By now, you’ve probably heard of coconut water and coconut oil, both of which pack a powerful punch when it comes to boosting your health. But there’s an important coconut product you might not have heard about yet: coconut sugar.
Sourced from crystallized coconut flower nectar, coconut sugar supersedes every other sweetener out there in both taste and nutritional value. In fact, it has a low glycemic index value of 35. Different from other sweeteners on the market, coconut sugar doesn’t cause your body to release large amounts of insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas that regulates sugar levels in the body and plays a role in fat storage. Foods that are low on the glycemic index make it easier to keep blood sugar levels at a steady level and limit fluctuations in insulin.
Coconut sugar doesn’t just work well in coffee and other foods. It also feels better in your body than regular sugar does. That’s because unlike regular sugar, coconut sugar is completely unrefined. It also doesn’t have any additives and is packed with B vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. In addition, coconut sugar is grown and harvested in a sustainable way, and most products you’ll find in stores are organic.
Reduces and prevents diabetes symptoms
Diabetes is a serious health condition in which the body can’t make insulin properly or can’t properly use the insulin the body makes. When the body can’t make or use insulin, it can’t use sugar in food as an energy source. This raises blood sugar levels in the body, which can damage organs, nerves, and blood vessels. Common symptoms of diabetes include the following:
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Feeling hungry
- Feeling thirsty
- Sudden weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Wounds that won’t heal
- Vaginal infections
- Sexual problems
If you have diabetes, you can reduce your symptoms by swapping regular sugar with coconut sugar. If you don’t have diabetes, replacing regular sugar with coconut sugar can reduce your risk of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome can lead to type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, a larger waist circumference, and an increase in fat.
In general, coconut in any form is a great addition to your diet. Drinking coconut water is an excellent way to rehydrate after a workout, and eating coconut oil is great for giving your body an energy boost before a workout. However, it’s coconut sugar that is the sweetener that can’t be beat. Swapping regular sugar for coconut sugar is a great way to cut synthetic, processed products out of your diet and start experiencing the benefits of raw and natural foods. If you’re ready to give coconut sugar a try and are looking for a good brand, we recommend Navitas.
