What is Coconut Sugar?
Coconut sugar is an organic natural sweetener and a great alternative to white sugar. It’s derived from the sap of coconut palm flowers, this sugar has a distinctive caramel colour. This flavour can enhance the appeal of any dish. It also has some trace of nutrients and has a less dramatic impact on the blood sugar levels.
Also Read: Coconut Milk – Everything you need to know
How is it made?
Coconut sugar is the sap of coconut palm. It’s basically a three-step process – extract, evaporate and dehydrate.
Here are the steps in details to make coconut sugar
- Cut the flower of the coconut palm and collect the liquid sap.
- Next heat the sap to evaporate the water of the sap.
- Once the water is evaporated completely the residue is nothing but coconut sugar.
Is it healthy?
With all the hype about this new entrant in the world of sweeteners, let’s take a moment to analyse if it is really worth its price.
With some trace of nutrients and a low level of sucrose, it does rank better than regular white sugar. This sugar contains some amount of iron, zinc, potassium, polyphenols and antioxidants. It also contains inulin which slows down the process of glucose absorption in the body.
Also Read: 10 Super simple coconut water recipes for summer
Here are some of the top benefits of coconut sugar
1. Low glycemic index and Less sucrose content
Glycemic index indicated the capacity of a food to spike blood sugar level. Thus, it causes less havoc in the sugar level of the body.
2. Boosts Immunity And Gut Health
Inulin helps in maintaining the gut fauna and vitamin C helps in strengthening the immune system.
3. A better alternative for Diabetic patients
The inulin slows down the process of glucose absorption in the body thereby preventing blood sugar upsurge in the body.
The contents that make coconut sugar a healthier option are
- Electrolytes – The natural electrolytes like potassium, magnesium, sodium helps in regulating the body’s water content.
2. Minerals – It contains iron, zinc, and calcium, which is missing in the white sugar.
3. Nitrogen – Some trace of nitrogen is found in coconut sugar which is good for the cardiovascular system.
4, Vitamin C and antioxidants – Vitamin C is a great nutrient for the immune system. Antioxidants help to fight off free radicals and oxidation of cells in the body.
5. Short-chain fatty acids – The healthy fats that are known to help prevent high cholesterol and heart disease.
6. Insuin – It helps in maintaining a healthy gut and prevents many fatal diseases.
PRECAUTIONS
- The calorie content is the same as that of normal sugar. So does not aid in weight loss neither it is recommended for heavy consumption.
- Its nutrient content is very low and so do not rely on coconut sugar to fulfil dietary requirements.
- Too much coconut sugar is bad for your liver, cause toxic accumulation, increase your risk of fungal infections, decrease brain function, and metabolize directly into fat.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Coconut Sugar can be a god replacement for regular sugar. However, it may not be the best one. The calorie content is same as normal sugar. So, it won’t aid your weight loss. The nutritional content is also low. And too much of coconut sugar is bad for you!
Hence, jaggery is a better replacement for sugar, but if you want ot use coconut, make sure you use it in moderation. Everything is good if you consume it in low amounts and everything is bad when you eat it in excess!