Nutrition in Coconut Sugar
Coconut sugar is a natural sugar substitute. It is made from the flowers of the coconut tree by evaporating the sap of the tree. Coconut sugar is also sometimes referred to as palm sugar, and the two terms are often used interchangeably.
Coconut sugar is a natural sugar substitute. It is made from the flowers of the coconut tree by evaporating the sap of the tree. Coconut sugar is also sometimes referred to as palm sugar, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. Coconut sugar is sold in a variety of forms, including as a syrup, a hard block, a soft paste or in a crystallized form. Pure coconut sugar has a low glycemic index, making it a healthy sweetening agent.
Calories and Glycemic Index
According to Fit Click, 1 teaspoon of evaporated palm sugar contains 15 calories. The majority is a result of its carbohydrate content, which is primarily composed of sugars. One teaspoon of palm sugar contains 3 grams of sugars. Coconut or palm sugar is low on the glycemic index, however. Low-glycemic-index foods are beneficial because they do not cause blood sugar levels to spike rapidly and drop rapidly after consumption. This makes coconut sugar a healthy option for all people who do not suffer from a coconut allergy, but it is particularly beneficial for diabetics.
Nutrient Values
Coconut sugar is rich in nutrients. It is especially high in potassium, and containing almost 10,300 milligrams per liter of coconut sugar. With the same measurement of milligrams per liter, there are 2,020 milligrams of nitrogen, 790 milligrams of phosphorus, 60 of calcium, 290 of magnesium, 450 of sodium, 4,700 of chlorine, 260 of sulfur and also trace amounts of boron, zinc, manganese, iron and copper.
Amino Acid Values
Coconut sugar, because it is made from coconut sap, contains the same number of amino acids, 16. Amino acids help with the body's metabolism, and with overall growth, repair and development of body tissues, hormones and enzymes. Glutamic acid is found in the highest concentration in coconut sugar; there are 34.2 grams per 100 grams of sugar. As well, coconut sugar contains high levels of aspartic acid, at 11.22 grams per 100 grams, 15.36 grams of threonine per 100 grams of sugar and 8.24 grams of serine. Coconut sugar also contains lower levels of lysine, histidine, arginine, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucien, leucine, tyrosine and phenylalanine.
Vitamin Content
Coconut sugar is rich in vitamins, particularly in vitamin B-8, which is also known as inositol. One deciliter of coconut sugar contains 127.7 milligrams of inositol. Inositol is needed for healthy cell development and is part of the B vitamin group. B vitamins are necessary for metabolic function, maintaining healthy skin and muscles, boosting the nervous and immune systems and promoting cell development. The following amounts for vitamin content in coconut sugar are for milligrams per deciliter. Coconut sugar contains 77 milligrams of thiamine, 12.2 of riboflavin, between 38.7 and 47.1 of paraaminobezoic acid, 38.4 of pyridoxal, 5.2 of pantothenic acid, 40.6 of nicotinic acid, 0.17 of biotin, 0.24 of folic acid, 9 of choline and trace levels of vitamin B-12.