Forget its yummy taste, and think about the health benefit of sugarcane juice you should know! Sugarcane isn’t just juicy and sweet, it has been used to prevent and cure different health conditions in several ways.
If you’ve been avoiding the sugar in the canes because you’re well informed of the adverse effects it has on the pancreas, worry no more as we’ve done our best to compile for you ways to use the sugarcane meticulously, to enjoy the health benefit of sugarcane juice.
Before we delve into the main reason for this article, let’s see some salient facts about sugarcane.
History Of Sugarcane And Sugar
The history of sugarcane and sugar are interlinked. Named Saccharum in the Greek, the sugarcane exists in 36 variety of species of the Andropogoneae tribe.
Sugarcane grew in New Guinea, at about 8000 BC, before it spread to the east, across southeast Asia till it reached India.
Sugar was first produced in the first mid millennia BC. Sugarcane was made popular since it served as raw material to produce sugar. In the 5th century AD, an Indian chemist found a method to crystalize extracted sucrose, making sugar easier to transport. Sugar became an item of trade in India and news about the plant traveled as far as the Middle East. From there, Arab nations embraced sugarcanes, aiding its spread across the Mediterranean.
Sugarcane got to Spain around 715AD.
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Before then, Europeans had become familiar with sugar imported from the Middle East. Around the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Cypress, and the Azores aimed to build a stable economy from the proceeds of sugarcanes. This turned futile due to the climate condition which was unfavorable for planting sugarcane. As a result, it was introduced to America, where the plant was intensely grown.
About 12 million slaves were displaced from Africa as labor for the production of sugar, till it became available to everyone at an affordable price by the 19th century.
One of the world’s largest crops today is sugarcane. A worldwide harvest of 1.69 billion tonnes of sugarcane was recorded in over 90 countries, cultivated in a land of about 23.8 million hectares.
Leading producer of sugarcane in Brazil, followed by India, China, Pakistan, Thailand, and Mexico. Sugarcane is a source of about 75 – 80% of the world’s sugar, with the rest from sugarcane beet widely produced in Europe.
Types Of Sugarcane Plant
There are various types of sugarcane plant. The basic types include chewing, syrup, and crystal canes.
Just like each is named, chewing canes, with their soft fibrous center, are good for munching. Syrup canes are used to make sugar syrups. They are used commercially, and sometimes in the home garden. Crystal canes have high sucrose content and have great commercial values as it’s being crystallized to make sugar.
Nutritional Value Of Sugarcane Juice
An approximate 240ml sugarcane juice contains 250 calories and 30gm of natural sugar. It’s devoid of fat, cholesterol, protein, and fiber but rich in sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron.
How Sugarcane Can Be Consumed
Commonly consumed by Africans, and Nigerians here, the sugarcane is chewed till the juice is totally extracted, leaving off the sugarcane fiber to be disposed of.
More to it, the juice is extracted in different ways and used to make syrup, juice, and sweetener for drinks.
In the process of producing alcoholic drinks, sugarcane is fermented and used as a vital ingredient.
Now, back to the health benefit of sugarcane juice.
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Now, we write this article mainly to clear your doubts about the health benefit of sugarcane juice. Some people do not know that as sweet as the sugarcane juice is, it would also be medicinal. Some believe it sure would have some benefit though but have no idea what these could be.
Ladies and gentlemen, find below the 16 amazing health benefits of sugarcane juice you should know.
The 16 Health Benefit Of Sugarcane Juice
1. Treats UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
Sugarcane juice is a powerful diuretic used to cure Unitary Tract Infection – an infection in urinary organs such as the bladder, kidneys, or urethra. It removes kidney stones and aids the proper function of the kidney.
A mixture of sugarcane, lemon juice, and coconut water is the solution for Urinary Tract Infection. Take a glass twice daily to enjoy the health benefit of sugarcane in this regard.
2. Treats Jaundice
Sugarcane, with its alkaline content, helps to treat liver infections such as jaundice. Jaundice results in yellow skin and white eyes caused by the unstable level of bilirubin, a waste product in the blood. Jaundice indicates a liver or bile duct disease.
One health benefit of sugarcane is to cure jaundice. Once noticed, do not hesitate to apply or prescribe the sugarcane juice to whoever needs it.
