Labels

What is Coconut Sugar?

In recent years many folks have been looking for an alternative to processed cane sugars and their scary cousins, the artificial sweeteners. While agave, honey, and molasses are certainly good choices, coconut sugar is fast becoming the next great processed sugar substitute. So what is coconut sugar anyway?


Coconut Sugar

What is Coconut Sugar?


Coconut sugar is a palm sugar derived from the blossoms of the coconut palm tree. The sugar is known by many names including coconut palm sugar, coco sugar, coco sap sugar, and in some cases coconut blossom sugar. The sugar is available in a traditional granular and crystal form, a paste (in some areas), or in a block as well. Coconut sugar is produced from the harvested sap by heating it over a moderate heat until the water evaporates from the sap. The crystals will have a brown color to them in the finished product due to caramelization during the production process. Coconut sugar is mostly made up of carbohydrates but may include negligible amounts of fats or proteins as well. Other nutrients available from coconut sugar in small amounts may also include zinc, iron, calcium, sodium, and potassium.

Coconut Sugar

How Do I Use Coconut Sugar?


Coconut sugar can be used in almost anything that a traditional sweetener can be used in. Morning coffee? You bet! Cakes, pies, and other goodies? Sure! This sugar is very versatile and retains a flavor that is similar to caramel or brown sugar. I use it often in glazes for cakes and in my tea each morning. It measures cup for cup as regular sugar does as well so there's no need to convert and make things complicated.

Coconut Sugar

What Are The Benefits of Coconut Sugar?

This one is hotly debated around the internet. An article published in the Journal of Functional Foods in October of 2010, Glycemic Index of Commonly Consumed Carbohydrate Foods in The Philippines, lists coconut sap sugar and syrup as a low GI food comparable with the GI index of nuts, beans, and starchy root crops of the area. It seems that coconut sugar has a GI index that is nearly half of that of white sugar with coconut sugar having a GI index nearer to 30 while white sugar has an index of around 60. Xylose may be a better alternative though without the hazards of sugar and all of the taste of sugar. Xylose is harvested from the coconut shell itself and is safe for human consumption according to the Korean Nutrition Society and The Korean Society For Community Nutrition. Coconut sugar is also a natural food without synthetic production at this time.

Sources

Jung, Y., Y., K., M., L., J., . . . M. (2011, December 05). Coconut-derived D-xylose affects postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy individuals. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.synapse.koreamed.org/search.php?where=aview&id=10.4162/nrp.2011.5.6.533&code=0161NRP&vmode=FULL
Trinidad, T. P. (n.d.). NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT SAP SUGAR/SYRUP. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.kokosoel.info/docs/kokosbluetenzucker-diabetes.pdf
Trinidad, T. P., Mallillin, A. C., Sagum, R. S., & Encabo, R. R. (2010, November 09). Glycemic index of commonly consumed carbohydrate foods in the Philippines. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464610000575?via=ihub
Jung, Y., Y., K., M., L., J., . . . M. (2011, December 05). Coconut-derived D-xylose affects postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy individuals. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.synapse.koreamed.org/search.php?where=aview&id=10.4162/nrp.2011.5.6.533&code=0161NRP&vmode=FULL

 Trinidad, T. P. (n.d.). NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT SAP SUGAR/SYRUP. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.kokosoel.info/docs/kokosbluetenzucker-diabetes.pdf

 Trinidad, T. P., Mallillin, A. C., Sagum, R. S., & Encabo, R. R. (2010, November 09). Glycemic index of commonly consumed carbohydrate foods in the Philippines. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464610000575?via=ihub







Jung, Y., Y., K., M., L., J., . . . M. (2011, December 05). Coconut-derived D-xylose affects postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy individuals. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.synapse.koreamed.org/search.php?where=aview&id=10.4162/nrp.2011.5.6.533&code=0161NRP&vmode=FULL
Trinidad, T. P. (n.d.). NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT SAP SUGAR/SYRUP. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.kokosoel.info/docs/kokosbluetenzucker-diabetes.pdf
Trinidad, T. P., Mallillin, A. C., Sagum, R. S., & Encabo, R. R. (2010, November 09). Glycemic index of commonly consumed carbohydrate foods in the Philippines. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464610000575?via=ihub

Jung, Y., Y., K., M., L., J., . . . M. (2011, December 05). Coconut-derived D-xylose affects postprandial glucose and insulin responses in healthy individuals. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.synapse.koreamed.org/search.php?where=aview&id=10.4162/nrp.2011.5.6.533&code=0161NRP&vmode=FULL
Trinidad, T. P. (n.d.). NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF COCONUT SAP SUGAR/SYRUP. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.kokosoel.info/docs/kokosbluetenzucker-diabetes.pdf
Trinidad, T. P., Mallillin, A. C., Sagum, R. S., & Encabo, R. R. (2010, November 09). Glycemic index of commonly consumed carbohydrate foods in the Philippines. Retrieved April 06, 2018, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464610000575?via=ihub
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts