Jaggery is a traditional unrefined organic sweetener wellhealthorganic.com:jaggery-with-incredible-health-benefits that you can mostly find in Asian countries. Jaggery is a healthy food because it contains lots of vitamins and most of all it has a lower sucrose level than regular sugar. Jaggery is mostly made from concentrated sugarcane juice and it is also made of date palm trees without separating the molasses and crystal that is the reason why sometimes it is called non-centrifugal sugar. More than 70 percent of the sugarcane grows in India and it is a staple food there. Demand and popularity of jaggery is increasing day by day because wellhealthorganic.com:jaggery-with-incredible-health-benefits and it is a healthier replacement to sugarcane.
Jaggery has this distinctive, rich brown color and a glacier texture through which you can surely tell it’s full of moisture. It has a multiplex flavor with a touch of caramel. Nowadays you can easily find jaggery-made products in the market, the taste is gonna be a little different from regular sugar but once you develop the taste wellhealthorganic.com:jaggery-with-incredible-health-benefits than regular sugar.
What jaggery contains
Jaggery is rich in minerals and vitamins. As you know it is a natural sweetener so obviously it contains sucrose and it is one of the main compounds in jaggery around 65 to 85% is sucrose but it’s still better than white sugar cause white sugar contains more than 99.9% sucrose. It contains lots of minerals as well like magnesium, iron, calcium, and potassium all these minerals are beneficial to your health. Besides sucrose jaggery contains other sweeteners as well like glucose and fructose their proportion is around 10 to 15 %. It has a small amount of vitamins as well like B-complex vitamins and a few others. Jaggery contains anti-oxidants due to minimal processing that is typically lost in refined sugar. A small amount of fiber is present due to its unrefined nature.
Difference between white sugar and jaggery
We know for sure that jaggery is way better than table sugar. Sugar has 99.9% sucrose. Sucrose is made up of disaccharides composed of glucose and fructose molecules unlike jaggery it does not contain minerals or vitamins. White sugar goes through lots of industrial processes because of which all its nutritions are lost, in jaggery we only have to boil sugarcane syrup. White sugar has a neutral, sweet taste and is white whereas jaggery has complex flavors sweet and salty.
How jaggery is made
The first step to making jaggery is getting the raw material which is sugarcane or palm trees we need to harvest them and when they are mature enough we cut the stalks from close to the ground. We need to pull out juices for that we can go for the traditional approach of wooden mills to crush sugarcane or a mechanical crusher than we filter extracted juice to remove impurities we can also use natural purifying agents like like lime or wood ash to remove impurities like dirt and fibers. The next step is boiling the juice in a large container in the open while boiling we need to make sure to continue to stir it until the juice thickens and starts to turn brown. Boiling also helps to get rid of impurities as they rise to the surface and evaporate into to air. Now sugarcane juice is converted into a concentrated syrup. Pour thick syrups into molds and let it cool down once it’s cool you will have solidified jaggery and you can cut it in whatever shape you want. That’s how we make jaggery traditionally to ensure that retains its true flavor and health benefits.
Health benefits of jaggery
Jaggery is known for being a healthy replacement for white sugar wellhealthorganic.com:jaggery-with-incredible-health-benefits cause it has minerals and vitamins that are important for a balanced diet. Jaggery has some notable health benefits like
1. Healthy digestive system
Most people eat jaggery after a meal, a small piece can help you in digestion. It stimulates the bowel movement and secretion of digestive enzymes that improve digestion and prevent constipation. We are still trying to figure out how jaggery helps with bowel movement cause we don’t have scientific proof for that.
2. Treat anemia
Iron from white sugar is easily used by the body whereas from plant sources it stays for quite a while. Jaggery contains 11 mg of iron in 100 grams, so it can help prevent anemia by increasing red blood cells in our body.
3. Detoxify liver
It helps to improve your liver health because it works as a natural detoxifier and it flushes out harmful toxins from the body and clean our liver.
4. Respiratory health
Jaggery acts like a natural cleanser it helps to clear the respiratory tract and you can get rid of problems like asthma, bronchitis, and lung infections.
5. Boost immunity
Jaggery is rich in antioxidants and minerals which help to strengthen our immune system and help us protect our body against infections like colds or flu.
6. Weight loss
Jaggery is a healthier alternative to white sugar, which you can use if you are dieting and trying to lose weight. Jaggery contains potassium, which helps in balancing electrolytes and improving metabolism, which helps in weight management.
7. Menstrual pain
Jaggery helps to relieve menstrual cramps and discomfort due to its natural pain-relieving properties and its ability to release endorphins, which can reduce pain.
Be careful while taking jaggery try to take it in moderate amounts to have all these health benefits and be a healthier alternative to white sugar.
Things to keep in mind while having jaggery
Jaggery has lots of health benefits no doubt but don’t forget it’s still sucrose and you need to take it carefully. To make sure that it is beneficial for your health you need to keep these things in mind
1. Moderation
Jaggery is a form of sugar that contains a good amount of sucrose so take it in a moderate amount cause it is going to increase your blood sugar and body weight.
2. Allergies
Some people are allergic to jaggery make sure that you are not and try to take the purest form of jaggery with no impurities to avoid allergies.
3. Storage
Keep jaggery in a cool dry place maybe in an airtight container to protect it from being fermented or moist.
4. Dental Health
Jaggery can affect your dental health cause it is a form of sugar so try to brush your teeth when you are done consuming jaggery or just rinse your mouth with water to prevent dental problems like cavities.
5. Body weight
Jaggery contains caloric content which can contribute to weight gain. Jaggery should be a part of a healthy diet but it should not be the primary source of essential nutrients.
Conclusion
Just keep these small points in mind and you can enjoy the health benefits of jaggery by minimizing potential risk.
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