Trehalose Benefits, Side Effects & Dosage
What is Trehalose? Trehalose is a sugar compound made up of two glucose molecules. It is also known as
mycose or tremalose. Some bacteria, fungi, plants and invertebrate animals synthesize it as a source of energy to survive in extreme temperatures and when there is a lack of water. Insects use trehalose to fly because it releases energy more efficiently than starch.
Foods like shrimp, sunflower seeds and sea algae, as well as certain types of mushrooms like shiitake and oyster mushrooms contain trehalose.
Best known for its abilities as a sweetener, trehalose also boasts significant health benefits, including detoxifying the body, protecting you from oxidative stress, preventing dental cavities and treating dry eyes.
Benefits of Trehalose Reduces Oxidative Stress Trehalose acts like an antioxidant in the body. This means that it protects your body from oxidative stress, which can lead to signs of aging and disease (x). By shielding your cells from free radical damage, trehalose may reduce your risk of developing certain diseases.
Reduces Risk of Fatty Liver Disease Excess sugar levels lead to several inflammatory conditions, including fatty liver disease. This associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus (type 2), can even lead to
liver cancer if not appropriately treated.
But trehalose blocks the development of fatty liver, keeping your liver healthy (x). It does this by preventing sugar (fructose) from entering liver cells, preventing fatty buildup common in conditions like diabetes and metabolic syndrome (x).
Lowers Blood Sugar Spikes As an alternative to regular sugar, trehalose sweetens your food without spiking your blood sugar levels, unlike glucose.
Research shows that trehalose prevents harmful blood sugar spikes and controls insulin, making it a beneficial sugar substitute for those with diabetes (x). In fact, trehalose could even help lower insulin secretion for long-term blood sugar management (x).
Promotes Healthy Brain Function Trehalose may support healthy brain function. Healthy brains rid themselves of cellular waste using a process called autophagy. But when your brain can’t remove cellular waste, it results in a buildup of waste, which can lead to diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Trehalose benefits your cognitive health in three ways. First, it induces autophagy so the cells can get rid of their waste (x). Secondly, it stabilizes proteins in your brain to
maintain their structure–a crucial step in preventing neurodegenerative brain disease (x). Thirdly, it helps prevent already damaged proteins from clumping together and forming plaques that can cause dementia and Alzheimer’s (x).
Other Benefits ● Trehalose is a common ingredient in prepared frozen foods like ice cream because it lowers the freezing point of foods. ● It also relieves dry eyes when combined with hyaluronic acid in eye drops. ● Unlike regular table sugar, trehalose is less likely to cause dental cavities.
Side Effects of Trehalose As long as you adhere to the recommended dosage, trehalose is safe to take for healthy adults. Mild side effects may include stomach upset, diarrhea, bloating and flatulence. Talk to your doctor before taking trehalose if you have gastrointestinal issues.
Trehalose in Foods Trehalose naturally occurs in the following foods:
● Shrimp ● Lobster ● Honey ● Sunflower seeds ● Sea algae ● Wine ● Beer ● Bread (and anything else using baker’s/brewer’s yeast) ● Shiitake, maitake, nameko, Judas’s ear, and oyster mushrooms
Trehalose Dosage As a sweetener, use 5,000 milligrams (about 2 tsp) of pure trehalose powder to sweeten foods, or sweeten to taste.
The Bottom Line Trehalose is a sugar alternative that may reduce oxidative stress, prevent blood sugar spikes and promote healthy brain function.