Cane juice is not a miracle cure

As a child, I was introduced to sugar-cane juice, a light green beverage but I had no more than a sip. The juice of the cane was in no way comparable to the delicious juice when eating a peeled joint of cane. I tried the beverage again many years ago and still did not like it. I did not complete a glass.

Sugar-cane juice was a popular drink, especially in the rural areas. Vendors with special machines, in shops or on street corners, would press the unpeeled cane to extract the juice. This would be had straight or flavoured with lime juice or alcohol. It is not only a major crop in Jamaica but also in places like India, Brazil and even the United States. Among the many by-products of sugar cane are table sugar, (which forms a very important part of our local diet), molasses, rum and ethanol.

There is a re-emergence of sugar-cane juice in health-food juice bars. There are many claims about the health benefits of cane juice. It is said to be a cure for sore throat, to fight cancers by its alkalising properties and normalises kidney functions. I searched the literature and could not find any scientific evidence to back any of these claims.

Nutrient profile

Eight ounces of cane juice contains about 183 calories and 49.8 grams of carbohydrates. It also contains very small amounts of iron, magnesium and phosphorous and moderate amounts of potassium and sodium. This drink would be a healthy substitute for many other drinks which contain more than three tablespoons of sugar per eight ounces and with the addition of lime juice, it would have some added vitamin C.

Roger Clemens, professor of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences at University of Southern California, reported to the Los Angeles Times that "there is no scientific evidence to support these purported claims", referring to the miracle claims of sugar-cane juice.

Cane juice is certainly not bad for us and forms part of the recommended variety in foods we should consume. If you want to consume fewer calories, eat a joint of cane instead of drinking a glass of cane juice or have a smaller glass of cane juice less often. If you are not counting calories, enjoy an eight-ounce glass of cane juice if you have acquired the taste. Do not spend a lot of money, though, expecting miracle cures.

Rosalee M. Brown is a registered dietitian/nutritionist who operates Integrated Nutrition and Health Services; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.