What is Jaggery?
Jaggery, also known as gur in India, is a natural, unrefined sugar made from sugar cane. Unlike refined sugar, Jaggery is minimally processed, which allows it to retain some vitamins and minerals. Many people ask, "Is jaggery good for diabetes?" This blog explores this question in detail.
How to Make Jaggery(Gur)?
First, take sugarcane and extract its juice. Then put the juice into a large pan, boil it, and remove the water component. After removing the water, a paste forms which, once cooled, is called jaggery (Gur).
Jaggery and Diabetes
Food selection is very important in a diabetes diet. We are aware that white sugar is very dangerous for diabetes patients, so people are looking for healthier alternative sweeteners. Does jaggery come as a healthy alternative to white sugar? Jaggery and white sugar are both made from sugarcane, so we will go in-depth to answer your questions like “Is jaggery good for diabetes?” “Does jaggery cause diabetes?” and “Is jaggery better than sugar for diabetics?”.
Is Jaggery Better Than Sugar For Diabetics?
If we want to know the answer to this question then we have to do a Nutritional and Glycemic load comparison of both.
Nutritional Comparison: Jaggery vs. White Sugar
|
Nutrients |
Jaggery |
White Sugar |
|
Carbs |
89% |
99% |
|
Water (Moisture) |
10% |
0.5% |
|
Fat |
0% |
0% |
|
Protein |
0% |
0% |
|
Vitamins, Minerals, Phytonutrients |
1% |
0.5% |
Glycemic Load Comparison of Jaggery and Sugar
-
Explanation of glycemic load and its relevance to diabetes.
-
Glycemic Load Values:
-
Jaggery: 60
-
Sugar: 65
The Glycemic Load of Jaggery is 60, and that of sugar is 65. When looking at glycemic load, there is not much difference. The only difference is the difference in moisture content. For example, if you take equal amounts of water in two glasses and mix in 5g of jaggery in one and 5g of sugar in the other, the jaggery water will taste less sweet than the sugar water. So, if the glycemic load is almost the same, this means that they will have an almost similar impact on blood sugar levels.
In conclusion, is jaggery better than sugar for diabetics? No, because you would need to consume more jaggery to achieve the same sweetness as sugar, and the glycemic load and nutritional values are almost the same. So, to answer the question, is jaggery good for diabetes? The answer remains no.
Importance of Phytonutrients in a Diabetes Diet
Phytonutrients are the chemical components in plants. Phyto means plants, phytonutrients have various functions and may have some therapeutic value.
For example, capsicum (Shimla mirch) comes in different colors like yellow, green, and red. The colors differ in each capsicum because each has a different phytonutrient. So if we eat a salad with many vegetables in different colors, it means we will get many phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are very important in a diabetes diet. The dark brown color of jaggary is due to its phytonutrient content. However even though the glycemic response is similar with both jaggery and white sugar, still it is slightly nutritionally better to choose jaggery. But still, is jaggery good for diabetes? The glycemic load remains a concern.
Does Jaggery Cause Diabetes?
Type-2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance hence jaggery might add to the problem if consumed in large amounts regularly. Jaggery (Gur) is not a direct cause of diabetes. Excessive intake of jaggery (Gur) may cause weight gain and sweet addiction.
For those who are already diagnosed with prediabetes or insulin resistance, they have to limit high Glycemic load foods like jaggery. It’s not that jaggery alone causes diabetes, but it’s wise to keep an eye on the overall sugar intake.
Is Jaggery Good for Diabetes?
It is a very common question “Can Diabetic Patients Eat Jaggery?”. It is specially raised when the festive season comes because in festivals jaggery based sweets are very popular. Technically, diabetic patients can consume jaggery but only in very small quantities because it has a high glycemic load. If you’re managing diabetes, any high-sugar food can make blood sugar management more difficult, and jaggery falls under this category.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jaggery is a natural sweetener and has some nutritional benefits. In particular, having some minerals but in diabetes, However, is jaggery good for diabetes? it is not a good option because it is high in glycemic load which can spike the blood sugar level. There are other safer sugar substitutes available as options. So the question is “ Is jaggery good for diabetes?”No, it is not good for diabetes patients. “Does Jaggery Cause Diabetes?” No, it is not the direct cause of diabetes. “Is jaggery better than sugar for diabetics?" While jaggery has slightly more nutrients, it is not significantly better than sugar for blood sugar management.
