HWN Suggests

Coconut Sugar (Nectar): Myth Vs. Facts

I bet most of you had no idea that Coconut sugar (nectar) has nothing to do with the coconut. In fact, it shouldn’t even really be called sugar. That’s right, that yummy sweetener’s real name is Coconut Nectar. The term “coconut sugar” has really only caught on because of its familiarity, and since then has caught a bad rep. Ready, say it with me, “Neeectarrr”.

Coconut Sugar (Nectar), a Better Alternative to Cane Sugar? Okay, the truth is that both still are sugars and it is important to keep an eye on the sweets you eat!

read full article

Featured

 Coconut palm sugar: why you can’t have your cake and eat it!

This sounds enticing, doesn’t it? Now open your eyes and look around you. I’m sorry, my dear. Unfortunately, the reality you just imagined does not exist! Coconut sugar is made of 80% sucrose and the remaining 20% by varying amounts of glucose and fructose. Nothing new under the sun, apparently!

 Coconut Sugar: Merits, Myths, and Misconceptions

SO, IS COCONUT SUGAR GOOD FOR ME? The simple answer is, "Yes, in moderation." While coconut sugar DOES have nutritional and environmental benefits compared to plain sugar or palm sugar, it's still, y'know, sugar.

 The World’s Coconuts Are in Danger

In this day and age, coconuts seem to be, somehow, everything at once. You can buy oil from coconuts—not to be confused with butter from coconuts—and flour and sugar and milk and aminos and vinegar from coconuts. The coconut market is booming. But the long-term outlook for coconuts? Not as good

 There Is Coconut Everywhere

It is also increasingly promoted as healthful: Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than ordinary sugar, nutritionists say, meaning it can cause blood sugar to spike less, which may help stave hunger. Consumers seek such plant-based foods because they can help them stick to popular diets, such as dairy-free or gluten-free.

 What Is Coconut Sugar, the Alt-Sweetener Taking Over Baking?

It's our favorite unrefined sugar for baking, cooking, and sprinkling with wild abandon.

 What You Should Know Before Using Coconut Sugar

Since it comes from a fruit, you might be inclined to believe coconut sugar is a healthier option than regular table sugar. However, that is unfortunately not the case.

Articles of Interest

Better than Sugar? 5 Natural Sweeteners Demystified

(Don’t confuse coconut sugar with palm sugar, however, which comes from the sugar palm tree and is commonly used in Thai cooking: it’s often too clumpy and messy for everyday use.)

Coconut Palm Sugar: Sweet or Hype?

Coconut Palm Sugar has garnered itself a space in most healthfood stores (and even supermarkets) where it has indeed been marketed as a healthy alternative to sugar. But is it really? Let's take a gander.

Coconut Sugar vs. Table Sugar: Is One Really Healthier Than The Other?

After stacking coconut sugar against traditional table sugar, it certainly seems to come out on top. It gets points for having more nutrients, the highest fiber content, better versatility in recipes, and the lowest glycemic index compared to other options.

Coconut Sugar — A Healthy Sugar Alternative or a Big, Fat Lie?

Coconut sugar contains small amounts of minerals, antioxidants and fiber. However, its high sugar content outweighs any potential benefits.

Coconut Sugar: A Highly Sustainable and Healthy Sweetener

Coconut sugar is one of the primary sweeteners I use in my home for baking. Other common names include palm sugar, coconut palm sugar, and coconut syrup. The reason I love it is because it’s not only delicious but also healthy and sustainable for our planet.

Is Coconut Nectar the New Agave?

It's the sap from the flowers of the coconut tree. (Coconut sugar is dehydrated, granulated coconut nectar.) According to one manufacturer, the nectar is heated just enough to thicken it, but not enough to create high levels of fructose, the sugar that, it turns out, agave nectar is full of. (Not a good thing; fructose breaks down in the liver and converts more readily into fat.)

Is Coconut Sugar a Healthier Option?

Tara is a university-trained Nutritionist, teacher, author and speaker. In this episode, she delves into the science behind coconut sugar to help you to understand whether switching to coconut sugar is a good thing, or not. She breaks through the marketing hype and answers these important questions:

Is Coconut Sugar Good for You?

Is coconut sugar healthy compared to regular sugar? Because it contains a bit more nutrients than regular sugar, it makes a good alternative. However, it still contains sugar and and an equal number of calories. It’s composed of mostly the type of sugar called sucrose, along with small amounts of fructose and glucose.

Is Coconut Syrup The New Maple Syrup?

Although maple syrup was a favorite sweetener of mine for a long time, I've since discovered another equally amazing ⏤ if not better ⏤ sweetener. Let me introduce a new alternative that will fill a gaping hole in your life you probably didn't know you had.

What’s the Deal with Coconut Palm Sugar?

Coconut palm sugar – also known as coconut sugar – doesn’t actually come from coconuts but from the flowers of the coconut palm tree.

Resources

5 Surprisingly Healthy Facts of Organic Coconut Syrup

Unlike most products we see at the market today, coconut syrup is made naturally. The method of obtaining the coconut sap and turning it into syrup has been done throughout the tropics, such as the Philippines, for centuries. Therefore, it is guaranteed that making this organic sweetener involves an environment-friendly production.