Jaggery and sugar are the two most common sweeteners of our daily consumption. Though both these are obtained from sugarcanes, they differ from each other greatly in the context of nutritional properties and benefits. Sugar is the crystallized form of sugarcane juice syrup, refined with chemicals. Jaggery is unprocessed, just boiled and moulded form of sugar syrup and nutritionally better than sugar. In this whole article we will concentrate on how jaggery benefits us over sugar.
What is jaggery?
Jaggery, commonly known as gud, is gaining attention as a substitute against refined sweeteners. In the western world it is often known as brown sugar, obtained from sugarcane or date palm syrup. It is prepared by following few simple steps-the juice is extracted, boiled and kept to be cool when it becomes solid it is packed and stored. No chemical is used during the process.
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Jaggery Vs. Sugar
Jaggery Vs. Sugar : Comparison Table
| Properties | Jaggery | Sugar |
| Colour | Dark brown | white |
| Glycemic Index | Jaggery has GI index of 84 | sugar has GI index of 64 |
| Processing | Jaggery is not processed and it is directly obtained from sugarcane | Sugar is processed with charcoal to form a clear syrup |
| Taste | Has a traditional and rustic taste | Sugar is just sweet in taste |
| Texture | soft and semi solid texture | has a solid and hard texture |
Jaggery Vs sugar : The nutritional values
| Nutrients | Jaggery (per 100 gram) | Sugar (per 100 gram) |
| Vitamin A | 3.9 mg | 0 mg |
| Calcium | 80 mg | 1 mg |
| Magnesium | 160 mg | 0mg |
| Potassium | 140 mg | 2 mg |
| Sodium | 30 mg | 0 mg |
| Manganese | .5 mg | 0 mg |
| Vitamin C | 7 mg | 0 mg |
| Vitamin E | 111.3 mg | 0 mg |
| Iron | 5.5 mg | 0.01 mg |
| Protein | 280 mg | 0 mg |
| Fiber | O mg | O mg |
| Calories | 383 kcal | 387 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 97 g | 100 g |
There are some key differences between jaggery and sugar. These key differences are color, making , texture etc. Let’s see in detail.
Colour
Refined sugar is generally white in color while jaggery is brownish in colour.
Texture
Refined sugar is generally hard while jaggery is semi-solid.
Making Process
Sugar and jaggery both are prepared from sugar cane juice. For making refined sugar , juice is treated with charcoal to remove impurities and a transparent product i.e. sugar is produced. In case of jaggery , sugar cane juice is not treated with any charcoal, simply the juice is kept in a container and sediments are allowed to settle down and final clear liquid is boiled to get jaggery.
Nutritional Content
Jaggery is not refined and has all the essential nutrients like: iron, potassium, magnesium , antioxidants etc. while sugar is a refined products and has very little nutrients.
Types of Jaggery
Sugarcane Jaggery
This is made from sugarcane juice and has a golden brown colour.
Coconut jaggery
It is made by boiling and crystallizing coconut sap. It is slightly less sweet than sugarcane jaggery.
Palm Jaggery
It ia made from palm tree. It is darker in color and has an earthy taste.
Marayoor Jaggery
It is made from sugarcane juice. It is produced in marayoor region of Kerala. It has exceptional quality and natural sweetness.
Toddy Palm Jaggery
It is made from the sap of toddy palm trees. It has rich flavor and has many health benefits.
10 Health benefits of Jaggery
Jaggery is an unrefined natural sweetener containing more minerals and vitamins. It has antioxidants, thus cleans our body and prevents diseases. It is a healthy addition to our diet as it prevents respiratory problems, controls blood pressure and fights against anemia. Other jaggery benefits include it is a natural energy booster.
Helps in Digestion
Jaggery is famous for its digestive benefits. People generally consume jaggery after meal for better digestion of food.
Rich in antioxidants
Jaggery has a lot of antioxidants and helps in purifying the digestive system.
Helps in Weight loss
Jaggery has potassium which helps in water retention and helps in weight loss.
Increases Immunity
Jaggery is full of nutrients and helps in increasing immunity inside the body.
Pain Relief
Jaggery is believed to help in pain relief process.
Regulates Blood Pressure
Jaggery is rich in essential nutrients. Jaggery has potassium and sodium which improves overall blood circulation and relaxes blood vessels. It also helps in illnesses like: hypertension
Helps in Preventing Anemia
Jaggery has nearly 11-13 grams of iron per 100 grams serving. It is extremely rich in iron and believed to help people have iron deficiency related issues.
Helps In Weight Loss
Jaggery is believed to contain potassium and magnesium which speeds up the metabolic rate of the body and ultimately helps in losing weight.
Reduces Migraine
Jaggery is believed to reduces headaches and provide relief during attacks. It is recommended that people suffering from migraine issues should regularly consume jaggery.
Relieves Constipation
Jaggery contains dietary fibers which helps in digestion and constipation related issues. It promotes bowel movement and helps maintaining good digestive system.
Jaggery vs sugar: which is more healthy?
The difference between jaggery and sugar is huge. From their color, texture to nutritional properties they belong to the different poles. Here we need a vivid analysis to understand which one is better for us. Jaggery is brown in color and semi solid while sugar is white and in crystallized form.
Jaggery helps in detoxification, maintains good health with blood pressure, purifies the blood, cleanses stomach, relieves joint pain, prevents anemia and boosts digestion. And sugar holds none of these qualities plus high in sugar and chemicals.
Jaggery is not refined like sugar so it has all the essential nutrients like : magnesium, potassium, antioxidants etc. Jaggery is also more chemically complex than sugar and therefore is easily digestible too.
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Jaggery or Brown Sugar: Which is a better choice?
Out of jaggery and brown sugar, jaggey is considered to be a more healthlier option because of the presence of more nutrients and vitamins in jaggery.
Conclusion
Keeping all that in mind there is no relevance to consume sugar. While jaggery benefits us in a more diverse way. So, switch to jaggery as soon as possible leaving every kind of processed sugar.
