Coconut sugar is a natural sweetener derived from the sap of the coconut palm tree.
Coconut sugar has a lower GI compared to regular sugar.
Is Coconut Sugar a Good Sugar Replacement?
Alfian Widiantono / Getty Images
Coconut sugar is often marketed as a healthier alternative to refined sugar and has some potential advantages.
However, it’s important to consider various factors and not view any sugar substitute as a one-size-fits-all solution.
Side Effects
Coconut sugar is still sugar.
Here are some pros and cons of coconut sugar.
Still, this doesn’t mean coconut sugar is a good source of these micronutrients.
Sap Extraction and Making Coconut Sugar
How is coconut sugar made?
It’s derived from the coconut palm tree sap, not from coconuts.
The process of making coconut sugar entails two main steps.
The sap is collected in containers and then exposed to high heat.
This evaporates the sap and any remaining liquid.
Then, the dried, crystallized solids are broken into granules that can be used like table sugar.
The final product is tan in color and has a caramel-like flavor.
Summary
There’s plenty of marketing hype for coconut sugar and other sweetening agents.
Added sugar is still added sugar, and coconut sugar should still be used in moderation in your kitchen.
Stanhope KL.Sugar consumption, metabolic disease and obesity: the state of the controversy.Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci.
2019 Oct 9;367:l5524].BMJ.
2018;363:k4644.
Published 2018 Nov 21. doi:10.1136/bmj.k4644
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Asghar MT, Yusof YA, Mokhtar MN, et al.Coconut (Cocos nuciferaL.)
sap as a potential source of sugar: Antioxidant and nutritional properties.Food Sci Nutr.
2019;8(4):1777-1787.
2023;20(4):3671.
2022;8(9):e10711.
