Brown sugar – what it is, what it is for and how to use it!

Brown sugar is the healthiest of all, as it does not undergo any type of refinement, it is raw sugar, extracted after the cane is cooked. As it does not go through the refining process, it conserves calcium , iron and mineral salts.

However, the taste very similar to that of sugarcane juice, ends up displeasing some people. Its color can vary from golden to dark brown, depending on the variety and the season in which the cane is harvested.

What is Brown Sugar:

Extracted from sugar cane, Brown Sugar does not undergo any refinement process. As it does not receive chemicals like crystal or refined sugar, it retains most of the nutrients.

Despite being much better for health than refined sugar, few people consume it, both for the higher price and for the taste, which is very reminiscent of sugarcane juice. Brown Sugar has many more health benefits than refined sugar, and that’s what we’re going to talk about today.

Nutritional Value of Brown Sugar:

Below is nutritional information for a full tablespoon of Brown Sugar (20g):

• Calories : 67.64, which is equivalent to around 3% of daily needs.
• Carbohydrates : 17.21%, which equates to approximately 6% of daily needs.
• Sodium : 0mg
• Total fat: 0.1g, which is less than 1% of daily needs, approximately 0.2%.
• Dietary fiber : 0g
• Potassium : 133mg

What is brown sugar used for?

1. Protect First:

The great properties of brown sugar for the skin are incredible. Its exfoliating function due to its sand-like texture removes dirt and dead cells in addition to unclogging pores.

Already the presence of glycolic acid, which has the function of leaving the skin healthy being widely used in expensive products, moisturizes and rids the skin of toxins. And because it contains B vitamins , it prevents the appearance of wrinkles and maintains a youthful appearance.

2. Part of the Healthy Diet:

Although it doesn’t lose weight as much as refined sugar, brown sugar  is healthier compared to other sugars. Anyone who suffers from diabetes or is on a strict diet should choose to consume this sugar because of its nutritional value and because it has not been chemically refined.

3. Has Fewer Calories:

In an amount of 100 grams of Brown Sugar , we would have a difference of 100 calories compared to refined sugar.

4. Accelerates Postpartum Recovery:

Every mother knows that it is necessary to have a good postpartum recovery in order to avoid further problems. In addition, foods such as brown sugar help in the contraction and rapid recovery of the uterus.

5. Greater Source of Nutrients:

Vitamin A , B vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium and iron are found in greater amounts in brown sugar . The darker this sugar is, the more nutrients it will have.

Brown Sugar Fattening?

It may seem contradictory, but even though it has fewer calories than refined bank sugar, brown sugar is still fattening if consumed in large quantities. It turns out that the amount of dietary fiber is very low, and because of that, it ends up being easier for the body to assimilate.

Despite having more nutrients than refined sugar, it can still be harmful to health if consumed in exaggerated amounts, in addition, of course, to making the person gain weight.

And, despite having some vitamins, iron and potassium, in addition to other nutrients, the amount is not so high as to make the product something really healthy for the body. Between the two, it is better to opt for Brown Sugar . The ideal would be to consume less and less sugar.

How to use brown sugar:

Brown sugar can be used to replace refined white sugar in recipes like cakes , pies, sweetener in drinks like milk , coffee or even tea. Be careful when buying sugar and check its origin.

It is common to find refined white sugar mixed with molasses in some establishments to make it look more like brown sugar. In addition, the flavor is very different from white sugar, so it is recommended that you change it little by little, changing in larger and larger amounts to get your taste buds used again.

Recommended Consumption of Brown Sugar:

According to the WHO itself, the recommended daily dose is 25g of sugar, which is equivalent to just over 5% of the recommended daily doses. That would be around 2 level tablespoons of sugar. This would be ideal, but we know it’s not easy, and most people don’t follow this recommendation.

For this reason, among others, the rate of diabetics in Brazil grows every year. As brown sugar is a little healthier than refined white sugar, it would not be bad to consume a little more than 25 grams, although this is practically the limit for maintaining a healthy diet.

It is worth remembering that these amounts are recommended for industrialized white sugar. Furthermore, the same does not apply to lactose or fructose, sugars present in milk and fruit, respectively. To get a basis on how much sugar to consume, refer to your diet.

If you consume something around 3000kcal a day, it would not be bad to consume 30g of sugar (always something around 10% of the total), which would give almost 3 tablespoons. But the more you can avoid and reduce, the better.