If you’re looking for a new kind of sweetener that doesn’t involve cane sugar and the health risks that come with it, then you might want to give coconut sugar a try. Coconut sugar is a product of the flowers of the coconut tree. It is an organic and all-natural sweetener that is diabetes friendly. Unrefined coconut sugar is dark brown in color, just like brown or muscovado cane sugar. It doesn’t taste like the regular sugar we’re used to though, it’s not overly sweet. It tastes like cane sugar, but with a special touch. The sugar particles may seem rough but it is smooth and velvety to the touch and melts easily in the mouth. Coconut sugar is considered the healthiest sweetener substitute due to the many health benefits it offers. Let me share some of them with you.
1. It has a low glycemic index. Several tests conducted revealed that coconut sugar has a low glycemic index of 35 compared to the glycemic index of cane sugar which is 50. The glycemic index is an individual’s glucose response to food relative to a solution of standard glucose. Simply put, a glycemic index is the numerical value given to a food to represent how quickly it turns into sugar. Foods with low glycemic indexes can help balance and maintain health conditions like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and high cholesterol. Low-glycemic foods can also prevent hypoglycemia, which is a health condition that causes the body to produce excess insulin, making you feel weak and faint.
2. It is rich in vitamins and minerals. Coconut sugar contains many minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, iron, and many more. These minerals are necessary for many bodily functions. It also contains all 12 B vitamins which are also essential for our bodies to function well. These vitamins help maintain muscle tone, promote good cellular health, and help strengthen the body’s defense system.
3. It is rich in amino acids. Did you know that coconut sugar contains 16 of the 20 amino acids? All these amino acids are essential for human metabolism.
4. It can help you lose weight. A tablespoon of coconut sugar only contains 10 calories. Yes, just 10. This makes coconut sugar the ideal sweetener for weight watchers and health aficionados. With coconut sugar, you can get the sweetness without the guilt.
5. It is 100% natural and free of additives and preservatives. Coconut sugar is obtained from coconut sap by boiling it in an open container where it then cools and solidifies.