Are you the one, who are trying to shed some extra kilos, but their tastebuds never behave cordially with them. Have a piece of jaggery as this meetha won’t add to your waistline!
Jaggery is also a type of sugar, but it’s an unrefined sugar product.
Why Jaggery over Sugar is beneficial for health?
It is a traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar. Our elders end their meal with a small piece of jaggery, especially in the winters, as they were quite aware with the significance of this habit. I am sure many people have sweet childhood memories of eating soft rotis, smeared with melted ghee and jaggery. It is an integral part of our culture and tradition. In India not a single festival during winters is consummate without jaggery. Makar-Sankranti is fragmentary without til gur(jaggery and sesame), Lohri is deficient without jaggery and peanuts. At any time our traditional sweets made up of jaggery are superior to the bazar sweets which are made up of refined sugar.
Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals such as zinc and selenium, which help prevent free-radicals (responsible for early aging). It helps boost resistance against infections, hence building stronger immunity.
Types of Jaggery
- Sugarcane Jaggery,
- Palm Jaggery, and
- Coconut Jaggery.
Among all above types, the sugarcane jaggery is the most popular and have dominance in commercial market.
Jaggery has a much nutritional and medicinal aspect similar to its anti-carcinogenic and antitoxic activity. It is considered to be better as compared to white sugar. Now, sugar consumers are turning to other sources of natural sweetener for health issues.
Amazing benefits of Jaggery over Sugar
| Jaggery | Sugar |
| 1. The molasses is a natural by-product of sugar making process. This molasses has nutritional value, this content is present in jaggery, makes it more healthy than sugar. | As molasses is removed while making refined sugar. |
| 2. Jaggery contains vitamins and minerals, it makes it more healthier than sugar. 100grams of jaggery contains the following: Iron – 11mg or 61% of the RDI(helps to prevent anemia) Magnesium – 70-90mg or 20% of the RDI(helps to boost nervous system function) Calcium – 40-100mg approximately 5% of daily value. Phosphorus – 20-90mg approximately 5% of daily value. Vitamin A – 3.8mg, approximately 422% of daily value. Vitamin C – 7.0mg approximately 7.8% of daily value. Vitamin E – 111.30mg or 740% of daily value. | Sugar has only “empty-calories”. No vitamins, minerals, fibre, protein or other beneficial compounds. |
| 3. Jaggery strengthen immune system. It’s a great immunity booster and aids to ward off cough and cold. | Whereas refined sugar suppresses immune system, which makes one more prone to catch illness. |
| 4. Jaggery consumption in moderate quantity improves digestion, prevent anemia and detoxify liver. | On the other hand more consumption of refined sugar is linked to obesity, type2 diabetes, heart disease, depression and liver disease. |
| 5. Jaggery has less calories than sugar. 100gram of jaggery has sucrose 65-85grams, fructose and glucose 10-15grams. | Whereas in sugar there is 55% fructose and 42% glucose. If you want to lose weight jaggery is the better option. |
As now you are aware with the qualities of jaggery, make attempts to replace sugar with jaggery wherever it is possible in your day to day cooking, inorder to make it more healthy. For instance try to replace sugar in your kheer, halwa and cake with jaggery. Nowadays jaggery tea is very much in trend among health conscious people.
Jaggery takes longer time to digest and release energy, this makes it easier on the body whereas refined sugar release energy quickly, spikes up blood sugar levels.
Global Jaggery Market
The Global Jaggery Market is expected to expand with an impressive CAGR of 6%, during the forecast period, 2020 – 2027. The health benefits associated with jaggery is majorly driving market growth.
But at the end of the day jaggery is also a sugar, with some nutritional value. That’s why it is suggested to take moderate amount of it.
Disclaimer – Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information.
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