Should You Drink It If You Have Diabetes
Like other high sugar drinks, sugarcane juice is a poor choice if you have diabetes.
Its massive amount of sugar could raise your blood sugar levels dangerously. Thus, you should avoid this beverage entirely.
While test-tube studies on sugarcane extract suggest that its polyphenol antioxidants may help pancreas cells produce more insulin the hormone that regulates your blood sugar this research is preliminary and doesnt make it safe for people with diabetes .
If you still prefer a sweet drink, you can use fresh fruit to infuse your water with natural sweetness.
summary
Despite some lab research that points to possible anti-diabetes effects, sugarcane juice is not an appropriate beverage for those with diabetes.
Is Organic Cane Sugar Bad For You An Overview
“The content below is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding amedicalcondition.”
Youve committed to following a healthy lifestyle.
And of course, that means cutting back on your sugar intake.
You know that not all sugar is created equal and you’re wondering if there’s any benefit to going organic when it comes to cane sugar.
In this guide, we will take a look at organic cane sugar and see if it has any health benefits compared to its granulated counterpart.
Alternative Sugars You Should Actually Avoid
Artificial SweetenersArtificial ;and low-calorie sweeteners, such as aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, and neotame are considered the worst of the worst in the realm of alternative sweeteners. While the actual science is still out on the safety of aspartame and saccharin, theres plenty of anecdotal evidence that shows this stuff just isnt that good for you.
Many people report headaches, stomach aches and a general ill feeling after eating artificial sweeteners. And some studies have shown that chemical sweeteners can actually change the bacterial makeup of your microbiome, throwing your entire gut health out of whack.
The FDA does a pretty terrible job of regulating this industry, so its pretty hard to know if what youre eating is safe. Sucralose is the worst offender. Others like Nutrisweet, Truvia and a number of brands from the stevia plant claim to be better, but theres little data to support any claims.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup
This one almost goes without saying. High-fructose corn syrup, which is made through a chemical process thats anything but natural, is one of the worst offenders for insulin spikes, as it doesnt have to be digested by your body. This stuff simply filters right into your bloodstream and goes wild.
Agave
Sugar Alcohols
The problem is that your body cant digest most sugar alcohols, so they travel to the large intestine where they are metabolized by gut bacteria.
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How Much Sugar Can You Have
The World Health Organization recommends that you limit your intake of added sugars to no more than 10% of your calories. If youre an average-sized adult, ten percent of your calories is around 50 grams of sugar, or the equivalent of 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar.;; The American Heart Association would like to lower the bar to just 5%.;
What counts? Added sugars refers to any sugar that you use in your own cooking or add at the table as well as sugar thats been added to packaged and processed foods and beverages that you consume. It doesnt include sugar that is naturally present in fruits, dairy products, and other whole foods.
Stay tuned, because in a future episode I’ll be covering high fructose corn syrup to see how it compares to sugar.; Or, for my Quick and Dirty take on artificial sweeteners, check out this episode.
This is Monica Reinagel, reminding you that these tips are provided for your information and entertainment but they are not intended as medical advice.
For more information about sugar and sugar substitutes, see my episodes and tips about:
Recipe For The Best Hummingbird Nectar
Ingredients: 1 cup of white cane sugar 4 cups of spring water
Directions & Tips Dissolve the sugar in the water. No red food coloring! Unused mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Cane sugar is highly recommended, although beet sugar is okay.
- Do not use any other sugar not turbinado, raw, powdered or brown sugar etc OR ORGANIC SUGAR* and never use honey or artificial sweeteners.
- Spring water is preferred, but most tap water is acceptable.
- If too many bees are being attracted, change the mixture to five cups of water for every one cup of sugar. But a bee problem is, in fact, a feeder design problem, and you need a different feeder–one which makes it impossible for the bees to access the mixture; usually this is by having an air gap between feeder port and the liquid below it.
- Taking down the feeder: In the fall, wait until you haven’t seen even one hummer for three weeks before taking your feeders down to reduce the risks to late migrants.
;* If cane sugar is not PURE WHITE, it may not have been sufficiently purified to remove trace amounts of molasses. As we know, molasses is rich in iron; this is helpful to humans but is a toxin to hummingbirds in all but the tiniest, tightly monitored amounts.
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Coconut Sugar Health Benefits
So is coconut sugar good for you? When taken in moderation, coconut sugar can actually have some benefits to your overall health. Here are some of them:
Coconut Sugar Has A Low Glycemic Index
Your glycemic index measures how fast foods will raise your blood sugar levels. Glucose has a glycemic index of 100- a figure used to gauge other foods GIs . For instance, if a food has a GI of 50, it will raise your blood sugar levels half as fast as glucose.
On the other hand, table sugar has a GI of 60, which is higher than coconut sugar, with a GI of 54 . It is important to note that these are general values that shouldnt be considered universal for everyone. GI can vary between people as it does in different batches of coconuts.
