Sweet yet Healthy Jaggery
- Shirish Gole
- Feb 11
- 4 min read
Highlights:
Refined white sugar, mainly composed of sucrose, lacks nutritional value and poses significant health risks, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and more.
Jaggery: A Nutritious Alternative:
Nutrient-Rich: Packed with essential minerals like iron, potassium, calcium, and vitamins such as folic acid and B-complex.
Digestive Aid: Stimulates enzyme production, aids digestion, and eases constipation.
Sustained Energy: Releases energy gradually, preventing blood sugar spikes and crashes.
Immune Boost: Contains antioxidants, iron, zinc, and magnesium to combat oxidative stress and support immunity.
Anemia Prevention: Provides a high iron content, helping prevent anemia.
Organic jaggery is prepared from sugarcane cultivated without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or GMOs, supporting environmental sustainability and ensuring a healthier product.
Add organic jaggery as a healthier sweetener to your diet and try healthy and delicious options like Kraanthi’s dry fruit laddus.
Refined white sugar, commonly known as table sugar, is primarily composed of sucrose. While it’s a staple in our diets—found in sodas, desserts, mithais, soft drinks, and more—its nutritional value leaves much to be desired. Despite providing a quick energy boost, refined sugar comes with a lot of downsides [1].
Since the 1960s, refined sugar consumption has increased, and so have metabolic disorders linked to it. Numerous studies highlight the role of refined sugar in contributing to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stress, anxiety, hypertension, cognitive decline, tooth decay, and more [1]. The evidence is clear: overindulging in refined sugar can take a serious toll on your health.
So, what’s the solution? It’s time to switch to a healthier alternative, and what could be better than India’s traditional sweetener, jaggery? Rich in nutrients and free from harmful additives, jaggery offers a natural, wholesome way to satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising your well-being.
Health benefits of jaggery consumption:
Rich in nutrients
Jaggery is an excellent source of essential minerals like iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and magnesium [1]. These minerals play vital roles in maintaining bone health, muscle function, wound healing, blood pressure regulation, and nerve function. It contains vitamins like folic acid and B-complex, which are crucial for energy production, brain function, and red blood cell formation [1]. Jaggery is also packed with antioxidants, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals [1].
Jaggery aids digestion
Jaggery is a natural remedy for improving digestion and relieving constipation. It stimulates the production of digestive enzymes in the stomach, enhancing their activity to aid in better digestion [2]. Additionally, jaggery helps regulate water retention and can reduce bloating, promoting overall digestive health [1].
Jaggery provides an energy boost.
Jaggery is a natural and unrefined energy source composed mainly of glucose and fructose [1]. Unlike refined sugar, which causes a quick but short-lived energy spike, jaggery releases energy gradually, preventing sudden blood sugar crashes.
Jaggery boosts the immune system
Jaggery is packed with essential nutrients like iron, zinc, and magnesium, which help strengthen the immune system. Its antioxidant properties combat free radicals, reducing oxidative stress and supporting overall immunity [1]. Additionally, jaggery's natural detoxifying abilities aid in cleansing the body of toxins, further enhancing its ability to ward off infections and illnesses. Some studies suggest that jaggery may possess antibacterial and antiviral properties, helping to strengthen your immune system and fight off infections [3].
Jaggery helps alleviate anemia.
Jaggery contains 10-13 mg of iron per 100 grams, which is about 61% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) [4]. Being a good source of iron, it can help to improve iron levels and prevent anemia.
But, why organic jaggery?
Organic ingredients are often considered good as they are grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This promotes environmental sustainability by preserving soil health, reducing water contamination, and supporting biodiversity. Additionally, organic farming avoids synthetic additives, making the ingredients potentially safer and healthier for consumption.
Conclusion:
Refined sugar's widespread consumption poses numerous health risks, making it imperative to explore better alternatives. Jaggery, a natural and nutrient-rich sweetener, not only satisfies your sweet cravings but also promotes overall health. Choosing organic jaggery enhances these benefits by avoiding harmful additives and supporting sustainable practices. By making the switch to jaggery, you can enjoy a healthier lifestyle while contributing to a better planet.
So, why wait? Embrace the goodness of organic jaggery today and embark on a journey to better health and a better planet—try our dry fruit laddus today!
References:
Rao, G. P., & Singh, P. (2022). Value Addition and Fortification in Non-Centrifugal Sugar (Jaggery): A Potential Source of Functional and Nutraceutical Foods. Sugar tech : an international journal of sugar crops & related industries, 24(2), 387–396.
Sharifi-Rad, J., Painuli, S., Sener, B., Kılıç, M., A. Kumar, N. V., Semwal, P., Docea, A. O., R. Suleria, H. A., & Calina, D. (2023). Revisiting the nutraceutical profile, chemical composition, and health benefits of jaggery: Updates from recent decade. EFood, 4(2), e75.
Ma, H. N., Chikkappaiah, L., Sudharshan S. (2018). Evaluation of bioactivity of jaggery prepared using plant mucilage as clarificant. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. Volume 11, Issue 11. Pages 294-299.
Kumar, A., Singh, S. (2020) Chapter 16 - The benefit of Indian jaggery over sugar on human health, Editor(s): Harry G. Preuss, Debasis Bagchi, Dietary Sugar, Salt and Fat in Human Health, Academic Press, Pages 347-359, ISBN 9780128169186.
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