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Raw Sugar Benefits (Ayurveda Insights)
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Table of Contents

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CONSTITUTIONAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS

Recipes with Raw Sugar: Saffron Lemonade
Recipes with Raw Sugar: Saffron Lemonade
Sugar cane juice is heavy, unctuous and a laxative. It cures burning, thirst, vomiting, fainting, and bleeding.

Sugar increases water retention and weight, provoking Kapha. Sugar is building and causes blood stagnation. Because of stagnant lymph causing inflammation at the cellular level, sugar addictions eventually aggravate Pitta (Kapha blocking Pitta). The mind, exposed to increased sugar, but less oxygen due to sluggish circulation, gets agitated.

Food cravings come from one or more organs starved of energy. In Kapha, this starvation of prana is due to poor circulation not deficiency. To destroy food cravings, increase prana by 1) taking deep breaths, 2) taking a walk, 3) drinking a few sips of warm water, 4) Eating something bitter, 5) Eating ginger or something pungent.

About Raw Sugar

Sugar has been produced in the Indian subcontinent since ancient times. Sugar refinement in India dates back to at least 500 B.C. Although there are many types of sugars (glucose, fructose, maltose), sucrose is the one most commonly used. Before sugar production increased in the 1800s, people in the west used honey to sweeten foods. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) contain sugars in sufficient concentration for sugar production. Early descriptions of sugar included "honey bearing reeds", and "sweet salt."

Cooking Raw Sugar

Sugar is used to sweeten drinks including sodas and teas, desserts, and many other dishes. Raw sugar is preferred to refined sugar, which contains more nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

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  • SERVING SIZE: 1/2 tsp
  • FAMILY: Poaceae
  • SPECIES: Saccharum spp
  • EAT IN: SUMMER

Is Raw Sugar a Good Match for My Body?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Raw Sugar' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

Take the Quiz

Constitutional nutrition is tailored to the individual. In the kitchen, especially during your family’s formative years, you shape your family's lifelong health.

Understanding your child's constitution is key to raising resilience, instead of wiring in disease. Study constitutional medicine to discover the keys to personalized nourishment.

Rooted in the insights curated from Ayurveda and Greek medicine, constitutional medicine teaches you which foods match your body, so you and your family have true vitality, strength, and balance. See How it Works.

Medicinal Effects of Raw Sugar

Constitutional nutrition systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, herbs, lifestyle choices, your body, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

Find Out More

MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOBILE

COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD

GOOEY

ABOUT GOOEY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Gooey is identified by anything gelatinous (such as oatmeal), or by mucus congestion.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GOOEY

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

Find Out More

SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

Find Out More

PACIFIES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHOLERIC

MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SANGUINE

AGGRAVATES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PHLEGMATIC

Other Health Virtues

Tissue (dhatu):
Blood Plasma Lymph

BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH

Plasma (Rasa Dhatu) includes plasma, white blood cells, and lymph.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-PLASMA-LYMPH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Reproductive

REPRODUCTIVE

Reproductive tissue (Shukra/Artava Dhatu) includes male and female reproductive organs.

SEE ALL 'REPRODUCTIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Family:
Poaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Raw Sugar
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Mind, Stress & Sleep:
Makes Jittery,
Makes You Tired

MILD MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

,
Wakes You Up

MILD WAKES-YOU-UP

Invigorates the body and nervous system, increases energy.

SEE ALL 'WAKES-YOU-UP' FOODS / HERBS

Energy Vitality:
Nutritive

MILD NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

SEE ALL 'NUTRITIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:
Demulcent

MILD DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

SEE ALL 'DEMULCENT' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:

Foods with a Similar Nature to Raw Sugar

  • Mozarella Cheese

    Mozarella Cheese has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Demulcent, Makes-you-tired

    LEARN MORE

  • Oat Milk

    Oat Milk has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Oat Flour

    Oat Flour has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Spelt Flour

    Spelt Flour has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • White Flour (wheat)

    White Flour (wheat) has these Actions in Common

    Makes-you-tired, Nutritive, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Cream of Wheat

    Cream of Wheat has these Actions in Common

    Makes-you-tired, Nutritive, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Salmon

    Salmon has these Actions in Common

    Wakes-you-up, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Whole Wheat Flour

    Whole Wheat Flour has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Makes-you-tired, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Potato

    Potato has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Demulcent, Makes-you-tired

    LEARN MORE

  • Buffalo Milk

    Buffalo Milk has these Actions in Common

    Makes-you-tired, Nutritive, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Raw Sugar

  • Asparagus root

    Asparagus root has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Slippery Elm

    Slippery Elm has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Safed Musali

    Safed Musali has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Solomon's Seal

    Solomon's Seal has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Comfrey Root

    Comfrey Root has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Vata Shirodhara Oil

    Vata Shirodhara Oil has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Bala

    Bala has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE

  • Cornsilk

    Cornsilk has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Red Clover

    Red Clover has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Shatavari

    Shatavari has these Actions in Common

    Demulcent, Nutritive

    LEARN MORE

  • Gokshura

    Gokshura has these Actions in Common

    Nutritive, Demulcent

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Raw Sugar may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications. Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.

View other ingredients
for Summer

Raw Sugar is recommended for Summer. Check out these other Summer foods here.
VIEW ALL SUMMER FOODS MORE FOODS FOR VATA / PITTA MAIN INGREDIENT PAGE

Constitutional Nutrition: Strengthen Your Health Naturally

When your dietary choices align with your individual nature (constitution), it supports your metabolism, energy, and health naturally. A personalized diet, fitting to your constitution, leverages your natural strengths while gently supporting your body where it's vulnerable.

Constitutional nutrition is especially beneficial for digestion, a foundational pillar of health influencing your entire well-being. Balanced digestion fortifies your body's natural defenses against illness and enhances your resilience when illness does arise. A healthy digestive fire (*agni*) eases discomfort, speeds recovery, and naturally uplifts your mood.

By embracing constitutional nutrition, you will soon experience a profound sense of renewal, vitality, and inner strength.

CONTINUE READING

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About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle through constitutional nutrition (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine). His approach is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy, & botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University. John, his wife Natalie and their 8 kids live in Asheville, NC

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Comments & Questions About 'Raw Sugar'

Do you like 'raw sugar'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'raw sugar'?

(5.00 out of 5 stars) 1 rating, 162 likes
Sign in to review or comment

2019-05-10
“I am trying to add to my personal diet list by swapping sugar for date sugar in a recipe. But there is no list available for me to choose a substitution from. Can you advise please"
Like Reply
Carrie Hoffman Williams, AZ
2020-06-20
“When subbing date sugar for raw sugar you can use the same amount."
Like Reply
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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.