Coconut Sugar Can Improve Your Gut Health
Coconut palm sap from which coconut sugar is made contains inulin . Inulin is a type of fiber that can be very beneficial to your body. It can help to improve your gut health while slowing down the absorption of glucose.
You should, however, note that the quantities of this beneficial compound may be small. You would therefore need to eat lots of coconut sugar to get a substantial dose of them. However, since coconut sugars are still high in calories, eating large quantities may not be the best idea.
Increased calorie and sugar intake can cause a significant energy surplus in your body. This can ultimately put a potential weight gain problem on your hands.
Coconut Sugar Reduces The Risks Of Hypoglycemia
What Is The Healthiest Cane Sugar
We covered the fact that cane sugars are an excellent source of caloriesmostly from sucrose. However, they are not a significant source of any other nutrient. One exception is cane molasses, which is a good source of minerals, but we don’t eat enough of it to get the health benefits.
A common misconception is that raw and unrefined sugars are healthier than table sugar…
Those no-guilt inducing type of sweeteners.
Unrefined sweeteners do have slightly more nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants when compared to refined and raw sugars.
However, the amount per serving is minuscule. We would have to eat a truly unhealthful amount of unrefined sweeteners to get a daily micronutrient requirement or the positive health effects from them.
The calories and sugar content in unrefined sugar outweigh the advantages of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
The surprising truth about cane sugars:
Any sweetener from cane is a blend of sugars and water.
Their main component is sucrose, a double sugar. Their second predominant components are glucose and fructose, both simple sugars. Their water content varies from 0.03 percent to 50 percent .
Dry sweeteners contain over 95 percent sugar and provide about 15 calories per teaspoon. Sweeteners in liquid forms have over 50 percent sugar and provide approximately 20 calories per teaspoon.
All cane sugars are easily digestible and quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.
GI refined white sugars : 64±4
GI brown sugars : 62±2
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What Is Muscovado Sugar
Muscovado sugar, also known as Barbados sugar, is a partially refined cane sugar. Muscovado sugar has a dark brown colour and a strong molasses flavour making it a popular bakers choice for gingerbread cookies. Muscovado sugar is stickier and slightly coarser than other partially refined brown sugars such as turbinado and dermerara sugar. Of note, these partially refined brown sugars are not the same as the so-called brown sugar commonly found in supermarkets. Supermarket brown sugar is actually highly refined white sugar thats had molasses added to it to make it appear brown.
Cane Sugar Vs Refined Sugar
Heresthe scoop when it comes to the differences between cane sugar vs refined sugar.
For starters, it’s important to take notice of where each type of sweetener is on the glycemic index.
The glycemic index is a number, ranging from 0 to 100, assigned to a type of food.
The lower the number, the less it may affect your blood sugar levels, which is a really good thing.
- Organic whole cane sugar has a glycemic index of 30 to 40.
- Refined sugar, on the other hand, has a glycemic index of around 65.
We know that cane sugar is somewhat less processed than table sugar.
Cane sugar is boiled only once, retaining the deep molasses flavor. Refined sugar, on the other hand, is boiled several times to remove all the molasses
The minimal processing means cane sugar still retains some molasses and moisture from the plant, so technically youre consuming less sugar.
This leads us back to our question.
Is organic sugar cane healthy?
The consensus seems to be that, other than flavor, there’s no real difference between the two.
claims that raw sugar is a healthy alternative to its refined counterpart are greatly exaggerated.
Is Organic Cane Sugar Better Than Regular Sugar?
The only notable difference between organic cane sugar and regular sugar is that organic sugar is grown using organic farming methods.
Both forms of sugar are identical in terms of their chemical composition,made of sucrose,response in the body.
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How You Can Achieve A More Balanced Diet
Healthy eating sounds like such a great idea and most of us are all in favor of eating a balanced diet.
But what do you do ifyou want to make healthy changes to your diet but you have a sweet tooth that seems impossible to satisfy?
Here are some practical ways to cut back on the amount of sugar you eat:
- Be sure to eat lots of fresh fruits.The natural sugars found in fruit will help satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Swap out your sugary sodafor a diet drink. Or even better, sparkling water.
- Be sure to read all food labels carefullyand always choose the products that contain the least amount of sugar.
- Try substituting applesaucefor the sugar in baked goods recipes. You just might be pleasantly surprised.
- in a recipe and up the spice content.Spices such as cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ginger, can add a satisfying amount of sweetness.
- Eat smaller portion sizeswhen it comes to sweet treats. And spend plenty of time savoring each bite.
Tips For Feeding Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds do not live on sugar water and nectar alone. They eat insects and tiny spiders to supply protein and also feed on tree sap . We assumed that supplying fresh spiders for your hummer population might not exactly be your idea of a good time and only included our top tips for hummingbird feeders below. A recent product that seems to be effective in providing fruit flies is the Humm-Bug Protein Feeder.
16 Tips for Hummingbird Feeders
Type & Size:
- Choose a feeder that you are able and willing to clean.
