What Are the Benefits of Brown Sugar?

Much speculation has taken place as to whether or not brown sugar has nutritional benefits. While research has concluded that brown sugar is not as healthy as marketing experts have led consumers to believe, it does have some small benefits.

Misconceptions

• Do not mistake brown sugar for unrefined raw sugar. According to a 2007 article in the NY Times, brown sugar is white refined sugar with molasses added to it. When sugar is refined it is depleted of its nutrients.

Features

• Molasses contains traces of iron and calcium, so when molasses is added back to the refined sugar the sugar takes in those miniscule amounts of iron and calcium. It is an extremely small amount, however. White sugar does not contain such elements.

Function

• Brown sugar serves other functions than just sweetening food. Spa professionals use brown sugar in skin care treatments to help soften the skin and scrub off dirt and dead skin cells. Brown sugar is gentler than white sugar, and it gives skin care products a very sweet smell.