What Is Cane Sugar?
White granulated sugar can be made either from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) or sugar beets. Cane sugar is the type made from sugarcane. The sucrose molecules in both types of sugar are identical, so scientifically there isn't much difference.
Like all types of added sugars, cane sugar is usually linked with negative health effects like weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Unlike the sugars found naturally in foods like fruit, it offers calories with few nutrients or health benefits. But as long as you consume it in moderation, cane sugar can be part of a healthy diet.
What Is Sugarcane?
Sugarcane is a tropical grass that’s cultivated around the world to produce refined sugar, sugarcane juice, and medicinal products. Many types of sugar products are made from sugarcane, including:
- Refined white sugar
- Brown sugar
- Molasses
- Jaggery
Sugarcane juice is one of the purest forms of sugarcane other than the plant stalks themselves. It has very few nutriaents but maintains more of the plant’s natural vitamins and minerals than more highly processed products. But it’s still considered to be an added sugar.
Sugarcane has been cultivated in India and other parts of Southeast Asia for millennia. The Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine use it to treat various ailments. But we need more research into the potential health benefits of natural sugarcane
