| The hustle and bustle of the holiday season has officially arrived. The pressure is on with a plethora of invites from friends and family to events where delicious foods, sweet treats and overindulgence are waiting to tempt us.
One of our secrets to surviving this time of year is always being prepared when we participate in holiday festivities. This means that we expect to see nothing but traditional treats loaded with refined white sugar at holiday events; thus we always make our own nourishing, easy-to-prepare raw food desserts and snacks to bring along to share.
Coconut Palm Sugar is a perfect, healthier alternative to white, processed sugar. In this article, you will learn all about this low-glycemic sweetener, and how to make recipes for yourself, your children, and your friends to help have a healthier holiday season. You deserve it!
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What Is Coconut Palm Sugar?
| Coconut sugar comes directly from the blossoms of Indonesian coconut trees (Cocos nucifera). It is made by evaporating coconut nectar from tropical palm flowers. The process of making coconut sap sugar is similar to how maple sugar crystals are made. Farmers gently hand-harvest the buds and collect the sweet nectar using traditional methods. The syrup is then kettle-boiled, dehydrated, and ground into crystals. Coconut sugar looks similar to brown sugar; however, it has not been chemically altered or enhanced in any way, making it a pure, natural, whole food sweetener.
*Note to raw purists: the coconut sugar is not a 100% raw product, as it is evaporated using temperatures above 120 degrees.
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Benefits
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Coconut sugar has a low glycemic index (GI) measurement of 35 (compare to cane sugar's 50). The low GI makes it an ideal natural sweetener for diabetics or those interested in weight loss or anyone simply looking for a healthier alternative to standard sweeteners.
Even though some sugar cane crystals are unrefined and retain many of their natural properties, they are still high on the GI scale and contain very little nutrition. Coconut sugar contains vital minerals like potassium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc and iron, and also contains vitamins C, B3, B6, B1 and B2.
Coconut sugar has 25% more potassium than bananas! In addition, low glycemic foods like coconut palm sugar can help lower LDL levels (“bad cholesterol”).
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Coconut Palm Sugar, 8oz, Organic
$4.95 - Add to Cart
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Sustainability
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The Food and Agriculture Organization has reported that palm sweeteners are the most sustainable type of sweetener in the world. Tropical coconut palms require little water to thrive and can actually restore damaged soils and regenerate ecosystems which help support wildlife.
Coconut palms are more productive than sugar cane and can produce 50% to 75% more sugar per acre. Coconut palms can be tapped for 70+ years without damaging the tree or the ecosystem, as opposed to sugar cane which can have a negative impact on the environment.
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How to Use Coconut Sugar
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Coconut sugar is simple to use, as it dissolves easily in liquids and can be used 1:1 ratio to regular sugar. It has a full, unique, delightful caramel taste. Try adding 1 tsp to any beverage or elixir you wish to sweeten. These sweet crystals are perfect for those interested in gourmet superfood creations such as chocolates and desserts.
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Organic Coconut Palm Sugar
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