What is Galactose?
Galactose is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) like glucose but with a lower glycaemic index, which helps keep blood sugar levels stable.
Galactose is derived from milk sugar (lactose). It is naturally found in fermented dairy products such as yoghurt and kefir and in very small quantities in artichokes, mushrooms, papayas, and tomatoes. Also found in breast milk, galactose provides the foundation for important early brain developments after birth.
Even though galactose is derived from lactose, it is easily digestible for people with lactose intolerance.
Galactose is slightly less sweet than classic sugar and helps create a balanced flavour when combined with other Dr Coy’s sugars.
Galactose at a glance
- Prevents high blood glucose levels, which helps reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease
- Helps decrease stress by lowering cortisol levels
- Lowers HbA1c blood glucose marker indicative of reduced sugar damages
- Helps switch on fat burning
- Prevents and inhibits insulin resistance
- Prevents tooth decay
- Improves blood fat profile and can increase good cholesterol
What makes Galactose special
Switches on fat burning
Helps prevent premature memory loss
Prevents tooth decay
Keeps blood sugar levels stable
Activate fat burning
Galactose helps burn fat, even while eating. It is metabolised by the body very differently compared to classic sugar. It essentially ‘forces’ the cell powerhouses (mitochondria) to use fat and oxygen to make fuel. This metabolic difference is immense.
The taste is similar, but the body responds completely differently.
Galactose has the same calorie content as glucose or cane sugar, but converting galactose into glucose requires a lot of energy. As a result, sugar cells don’t like using galactose for fermentation because the cell must invest as much energy as is subsequently released.
This metabolic shift helps the body easily achieve healthy weight management.
Galactose helps train the mitochondria and its use of energy released by oxidative metabolism (Oxidative Phosphorylation) which helps burn fat.
Galactose is an excellent sugar to support a ketogenic diet or fasting. Both ketogenic diet and fasting exhaust the glucose deposits (glycogen) in the body and cause an oxidative metabolism with the mitochondria. The combination of galactose with ketogenic diet and fasting can be exploited to improve the training of oxidative metabolism.
Galactose has a low glycaemic index (23), which prevents high insulin levels in the blood. This also prevents the inflammation, organ dysfunction and premature ageing caused by insulin-activated fat cells.
Prevent Memory Loss
Sugar can have a severe effect on our concentration and memory. Consuming enormous amounts of sugary foods can cause a spike in blood sugar levels, increasing insulin output. The insulin surge then triggers a drop in blood glucose levels, making us hungry again quickly and causing a dip in energy that makes it hard to concentrate.
As we age, insulin resistance can impair the glucose supply to the hippocampus, which controls memory function in the brain.
The good news is that poor brain function and early-stage dementia can be improved.
By choosing healthy sugars, such as galactose, we can ensure a steady supply of energy to the brain. Along with the stabilization of the blood glucose level, insulin resistance can be reduced, and after a while, the insulin resistance is gone.
As a result, sugar can be utilized as an important fuel for the brain, and the hippocampus will continue to work well. This can even encourage new neurons to form in the hippocampus at a rate of 3-4% per year, thus slowing memory loss and improving cognitive function.
Galactose is an ideal source of energy to stay physically and mentally fit.
Strengthen and protect teeth
At first, suggesting sugar can strengthen and protect your teeth seems contradictory.
Classic sugar promotes harmful oral bacteria, leading to plaque build-up and cavities. However, studies prove galactose helps reduce the amount of dangerous plaque.
Galactose can stop plaque from forming on the teeth, protect tooth enamel, and reduce the risk of decay and gum disease. It does this, because galactose cannot be used for fermentation metabolism, which leads to lactic acid. Therefore, the acid is not being produced by bacteria and tooth decay is prevented.
Since galactose increases tooth mineralisation and counteracts cavities, it can help reduce inflammation in the mouth as well. Regular brushing and flossing between the teeth are also important to maintain good dental hygiene.
Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels
Research shows that after consuming galactose, the amount of sugar in the blood rises more slowly than with classic sugars.
Galactose provides an even supply of energy to cells, without spikes or dips in blood sugar. This makes it an ideal energy source for people who need to check their blood sugar levels regularly, such as diabetics.
It takes a substantial amount of time and energy for the body to convert galactose into glucose, which keeps the rise in blood sugar extremely low. This enables a steady supply of energy to the body without spiking high blood sugar and triggering a high insulin load.
