). The relation of markers of inflammation to the development of glucose disorders in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Diabetes, 50(10), 2384-9. https://doi.org/10.2337/DIABETES.50.10.2384
  • Teysseire, F., Bordier, V., Budzinska, A., Van Oudenhove, L., Weltens, N., Beglinger, C., Wölnerhanssen, B., & Meyer-Gerspach, A. (2023). Metabolic Effects and Safety Aspects of Acute D-allulose and Erythritol Administration in Healthy Subjects. Nutrients, 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020458
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