Is Jaggery Better Than Sugar? Calories, Nutrients and More
Jaggery is a very common type of sweetener used in large parts of the Indian subcontinent. It has been used since ancient times and is a part of Indian cuisine. Ayurveda describes its various medical properties and its uses vary from desserts to medicines. Made from sugarcane juice or palm tree juice, jaggery is believed to be enormously beneficial for ones health when it comes to sweeteners and fares relatively better than refined sugar which is mostly devoid of any beneficial properties.Ayurveda describes jaggery as a Medicinal Sweet', Better than SugarJaggery contains vitamins and minerals which are not available in white sugar which makes it a great alternative to white sugar. Jaggery is believed in Indian culture to improve ones health and digestion and thus advised to eat after any proper meal. Health Benefits of Jaggery or 'Gur'Jaggery is getting popular as a healthy sweetener as it is believed to be more nutritious than refined white sugar. Ayurveda experts describe its health benefits while jaggery as described as medicinal sweet:Improved Digestive HealthAnemia PreventionLiver DetoxificationImproved Immune FunctionMost types of jaggery consist of 70% sucrose, while white sugar is 99.7% sucrose. According to data from India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India produces worlds 70% jaggery, where it is commonly called Gur.Jaggery is relatively more nutritious than white sugar, which has been found in numerous studies. Regular white sugar is just empty calories without any protein, fat, minerals, or vitamins.100 grams of Jaggery or Gur has:Calories: 383Protein: 0.4 gramsFat: 0.1 gramsSucrose: 6585 gramsFructose and glucose: 1015 gramsIron: 11 mg (61% of RDI)Magnesium: 70-90 mg, 20% of RDIPotassium: 1050 mg, 30% of RDIManganese: 0.20.5 mg, 1020% of RDI.phosphorus: 20-90 mg, 5% RDIvitamin A: 3.8 mg, 422%RDIvitamin C: 7.0 mg, 7.8% RDIvitamin E: 111.30 mg, 740% RDIJaggery can be used in a number of ways from cooking, baking, flavoring, to sweetening food and drinks.With methods of pressing and distilling palm or cane juice, jaggery is prepared traditionally in India in small local factories. The Gur making process includes:Extraction: The canes are pressed to extract the sweet juice or sap.Clarification: The juice is poured in large containers to let any sediment settle to the bottom. It is then prepared to get into a clear liquid.Concentration: The juice is put into a very large, flat-bottomed pan and boiled. During the process, the liquid is stirred to let the impurities skim off the top until it becomes yellow, dough-like paste.Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 8:33 am