A common misconception about raw and brown sugar is that they are healthier than white sugars. Raw sugar contains 99% sucrose, and even though there may be some minerals within, their health effects are almost negligible.
Talking about sugar being good for health, then natural sugar or stevia is the best. They have many health benefits to offer apart from weight loss. It has all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are essential for your body.
Although raw sugar may seem like a healthier option because it's less processed, it has the same nutrient profile as its refined counterpart — both contain trace amounts of micronutrients and have the same number of calories, carbohydrates and sugar per teaspoon.
The healthiest alternative to sugar is whole fruits, followed by dried fruits, as they contain added nutrients and fiber. In comparison to table sugar, fruit juices, maple syrup, honey, and molasses are marginally healthier as they contain some vitamins and minerals.
Of the cane sugars, panela or sucanat has the fewest processing steps and retains the most nutrients. Demerara, turbinado, and muscovado are sometimes called “raw cane sugar,” even though they're not raw.
In conventional production, the use of raw sugar is not recommended because it is not safe. In organic food production, it is permissible but not recommended. Raw sugar is a sugar with low polarization (99.5 is the limit beyond which sugar is defined by customs laws as raw).
A common misconception about raw and brown sugar is that they are healthier than white sugars. Raw sugar contains 99% sucrose, and even though there may be some minerals within, their health effects are almost negligible.
People often consider honey to be healthier than sugar, but it depends on the use. Like sugar, honey is high in carbs and can raise blood sugar levels. It is also high in calories. However, the antioxidants in honey may help with healing and allergy relief, among other uses.
No matter how “natural” or “raw” a sugar claims to be, any form of added sugars is unhealthy when you get too much. Added sugars like turbinado sugar have very low (or no) nutritional value.
Stevia was previously banned by the FDA due to earlier studies that suggested it may cause cancer. Fortunately, this was amended in 2008, which paved the way for food manufacturers to reintroduce this sweetener. Today, stevia is found in all types of foods and beverages.
From a nutrition perspective, there's no advantage to using white sugar over brown sugar or vice versa, the Sugar Association says: "Nutritionally speaking, all natural sugars have relatively comparable nutritional value with approximately 15 calories per teaspoon (4.2 g)."
Sugar is the main source of calories. In such a situation, eating it in excess can cause weight gain. However, cutting sugar out of your diet can lead to lower calorie intake, which can lead to weight loss or better weight management.
The best alternative for raw sugar
The best alternative to raw sugar, and the one with the closest texture, is muscovado sugar, which offers a higher nutrient content, molasses, and the coarseness found in raw sugar.
Sugar in fruit and added sugar are not the same thing, says Lauri Wright, spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. But even for people without diabetes, sugar in fruit is a healthier option than sugar from other sources, according to nutritionist Wright.
No Nutritional Advantage
Raw sugar may sound like it's better for you, but it still goes through varying degrees of processing and bleaching. Retaining some of the molasses means raw sugar has a minuscule amount more iron and calcium than granulated sugar, but not enough to have a true impact on your diet.
Though we know sugar doesn't directly cause type 2 diabetes, you are more likely to get it if you are overweight. You gain weight when you take in more calories than your body needs, and sugary foods and drinks contain a lot of calories.
1. Honey. Honey is easily one of the most commonly found unrefined sweeteners out there.
Raw sugar simply contains some of the original molasses from the refining process. Brown sugar, technically, is raw sugar with molasses added back at the end of the refining process to darken it and add the characteristic moisture and flavor we all recognize and love.