Jaggery – A quick roundup through FAQs

Wellcure

Wellcure

09:50 AM | 15-07-2019

Jaggery is commonly recommended as a healthy alternative to white sugar. Have you ever wondered why? Read on to know more. The article also touches upon some practical tips on how to choose the right quality of jaggery. If you are buying jaggery for health reasons, you might as well buy the best that’s available.

1. Why is jaggery considered to be better than white sugar?

Jaggery is prepared from the juice of plants like sugarcane and date palm. Hence the plant source of making jaggery is same as that of sugar. It is the process that makes the two different, in terms of their impact on our body and health.

  • The traditional method of making jaggery involves boiling sugar cane juice till it starts becoming thick and solidifies into jaggery. Typically, the sugarcane juice is first kept in a container, such that the impurities settle at the bottom. Then the juice is placed in huge, heavy bottom pans and boiled. The impurities are constantly skimmed off the top in the process. Sometimes plant based additives may also be used to clarify impurities. For example, a species of lady finger, locally called “sukhlai”, is made into a solution with water and added to remove impurities. The process of making jaggery is chemical free vis-a-vis the process of making refined sugar.
  • Both sugar and jaggery are processed foods, none of them are ‘whole’ natural foods. Making sugar involves many steps, read our blog White sugar – A quick roundup through FAQs to know more. Lesser processing is involved in converting sugarcane juice into jaggery vs converting it into white sugar. Processing depletes the nutrients and hence the nutrient profile of jaggery is richer than white sugar - Jaggery retains the nutrient rich molasses which are removed in making white sugar. It is rich in vitamins and minerals like magnesium, iron, calcium and phosphorous.
  • Sugar is absorbed almost instantly in your body, jaggery is absorbed more slowly. Thus, it doesn’t increase blood sugar levels as rapidly as sugar.
  • Jaggery is rich in alkaline minerals while sugar makes our body acidic and hence toxic.
  • Jaggery is eco-friendlyAccording to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), sugar industry pollutes air, water and soil. While jaggery is produced by cooking sugarcane juice in an iron vessel, sugar undergoes various treatments, purification, crystallisation which not only wastes several gallons water, but also pollutes natural water source, where the wastewater is dumped! Jaggery is greener.

READ MORE


2. Can one assume that if we are buying jaggery, it will be chemical free & totally natural?

The traditional method of making jaggery, as discussed above, is completely chemical free. However, due to large scale commercialization, chemicals do find their way into jaggeryto give it a more acceptable colour or texture. Hence it is important to be aware about the source / brand of jaggery. One can enquire about two things with the vendor:

  1. Has organically grown sugarcane or palm or coconut been used to make jaggery? This will help in gauging the excessive use of chemical fertilizers.
  2. What is the process of making jaggery? This will help in gauging if it has been prepared the traditional way and is totally chemical free or not.

Asking the right questions will help you make an informed choice.

3. Are there any established brands that fit the bill for choosing good jaggery?

There are many branded as well as unpackaged / open varieties of jaggery available in the market. It is difficult to assess the quality of the unpackaged options, unless you know the vendor and can see how he makes it. We can only look out for some of the generally believed indicators of purity - like the colour should be dark brown and not yellow or orange, it should not taste too salty or bitter and should preferably have no crystals. However, these may be subjective and confusing!

In case of branded options, the manufacturers often provide specifications which we can use to make an informed choice. Details of some common jaggery brands available in stores and online are compiled below. These brands mention use of only organically grown sugarcane. Some brands also specify that they use traditional process for making jaggery, i.e. without use of chemicals. These brands are easily available in popular online stores like Amazon, Flipkart, Nature’s Basket etc.

JAGGERY BRANDS:

BRAND

*PRICE

(per 500 gm)

 

 

Amorearth Jaggery

Rs. 83

 

 

24 Mantra Organic

Rs. 70

 

 

Jaggrut Jaggery powder

Rs. 119

 

 

Organic Tattva Jaggery powder

Rs. 72

 

 

Dhampur Green Organic Jaggery Powder

Rs. 104

 

 

* approximate prices



4. Can jaggery be consumed in summers as well as winters?

There is a general perception that jaggery has hot potency or taseer. This means that heat is produced as jaggery is metabolized in the body. During winters, the blood vessels get constricted due to cold weather. Jaggery helps in dilating the blood vessels, which improves blood flow. It therefore makes complete sense to have jaggery in winters!

But it is also commonly known that jaggery mixed with water (as in gur ka sharbet) has a cooling effect! Hence, one can consume jaggery, at least in this form, in summers too. Other than that, we must listen to our body and act accordingly.

