Coconut Sugar a Better Sugar Substitute?
Coconut palm sugar can be a healthier choice and a better sugar substitute for highly refined or processed sweeteners, it does NOT taste like coconut, but rather more like brown sugar with hints of caramel or molasses.
Also known as Gula jawa, coconut palm sugar has been one of my better discoveries.
Coconut tree blossoms have been tapped for their sweet nectar in many places where coconut palms (Coco Nucifera) thrive primarily in Southeast Asia (Philippines and Indonesia). Coconut tree farmers pretty much have a choice of two crops either coconuts or the sap/nectar—since once the flower buds of the coconut palm are tapped for sap those particular buds will no longer mature into coconuts. However, once the harvesting of nectar/sap is stopped the coconut tree blossoms will then start to grow into mature coconuts once again.
Besides being tasty Coconut Sugar has some benefits:
Coconut Sugar has a naturally low glycemic index (GI of 35) so is absorbed into the bloodstream slower than many other options such as cane sugar (GI 58-65) and high fructose corn syrup (GI 87-100).
Coconut sugar consists of approximately:
70-79% Sucrose
3-9% Fructose
3-9% Glucose
Just an FYI here are some other sugar options and their GI rating:
Blackstrap Molasses (sugar extract) 55
Maple Syrup (natural sugar) 54
Honey (natural sugar) 50
Cane Juice (sugar extract) 43
Coconut Palm sugar (natural sugar) 35
Xylitol (sugar alcohol) 12
Agave syrup (modified sugar) 15
Yacon Syrup (natural sweetener) 1
Stevia (natural sweetener) 0
Other Benefits:
Coconut Sugar also contains a low glycemic carbohydrate called inositol—which is necessary for normal nerve function and thus is especially beneficial to diabetics as it helps to relieve diabetic neuropathy.
Many coconut palms are found in areas that have rich volcanic soils and thus can be relatively high in Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids (such as glutamine) and trace elements such as: magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium as well as vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, B8 (inositol) and C.
B8 has been shown to be helpful for inflammation, high cholesterol, diabetes as well as depression.
Coconut and/or Palm sugar can be found in your friendly Asian grocery.
Here is a good video on Coconut Sugar
Green-Eco-EV News Reporting by Ken Green Burridge
Kenneth Burridge test-drives electric Nissan LEAF in Melbourne Australia
EV of the Year Judge, independent green journalist, photographer, author and sustainability activist that has published over 1000 articles. Mr Burridge’s travels have taken him to over 40 countries and 300+ major cities. He is originally from the USA, but has been residing in Australia for the last seven years. Connect to Ken Burridge on: Twitter, facebook, Google+, Linked in or website
