It might be thought by many people that Coconut or Palm sugar is made from coconuts, but it is not. Coconut sugar is made from coconut trees more specifically the sap of coconut tree’s flower buds. It is also called coco sap sugar or coconut palm sugar. The blossoms are cut and nectar is collected into bamboo containers. For diabetics, it can be used as a sweetener? How safe is it? Let us discuss this.

 

 

People who suffer from diabetes have to monitor carbohydrate intake, especially that of sugar. High sugar intake can result in an increase in the risk of blood sugar spikes, which can lead to symptoms of high blood sugar and the development of complications.

 

 

 

Some people look for alternatives to regular sugar in the hope that this will pose less of a risk. One popular choice is coconut sugar.

 

Coconut or Palm sugar comes from the sap of the coconut palm. Sugar can be extracted from the palm by heating it until the moisture evaporates. After getting processed, sugar has a caramel color and tastes just like brown sugar. This makes it appropriate to be used in many recipes.

 

The scope of the articles is how sugar particularly palm sugar, affects blood glucose levels. We will discuss why people choose coconut sugar, and if it is healthy for diabetics?

 

 

• Why Coconut or Palm sugar is preferred by people?

 

Diabetics as we all aware of have to eat low glycemic foods to help prevent glucose spikes. Coconut sugar is nutritious and has low glycemic crystalline sweetener which also looks tasty. It dissolves and melts just like sugar but it is unrefined and completely natural.

 

 

In fact, it is sourced from flowers growing on high coconut trees, opened to collect the liquid flower nectar.

 

 

This nectar has to be air-dried and then takes a form of crystalline sugar that is brown in color. It is naturally rich in vitamins including over 16 amino acids, minerals, and phytonutrients, which include iron, potassium, and zinc. It also has vitamin B1, B2, B3, and B6.

 

 

Coconut or Palm sugar never refined nor is it bleached like white sugar. Thus, it maintains the nutrients in it and this quality is rare in sweeteners, as most of them are highly refined.

 

 

• Coconut sugar for diabetics:

 

American Diabetes Association believes that coconut sugar has a low glycemic index thus it is a proper choice for diabetes as compared to regular sugar.

 

 

• What is Glycemic Index – GI

 

 

Glycemic index (GI) measures how a food raises blood glucose or blood sugar as compared to reference food usually glucose. The Glycemic index can vary from person to person. It will vary as per how a food is cooked and what the food is consumed with.

 

 

 

Coconut sugar is likely to be mixed or prepared with other ingredients that contain carbohydrates. It is okay for people with diabetes to use coconut sugar as a sweetener.

 

 

When anyone has diabetes their body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin correctly. Insulin helps the body to use sugar or glucose for energy. When insulin isn’t doing the work properly in your body, the sugar stays in the bloodstream instead of it entering the cells for use.

 

 

When this happens blood glucose levels become too high. In the short term, it can lead to excessive and frequent urination and thirst, tiredness, and risk of having a fatal condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In the long run, it damages the entire body.

 

 

• We bring to you amazing benefits of coconut sugar that make it better than regular sugar:

 

 

• Low Glycemic Index:

 

 

The Glycemic Index (GI) is a measurement that evaluates carbohydrate-containing foods and their impact on our blood sugar and glucose levels.

 

 

Coconut sugar has a relatively low Glycemic Index. It ranks just 35 on the index as compared to the regular sugar we usually consume, which ranks between 60 to 65.

 

 

High GI foods lead to a spike in blood sugar levels suddenly and this takes a toll on insulin levels. Coconut sugar contains a fibre called insulin and it slows down the glucose absorption.

 

 

 

• Better electrolytes:

 

Since it is high in potassium, sodium, and magnesium, coconut sugar can regulate our body’s water content. It has about 400 times more potassium than our regular sugar. Thus, it is just the right type of sweetener.

 

 

 

• Good for your gut:

 

 

Insulin is the star fiber of coconut sugar and has the ability to promote the growth of intestinal bifidobacteria.

 

Bifidobacteria are known to restore the good type of bacteria in your gut thus boosting your immunity. It is known to produce riboflavin, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, and thiamine.

 

 

 

• High on nutrients:

 

 

Per teaspoon of coconut sugar has 16 calories and four grams of carbohydrate. Regular white sugar is what we call ‘empty calories’ and it means that it doesn’t have any nutrients. While coconut sugar on the other hand is high on antioxidants, potassium, iron, and calcium.

 

 

 

• Less fructose:

 

Fructose is a variant of sugar, which gets converted to fats quickly. It is not easily broken down- only our liver is capable of breaking down fructose and this complex breakdown form triglycerides or a form of fat. Coconut sugar has 70 to 75 percent of sucrose and 20 to 30 percent of fructose as compared to white sugar, which has high amounts of fructose and glucose.

 

 

 

• Not refined:

 

Coconut sugar is an important and most sought-after natural sweetener. Away from the extensive refining process, like the regular sugar has to undergo, coconut sugar is pure and natural. Thus, it is not refined sugar, it can be used in drinks and desserts.

 

 

 

Visit Navmi website www.navmi.co.in to buy coconut sugar as the focus of Navmi, since its inception has always been serving customers with natural and organic foods of the best quality. All our products like coconut oil, flaxseed oil, ghee, A2 milk, different types of natural honey, jaggery, turmeric, etc are chemical-free. Unprocessed foods contain higher amounts of antioxidants, they reduce the risk of heart disease, cancers, and other health issues.

 

 

Visit our site (Nirlesh Foods Private Limited or Navmi) www.navmi.co.in to know more about nutritionally pure and unprocessed food. Make a conscious and healthy choice of foods.

 

 

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