Sugarcane juice is often consumed as a drink to ward off thirst in hot weather. Not only delicious and refreshing, the benefits of sugarcane juice for health are also not small. Want to know what are the benefits? Read the following article.
Sugarcane juice is a drink obtained from the juice of sugarcane stalks. Processing is generally done in a simple way, so that the nutritional content in it is maintained properly. When consuming sugarcane juice, you can also add lemon juice to make it feel fresher.
Various Nutrients Contained in Sugarcane Water
In 100 ml of sugarcane juice, there are about 80 calories and a variety of the following nutrients:
- Carbohydrate
- Sugars, namely sucrose and fructose
- Protein
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Iron
Not only that, sugarcane juice also contains sodium, zinc, manganese, as well as various antioxidants, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and carotenoids.
Various Benefits of Sugarcane Water for Body Health
Because of its diverse nutritional content, there are a number of benefits that you can get from sugarcane juice. The following are some of the benefits of sugarcane juice for health:
1. Increase energy
Sugarcane juice is one of the best sources of sugar and carbohydrates. The natural sugar content of sucrose and fructose in sugarcane juice can produce energy for the body, so you can be more enthusiastic about activities. In addition, sugarcane juice can also prevent dehydration.
Therefore, sugarcane water is suitable to be drunk when you are tired or after exercising so that the body can come back fresh.
2. Counteract the effects of free radicals
Sugarcane juice is a drink that is rich in antioxidants. This content is known to be able to protect body cells from the effects of exposure to free radicals that can trigger various diseases, such as cancer.
However, you are advised not to consume too much sugar cane juice, because this drink contains a lot of sugar.
3. Smooth the digestive system
Sugarcane contains fiber which is good for digestion. Dietary fiber in sugarcane is known to be good for dealing with digestive disorders, such as constipation. Therefore, to get the benefits of sugarcane juice on this one, you can add a little bagasse to the sugarcane juice when consuming it.
4. Maintain heart health
In some countries, such as India, sugarcane juice has long been used as a traditional medicine to treat liver dysfunction.
Not only that, a study also states that sugarcane juice can prevent liver damage caused by side effects of long-term use of drugs, such as tuberculosis treatment.
However, the benefits of sugarcane juice to treat liver disease still need to be studied further, because its effectiveness has not been ascertained.
5. Maintain kidney function
Not only maintaining liver health, regular consumption of sugarcane juice is also believed to keep the kidneys healthy and functioning properly. Sugarcane juice is a diuretic, so it is able to expedite urination and helps prevent urinary tract infections.
6. Reduces the risk of cancer
Several studies have shown that sugarcane juice extract contains antioxidants and anticancer substances that can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, such as prostate cancer and breast cancer. However, studies on the benefits of sugarcane juice to prevent cancer are still very limited.
Sugarcane juice does have a variety of benefits, but you are advised not to consume it excessively. Consumption of sugarcane juice also needs to be limited by diabetics. This is because the sugar content in sugarcane juice is quite high, so it can increase blood sugar levels significantly.
Consumption of sugarcane juice is generally good and healthy when you are in need of additional energy, for example when exercising or undergoing strenuous physical activity.
If you still have questions about the benefits of sugarcane juice or want to make sure whether sugarcane juice is safe for consumption for health, try to consult with your doctor first before consuming sugarcane juice.