Coco Sugar - Is it really low carb?

Updated March 7, 2014.

Coconut sugar also referred to as palm sugar, is the new star coconut product market "without natural and healthy sugar" (a company introduced the slogan "Perfect Sugar nature" to describe it.)'ve Seen the claims is a "low carb" sugar , which will not increase the blood sugar (or at least not much), and also has other remarkable properties, including the load with minerals. Let's see what it is, and if any one of claims have merit.

What is coconut palm sugar?

In principle, all forms of sugar you buy in the store, are concentrated forms of natural plant sugars, whether from sugar cane, sugar beet, maple, flower nectar (honey) agave, rice - the list goes on and on. If we buy in the store these sugars, which are quite similar - all are mixtures of sugar, with about 16 calories and 4 grams of sugar (carbohydrates) per teaspoon. Coconut sugar is no exception.

The coconut palm sugar is produced from the nectar of the coconut flower buds. The shoots are cut off and captured the SAP, then decreased. The result is a color of sugar candy, has similarities with the brown sugar. (Incidentally, you can also "palm sugar", which is a sugar obtained from other types of coconut palm tree.)

How glycemic coconut sugar?

The main claim of health before we suppliers of coconut sugar is that it does not raise blood sugar as much as other sugars. In fact, there is a report of the Institute of Food and Nutrition in the Philippines, which has connected on a large scale and it says that the glycemic index "coconut sugar prepared by the Philippine Coconut" 35 were based on the results of the calculated 10 subjects is very small indeed, so why should we doubt that there are a few possibilities occurred to me ..?:

1) There was no indication of the variety of responses in the report most cases, the report of a study on the glycemic index is not only the average reaction to a food, but the range of responses. | - How different people react. This did not happen here. With about 10 people have a much higher response? We do not know.

In addition, coconut sugar has brand (Sweet tree) in the given package :. Post "Sweet axis IG a reliable indicator of a sugar is not created" feel "for diabetics In our experience we have found that when coconut sweeteners have proven to be to be low as 35 GI tests showed continuous fluctuations. believe it is natural for variable contributions. reason for these fluctuations, we do not condone the use of this product for diabetics. "

In other words, heard blood sugar rises when people used coconut sugar. And if they do not, but diabetics to hear, the only people who regularly give their reaction in blood sugar levels by diet? It should be added that the glycemic index tests here are almost always done in healthy young adults are less likely to have problems with blood sugar levels. Diabetes, pre-diabetes and "pre-pre" diabetes often respond differently.

2) It does not make sense. There is absolutely no conclusive explanation for why this sugar is different from all other types of sugar in their effect on blood sugar. According to the descriptions of the industry, coconut sugar sucrose is much sugar (glucose and fructose half-half), we can expect that the glycemic index is similar to (65). One explanation could be that these largely as fructose agave syrup. Because fructose does not increase blood sugar (but affected in a number of other problems), high fructose component would cause much of a reaction in blood sugar. But they say fructose is similar to other sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, cane sugar, etc. So it is not logical that coconut sugar would act differently in the body.

If anyone reads this who tested their blood sugar levels in the blood after using this product, especially compared with other sweeteners, I would like to know the results.

Coconut sugar is rich in minerals?

"Coconut sugar is responsible for minerals!" Websites and selling proclaim loudly. How is this true in reality?

Application may be best for potassium. Was published, according to the Philippine Institute of Food Research and Nutrition, the amount of potassium in a half cup of coconut sugar is high - daily dose of 1000 mg (the recommended adult 4,700 mg). Consume but half a cup of sugar actually a good way to get potassium? The amount of a teaspoon 43 mg - not essential, particularly when compared to most meat and vegetables. For example, a half cup of cooked vegetables is most between 400 and 500 mg of potassium and 4 ounce serving of meat is the same. (Read what are the foods that are rich in potassium?)

The amounts of other minerals in coconut sugar too low for the amount of people actually eat. It even contains half a cup of sugar 29 mg Magnesium (as compared to 76 mg in a half cup of cooked spinach) and 2 mg of zinc.

Are there any other concerns? Coconut sugar is actually more sustainable?

"The sustainable sugar on the planet!" Some websites say. Obviously on the fact that it is based real environmental problems with the production of sugar cane, which are not present in the production of coconut sugar, where the tree will continue to produce the juice of every year. In addition, the Web sites of industry, less water is used, and coconut trees in very poor soils grow (eg sand beaches.) However, to my knowledge, no honey or maple syrup production current serious environmental concerns.

An issue that may be important for those who love coconut milk and oil: Once a coconut flower is "used" by the SAP, not to be a coconut. Coconut farmers can get much more money for coconut sugar now, some of the trees that went into the production, coconut coconut sugar were instead tapped. That may be one reason why the price of meat, coconut, milk and oil have increased.

The Bottom Line

Coconut sugar is very expensive sugar. If you are in your own limit carbohydrates and want to experiment with it, go ahead, but make sure that if you do your meter with you. I do not recommend it as better than any other sugar following low carb diet.