Table of contents:
- How do you make palm sugar?
- What is the nutritional content of palm sugar?
- The benefits of palm sugar are as sweet as they taste?
The benefits of palm sugar have recently become the discussion of the public because this sugar is often used as a sweetener in contemporary iced coffee milk. Viewed from the other side, palm sugar is also often used as a substitute for sugar for people with high blood sugar levels or diabetes. So, is it true that the benefits of palm sugar are as delicious as they are sweet and sticky? Check out the full review below.
How do you make palm sugar?
Palm sugar is made from sap from the male flower bunches of the enau tree. In order to take advantage of palm sugar, sugar that has a similar appearance to palm sugar is obtained in two natural steps, namely:
- Collect the cuttings and liquid sap on the male enau tree flowers in a container.
- The sap is placed on a heater until most of the water evaporates.
The final product is liquid dark brown and ready to print. Palm sugar is also often confused with coconut sugar. Both are similar because the manufacturing process is the same, but they come from different trees.
What is the nutritional content of palm sugar?
Reporting from the US Department of Agriculture, palm sugar contains 337 kcal in 100 grams of serving. In addition, 100 grams of palm sugar also contains 84.21 grams of carbohydrates, 211 mg of salt, and 84.21 grams of sugar.
Like sugar, palm sugar also contains many calories. Therefore, you still have to limit your consumption so you can still feel the benefits of palm sugar. In fact, this sugar has a lower Glycemic Index (GI) level than other sugars.
Based on data presented by the American Diabetes Association, the GI values are:
- Low if equal to or below 55
- Medium if it is between 56-69
- High if equal to or above 70
Glucose has a GI number of 100. In comparison, foods with a GI of 50 can increase blood sugar levels by half that of pure glucose.
Sugar has a GI of around 68, while based on the book Contemporary Nutrition Functional Approach quoted by Live Strong, palm sugar has a GI of 35 and contains many important minerals. Therefore, the benefits of palm sugar may be superior to other types of sweeteners.
However, it is important to note that GI can vary widely among individuals and may also differ in the types of sugars excreted with other palm family trees.
The benefits of palm sugar are as sweet as they taste?
Compared to other sweeteners, palm sugar has a relatively low impact on blood glucose. Therefore, palm sugar is suitable for consumption for diabetics, who do not produce enough insulin or are resistant to insulin.
In comparison, sugar usually has a GI of 68 and honey is at 55. Compared to brown sugar and sugar, palm sugar is higher in potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorus, nitrogen, and sodium.
However, just because palm sugar has a lower impact on blood sugar levels doesn't mean it can be consumed as much as possible. Consuming excessive amounts will also increase blood sugar levels that are too high. As a result, the benefits of palm sugar will turn out to be dangerous.
Apart from palm sugar, there are various types of sweeteners that can replace sugar with a lower GI. Some of these include honey, coconut sugar and maple syrup.
In essence, the aforementioned granulated sugar substitutes are not magic foods. Therefore, paying attention to diet and maintaining portions is very important before consuming these sweeteners.
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