Sugarcane juice is derived from the sugarcane plant which is the source of a number of white table sugar and processed sugar. Sugarcane’s botanical name is Saccharum officinarum. Saccharum denotes its sweet taste due to its high sucrose content.
Sugarcane juice is popular in Brazil, India, Thailand, and other countries with a large production of sugarcane. Ever wondered how the juice is gotten? It is freshly pressed from the cane, using iron rollers. It may be served as a cooling drink with ice, flavored with a squeeze of lemon, or topped with mint, ginger, and rock salt. Delicious!
Did you know that sugarcane juice is the base ingredient for loads of other products such as molasses, rum, jaggery, ethanol, and biofuel? This juice is bursting with potassium, iron, manganese, calcium, magnesium, various amino acids, zinc, riboflavin, and thiamin. There are approximately 180 calories in an 8-ounce glass of sugarcane juice, as well as 30 grams of sugar. Amazing, innit? What else? It’s high in dietary fiber, it provides antioxidants like flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds which make your health better, and reduce oxidative stress.
Health Benefits of Sugarcane Juice
It Boosts Energy
A number of people consume drinks and foods that have a lot of processed sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. Those aren’t as healthy as the natural supply of sugars in sugarcane juice. This juice provides so much energy that is enough to keep you agile all day, so much that you remain strong and the release of glucose in your body is regulated. Now tell me, how wouldn’t you love this juice which has a great taste and gives energy?
It’s Great for your Skin
An undeniably super component of sugarcane juice is its antioxidant effects on the skin. This juice, when regularly consumed, can eliminate skin inflammation and infections. That’s not all. It eliminates signs of aging. So you can say goodbye to discoloration, wrinkles, blemishes, and scars. Who feels like having a drink of this juice already? Okay, hold on a bit, as you’ll get more convinced.
Stress Management
Tryptophan and magnesium, together with other amino acids found in sugarcane juice can help you balance your stress hormone levels and even help to induce sleep. It gives relief from insomnia or interrupted sleep.
Regulating Blood Pressure
With its abundant supply of potassium, sugarcane juice is readily able to reduce the strain and tension in blood vessels and arteries — this ensures an effective reduction of blood pressure, and a reduction of your risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes.
Strengthened Immune System
With a rich supply of vitamin C and antioxidants, this juice is known to stimulate and boost the immune system, and reduce infections in the stomach, liver and respiratory tracts. [9] It can also help prevent the onset of chronic disease including cancer or the prostate, colon, and breast.
Pregnancy Support
This good news to mothers. When sugarcane juice is taken during pregnancy, it helps to reduce symptoms of morning sickness, it boosts metabolism, improves digestion, and provides energy all day long. That’s not all; it boosts the immune system too, so you don’t have to rely on antibiotics. This juice also helps eliminate symptoms of constipation, which is a frequent complaint by pregnant women. But of course, the state of pregnancy is a sensitive one, hence the need to consult your doctor before deciding on any inclusion in your diet.
It’s Good for Oral Health
Did you know that sugarcane juice can be consumed as a home remedy for tooth decay and bad breath? Sugarcane contains calcium and phosphorus which both protect the enamel of the teeth, protect the teeth against decay, and strengthen them. It is the high doses of nutrients in this juice that helps deal with bad breath. Interesting, isn`t it?
Bone Mineral Density
Consuming this juice boosts your levels of calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, and manganese. Little wonder it’s so effective at strengthening the bones. Did you know this juice is reliable for the prevention of osteoporosis? We can simply call it your bones’ friend. Drinking a glass of sugarcane juice every day can get your bones stronger.
It Improves Digestion
There are certain laxative qualities of sugarcane juice, and this is a result of the supply of dietary fiber. The fiber helps stimulate peristaltic motion, it heals inflammation in the gut, and relieves symptoms of constipation and bloating.
Lower Cholesterol Levels
Drinking raw sugarcane juice can help lower overall cholesterol levels, both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, protecting your heart, and preventing cardiovascular disease as you age.
Prevention of Kidney Stones
Consumption of sugarcane juice has got a lot to do with a lower occurrence of urinary tract infections and a lower risk of developing kidney stones. This juice has got the ability to detoxify the body. What an amazing juice!
Perfect for Weight Loss
Sugarcane juice is rich in dietary fiber. It is your perfect choice because the fiber binds with fat and prevents it from being stored in the body, not forgetting that it also makes you feel full. This definitely prevents snacking and overeating. That’s not all, as your digestive health will also be more healthy, and constipation will be far from you. This juice has got an alkaline nature which helps it create the ideal environment for fat-burning, rather than an excessively acidic system, while the high natural sugar content supplies a huge source of energy, which stimulates more calorie-burning as a result of an increase in activities that are carried out.
Treating Diabetes
This juice is amazingly low in the glycemic index because of the types of sugars that are found in it. It is definitely more beneficial than fizzy drinks or soda because the sugars are more slowly absorbed and processed by the body, preventing the sugar rush that is thought to be associated with high glycemic beverages. And hey, diabetes or not, this drink can definitely help regulate your blood sugar levels, when consumed in moderation.
Let’s Discuss some Facts about Sugarcane itself
As we discuss the juice, let’s know some facts about the plant.
- Sugarcane is a group of grass species from the Saccharum genus. It belongs to Poaceae, the family of true grass. The sugar extracted from the plants is grown for commercial purposes.
- Sugarcane is a perennial plant that is native to areas of southern Asia, and it grows best in tropical habitats. It reaches heights of between 2 to 6 meters (6.5 to 19.7 feet) and a diameter of roughly 5 centimeters (2 inches).
- Sugarcane plants take 9 to 24 months to grow to maturity, and they are the raw material that amounts to the largest world’s sugar production, while the plants are also used for making ethanol, bagasse, molasses, rum and some other products.
- The majority of a sugarcane stalk is made of water.
- A number of sugarcane farms were formed across the world between the 1800s and 1900s, and slaves different parts of the world were laborers.
- The fibers of the sugarcane plant are used for making mats.
Final Words…
Sugarcane juice is a super drink which you might want to include in your diet. It’s got loads of benefits that your body will thank you for. Try it, your body will thank you. Remember to tell others about it.