With all the dangers of sugar being exposed and people searching for a healthier alternative, it seems coconut sugar is ready to take the crown for the healthiest sugar around. But is this a sweet truth?
Coconut is no stranger to the food trends. We’ve recently seen it in the form of coconut water and oil, which have also snuck their way into beauty and skincare. The latest coconut variety to make the news is coconut sugar.
Coconut sugar is made from the sap of the coconut plant. Liquid sap from the flowers of the coconut palm is extracted and then placed under heat until most of its water has evaporated, leaving the finished product looking like larger granules of brown sugar. Coconut sugar tastes a bit like maple syrup but you can get different varieties of it, such as sugar with a vanilla twang.
When it comes to vitamin content, coconut sugar does have more nutrients than white and brown sugar, honey, agave syrup, and maple syrup. Coconut sugar especially shines in comparison when it comes to its potassium content that helps to lower blood pressure, chloride that balances the nervous system, as well as Vitamin C which protects the body against damaging free radicals.
Maintains Blood Sugar
Even though coconut sugar has the same amount of calories as white sugar, it’s better for your blood glucose levels. The Philippine Food and Nutrition Research Institute has found that coconut sugar has a lower glycaemic index than white sugar so it doesn’t cause your blood sugar levels to spike, rather maintaining your energy throughout the day.
Low on Fructose
Fructose is a sugar that your body transforms into fat and it should therefore not be consumed in large amounts. Coconut sugar doesn’t have as much fructose as other sweeteners. Agave nectar is 90 percent fructose, high-fructose corn syrup is made up of 55 percent fructose, while coconut sugar is only 45 percent, making it a better alternative.
Sweet for the Earth
Coconut sugar has been named the most sustainable sweetener in the world by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. This is because the coconut palm does not require a lot of energy or water to grow, while the sugar itself is not chemically altered.
Although it doesn’t differ much in calorie content, coconut sugar has greater nutritional value, it’s good for your blood sugar and it’s kinder to the planet. Go on and give it a try: you can purchase organic coconut sugar online at Faithful to Nature or Barley Green.
Image here