3. Fights Cancer
The sugarcane juice is composed of magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, and manganese, all of which make it alkaline. Combined with its rich contents of flavonoids, the body is able to destroy cancerous cells, especially prostate and breast cancer.
4. Aids Digestion
If you’ve ever suffered from indigestion, the sugarcane juice solution is absolutely for you. The potassium level in the sugar cane juice helps foster digestive processes. More to that, it cures stomach infections. You can now eat without fear of frequent stooling or tummy crisis.
5. Helps Diabetic Patients
Diabetic patients are scared of sugarcane juice due to its high sugar content. Amazingly, its moderate use only benefits poor diabetic patients, and never deteriorates their health.
The sugarcane juice contains little concentration of sucrose which makes it a good remedy to control the sudden rise in blood sugar levels.
6. Cures Skin Infection
To cure skin infection and conditions such as acne, rashes, pimples, dark spots, and wrinkles, apply the sugarcane juice mixed with fuller’s earth – a clayish substance rich in minerals – to the skin surface. You’d be surprised at the wonderful health benefit of sugarcane juice on your skin.
7. Boosts Energy
To be refreshed when you’re dehydrated, take the sugar cane juice. It contains sucrose easily broken and absorbed by the body.
Your lost sugar levels are restored when you take the juice, and you’ll experience a new lease of energy every time you do.
8. Helps Wounds Heal Faster
Frequent intake of sugarcane juice helps wounds heal faster. It’s also possible to apply slightly on wounded parts to make it dry up quickly.
9. Eliminates Body Toxins
The sugarcane juice cleanses the body system, eliminates waste, and aids metabolism. Harmful elements and toxins flee your system when you regularly take sugarcane juice.
10. Rejuvenates Body Organs
Organs such as the reproductive, digestive, and sensory organs function better and stronger when you take sugarcane juice often. Since the sugar cane contains essential natural sugars, it helps restore required sugar to areas where needed.
11. Ensures Fresh Breath And Prevents Tooth Decay
The sugarcane when chewed helps the teeth and gums. It contains calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Calcium helps in teeth and bone development. Magnesium prevents decay and makes the teeth’ enamel strong. Potassium prevents the loss of calcium caused by blood acidity.
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All in all, with sugarcane juice, tooth decay, which leads to bad breath, can be prevented.
12. Helps Reduce Weight
If you care to reduce your weight for sound health and a perfect shape, sugarcane juice does that for you easily. The juice reduces excess cholesterol which causes overweight. Bodyweight is managed through the high soluble fibers contained in the sugarcane juice.
13. Aids Conception And Keeps Pregnancy Safe
The sugarcane juice facilitates ovulation in women and enhances their chances of conception.
Asides from this, it ensures the pregnancy is kept safe and protected till the day of labor. The juice contains vitamin B9 and folic acid which aid to prevent neural birth defects in newborn babies.
14. Good For Sore Throat
You can stop that throat pain arising from sore throats and irritations. Take a glass of sugarcane juice mixed with a small quantity of lime, and a pinch of black salt. It soothes throat pain effectively.
Sugarcane consists of Vitamin C, which is a vital nutrient that makes it good for sore throats. Also rich in antioxidants, the sugarcane juice immunes the body from bacterial and viral infections causing throat issues.
15. It Slows Down The Ageing Process
Aging is inevitable, but the good news we have for you, “it can be slowed down with the help of sugarcane juice.”
Sugarcane contents such as antioxidants, flavonoids, and phenolics help maintain the skin glow, keep it shiny, soft, and moisturized. To maintain freshness and prevent aging, consistently take the sugarcane juice.
16. Strengthens The Muscle
The sugarcane juice supplies glucose required to strengthen the muscles and biceps. A daily intake of two glasses of sugarcane juice will make this happen.
Bottom line
A vital way to maximize the use of anything is to know everything about its usefulness. If you suck the sugarcane juice just for its sweetness, you’d never consciously use it to prevent and cure ailments and diseases.
TheNigerianWeb cares about your health and wants you to enjoy the benefit of what’s common around you, the fruits you see and take every day. And that’s why we have put together the 16 amazing health benefits of sugarcane juice you should know.
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