Why is coconut sugar better than regular sugar

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Coconut sugar looks like brown sugar and has a strong caramel taste. It’s produced in the Philippines and elsewhere in South East Asia, and is made from the sap of the coconut palm tree. It is essentially the same as palm sugar and jaggery, which can be made from palm sap or sugar cane.

Coconut sugar undergoes little processing so, as with other unrefined sugars, it retains some of the natural vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. The nutrients in coconut sugar (or other unrefined sugar) are likely to have a minimal effect unless you eat large amounts, when any benefit will be outweighed by all the sugar you’re eating.

Coconut sugar has only recently become widely available in the UK but is gaining popularity, partly because of the growing interest in other coconut products.

Many people are now choosing alternatives to white sugar, including coconut sugar, honey, molasses, syrups and nectars (such as date or agave), in the belief that they are healthier.

Coconut sugar has the same number of calories as other sugar, refined or not.

Victoria Taylor

But all of these products contain free sugars – the kind we eat too much of on average in the UK. Coconut sugar has the same number of calories as other sugar, refined or not. Use it if you like the taste or if it works in your recipe, but treat it in the same way as any other sugar and use it sparingly.

Some research suggests that palm sugar has a lower glycaemic index (or GI, a ranking system for how quickly a food makes blood sugar levels rise after eating them) than other sugars.

Overall, there’s not enough good-quality evidence to recommend this type of sugar over others. Considering a food’s GI in isolation is also not that helpful, as it is dependent on what foods you eat with it.

What can you tell me about coconut sugar? Is it a better choice for good health than cane sugar, or can your body not tell the difference between various sweeteners?

Andrew Weil, M.D. |November 1, 2016

Why is coconut sugar better than regular sugar

2 min

Coconut sugar, more accurately coconut palm sugar, is made from sap of the coconut palm that has been extracted and then boiled and dehydrated. It provides the same number of calories and carbohydrates as regular cane sugar (about 15 calories in coconut sugar and four grams of carbohydrate per teaspoon) so you wouldn’t be gaining any advantage in these respects by making a switch. However, coconut sugar is 70 to 79 percent sucrose and only three percent to nine percent each of fructose and glucose. This is an advantage, because you want to keep your consumption of fructose as low as possible, and cane sugar is 50 percent fructose. Coconut sugar is caramel colored with a taste that is similar to that of brown sugar and can be substituted for cane sugar in most recipes. (Note: don’t confuse coconut palm sugar with palm sugar, which is derived from the sugar palm tree. Palm sugar is often used in Thai dishes.)

All things coconut have become more and more popular lately. One of the big selling points – and health claims – for coconut sugar is that it is low on the glycemic index, which ranks carbohydrate foods on the basis of how they affect blood sugar (glucose). This is irrelevant. The glycemic index does not directly apply to sweeteners. Fructose ranks very low on it, because the body cannot derive energy from it. I recommend cutting down on sweeteners of all types, and especially fructose.

If you want to try coconut sugar, shop carefully and read the labels before buying: some brands may be mixed with cane sugar and other ingredients. You’ll find products described as “coconut crystals,” “coconut sugar” or “coconut palm sugar,” and you’ll probably notice that they are more expensive than regular cane sugar. I checked prices online and saw that they ranged from about $4 to $15 per pound. The Food Network gives comparative pricing as follows: cane sugar seven cents per ounce, vs. coconut sugar 22 cents per ounce.

Overall, there isn’t much difference between white table sugar and other natural sugars including coconut, honey, maple syrup (my personal favorite), molasses, and sorghum. To the body they are all sugar to be converted to glucose for metabolic fuel. But note that agave nectar can be 85 percent fructose, while maple syrup is about 35 percent.

Information from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture Service, and the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook, the United States is one of the top five countries in the world in sugar consumption. Keep your intake to less than six teaspoons a day. Decrease consumption, decrease disease.

Is coconut sugar healthier than ordinary sugar?

Many people are now choosing alternatives to white sugar, including coconut sugar, honey, molasses, syrups and nectars (such as date or agave), in the belief that they are healthier. Coconut sugar has the same number of calories as other sugar, refined or not.

Why is coconut sugar healthier than white sugar?

Because coconut sugar is a plant-based, natural sweetener, some people feel it is more nutritious than regular table sugar. In reality, coconut sugar is almost identical to regular cane sugar in terms of nutrients and calories.

Is coconut sugar a healthy sugar?

Coconut sugar is very high in calories (same as regular sugar) and you'd have to eat a ridiculous amount of it to satisfy your need for the above nutrients. Coconut sugar contains small amounts of minerals, antioxidants and fiber. However, its high sugar content outweighs any potential benefits.

What is the healthiest sugar to use?

5 Natural Sweeteners That Are Good for Your Health.
Stevia. Stevia is a very popular low calorie sweetener. ... .
Erythritol. Erythritol is another low calorie sweetener. ... .
Xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol with a sweetness similar to that of sugar. ... .
Yacon syrup. Yacon syrup is another unique sweetener. ... .
Monk fruit sweetener..