Little Known Side Effects of Sugar Cane Juice

Summer means a glass of refreshing sugarcane juice. The soothing effects are excellent to provide calm and cooling effect on a scorching sunny day. Sugarcane juice has lot of health benefits. But to the surprise of all, sugarcane juice could harm your body too. It also has many side effects which are less known to most of the people. But you need to be aware of these. Too much drinking of sugarcane juice may bring up the side effects. So, read on this article to know about various side effects of sugarcane juice. 

About sugar cane juice

Sugarcane is a perennial and topical grass which has lateral shoots and produces lot of stems. It is generally 3-4 meters in height and around 5 centimeters in diameter. It has fibrous and stout stalks which are rich in sugar called sucrose.

Sugarcane commonly grows in the tropical and temperate areas of the world. When a cane fully matures, it constitutes 75 percent of the whole plant. Also, sugarcane is put in the category of cash crop but is even used as the livestock fodder in major parts of the world.

Consuming sugarcane juice could be very healthy since it contains lot of vital nutrients which is needed for forming a strong immune system. It has 63 to 73% water, 2 to 3% non sugar, 12 to 16% soluble sugar, and 11 to 16% fiber. The sugarcane crop is too sensitive to fertilizers, insects,  irrigation, climate, and soil types.

Sugarcane juice has 30 grams of natural sugar which has 250 calories. Fat, fiber, protein, and cholesterol content is usually less but it contains lots of amounts of sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, and magnesium.

Sugar content

Although it provides many nutrients, sugarcane juice is high in sugar and carb.

A 1-cup serving contains:

• Fat: 0 grams
• Calories: 183
• Protein: 0 grams
• Fiber: 0–13 grams
• Sugar: 50 grams

1 cup of sugar cane juice contains 50 grams of sugar, i.e., equivalent of 12 teaspoons.

Side effects of sugar cane juice

Beverages and foods with sugar have more calories, which contributes to obesity, as per a recent study. All forms of sugar would allow bacteria to grow in the mouth, which in turn increases the incidence of cavities. The other side effects include fatty liver disease and increased risk of diabetes.

Ingesting excessive amount of sugar increases the triglyceride levels, an effect which increases the risk of heart diseases, as per the Mayo Clinic. Sugar is linked to higher level of inflammation and blood pressure both of which play an important role in heart health.

1. Increases calorie

Sugarcane juice has high amount of calories in it. A glass of sugarcane juice has almost 269 calories that are equivalent to 100 grams of sugar. This is the reason doctors suggest to drink only single glass of sugarcane per day.

2. Becomes toxic quickly

We know sugarcane juice can become toxic very quickly and easily. If you store it for more than 20 minutes, it will be oxidized which is very harmful for your health. Sometimes, oxidization works like a poison in the body and creates several stomach-related problems. So, it is better to always drink fresh sugar cane juice.

3. Increases the risk of insomnia

Sugarcane juice is believed to contain policosanol. This compound might create mild health issues in the body. Consuming the compound in excess can lead to head spinning, insomnia, and loose motion.

4. Makes the blood thin

The policosanol present in the sugarcane juice could make your blood thin. So, sugarcane prevents the blood to make clots which in turn leads to excessive bleeding from the body. So, if you are taking any medicine which is making your blood thin, then never consume sugarcane juice.

5. Increases risks of infection

Many times, sugarcane sellers don’t even wash sugarcane and they put it in the machine to extract the juice. This unhealthy process can make juice unhygienic. This mixes the pesticides and bacteria into the glass of juice and could make you fall sick very easily. 

6. Increases the risk of diabetes

Like other sugar drinks, sugarcane juice is a very poor choice if you suffer from diabetes. Large amount of sugar can raise your blood sugar level alarmingly. Hence, you should avoid drinking this beverage completely. While test tube studies on sugarcane juice revealed that its polyphenol  antioxidants might help pancreatic cells produce more insulin, this hormone which regulates the blood sugar. This research is doesn’t make it safe for people having diabetes. If you still wish to go for a sweet drink, you may use fresh fruit to infuse water with natural sweetness.

Despite some research that hints at possible anti-diabetes effects, sugarcane juice isn’t an appropriate beverage for people with diabetes.