Here’s why organic sugar is the best sugar

Did you know that according to Statista, Indians consumed 27.5 MMT (million metric tons) of sugar in 2019! Talk about Indians having a sweet tooth! However, an article in Mumbai Mirror brought to light how the per capita sugar consumption in India has dropped by 2 kg.

This change in sugar consumption pattern is a reflection of consumers switching to sugar alternatives. It also highlights the need and demand for healthier sugar. Unfortunately, even though manufacturers may market artificial sweeteners as sugar alternatives, they can also be chemically-laced or unhealthy. So what should one do?

The answer is easy – switch to organic sugar!

So, are organic sugar health benefits the real deal or are they simply a marketing gimmick? If you are keen on knowing organic sugar health benefits, keep reading to get the inside scoop on this sugary delight.

What is Organic Sugar?

Unfortunately, sugar has a bad rap in the health and fitness community. However, a little-known fact remains that while the quantity of sugar consumption can impact your health, it is also the quality of the sugar that makes a world of difference. Thus, you are less likely to put your health at risk if you were to consume better quality sugar in controlled amounts.

And organic sugar is that high-quality sugar. Simply put, organic sugar is the sugar produced from organically grown sugarcane. Further, it is also naturally processed, which essentially means that there were no chemicals involved in the refining process.

As a result, it has tons of health benefits that set it apart from its non-organic counterparts. We will be discussing a list of organic sugar health benefits in the latter half of this article.

Typically, 100g of organic cane sugar possesses the following nutritional profile:

Different Types of Organic Sugar

Typically, organic sugar is available in the following variants:

• Raw, organic cane sugar
• Refined organic sugar
• Organic healthy sugar substitutes or organic sweeteners

As evident by its names, raw, organic cane sugar is the healthiest type of cane sugar as it undergoes the least amount of processing. Next, refined organic sugar is a healthier version of natural sugar. Finally, organic healthy sugar substitutes or organic sweeteners is an excellent alternative for people with diabetes or those who are calorie-conscious.

Now that we understand the basic definition and types, let’s move on to the organic sugar health benefits.

5 Major Organic Sugar Health Benfits

Organic sugar health benefits go way beyond satisfying your sweet cravings. Following are the lesser-known organic sugar health benefits:

Organic Sugars do not Contain Pesticides

The greatest and most well-known organic sugar health benefits lie in the fact that they do not contain any pesticides.

Sugarcane is highly susceptible to parasitic attacks by termites, grasshoppers, whiteflies, etc. At the same time, red rot, smut, weeds can also affect the yield and hamper with the sugar extraction procedure.

As a result, several farmers douse their crops in a dangerous amount of pesticides, chemicals, and weedicides to protect it from diseases. However, these toxins may make their way into the sugarcane juice, which will then be refined for producing sugar. So, the problem intensifies as the concentration of these harmful toxins will increase at every step!

They Possess Higher Nutritional Value

At the surface, sugar is sugar.

100 grams of sugar contains 99.6 grams of carbohydrates sourced from sugar. However, when you compare raw, organic cane sugar with refined sugar, you will notice that the former contains additional vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, C) and minerals, such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Moreover, it is packed with amino acids that make it a healthier alternative.

On the other hand, refined sugar only contains sucrose and glucose, while its organic equivalent will retain some fructose along with sucrose and glucose.

Enhanced Flavour Profile

You can count on organic sugar health benefits along with an enhanced flavour profile. Regular refined sugar undergoes several multi-step processes that include chemicals like sulphur dioxide, calcium hydroxide, and phosphoric acid. While refined organic sugar may also go through several stages of refining, it does not involve chemical treatment, which offers a full-bodied flavour that makes it taste slightly better.

On the other hand, raw organic cane sugar will retain some of its flavours due to the presence of molasses. The molasses syrup offers the sugar a characteristic caramelised texture that makes it perfect for baking.

Treatment of Diseases

In alternative medicines like Unani or Ayurveda, sugarcane and sugarcane juice is said to have therapeutic properties. However, processing it eliminates these qualities. Thus, raw organic can sugar is the best substitute for raw sugarcane juice.

Due to its high carbohydrate and iron content, it may be used to treat febrile disorders, fever, fatigue, anaemia, inflammatory diseases, ulcers, and intestinal issues.

Moreover, the oligosaccharides present in organic sugar strengthens your immune response and supplies sufficient amounts of antioxidants to the body.

Low Carbon Footprint

Making an environmentally-conscious choice is one of the many organic sugar health benefits that one may overlook. Farmers that practise organic farming not only produce healthier crops but also achieve it through eco-friendly practices. Organic farming reduces pollution and helps prevent soil erosion or water wastage. Thus, you can consume organic products with a clear conscience.

Cutting off sugar entirely may not be a healthy choice. Thus, rather than focusing on ways to eliminate sugar, one should try to focus on incorporating better quality sugar. So while organic sugar may not be a superfood, it is definitely worth your investment!