A diet rich in high water content foods such as raw fruits and vegetables has a cooling effect on the body. It is likely to make up for any heating effect of jaggery, when eaten in moderation. There are many people who follow regularly use jaggery instead of sugar, in all seasons and feel comfortable about it.

5. Can jaggery be eaten guilt free?

Jaggery is a healthier choice as compared to sugar as it has more vitamins and minerals, and no or less chemicals. However, both jaggery and sugar, are calorie rich and have the same amount of calories. 1 teaspoon of sugar or jaggery contains 60 calories. The link between calories and weight gain is well known. Having said so, we should not get bogged down with tracking calories. Focus should always be to listen to your body and include a variety of whole natural foods in the diet. Anything we over do, has a negative impact on our health. Hence, it’s best to enjoy jaggery in moderation.

READ MORE

Recommended Read / Watch

1. What is jaggery and how is it made: https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/what-is-jaggery-gur-and-how-is-it-made-1766027

2. Jaggery made using time tested method is more wholesome: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/jaggery-made-using-timetested-method-is-more-wholesome-5501

3. Jaggery & sugar: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/other/jaggery-and-sugar.html

Help Vote (15)
Comments (0)


Disclaimer: The health journeys, blogs, videos and all other content on Wellcure is for educational purposes only and is not to be considered a ‘medical advice’ ‘prescription’ or a ‘cure’ for diseases. Any specific changes by users, in medication, food & lifestyle, must be done under the guidance of licensed health practitioners. The views expressed by the users are their personal views and Wellcure claims no responsibility for them.


Related Post

Which Is The Best Salt For Your Family's Heal...

Do you know how much salt you are consuming? Pickle, papads, baked ite...

Do You 'Really' Need Dairy?

Most of us have grown up consuming dairy in some form or the other bel...

Food Combinations For Weight Loss & Better He...

Ever felt bloated and uncomfortable after a meal? Wonder why you are g...

Best Natural Foods For A Plant-based Diet

Nature has already provided foods intended to keep us in perfect healt...

This is Why You Should Eat Raw For Better Hea...

Raw food is food cooked by the Sun and not by us! Eating fruits, veggi...

Fruits

Which is the most important food you can eat when you are sick? Lookin...

Do You Need To Eat Oil To Get Oil?

Are refined oils like sunflower, rice bran oils etc actually as health...

Do You Know White Sugar Is Not A Natural Food...

Our body needs sugar to fuel us but the processed white sugar food fou...

Are You Over-eating Grains?

Are you having grains three times a day – Breakfast, lunch and d...

Are You Eating Water Or Drinking It?

Water constituents 70% of our body. Having a diet high in water conten...

Do You Love Non-veg Food?

There is a lot of confusion about non vegetarian food ; whether it is ...

Do You Know The Why & How Of Sprouting?

Sprouts are alive, whole, living foods. Easy to digest and bursting wi...

White sugar – A quick roundup through FAQs

Everyone takes sugar in their tea, milk, biscuits, dessert, sweets, ch...

Jaggery – A quick roundup through FAQs

Jaggery is commonly recommended as a healthy alternative to white suga...

Curious about millets? - Here's why you shoul...

Are you wondering what all the recent buzz about millets is about? Or ...

Healthy and Fun Snacking

Snacking is a very emotional habit of our living and eating. When we s...

Choose The Best Salt For Your Family's Health

Sendha namak, sea salt, kala namak, kosher salt, low sodium salt and m...

How To Buy The Best Fruits & Vegetables for Y...

I began shopping for fruits and veggies for the house only a few years...

How to Simplify Eating Vegetable Salads In Bu...

Yes, we all know salads are good for health. However well intentioned ...

Your guide to buying and storing greens

Greens are bursting with nutrition. Add greens to your everyday regime...

How To Add A Variety Leafy Greens To Your Die...

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you know they are wonderful for your...

The Nutty Dilemma - How to Eat Nuts to Get Th...

Are you nuts about nuts? Love munching on them but not sure if they ca...

4 Ways To Make Your Child Love Green Vegetabl...

Does your child turn up his nose at the sight of greens? Are mealtimes...

How To Select Fruits, Vegetables & Grains For...

Though there is a lot of food produce available to us at many places a...

This is How Much Fruit Your Kids' Breakfast S...

As per the circadian rhythm of the body, having fruits till noon time ...

How Aesthetics of Food Impact Our Eating Habi...

A transition of any kind is not easy and when it comes to changing you...

How To Get The Best From Pulses, Beans & Legu...

Pulses and beans form a significant portion of plant-based nutrition. ...

Chop, steam, cook oil free – Learn 3 kitche...

Whether you are looking to save some money, or improve your overall he...

'Green your life' program - Coming soon!! (25...

Join our 'Green your life' program - Let us help you add more ...

Introduction to greens - Green your life prog...

