Do Sugarcane Drinks Have Health Benefits?
What Are Sugarcane Drinks?
Sugar originates from a grass called sugarcane. The cane stalks are harvested, mashed together, juiced, purified, cooled, and broken down into table sugar.
Sugarcane juice comes from the middle of the sugar-production process. Once the sugarcane is juiced and filtered, it cools to a syrupy texture. At that point, you can call it sugarcane juice. Sugarcane drinks contain sugarcane juice and water as their base. Add some flavor, such as ginger or lime, and you have a tasty beverage!
How Sugarcane Juice May Improve Your Health
Throughout time and around the world, people have thought that sugarcane juice is good for them. Traditionally, it's most often been residents of rural communities who believe that sugarcane juice:
Promotes Healthy Urination and Kidney Health
- Can be used as a laxative
- Reduces inflammation
- Helps against overheating
- Acts as an antiseptic
- Protects against jaundice by helping the liver
- Is good as an all-around medicinal tonic
Several modern studies have been done on sugarcane juice, and they have proven that sugarcane juice is:
- Anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling, redness, and pain)
- Analgesic (relieves pain)
- Antihyperglycemic (lowers blood glucose levels)
- Diuretic (improves urination)
- Hepatoprotective (protects the liver)
But some of the benefits of sugarcane juice don't necessarily come from drinking it. For example, to use sugarcane juice on a wound, you would apply the juice with some kind of swab.
Sugarcane juice has become a strong contender against the varieties of sports drinks on the market. One study aimed to see the effects of sugarcane juice on how athletes perform and burn fuel.
The study concluded that sugarcane juice was mostly as effective as sports drinks during exercise and more effective for rehydration afterward. Sports drinks and sugarcane juice equally restored fluids in the participants, but those who drank sugarcane juice felt more full.
Pros and Cons of Sugarcane Beverages
Sugarcane juice has proven to be an effective source of nutrients. However, not all sugarcane drinks are created equal. That’s why it’s important to read their nutrition labels.
Some sugarcane drinks have a simple list of ingredients: sugarcane juice, water, and natural flavors. Other sugarcane drinks that you can buy in your grocery store will contain not only sugarcane juice but also preservatives, added flavors, and added sugar.
When sugarcane drinks trade natural sugarcane juice for added sugars, they also remove the nutrients that provide health benefits, such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Sugarcane juice in a more natural state will be healthier than sugary alternatives, so read ingredients carefully.
Sugarcane juice is a whole, sweet product. Anything produced from sugarcane juice is simply sugar.
Sugarcane drinks and diabetes. Even though sugarcane juice has health benefits, it can be a no-go for someone with diabetes. Sugarcane is high in a type of natural sugar called sucrose. Sugarcane is largely water with around 15% sucrose and 15% fiber.
No one is likely to advise you to add more sugar to your diet. But when you must satisfy that sweet tooth — and your doctor wouldn't object — seek out pure sugarcane juice for your beverage base. At least, the additional nutrients in natural sugarcane juice make it more healthful than drinks with added refined sugar.