What is Coconut sugar? Here’s 5 Reasons why we love it!
Coconut sugar is one of our favourite substitutes for cane sugar. It has a rich, caramel flavour which compliments cakes and bakes as well as curries and stir fries. Coconut sugar is not as processed as other unrefined sugars, so it retains much of its natural vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants. It is also considered to be low GI, meaning it may make blood sugar spike less than traditional cane sugar.
Check out five reasons why we love Coconut sugar below!
Standard processed white sugar is pure sucrose and nothing else meaning it’s considered empty calories, whereas coconut sugar is 75 percent sucrose. The other 25 percent is composed of nutrients, fiber, and other “good stuff. So nutritionally, spoon for spoon coconut sugar is better for you than standard white sugar.
Coconut Sugar has a low glycemic index
The glycemic index of any given food is a measure of how quickly the sugars within the food are released into the bloodstream. Foods with a high glycemic index release their sugars quickly, which can lead to a spike in blood sugar levels. This causes a large release of insulin, promoting the absorption of glucose, which in turn leads to a large drop in blood sugar levels, leading to a feeling of hunger. Regular consumption of high-GI (glycemic index) foods can lead to problems such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Food with a low glycemic index releases its sugars slowly, leading to a more gradual release of insulin and fewer feelings of hunger later.
Glycemic index is measured empirically by feeding food to test subjects and measuring the change in their blood sugar levels. Whereas standard table sugar has a glycemic index of around 60, coconut sugar has a GI of around 35, indicating a much more gradual absorption rate.
It's more flavourful than cane sugar
Quite simply, coconut sugar is extremely tasty! It has a delicious flavour: richer than table sugar, but less malty than brown or demerara sugar. It doesn’t taste particularly of coconuts: it’s more caramel-like and biscuity.
For this reason, you can often get away with using a little less coconut sugar in your recipes than with standard white sugar.
Coconut sugar contains other nutrients
Coconut sugar contains a number of minerals not present in white sugar. These include iron, zinc, calcium and potassium.
Coconut sugar also contains inulin. Inulin is a pre-biotic that may help to slow down the release of sugar, and which may account for the low glycemic index of coconut sugar.
Vitamin C is essential for maintaining a healthy immune system. It’s thought to help battle chronic illnesses such as heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure. Standard processed table sugar is nutritionally empty, swapping it for coconut sugar is better for you in terms of vitamins and minerals.
Final thoughts about coconut sugar
No sugar is miraculous. Whether coconut sugar or table sugar, all sugar is best eaten in moderation. Nutritionally coconut sugar is better for you than table sugar or high fructose corn syrup. We think it tastes better and to be honest, we end up using less as the rich caramel flavour really enhances dishes without the need to add too much. Try it for yourself, pick up a bag of our popular organic coconut sugar at Healthy Supplies today!