Why jaggery this considered as much more healthier than sugar?

Jaggery or commonly called as “Gud” in India is gaining popularity as in healthy replacement for sugar. Basically it is an unrefined form of sugar made from sugar cane. Often in our country, jaggery is made from date palm also. The colour of the product may range from light Golden to dark Brown. Colour and texture are the two parameters on which the grade of jaggery is decided. The lighter the colour of product more will be it healthy.

Basically, jaggery contains more nutrients than commercially available refined table sugar. But as compared to sugar, it has more carbohydrate content. Although it tastes sweeter than sugar, but in sugar most of the calories are empty calories.

Now go through the benefits of eating jaggery regularly in moderations.

• Optimise digestive health.

In our country it is a tradition of eating small amount of jaggery after a meal. Because people claimed that it helps in digestion and can stimulate bowel movement. It is a good source of sucrose and contains almost no fibre or water. This creates a reason behind the regular bowel movements.

• May prevent against anaemia.

Doctors and health experts recommend that non centrifugal sugars are more easily used by body than iron from plant sources. Jaggery is also a form of non centrifugal sugar and contains good amount of iron.

People with low iron intake can include jaggery or use it in place of sugar. This will help in decreasing the contributors towards anaemia.

• Detoxifies liver.

Although human body has capability of removing toxins from internal organs itself. But jaggery is claimed to help in liver detoxification. Although till now there are no such scientific evidences available to support this claim.

Meanwhile, people in several parts of India use drinks made from jaggery to quick down detoxification process.

• Improves immune functioning.

The ancient Indian medicinal process is often use jaggery to treat several ailments. Indian people believe that minerals and antioxidants that are present in it can help in supporting immune system. Moreover, it is also helpful in recovering from common cold and flu.