Introduction
Imagine yourself wandering on the roads during a hot summer afternoon. You stop for a short break and relish a glass of chilled sugarcane juice. The taste of sugarcane juice would give you instant hydration. Besides hydration, sugarcane juice on a hot afternoon hit differently.
Sugarcane juice not only quenches your thirst but also restores the lost nutrients and electrolytes in the body.
Sugarcane is a perennial grass and belongs to the Poaceae family. It is commonly cultivated in the south and southeast Asia. The primary purpose of sugarcane cultivation is for its nutritional benefits.
Initially, it was assumed that the colour of sugarcane juice could be due to the presence of plant pigments. Later, it was identified that the presence of compounds like chlorogenic acid, flavonoids and cinnamic acid was the reason for its colour. Sugarcane has numerous health benefits, some of which are listed in this blog.
Nutritional value
The sugarcane juice is obtained by crushing and grinding the sugarcane culms. According to NCBI, sugarcane juice contains about 70–75 % of water, 10–15 % of fibre and 13–15 % of sucrose.
The nutritional contents of sugarcane were isolated with the help of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and the following flavones and phenolic acids were isolated.
- Hydroxycinnamic acid
- Sinapic acid
- Caffeic acid
- Apigenin
- Luteolin and
- Tricin.
11 Benefits of Sugarcane Juice
Some of the common benefits of sugarcane juice are listed below.
Provides instant energy boost
We could see sugarcane juice being sold on roadside kiosks. When we drive on a hot summer afternoon, we would feel dehydrated. People driving in this weather would benefit a lot from these kiosks.
The body can easily absorb the simple sugars in sugarcane juice. This will give us an instant energy boost and a rehydrated feel.
So, if you feel dehydrated while driving on a hot summer afternoon, grab a glass of chilled sugarcane juice to reduce the heat.
This juice provides you with carbohydrates, proteins, and minerals that help keep your skin hydrated.
Eases digestion
Digestive disorders can cause major discomfort. Sugarcane juice can help to ease digestion and give a soothing effect.
Sugarcane juice helps to keep the digestive flora in balance, and the potassium in sugarcane juice prevents stomach infections and also treats constipation.
According to NCBI, a pilot study investigated the effectiveness of controlling the symptoms of GERD. The study demonstrated that sugarcane juice had positive effects on GERD symptoms and alleviated the severity of the symptoms.
Remedy for Jaundice
Sugarcane juice can help alleviate the symptoms of jaundice. According to NCBI, there are reports that the Unani system of medicine considers sugarcane juice ideal for jaundice patients.
Additionally, consuming a large amount of sugarcane juice can provide immediate relief. Modern pharmacological studies have supported these assumptions of traditional Indian medicine.
The study report indicated that sugarcane juice contains various bioactivities like analgesic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antihyperglycemic and hepatoprotective effects. Other constituents like tricin, apigenin, luteolin glycosides policosanols and steroids were also reported as the main constituent in sugarcane juice.
Owing to the presence of these bioactivities and biological compounds, sugarcane juice can have a positive effect on jaundice.
Sugarcane juice consists of various antioxidants that helps to fight liver infections and keeps bilirubin levels under control.
In jaundice, our body breaks down proteins enormously and raised the bilirubin in your blood. Sugarcane juice helps replenish the lost protein count rapidly.
Helps with weight loss
Weight loss is a journey, and calorie restriction is important in the process. Sugarcane contains about 70–75% of water. This will keep you full for a long time and reduce the extra calories consumed.
Sugarcane juice boosts metabolism and increases activity levels, which accelerates weight loss. Additionally, sugarcane juice contains high fibre content, which aids digestion.
Sugarcane juice helps clear your gut and reduces bad cholesterol levels in the body. Sugarcane juice contains natural sugars that can be easily absorbed by the body, which makes it a perfect drink for weight loss.
Maintains kidney health
Sugarcane juice is a low-sodium drink with no saturated fats. This will not load the kidneys and keeps them healthy.
Sugarcane juice has powerful diuretic properties that help clean your body of harmful toxins and infections. Drinking sugarcane juice can help prevent urinary tract infections and kidney stones. It also helps keep your kidneys working properly.
To relieve the burning sensation from sugarcane juice, mix some coconut water and lemon. Drink this mixture two times a day.
Helps battle cancer
Sugarcane is rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium and manganese. These minerals will make the juice alkaline, which will make it difficult for the cancer cells to survive in an alkaline environment.
Additionally, sugarcane juice contains polyphenols that help protect the body against cancer cells. Sugarcane also contains anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic properties, which will inhibit cancer cell proliferation.
