Sugarcane juice is sweet and cold can be the best drink to refresh yourself in the hot weather. Not only relieves the throat, sugarcane juice contains vitamins to minerals that provide benefits for your body.
Sugarcane juice nutritional content
Sugarcane juice is a naturally sweet drink made by squeezing sugarcane stalks. The collected sugar cane juice is filtered before consumption. You can make it yourself or buy it bottled or at street vendors.
Although it is the raw material for sugar that is commonly consumed, sugar cane juice is arguably more healthy than ordinary sugar water. This is because sugarcane contains important nutrients such as carbohydrates , proteins, and minerals.
One glass of sugarcane juice as much as 240 milliliters has the following nutritional content.
- Calories: 183 kcal
- Protein: 0 grams
- Fat : 0 grams
- Sugar: 50 grams
- Fiber: 0 – 13 grams
Launching the book Sugarcane Biotechnology: Challenges and Prospects , sugarcane juice also contains vitamins A, B1 to B6, C, and E. In addition to vitamins, a glass of sugarcane juice also provides the body with various minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus , and iron.
If you are looking for a food or drink that is a source of antioxidants , sugarcane juice can be one of them. According to a 2014 study, this drink is rich in antioxidants in the form of phenolic acid, quercetin , caffeic acid , and ellagic acid .
Benefits of sugar cane for health
Here are some of the benefits that you can get from consuming sugarcane juice.
1. Caring for skin health
Sugarcane juice contains glycolic acid , an antioxidant that protects the skin from free radical damage. Thanks to these properties, consumption of sugarcane juice is believed to help overcome inflammation, improve the appearance of the skin, and reduce signs of aging .
2. Maintain bone density
Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in sugarcane juice are important components that help strengthen bones . With dense and strong bones, you will be more protected from the risk of bone loss or osteoporosis.
3. Lower cholesterol
A number of studies prove the consumption of pure sugarcane juice has benefits in lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides . This will protect your heart health and potentially lower your risk of heart disease as you age.
4. Helps to sleep better
The amino acid content in sugarcane juice is believed to balance the amount of stress hormones in the body. In addition, the body also converts amino acids into several compounds that help you sleep better, such as melatonin and tryptophan.
5. Control blood pressure
The potassium content in sugarcane juice can reduce tension in the arteries. This is not only beneficial for controlling blood pressure, but also has the potential to reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries, heart attack, and stroke.
6. Strengthening the immune system
Drinking sugarcane juice also benefits your immune system. This is because the vitamin C in sugarcane juice can stimulate the work of white blood cells called lymphocytes and phagocytes. Both play an important role in fighting infection.
7. Benefits of sugarcane juice for the kidneys
Sugarcane juice is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production, making you pee more often . This is useful for the body because the work of the kidneys becomes more effective. In addition, urine also brings out mineral deposits in the urinary tract.
8. Substitute for granulated sugar
Although it contains sugar, sugarcane juice has a low glycemic index (GI). Low-GI foods do not increase blood sugar quickly so they tend to be safer. However, if you have type 2 diabetes, it is best to consult your doctor.
9. Increase energy
Sugarcane contains glucose and various minerals. Glucose is the main source of energy for the body . Meanwhile, minerals help the process of converting glucose into energy and encourage the rate of metabolism.
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Don't drink too much sugar cane
Sugarcane juice does provide many health benefits. However, it is worth remembering that this drink contains a lot of sugar. One cup of sugarcane juice contains 50 grams of sugar which is almost the equivalent of five tablespoons.
The recommended limit of sugar intake in a day is 54 grams, or the equivalent of five tablespoons. If you often consume sugar in excess of these limits, the risk of obesity (overweight) and diabetes can increase.
Like sweetened drinks in general, sugarcane juice is also not recommended for diabetics. Although sugarcane juice has a low GI, diabetics and people at high risk of diabetes should avoid this drink.
If you're not a diabetic, you're actually okay with drinking sugarcane juice once in a while. However, make sure you don't overdo it to keep your blood sugar normal.