- Look for a feeder that has the ports above the pool of liquid to avoid drips, because drips will attract ants and bees.
- Use feeder whose size matches your population.
- Don’t fill the feeders all the way if they aren’t being fully consumed between fillings.
- More feeders will support more hummers and help reduce territoriality.
Freshness:
- Change the mixture every four to five days – more frequently if temperatures are over 90° F.
- If the liquid appears cloudy or you see mold, wash the feeder thoroughly right away.
Location:
- Put your feeders at least four feet above the ground so they are beyond the reach of cats and other predators
- Never place a feeder too close to a nest, because doing so may cause predation.
- If possible, the feeder should be in a shady spot.
- Placing the feeder where you can see them through the window is a good idea too!
Maintenance:
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Cane Sugar Health Benefits
Is cane sugar bad for you? What are some of the health implications of consuming cane sugar? When taken in the right quantities:
Cane Sugar Is A Steady Source Of Energy
Your bodys most preferred source of fuel is glucose, which is the simplest form of sugar. When you take cane sugar, it is converted into glucose. This is then absorbed and metabolized to release energy at cellular levels.
You should, however, be cautious when consuming it. Taking it in excess will provide more energy than your body requires. This will ultimately be stored as fat and can lead to weight gain.
Cane Sugar Is A Source Of Antioxidants
Studies indicate that minimally refined cane sugar provides higher levels of antioxidants in comparison to sweeteners like corn syrup and refined sugar. Antioxidants are particularly useful for counteracting free radicals that can cause cardiovascular diseases .
Cane Sugar Can Help Lighten Your Mood
When you consume cane sugar, the production of serotonin hormone is triggered in your body. Serotonin is a feel-good hormone that is responsible for raising your mood . Do you ever wonder why you crave sugar when youre exhausted or sad? Well, you get a mood boost from those sugary treats.
A good mood creates a domino of helping your body manage its stress levels. Whenever youre stressed, your body requires about 12% more energy . The glucose provided by cane sugar will provide you with the fuel that you need.
Risk Of Metabolic Diseases Arising From Overconsumption
Is Added Sugar Labeling Valuable
Given what we know about added and natural sugars, its easy to see that the FDAs new labeling venture is imperfect and potentially misleading. In the best case scenario, consumers would realize that their yogurt or cereal contain large amounts of added sugar and subsequently switch to lower sugar options. But by separating natural and added sugars, the FDA creates a false dichotomy. The benefits of fruit come from its fiber, rather than its natural sugar. The science does not support endorsing natural sugars over their added counterparts, since these sugars have similar metabolic effects. The FDAs efforts would be better directed towards education about the negative metabolic effects of high sugar intake.
A potential alternative to the natural/added sugar labeling is traffic light labeling, popular in Europe and in limited use in the US. In this system, food and beverages are labeled by color, with green indicating the healthiest options, and yellow and red less healthy ones. In the UK, total sugar content is used to determine a beverages rating, placing juice on par with soda . Studies have shown that these simple systems help consumers make better choices, even when they dont have the time to peruse a nutrition facts label .
References
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What Is Zulka Morena Pure Cane Sugar
The term “Morena” refers to the light golden color of the sugar. It’s a term used in Mexico where the sugar is cultivated. Morena Pure Cane Sugar differs from granluated white sugar in several ways.
1. It is not processed to remove color like white sugar. The sugar is naturally golden brown – not white. Morena is never refined.2. Morena is processed minimally. You lose less of the flavor and nutrients of the sugar cane. This sugar actually tastes like something more than just sweet. Just a little hint of a caramel like flavor on the tongue.3. Morena sugar has larger crystals than white sugar. If that is a problem for you, you could always break it up in your food processor.
Which Type Is Best
Several studies have reported adverse effects of white sugar and high fructose corn syrup on our health. So should we substitute these types of sugars with another?
Sweetness and sugar content:
Some sugars such as honey and agave syrup are higher in fructose. Fructose is sweeter than glucose and sucrose, hence a smaller amount may be needed to achieve similar level of sweetness from white sugar. Honey and syrups also have a higher water content. So the sugar content is less than the equivalent weight of white sugar.
Antioxidant capacity:
Due to the different levels of processing and refining, sugars that are less processed and refined tend to have higher contents of minerals and compounds that give plants their color. These compounds have been found to increase antioxidant capacity, which reduces the cell damage in the body that causes several chronic diseases.
Although the antioxidant capacity of date sugar and molasses is manyfold higher than white sugar and corn syrup, itâs still relatively low compared to antioxidant-rich foods. For example, more than 500g of date sugar or molasses need to be consumed to get the same amount of antioxidant contained in a cup of blueberries.
Glycemic Index:
Different types of sugar raise the amount of sugar in our blood at different rates after being consumed. The glycemic index concept is used to compare the ability of different carbohydrate-containing foods in raising blood sugar levels over two hours.
Antimicrobial activity:
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