Does coconut sugar raise your blood sugar

Coconut sugar, more accurately coconut palm sugar, is made from sap of the coconut palm that has been extracted and then boiled and dehydrated. It provides the same number of calories and carbohydrates as regular cane sugar (about 15 calories in coconut sugar and four grams of carbohydrate per teaspoon) so you wouldn’t be gaining any advantage in these respects by making a switch. However, coconut sugar is 70 to 79 percent sucrose and only three percent to nine percent each of fructose and glucose. This is an advantage, because you want to keep your consumption of fructose as low as possible, and cane sugar is 50 percent fructose. Coconut sugar is caramel colored with a taste that is similar to that of brown sugar and can be substituted for cane sugar in most recipes. (Note: don’t confuse coconut palm sugar with palm sugar, which is derived from the sugar palm tree. Palm sugar is often used in Thai dishes.)

All things coconut have become more and more popular lately. One of the big selling points – and health claims – for coconut sugar is that it is low on the glycemic index, which ranks carbohydrate foods on the basis of how they affect blood sugar (glucose). This is irrelevant. The glycemic index does not directly apply to sweeteners. Fructose ranks very low on it, because the body cannot derive energy from it. I recommend cutting down on sweeteners of all types, and especially fructose.

If you want to try coconut sugar, shop carefully and read the labels before buying: some brands may be mixed with cane sugar and other ingredients. You’ll find products described as “coconut crystals,” “coconut sugar” or “coconut palm sugar,” and you’ll probably notice that they are more expensive than regular cane sugar. I checked prices online and saw that they ranged from about $4 to $15 per pound. The Food Network gives comparative pricing as follows: cane sugar seven cents per ounce, vs. coconut sugar 22 cents per ounce.

Overall, there isn’t much difference between white table sugar and other natural sugars including coconut, honey, maple syrup (my personal favorite), molasses, and sorghum. To the body they are all sugar to be converted to glucose for metabolic fuel. But note that agave nectar can be 85 percent fructose, while maple syrup is about 35 percent.

Information from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture Service, and the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook, the United States is one of the top five countries in the world in sugar consumption. Keep your intake to less than six teaspoons a day. Decrease consumption, decrease disease.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Researchers state that consuming excess amounts of sugary foods can result in type 2 diabetes. It is because sugar has the tendency to refrain your body from producing its natural insulin or resist insulin. 

Why is Coconut Sugar Healthy? 

Natural Coconut sugar is one of the few sugars with a rich nutritional profile and has a very low glycemic index which helps in preventing blood sugar spikes. Researches state that coconut sugar has the ability to control cardiovascular diseases. It is an added advantage that coconut sugar is naturally obtained and less processed. This helps to preserve the nutrients in it. Also, there are many pieces of research you can refer to that support the need to replace white sugar with coconut sugar.

Understanding the role of sugar in diabetes

Sugar provides a temporary high like sensation where you show signs of energetic behavior and gradually drop down when the sugar level in your blood drops to normal, Thus making us crave more for it. On average, we consume more than 100 - 120 grams of sugar which is the same amount of sugar our grandparents consumed in 5 days.

There are two kinds of Diabetes that function in various ways:

• Type 1: A condition where the pancreas produces less or No insulin because of the body’s own immune system attacking it.

• Type 2: In this condition, the body either produces no insulin or resists insulin.

In both cases, there seems to be no direct relation we eat. But, the cause of both conditions is because of the sugar we consume.

Type 1 Diabetes: 

When high amounts of sugar combined with carbs stay in your blood cell for a longer period of time. This refrains the body from producing the body's natural insulin.  

Type 2 Diabetes: 

In this condition, the sugar not only stops the body from producing insulin but also making it insulin resistant.

Our body processes and turns sugar into glucose which will be either turned into energy or fat. If more sugar is consumed than the body's required energy the glucose is turned into fatty acids and stays as fat in our body. This in the long term leads to obesity and various cardiovascular diseases. 

Before diving into the facts of Coconut Sugar. Let's take a step back and learn the difference between Natural Sugar and Added Sugar

Natural Sugar - These are naturally occurring sugars found in foods like fruits, vegetables, honey, etc.

Added Sugars - Unlike natural sugars these aren't present in any of the food instead it is added to it. Example processed food, drinks, beverages, etc. 

But not all natural sugars are good sugars and all added sugars are bad sugars. It totally depends on their nutritional profile.

Regular White Sugar does not project any nutritional value in it. Whereas that is not the case with Coconut Sugar.

Best Sugar Alternative for People With Diabetes 

As it is advised by many healthcare professionals that people with diabetes must watch their sugar intake and avoid blood sugar levels spike. So finding an alternative sugar is one way to keep your sugar levels in check.

Though there are many alternatives for sugar available in the market, not all are good for people with diabetes. The best sugar for people with diabetes is Natural Coconut Sugar, which is low in calories and boasts of a high nutrition value. Also, it is a naturally obtained sugar and less processed. 

Low Glycemic Index:

Coconut Sugar has a very low glycemic index compared to regular sugar. The Glycemic index (GI) is a unit used to measure the impact of carbohydrates in blood sugar levels. The GI of coconut sugar is not more than 35. So, it generally recognized as safe & doesn't spike blood sugar levels like regular white sugar 

Rich Nutrient Profile (In Sugars):

As said earlier Natural Coconut Sugar boasts of an impressive nutrient profile when compared to any other sugar alternatives like Stevia, Tagatose, Sucralose, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Saccharin & Neotame

Naturally Obtained

Like regular white sugar, Coconut sugar is not heavily processed in big factories with any chemicals. It is sourced from the sap of the coconut palm tree and involves heating and filtering on a very small scale. That's why coconut is both healthy and a bit more expensive than white sugar.

Good Gut Health

Coconut sugar isn’t harsh on your gut. Because of the fiber content in it. It also promotes the growth of micro bifidobacteria and helps in boosting your immunity. 

Though Coconut Sugar is healthy for diabetics because of the above reasons. It is safe to consult with your doctors and start by consuming it in fewer quantities. Also, look out for fake products in the market that claim to be natural coconut sugar. Read the packaging before making purchase decisions.

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