Health Benefits of Unrefined, Unprocessed (Non Centrifugal) Sugar
Introduction
Just Panela® is a Non-Centrifugal Sugar - or - NCS - as it is non in the Health Sciences world. We us the term “Unrefined Sugar” because it is easier to say and that’s what it is! Just Panela® represents probably the only 100% unrefined sugar many people have every come in contact with in North America. Present in many cultures outside of north america, unrefined sugar is also known as panela (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela), jaggery (India), and kokuto (Japan), piloncillo (Mexico), Rapadura(Brazil), Gur (Pakistan), and others. 100% Unrefined Just Panela Cane sugar is rich in minerals, bioactive compounds, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, which have long been valued for their therapeutic benefits. A lot of complex terms have just been thrown out. Let’s find out what these terms mean to us non-biologists, dieticians, and nutritionists!
Bio-Active Compounds: These are substances, or compounds, that have a biological activity with positive direct effects on cells and tissue. They are usually found in plants & grasses (like cane sugar), vegetables, fruits, and grains. They are currently being studied for prevention of cancer, heart disease, and other diseases.
Flavonoids: These are compounds also found in plants, grasses, vegetables, fruits, and grains etc and have rich antioxidant properties. Flavonoids help regulate cellular activity and fight off free radicals that cause oxidative stress on your body.
Phenolic acids: Phenolic acids are key class of dietary polyphenols, natural antioxidants
Phenolic acids are key class of dietary polyphenols, natural antioxidants.
PA’s are dietary antioxidants that shield against growth and evolution in pathological conditions that arise from oxidative stress.
Unrefined = molasses (and all its goodness) is retained
The lack of Molasses removal is a major reason for the retention of beneficial bio-active compounds. Unrefined (Non Centrifugal) Sugars like Just Panela® keep many vitamins and natural compounds from sugarcane, like phenolic acids, flavonoids, and policosanols (PCs). Unrefined (Non Centrifugal) Sugar has a unique taste and smell and contains 20 essential amino acids. It also has citrulline and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Unrefined Cane Sugar is known as "medicinal sugar" because it’s rich in nutrients and used in pharmaceuticals. It has many health benefits, including boosting the immune system, detoxifying, fighting anemia, and acting as an antioxidant. It also helps protect cells, prevent atherosclerosis, and has anti-cancer effects. Just Panela can help manage diabetes, reduce inflammation, combat obesity, lower cholesterol, and protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
The nutritional and sensory qualities of Unrefined (Non Centrifugal) Sugar depend on the type of sugarcane, soil, fertilizers, harvest time, and processing methods. Therefore, Unrefined Cane Sugar quality varies by region and production method. This review summarizes studies on the health benefits and effectiveness of Unrefined (Non Centrifugal) Sugar.
Intense antioxidant activity
The term ‘antioxidant’ gets used a lot. What does it mean? A diet high in antioxidants may reduce the risk of many diseases (including heart disease and certain cancers). Antioxidants scavenge free radicals from the body cells and prevent or reduce the damage caused by oxidation. The protective effect of antioxidants continues to be studied around the world.
Stuides of Non Centrifugal Sugars from around the world have shown consumption of Non Centfrifugal Sugar like Just Panela could help avert conditions such as carcinogenesis, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Replacing white, turbinado, and brown refined sugars with Just Panela® increases the daily intake of antioxidants
Anti Inflammatory Properties
Anti Diabetic Effect
Other Vitamins, Minderals, Amino Acids and compounds present in Just Panela®
Unrefined (Non Centrifugal) Sugar is a natural sweetener composed of sugar, water, and other substances, such as amino acids, minerals, vitamins, polyphenolic compounds, volatile compounds, and other trace substances. As such, it is rich in macro- and micronutrients. Sucrose is an essential component, in the range of 76.55 and 89.48%, followed by monosaccharides, glucose and fructose and water (1.5–15.8%). Discrepancies in the processing conditions cause a comparatively broad range of moisture, protein, and fat content below 2%. Just Panlea Unrefined Cane Sugar is composed of an abundance of both primary and trace minerals. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, chloride, and potassium are the most presented minerals in Unrefined (Non Centrifugal) Sugar like Just Panela.
Iron
Just Panela Cane Sugar is a formidable source of iron and contains more iron and copper content than refined sugar. Iron is the component responsible for the anti-anaemia effect of NCS. The cause-and-effect relationship between iron consumption and haemoglobin and red blood cells increase is welcomed by the European Food Safety Agency. As such, Europe permits such claims.
Selenium
Selenium has also been detected in Unrefined Cane Sugars like Just Panela. Since selenium is an insulin mimic, Just Panela Unrefined Cane Sugar might be a recommended option for patients with diabetes. Just Panela® Unrefined Cane Sugar contains up to 21 amino acids, where the predominant components are asparagine, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and alanine.
Amino Acids
Additionally, Unrefined Cane Sugars like Just Panela® also contains health-beneficial γ-aminobutyric acid, known as GABA, at levels of 2.32–7.54 mg/100 g. GABA amino acids are involved in the regulation of synaptic transmission, promoting neuronal development and relaxation, and preventing sleeplessness and depression.
Vitamins
Just Panela® contains a trace amount of B vitamins such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic (B5), Pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9) and vitamin C, E and A. No less than two rare sugars with functional capacity have been determined in Just Panela Unrefined Cane Sugar: d-Psicose and cyclodextrans or Cycloisomaltooligosaccharides.
Policosanols (PCs)
Policosanols (PCs) were also found in Just Panela Unrefined Cane Sugar. PCs are a mixture of primary long-chain alcohols, which possess cholesterol and lipid-reducing properties.
