Sugar and sweet are something that many people like, but maybe it can be bad for blood sugar levels people with diabetes. When you have diabetes, it is important that you limit your sugar intake. However, it does not mean you should have nothing to ‘sweeten’ your life. You can always find some healthier, all-natural sweeteners and use them without having to worry about losing control of your blood sugar levels. A good option to consider is coconut sugar. Diabetes patients can have coconut sugar because it contains a fiber inulin. Let’s find out more about it.
Is Coconut Sugar Good for Diabetes? Coconut nectar or coconut sugar contains a special type of fiber called inulin, which works by slowing glucose absorption, making coconut sugar a better alternative to regular, processed sugar. What you should also keep in mind is that coconut sugar may be a low glycemic sweetener, but it still contains calories. While its GI rating is 35, you still get 10 calories from a tablespoon of coconut sugar. Diabetes patients can certainly have it, but they should consume in moderation because too much of it can still cause a spike in blood glucose.
Nutrient Content :
You cannot call coconut sugar a nutritional super food, but it is still a better alternative to white tablet sugar. It also contains trace amounts of potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, calcium, and copper. You also get small amounts of phytonutrients, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and anthocyanidin.
One good thing about coconut sugar is that it contains less fructose. Your body can convert fructose to fat in no time. Your liver has to work hard to break down fructose, and the result of this process is triglyceride, which is a type of fat. Fresh fruit contains fructose, but you should not consume more than what you get from fruit. High-fructose corn syrup is 55% fructose, whereas agave nectar is 90% fructose. Coconut sugar is a better option because it is only 45% fructose, which is another reason why it is a better sweetener choice for diabetics.
