By Samuel
Sugarcane, scientifically called the Saccharum officinarum, is a grass plant with zero content of fat, cholesterol, fibre, and protein. It can be eaten raw or consumed as a juice.
There are various types of sugarcane. The basic ones are chewing, syrup, and crystal canes.
While chewing canes have a soft fibrous centre and are good for munching during farming, syrup canes are used to make sugar syrups. Syrups can be employed for commercial purposes or at home for garden use.
Crystal canes, on the other hand, have high sucrose contents and great commercial values when crystalised to make sugar.
Health Benefits of Sugarcane
-Instant Energy
The simple sugars in sugarcane juice are easily absorbed by the body and are used to replenish sugar levels. This helps to energise the body and prevent dehydration.
-Boosts Liver Function
According to studies, sugarcane juice is one of the best natural treatments for liver-related ailments such as jaundice. Its alkaline nature helps maintain the electrolyte balance in the body – a state of steady coordination in the body.
Sugarcanes also possess antioxidants that help to prevent certain liver diseases due to the high oxidative process in the body. It also helps the liver to remove bilirubin to its normal level from the blood after the red blood cells must have been broken down and are passed through stool as bile.
-Can be Taken by Diabetic Patients
The natural sugar in sugarcane has a low glycemic index (the relative ability of a carbohydrate food to increase the level of glucose in the blood) and, therefore, helps in preventing spikes in blood glucose levels. This means that it can be taken by people living with diabetes without complication their health condition.
-Healthy Kidney
Being a natural low-cholesterol, low-sodium food with no saturated fats, sugarcane can help in maintaining a healthy kidney.
-Healthy Bones and Teeth
Calcium-rich sugarcanes are good for the proper development of the skeletal system, bones and teeth. They are also helpful in building tooth enamel and in strengthening the teeth.
-Boosts the Immune System
The antioxidants in sugarcane can also help to improve the immune system in its fight against infections.
-Relieve Pregnancy Symptoms
Sugarcane is also good for pregnant women as it helps to mitigate the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and even the swelling on the legs and other parts of the body.
Most medical experts recommend eating sugarcanes or its juice to promote metabolism, aid digestion, reduce morning sickness and give long-lasting energy to the body.
-Eases Digestive Distress
Potassium found in sugarcanes contributes towards balancing the pH levels in the stomach and facilitating the secretion of digestive juices. Potassium also helps to keep the body on track and prevent stomach infections.
The role of potassium in the digestive system is to signal to the brain on when to digest the food in the system. So, when potassium is low in the body – which means it is also low in the digestive muscles – digestive problems could arise. Some of these problems include constipation, bloating and paralyzed gut (in worse cases).
– Useful for Facial and Skin Treatment
Sugarcane naturally contains a form of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) compound called glycolic acid. It is well known for its use in facial and skin treatment as it helps in the removal of blemishes, dark spots, wrinkles and dead cells from the body, thereby creating an avenue for new skin cell regeneration.
-Helps fight cancer
The high concentration of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and manganese alongside the presence of flavonoids found in sugarcanes can help the body stay off cancerous cells, especially prostate and breast cancer. Also, because sugarcane is an alkaline-forming food, it resists cancer because diseases like cancer cannot survive in an alkaline environment.