Coconut sugar is also known as coconut palm sugar. Coconut sugar is a natural sugar produced from coconut palm sap. The palm sap is the sugary fluid of the coconut plant which circulates within the plant. The palm sap is mostly confused with palm sugar, which is quite similar but produced from another variety of palm tree.
Production of coconut sugar is a natural two-step process:
- The liquid sap is collected into containers by making a cut on the flower of coconut palm.
- The palm sap is put under a heat source to evaporate most of the water content.
A brown and granulated substance is received as the end product. The color of the obtained product is very similar to the color of raw sugar, but the size of the particle visibly smaller or variable.
In short, the coconut sugar is nothing but dehydrated sap of the coconut palm.
Sugar and diabetes
A person who is diabetic, his body does not produce sufficient amount of insulin or does not utilize insulin correctly.
Insulin triggers the human body to use sugar in the form of glucose to obtain energy. When insulin is incapable to work properly, sugar accumulates in the bloodstream rather than entering in the body cells for consumption. When this situation occurs, glucose levels in the blood become high. This situation is termed as diabetes in medical field.
Types of sugar in the coconut sugar
Coconut sugar accommodate almost same amount of carbohydrates and calories as of cane sugar. Both types of sugars comprise mainly of simple carbohydrates.
Sugars are found present in many foods, whether in the natural form or as added sweetening elements. Sugars provides vital energy to the body, but it can be harmful if taken in large quantities.
Both coconut sugar and cane sugar contain following carbohydrates:
- glucose
- fructose
- sucrose, which is made up both glucose and fructose.
However, the proportionate ratio of these sugars varies in cane sugar and coconut sugar.
Sucrose:
Sucrose is found present in several foods. Additive sweetening agents present in processed foods, beverages, and deserts etc contain the ample amount of sucrose.
According to an article in the journal Nature, coconut sugar possesses less amount of sucrose than some other sugars, it is about 70–80% of total sugar.
Heating of sucrose causes its break down into constituent; glucose and fructose. During the process of digestion, the digestive system also breaks sucrose into the constituent simpler components.
Fructose:
Fructose is a natural sugar that found present in the fruits. Some other nutrients are also found in the fruits, such as vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Presence of fructose makes the fruits health friendly even for the diabetics. Notably, as fruits contain several types of carbohydrates, it is very important to regulate fruit intake in order to manage diabetes.
High-fructose corn syrup is added as sweetener by many food manufacturers. This is a common ingredient in many processed foods. Several conducted suggest that if high- fructose sweetener taken in high doses, it increase the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity.
High levels of fructose are present in:
- foods with added sugar
- various fruits
- high-fructose corn syrup
Coconut sugar and cane sugar both are rich in fructose.
Despite the fact that the fructose has lower glycemic index score if it occurs in the fruits, researchers claims that fructose may enhance problems when diabetic people consume it direct in the form of pure sugar or as additive sugar in processed and packaged foods.
Glucose:
Coconut sugar is mainly comprise of sucrose, but it have glucose in small amounts. Glucose is the simplest form of the sugar as well as it is absorbed by the body very quickly. Direct intake of glucose triggers the energy production rapidly.
Is coconut sugar suitable for diabetics?
It is believed that the coconut sugar is beneficial for the diabetics as its GI scores is very low. American Diabetes Association refers a GI score scale as:
- Low if 55 or below
- Moderates if 56 to 69
- High if 70 and above
GI score of coconut sugar is 54 hence it is suitable for the diabetics.