IS TURBINADO SUGAR PALEO?
There are tons of grain-free Paleo dessert recipes across the web, but not all of them live up to their “Paleo” label. It can be difficult to wade through the various ingredients on food blogs, so we’ll look into an ingredient you may find on many “healthy” food blogs. Turbinado sugar is often touted as one of the healthier sugar options on the market, but is it actually any better than regular refined flour? Is turbinado sugar Paleo?
What is Turbinado Sugar?
Turbinado sugar is also called raw cane sugar, and is very similar to demerara sugar. Large, rough crystals give the appearance of completely raw sugar, but most turbinado sugar is partially refined cane sugar. Some may consider it more nutritious than your standard white refined sugar because it contains trace minerals and nutrients, but at the end of the day, it’s still sugar.
Is Turbinado Sugar Paleo?
No, Turbinado sugar is not Paleo. Trace minerals are definitely not enough to make refined sugar healthy or Paleo. Some people choose to use it because it is certainly less processed than both white and brown sugars, but it’s till not technically Paleo. If you’re following the Paleo diet, your best bet is to opt for more natural forms of sugar like date syrup, raw stevia leaf, and honey. You can also try things like pure maple syrup and blackstrap molasses. Remember that with any sweeteners and high-carb fruits and vegetables, you should always consume in moderation.