Enhances liver function
Sugarcane juice can naturally treat liver ailments. This will also alleviate the symptoms of liver diseases.
Sugarcane juice contains a natural liver-protecting property that helps to strengthen liver function. The property is due to the presence of anthocyanins, flavonoids and antioxidants. These nutrients reduce oxidative stress, which keeps the liver in good condition.
Aids in strengthening bones and teeth
Sugarcane juice contains calcium that helps to strengthen bones and teeth. This can be beneficial for kids. Consuming sugarcane juice can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Apart from sugarcane juice, chewing sugarcane will help strengthen the tooth enamel and prevents it from decay. The nutritional value also helps prevent bad breath problems.
Acts as a natural diuretic
Sugarcane juice contains natural diuretic properties. Sugarcane juice contains about 75% of water, which makes it suitable for hydration.
Sugarcane juice acts as a natural diuretic that helps flush the toxins out of the body and replaces the lost electrolytes. It provides various health benefits during pregnancy.
Can cure acne
Sugarcane juice helps to control acne when consumed regularly. Additionally, the juice can be topically applied on acne-prone skin, which helps control bacteria accumulation.
The antioxidants, flavonoids and phenolic acid in the sugarcane juice naturally moisturise and maintains the radiance of the skin.
The glycolic acid in cane juice can penetrate through the skin as they are the smallest hydroxyl acid molecule. Additionally, glycolic acid removes the dead skin cells and makes way for healthy skin.
Relieves STD and UTI pain
There are studies that suggest sugarcane juice with coconut water helps reduce the burning sensation caused by urinary tract infections.
The cane juice acts as a natural diuretic and helps flush out the infections present in the urinary tract. It can also help avoid the burning sensation and prevents kidney stone formation.
Sugarcane juice can reduce the inflammation caused due to sexually transmitted diseases. A pre-clinical research data demonstrated that sugarcane juice exhibited anti-inflammatory properties in human cell lines.
Sugarcane juice for Diabetes
Sugarcane juice is high in sugar levels, so people with Diabetes should avoid it. According to NCBI, people who consumed sugarcane juice showed a significant increase in blood glucose levels during and after exercise.
Sugarcane juice will not cause Diabetes. However, people with Diabetes should not consume sugarcane juice as it can increase blood glucose levels.
Side effects of Sugarcane juice
When foods are consumed in low quantity, we can bear the fruits of it. But if they are consumed in larger amounts, it can cause certain side effects.
The side effects of sugarcane juice are minimal, but in some cases, it can cause certain health issues.
Sugarcane contains policosanol—a long-chain alcohol that can interfere with the sleep cycle and can cause insomnia, dizziness, headache, stomach upset and weight loss. These side effects are observed in people who consume sugarcane juice in excessive amounts.
Additionally, it can cause blood thinning and affect the blood's cholesterol levels. If a person is taking blood thinners, they should avoid consuming sugarcane juice as it can lead to severe bleeding issues.
Sugarcane juice can get spoiled quickly, so it is advised to consume it fresh. According to research, if sugarcane juice is kept for long hours and then consumed, it can get oxidised, which can be harmful. This can lead to stomach-related issues.
Additionally, people with Diabetes can consume sugarcane instead of sugarcane juice. However, before consuming sugarcane, it is appropriate to check for the glycaemic index. Consult your doctor before consuming it.
How to make Sugarcane Juice at home?
Sugarcane Juice Recipe:
- First you need to peel the skin off the sugarcane, chop it into small pieces.
- Add the chopped pieces in a blender.
- Add some fresh grated ginger and puree it.
- Avoid adding any water.
- After that, you need to extract the juice from the pulp.
- Strain the juice and then add some lemon juice.
- Chill it for a few hours and serve cool.
Conclusion
Sugarcane juice is a package of nutrients. It contains antioxidants and vitamin C, minerals like calcium and potassium and properties like anti-inflammatory and diuretic.
The antioxidant present in the sugarcane juice lowers the oxidative stress that occurs in the cells. This property prevents a person from getting affected by various diseases.
Sugarcane is one of the best choices for hydration. If consumed in a low amount, we can bear the fruits of the sugarcane.
FAQs
Is it good to drink sugarcane juice every day?
Additionally, sugarcane juice contains diuretic properties that help flush out the toxins in the body regularly. The diuretic property will also prevent any infection in the urinary tract.
Who should not drink sugarcane juice?
Is sugarcane juice good for the skin?
Which is better, coconut water or sugarcane juice?
Coconut water will not cause a sugar rush, making it a better drink. However, both drinks contain their nutritional value.