Low-calorie Sugar?
Although galactose has the same calorie content as glucose, it requires more energy to process, so the actual calorie content is lower than classic sugar.
Galactose ‘forces’ the cell powerhouses (mitochondria) to use fat and oxygen to make fuel for the body.
The important difference between galactose and classic sugar is that galactose forces the mitochondria to be active thereby enhancing an oxidative metabolism which increases fat burning.
Galactose:
Calorie content: 4 kcal per gram
Classic Sugar:
Calorie content: 4 kcal per gram
Frequently asked questions
Is Galactose safe?
Yes. Galactose is naturally derived from milk sugar (lactose). It is not an artificial sweetener.
Is galactose good for diabetics?
Yes. Galactose does not increase blood sugar levels or insulin levels. Diabetics can use galactose without worrying about their blood sugar levels spiking.
Is galactose safe for cancer patients?
Yes. Galactose does not trigger a rise in blood sugar levels. It can also reduce the rise of blood sugar levels from sugars consumed along with galactose. Galactose avoids and regulates blood sugar level rises, making it difficult for cancer cells to obtain sufficient glucose from the blood. This weakens the cancer cells and can help make chemo- and radiotherapy more effective.
Nobel Prize winner Otto Heinrich Warburg discovered as early as 1924 that glucose and galactose have a completely different effect on cancer cells. Glucose promotes the fermentation metabolism and the formation of lactic acid which leads to the rapid growth of cancer cells. However, galactose inhibits the fermentation metabolism and formation of lactic acid so that the cancer cells can no longer grow. New studies strongly confirm the anti-cancer and mitochondria-activating effects of galactose.
Is galactose healthy?
Yes. Galactose offers a wide variety of health benefits – while still tasting sweet! Unlike classic sugar, galactose allows us to satisfy our sugar-cravings without any negative health effects.
What is galactose made from?
Galactose is a natural, simple sugar (monosaccharide).
Galactose is derived from milk sugar (lactose). However, unlike lactose, galactose can be tolerated by people with lactose intolerance. Galactose is naturally found in breast milk and integral to early brain development in newborns.
What does galactose taste like?
Galactose looks exactly like household table sugar. It tastes slightly less sweet than classic sugar. Although galactose has the same calorie content as classic sugar, it uses more energy to process, so the actual calorie content is lower than normal sugar.
Is galactose keto-friendly?
Yes. Galactose can be considered keto-friendly thanks to its low-calorie effect.
Where can I buy galactose?
The best way to incorporate galactose into your diet is by using Dr Coy’s sugar mixtures. These mixtures have been scientifically developed to help lead a healthier lifestyle. Discover the full range of Dr Coy’s sugar mixtures from our partners.
Does galactose raise blood sugar levels?
No. Because galactose takes substantial time and energy for the body to process, this prevents a spike in blood sugar levels. Galactose enables a steady supply of energy to the body, helping improve concentration and mood.
Research & Resources
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published this study proving the fat burning benefits of galactose:
“Galactose consumption is associated with higher endogenous fat mobilization and oxidation during meal absorption”
This study shows the effectiveness of galactose to prevent cavities and improve oral health.
“5.0% galactose reduces the amount of caries on a high significance level, lowers the abrasion of the chewing surfaces, possibly because of the increased amount of serum calcium related to this galactose concentration, and diminishes the amount of film.”
This study tested the effects of a toothpaste made with galactose, which prevented dangerous biofilm growth on bovine teeth.
“Our results suggest that d-galactose can be a candidate substance for the development of oral hygiene products to prevent caries by inhibiting the biofilm formation of S. mutans”
This study proves there is very clear evidence that specific types of dietary sugar are implicated in either feeding, or starving, the spread of cancer.
“In order to test whether TKT’s promotion of colorectal cancer metastasis is dependent on glycolysis, we used galactose which induced cells to survive on ATP provided by mitochondrial respiration instead of glucose.”
Further Studies
- Galactose enhances oxidative metabolism and reveals mitochondrial dysfunction in human primary muscle cells
- Centella asiatica Protects d-Galactose/AlCl 3 Mediated Alzheimer’s Disease-Like Rats via PP2A/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway in Their Hippocampus
- Metabolism of galactose in the brain and liver of rats and its conversion into glutamate and other amino acids