When it comes to sweetening our drinks and foods, most of us reach for sugar. However, there’s a new alternative that’s gaining popularity – Panela.

Panela (also known as piloncillo) is an unrefined sugar made from evaporated sugar cane juice. Since it’s unrefined, it’s believed to be healthier than processed and refined sugar.

But is Panela really healthier than sugar? In this article, we’ll explore the differences between Panela and sugar and find out which one is healthier.

What is Panela?

Panela is a type of unrefined cane sugar, commonly used in Latin America. It’s made by boiling and evaporating sugar cane juice until it thickens and solidifies.

Unlike white or brown sugar, Panela is unrefined, meaning it’s not processed to remove impurities, such as molasses and minerals. As a result, Panela retains most of the nutrients and minerals found in sugar cane, including calcium, iron, and potassium.

Due to its unrefined nature, Panela has a unique flavor that’s often described as caramel-like, and it’s a popular ingredient in many Latin American and Caribbean recipes.

What is Sugar?

Sugar is a natural sweetener that’s extracted from sugar cane or sugar beets. After extraction, sugar goes through a refining process, where the impurities, such as molasses and minerals, are removed. The result is a nearly pure form of sucrose.

There are two main types of sugar: granulated sugar (white sugar) and brown sugar. Granulated sugar is the most common type of sugar and is often used in baking, cooking, and coffee. Brown sugar, on the other hand, is a mixture of white sugar and molasses.

It has a slightly different taste than white sugar and is used in many baked goods and sauces.

Nutritional Differences

One of the biggest differences between Panela and sugar is their nutritional content. Since Panela is unrefined, it retains most of the natural nutrients and minerals found in sugar cane.

On the other hand, sugar has no nutritional value and is considered empty calories. Here’s a comparison of the nutritional content of Panela and sugar:.

Panela Nutritional Content

Calories: 371 per 100g
Total fat: 0g
Sodium: 28mg (1% DV)
Total Carbohydrates: 97g (32% DV)
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Total Sugars: 97g
Protein: 0g
Calcium: 85mg (8% DV)
Iron: 2.8mg (16% DV)
Potassium: 438mg (9% DV)

Sugar Nutritional Content

Calories: 387 per 100g
Total fat: 0g
Sodium: 1mg (0% DV)
Total Carbohydrates: 100g (33% DV)
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Total Sugars: 100g
Protein: 0g
Calcium: 0mg (0% DV)
Iron: 0.06mg (0.3% DV)
Potassium: 2mg (0% DV)

As you can see, Panela contains more minerals and nutrients than sugar, including calcium, iron, and potassium. However, both Panela and sugar have the same number of calories and carbohydrates, with no dietary fiber or protein.

Glycemic Index

The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how quickly a particular food raises blood sugar levels. Foods with a high GI are quickly broken down and absorbed, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar levels.

Foods with a low GI are broken down and absorbed more slowly, resulting in a gradual rise in blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can be harmful to people with diabetes or other blood sugar disorders. Here’s a comparison of the glycemic index of Panela and sugar:.

Panela Glycemic Index

Panela has a low glycemic index of 65. This means it’s broken down and absorbed more slowly than white sugar, resulting in a gradual rise in blood sugar levels.

Sugar Glycemic Index

White sugar has a high glycemic index of 65-100, depending on the source. This means it’s broken down and absorbed quickly, causing a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. Brown sugar has a similar GI to white sugar.

Conclusion

So, which one is healthier: Panela or sugar? Panela is definitely a healthier alternative to sugar due to its unrefined nature and higher nutritional content.

While it still contains the same amount of calories and carbohydrates as sugar, its lower glycemic index means it won’t cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels, making it a safer choice for people with diabetes or other blood sugar disorders.