Coconut sugar is better than cane sugar – Is coconut sugar or cane sugar preferable? People have been debating and discussing which is healthier. Sugar is generally harmful to one’s health. However, there are those who slightly distort that reality. One of the healthier alternatives is coconut sugar.
Even though both coconut and cane sugars have a similar taste and purpose, there are numerous differences that distinguish them. Knowing the distinction between coconut sugar and cane sugar can help you decide which one to use as you strive for a healthier lifestyle.
What is Coconut Sugar and Cane Sugar?
Before recognizing whether coconut sugar is better than cane sugar, we need to know what is coconut sugar and cane sugar first. Here are some explanation of coconut sugar and cane sugar:
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Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar, also known as coconut palm sugar, is derived from the sap of the coconut palm tree, not the coconuts themselves. Because it is plant-based and minimally processed, coconut sugar is a popular sweetener in many vegan diets.
Some people believe that coconut sugar is more nutritious than regular table sugar because it is a plant-based, natural sweetener. In terms of nutrients and calories, coconut sugar is nearly identical to regular cane sugar.
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Cane Sugar
Sugar obtained from sugar cane is referred to as cane sugar. Sugar cane (or Saccharum, the genus name for sugarcane) refers to a number of species and hybrids of tall perennial grasses in the Andropogonae plant family.
Corn/maize, wheat, rice, sorghum, and a variety of forage crops are also members of the same plant family. Sugarcane plants have sucrose-rich fibrous stalks (sugar). They are native to tropical Southeast Asia and New Guinea, but they are now widely grown in warm, temperate climates around the world.
The Making Process of Coconut Sugar ad Cane Sugar
Coconut sugar comes from the sap that are in coconut blossoms. Then it collected and boiled the sap at a controlled temperature to preserve the nutrients while killing any bacteria that remain. Coconut sugar is the final outcome of dehydration.
There are numerous names for coconut sugar. Coconut palm sugar, coconut crystals, and dehydrated or evaporated sugar are all examples. Importantly, this is not to be confused with palm sugar, which is derived from the sugar palm tree.
Cane sugar comes from sugar canes. The refinement process is what distinguishes cane sugar from refined sugar. Sugarcane juice is the source of both cane and refined white sugars. The juice is filtered, evaporated, and centrifuged. It is also known as dried cane syrup, evaporated cane sugar, and raw sugar.
Nutrition Information
People also need to know the information of nutrition that coconut sugar and cane sugar have. This will make users easier to decide whether coconut sugar is better than cane sugar or not.
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Nutrition information of coconut sugar
Coconut sugar has many nutrients, most notably iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. These nutrients can help the body in a variety of ways, but coconut sugar doesn’t have enough of them per serving to provide a measurable benefit.
Coconut sugar also contains inulin, a soluble fiber linked to a lower risk of blood sugar spikes. One teaspoon of coconut sugar contains:
- 18 calories
- 0 grams of protein
- 0 grams of fat
- 5 grams of carbohydrates
- 0 grams of fiber
- 5 grams of sugar
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Nutrition of Cane Sugar
Cane sugar is a pure carbohydrate source, containing four calories per gram or 16 calories in a level teaspoon (four grams). Isolated sugar contains no nutrients other than calories and carbohydrates. The nutritional value of a one-ounce/28-gram serving of cane sugar (about two tablespoons) is as follows:
- 105 calories
- 28 grams sugar
- 28 grams carbohydrates
- It has 0 grams protein
- Cane sugar has 0 grams fat
- 0 grams fiber
The Potential Benefits
Another thing that distinguishes between coconut sugar and cane sugar is their potential benefits. Here are some potential benefits of them:
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Potential benefits of coconut sugar
Coconut sugar may have a few health benefits, but it is primarily a sweetener and is low in nutrients. Still, it is possible:
- Prevent low blood sugar
Glucose is the body’s primary source of energy. Coconut sugar, like brown sugar and cane sugar, can help raise blood glucose levels and prevent conditions such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
- Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia can cause hunger, shakiness, sweating, dizziness, and nausea. It can even cause seizures and a coma. Coconut sugar is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a natural, plant-based sweetener to keep your blood glucose and energy levels stable.
- Lower chance of a blood sugar spike
Coconut sugar includes a trace of inulin, a kind of soluble fiber which can significantly lower post-meal blood sugar spikes. Diabetics can benefit from eating foods high in inulin.
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Potential benefits of Cane Sugar
While no expert recommends consuming sugar in large quantities, sugar does have some uses when it comes to providing carbohydrates, which we can use it for for energy and to make food taste better.
- Cane sugar can improve the taste, color, texture, and mouthfeel of recipes. Sugar, for example, can help improve the browning or caramelization of foods, including nutrient-dense foods like roasted vegetables and healthy desserts.
While it does not contain vitamins and minerals naturally, it may encourage people to eat more nutrient-rich foods if it tends to make them more appealing.
- Sugar aids the fermentation process in fermented foods such as kombucha and yogurt, as well as sourdough breads, cultured vegetables, and soy sauces.
- Sugar can hopefully maintain foods from destroying quickly by preserving their color and flavor, thereby extending their shelf life.
The Risks and Side Effects
Consuming sugar overly also can make people have any side effects. The following side effects might the things that people have to consider:
- Inflammation and chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease, and even certain types of cancer can be exacerbated by excessive sugar consumption.
- It can lead to weight gain and fat gain, including dangerous visceral fat accumulation, because it is easy to over-consume and contributes many “empty calories” to your diet.
- It also might contribute to sugar side effects when you stop eating it, as well as other issues such as candida overgrowth, dental caries, and mood-related issues.
- Nutritionists recommend limiting your intake of coconut sugar, as they do with regular table sugar. Because one teaspoon of cane sugar contains 16 calories, substituting coconut sugar for cane sugar in recipes will not result in calorie savings.
Where to Buy Best Coconut Sugar? I choose Nusagro for consume coconut sugar.
In sum, there some reasons why is coconut sugar better than cane sugar. We can see the evidence from their making process, nutrition information, their potential benefits, and also their risks and side effects to the consumers. Furthermore, coconut sugar is better that cane sugar.
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