Monday, February 8, 2010

Sugar Cane

Hi guys!  A week ago, Steve brought home a 5-foot stalk of green sugar cane (grown in the USA). He bought is from Weis Market in Lancaster.  I had fun whacking at it with a big chef's knife, then we sliced back the outer hard layer and chopped a few pieces to chew on.  Tasty fresh sweet clear juice fills your mouth.  Then spit out the fibrous stuff that's left.  My kids loved it.  White sugar is devoid of all nutrients.  It is more of a substance than a food because it contains zero nutrients and is addictive.  Sugar cane juice and rapadura (evaporated sugar cane juice) have some calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and Vit. A to give our bodies energy rather than a buzz and a crash.  Brazil is one of the largest growers of sugar cane and producers of rapadura.  Rapadura can replace white sugar in recipes on a 1:1 ratio and you'll find it in most health food stores.  Use only natural sweeteners like rapadura, maple syrup, agave nectar, honey, and stevia.  And use them sparingly.  I'll post more on this topic.

The Ministry of Brazil listed nutrition data for 100 grams rapadura, which is ½ c.

http://www.agencia.cnptia.embrapa.br/gestor/cana-de-acucar/arvore/CONT000fjighhp202wyiv80sq98yqyvgmia8.html

Potassium        10-13mg

Calcium           40-100mg

Magnesium     70-90mg

Phosphorus     20-90mg

Sodium            19-30mg

Iron                 10-13mg

Manganese      .2-.5mg

Zinc                 .2-.4mg


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