Introduction to greens The edible leaves of various plants like spi...

Your guide to buying, storing and preparing g...

Your guide to buying, storing and preparing greens The trick to yum...

How To Make Healthy “Fat” Choices?

For decades, “fat” was the most shunned word in the dietar...

Microgreens - Add these wonderful little vegg...

What are microgreens? Microgreens, tiny versions of leafy vegetable...

Processed foods – Are they our natural food...

We all know that processed foods are not good for us. However, still, ...

Raisins - Nature's Powerhouse of Nutrients & ...

If we were to think of a food which is nature"s storehouse of energy, ...

Salt can be addictive

USE LESS SALT; BE KIND TO YOURSELF. What does excess salt do? ...

Roots: Our Saviour From Ancient Times

Roots have been part of our ancient diet since a very long time; they ...

Eat RAW food to HEAL!

Are we DESIGNED to eat raw LIVING FOOD? I mean, think about it, cou...

They are tiny, sometimes even smaller than a fingernail, but they pack...

Seeds - Interesting Ways to Add them to Your ...

In Part 1 of our blog on seeds, you learnt about what are seeds, the d...

आहार

Vegetable Juices - A New Way to have Raw Vege...

Recently, juicing has gained increased attention. For many of us, it m...

Boost your health with this season of citrus ...

Oranges, lemon, grapes! It is the time of the year where we get to eat...

30 Ways to Revamp Your Evening Snacks

In this article, we discuss the healthy alternatives that you can choo...

Eating raw in the winter giving you the chill...

So you spent the summer eating a high raw diet and feel pretty good &n...

All about Tea

In most households, drinking tea first thing in the morning and later ...

The basic rhythm of our glands

Hormones, yes hormones we always blame on it. That one thing which tak...

To Gluten or Not?

The number of gluten-free products is steadily increasing in the marke...

Water – Alkalize and increase its vibration...

We all consume water but without paying a conscious attention to the p...

De-JUNK the kids (Online group program, 29th ...

What kids eat today determines their tomorrow Learn to make health...

Summer is different this year, isn"t it? We all are staying at home, w...

Healthy Vegan Indian Cooking Course (E-learni...

Did you know that humans are closest to frugivores? Our natural diet i...

Is Your Cookware Toxic?

We choose our food carefully to stay healthy but do we give equal atte...

3 GOOD REASONS TO QUIT MILK & DAIRY

Despite so much scientific evidence and globally acknowledged changes ...

Mono-Fruit Breakfast | The Healthiest Way to ...

Eating one fruit for breakfast, is a perfect way to start your day. Do...

COCONUT - THE WONDER FOOD

Call it a nut, or a fruit, coconut is one of the most versatile fruits...

Ways To Prevent Obesity & Diabetes In Kids

India is home to about 97,700 children with type 1 diabetes mellitu...

Fibromyalgia - Fibromyalgia cure

FIBROMYALGIA If you are someone feeling body pain all the time yet ...

How to cure Psoriasis naturally?

Psoriasis – everyone says that it is uncurable. But I believe na...

Cure Diabetes Naturally

It is said that once you have diabetes it is for a lifetime, but Diabe...

This is Why Plant-Based Proteins Are a Health...

Have you been skeptical about switching to a plant-based diet for the ...

7 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Eat Eggs

Universally, eggs are one of the world"s most consumed breakfast items...

Do's and Don'ts of Healthy Karva Chauth Fasti...

The much-awaited, much celebrated day is almost here. Every year many ...

Organic Fruits & Veggies Tokri is back! Doors...

100% Organic Foods Available At The Price Of Non-Organic Foods Heal...

Free Masterclass - Healthy Cooking with Nutri...

Learn All About Millets And How To Use Them In Daily Cooking Fee: I...

Bake with Wellness - Vegan & Gluten-Free Baki...

Make Your Baking Healthier & Tastier No Gluten | No Dairy | No Ref...

The Best Thing You Can Do For EARTH & YOUR HE...

There"s only one place to be - our dear Earth. And there"s only one tr...

Do you need curd for probioctics?

Curd has long been a staple in the Indian diet. Whether it is used as ...

Is Fish Good For Health?

India is blessed with an extensive shoreline. Seafood has been a part ...

Untold Truths About A2 Milk That You Must Kno...

There's a lot of talk around A2 milk nowadays. Are these facts or ...

Best Foods To Boost Your Brain Power & Memory

Our Brain is what makes us human. We are the most evolved species on t...

Cook With Plant-based Chef Priya Vijan | Mast...

Priya Vijan, the only Plant-based & Vegan chef in MasterChef India 202...

Free Download! Navratri Falahari Millet Recip...

🎉 ₹199/- FREE DOWNLOAD! Use Code WELLCURE100 Celebrate Na...