Sugar Cane Benefits

Description

Sugarcane is the most important member of the plant kingdom with a metabolism leading to the accumulation of sucrose. It is transported as glucose and fructose within the growing plant. The crop provides the cheapest of energy-giving food.

The sugarcane belongs to the grass family. It is a perennial plant which grows from 2.5 to 4.25 meters. With sufficient care, it grows up to 7.5 meters. The diameter of stems varies from 2.5 to 8 cm. It has several joints after every few centimeters.

Origin and Distribution

The names sugar and sugarcane have been derived from the Sanskrit word, Sharkara. Sugarcane is indigenous to India. It was cultivated here from the Vedic period and it is mentioned in some places in the ancient scriptures. Alexander the Great and his soldiers carried sugarcane from India to the west by about 325 BC. Sugarcane is now grown all over the world. India stands first in sugarcane cultivation, followed by Brazil, Cuba, China, Mexico, Pakistan, the U.S.A., South Africa and Columbia.

Food Value

The juice ii extracted from the cane by pressing it through iron rollers. It is nutritious arid refreshing. It contains about 15 per cent natural sugar and is rich in organic salts and vitamins.

Originally, sugarcane was grown solely for chewing in the Pacific and South Eastern Asia, a custom which has now spread throughout most of the tropics. The juice can also be used for drinking or sweetening. In hot summer days, it forms a soothing drink. A little lime juice may be mixed in the juice to improve its flavor.

Sugarcane*
Food Value		Minerals and Vitamins
Moisture	90.2%	Calcium	10 mg
Protein	0.1%	Phosphorus	10 mg
Fat	0.2%	Iron	1.1 mg
Minerals	0.4%
Carbohydrates	9.1%
	100%
*Value per 100 gms edible portion		Calorific Value - 39

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties

            Sugarcane juice has many medicinal properties. It strengthens the stomach, kidneys, heart, eyes, brain and sex organs.

Fevers

            The juice is beneficial in fevers. In febrile disorders which causes fever, when there is great protein loss, liberal intake of sugarcane juice supplies the body with necessary protein and other food elements.

Genito-urinary Disorders

            Sugarcane is very useful in seamy urination. It keeps the urinary flow dear and helps the kidneys to perform their functions properly. It is also valuable in burning micturition due to high acidity, gonorrhea, enlarge, prostate, cystitis and nepthritis. For better results, it should he mixed with lime juice, ginger juice and coconut water.

Jaundice

            Mixed with lime juice, it can hasten recovery from jaundice. It is however, very essential that the juice, must be dean, preferably prepared at home. Resistance is low in hepatitis and any infected beverage could make matters worse.

Weak Teeth

            The juice sucked from the sugarcane can prove highly valuable in case of weak teeth due to lack of proper exercise resulting from excessive use of soft foods. It gives a form of exercise to the .teeth and makes them strong. It also keeps the teeth clean and increases their life.

Thinness

            Sugarcane juice is a fattening food. It is thus an effective remedy for thinness. Rapid gain in weight can be achieved by its regular use.

Eye Disorders

            The dew which collects on the long leaves of sugarcane is useful in several eye disorders. When instilled in the eyes, it is an effective mediCine.in defective vision, cataract, conjunctivitis, burning of the eyes and eye-strain after excessive reading.