Trehalose has 400 calories per 100 g and is a true sugar, not a substitute. It is a disaccharide of two glucose units with a moderate GI (~72), digested by the brush-border enzyme trehalase. Widely used in Japanese food manufacturing as a moisture-stabilizer, with 100 g sugar per 100 g.
How should I track Trehalose?
When tracking Trehalose, measuring by weight on a kitchen scale gives you the most precision. Volume measures vary depending on crystal size and powder density — a heaping spoonful can be double a level one. Research shows visual estimation errors reach 50–200% for calorie-dense foods (Almiron-Roig et al., Appetite 2013), and liquid sweeteners like honey are among the easiest to over-pour. For zero-calorie sweeteners, bulking agents add trace calories (2–4 per packet) — negligible in your daily total. For calorie-containing sweeteners, the scale is essential.