Nelly Favis-Villafuerte People are talking about it. People are scouting for reliable suppliers of this product. Because more people are now getting more concerned about their health and well-being especially diabetics and those who want to be diabetes-free. I’m referring to coconut sugar – a natural sweetener made of 100% all natural sweet watery sap from cut flower buds of fresh coconuts. Coconut sugar can be used as a healthy substitute to other sugar or sweeteners. Coconut sugar is natural, unrefined and concentrated, hence loaded with nutrients, especially minerals. The main advantages and differences of coconut sugar/syrup vis-à-vis cane sugar/syrup and other artificial sweeteners are as follows:- 1.Coconut sugar/syrup has a lower Glycemic Index (35 to 42 GI) compared with cane sugar’s high Glycemic Index (68 to 80 GI). A high GI will cause spikes in blood sugar and will not be good for those who are pre-diabetic or diabetic or even for normal people without diabetes. Coconut sugar has almost half the GI of cane sugar. Coconut sugar is a wonderful, nutrient-dense natural sweetener. According to the test results conducted by the research team of Dr. Trinidad P. Trinidad, Scientist II of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines, the glycemic index of coconut sugar obtained from the sap of the coconut is 35 to 42. The low glycemic index is good for the proper control and management of diabetes mellitus and has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol. It is reportedly good for weight maintenance and prevents overweight and obesity; 2.Coconut sugar/syrup has more vitamins, minerals, amino acid content compared with cane sugars (white sugar, brown sugar, muscovado, demarara, turbinado) and is nutritionally superior as compared with other types of commercial sugar/sweeteners, especially compared with artificial/synthetic sweeteners; 3.Coconut syrup/sugar contains inulin (FOS) and inositol (anti-cancer, anti-depression, anti-diabetic, etc.) but cane sugar and “other sweeteners” do not contain these two which are beneficial for health; 4.Coconut sugar/syrup is a whole food and is minimally processed, has no additives, no preservatives, no synthetic adulterants as compared with chemical-based and laboratory-made sweeteners; and 5.Coconut sugar/syrup is a sustainable product and helps protect the environment as compared with the production of other commercial sweeteners/sugars. Coconut sugar/syrup is the Single Most Sustainable Sweetener in the World according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the World Bank. Let me share with you some interesting information about coconuts – the source of coconut sugar. •Referred to as the fruit of life, coconut is reported to have 1,000 uses. Coconut tree is probably the most useful plant on earth because it has more uses than any other in the world. Coconut tree is a type of palm tree. The scientific name of coconut palm is ‘cocos nucifera.’ Coconut refers to the fruit of the coconut palm. The fruit is the nut grows in clusters among the leaves of the tree. There may be fifty (50) to two hundred (200) fruits that can be harvested from a single coconut palm in a year; •There are sixty-eight (68) of the seventy-nine (79) provinces in the Philippines that are coconut areas in our country. The coconut industry is among our major net foreign exchange earners and one of the biggest coconut exporting country in the world; •The coconut tree is considered a “three generation tree” supporting a farmer, his children, and his grandchildren; •The Asia Pacific Region produces about eighty-five percent (85%) of the world’s coconut. The Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka are the world’s biggest producers of coconut; •Marco Polo referred to the coconut as “Pharoah’s Nut” when he ran across it in his travel to India, Sumatra and the Nicobar Islands from 1254 to 1324; and •It is not known where the coconut exactly originated to this day as its origin is the subject of much debate and mystery – although many believe that coconut is native to Southeast Asia. (Reference of interesting information - Coconut Philippines by Lalaine V. Abonal) Finally, the wonderful news is that coconut sugar is locally available in our country as we produced and in fact export it. While coconut sugar may be more costly than the other sugars or sweeteners it is definitely more healthy – if not the healthiest sugar to date. Have a joyful day! (For comments/reactions please send to Ms. Villafuerte’s email: [email protected])