India is big on jaggery or gur! The country accounts for 70% of the world’s total production of jaggery. India exported jaggery worth ₹1,606.08 crores in the year 2018-19 to countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, USA, Indonesia, etc.

Made from sugarcane juice or date palms, jaggery is used in making not just desserts but a variety of dishes. It is used in Ayurveda for thousands of years and is dubbed as ‘medicinal sugar’, according to APEDA.

Though, it’s worth mentioning that organic jaggery is even better as it is free from harmful chemical compounds.

When it comes to jaggery, there are many beliefs. Some people say that jaggery is good for diabetics. Some say it is not safe for diabetics to have any kind of sugar. Whether or not jaggery is good for diabetics is a matter of debate. We will tell you about both sides of the coin.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 10g

Source

Can Diabetics Eat Jaggery?

Can a diabetic patient eat jaggery? Let’s know whether jaggery is good for diabetics.

YES: JAGGERY IS GOOD FOR DIABETICS

Organic, unprocessed jaggery is better than white sugar.

According to the Hindustan Times, organic jaggery doesn’t evoke the same ‘extent of human response in the body like white sugar does’. Jaggery is high in sugars but less dangerous than white sugar for diabetics. Jaggery also contains iron, phosphates and calcium, which is not present in white sugar, according to a review published in the International Journal of Agricultural Science.

A study published in the Journal of Food Science and Technology found that compared to white sugar, jaggery had higher moisture content and lower sugar content. So when compared to white sugar that is popularly used, jaggery is good for diabetics.

NO: JAGGERY IS NOT GOOD FOR DIABETICS

Jaggery has a high glycemic index.

Jaggery has a high glycemic index, which means it is high in sugars and can quickly raise the sugar level in your blood. Almost all of the carbohydrates in jaggery are sugars. Consuming jaggery can cause a sugar spike which can be extremely dangerous for diabetics.

However, if you are not a diabetic and don’t want to be one in the future, avoid white sugar and switch to jaggery. Jaggery offers many other health benefits. Don’t overeat jaggery no matter what your health status is. Moderation is important.

The Health Benefits of Jaggery

We know the answer to — ‘Jaggery is good for diabetics: true or false?’ is false. But that doesn’t mean that jaggery doesn’t offer any other health benefits.

Most of us have not looked at jaggery as anything other than a sweetener. But just a little bit of jaggery offers a lot of health benefits, according to APEDA and the National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy, and Pharmacology. They are:

• It’s a good source of energy.
• It can help with weight loss.
• It helps in the flushing out of toxins.
• It supports the digestive system.
• It can help in preventing rheumatic afflictions.
• It helps to relieve feelings of fatigue.
• It prevents bile disorders.
• It can help in maintaining blood pressure.
• It reduces water retention in the body.
• It aids in the relaxation of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels.
• It prevents anaemia and helps in raising haemoglobin levels.
• It is packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Sweet Dreams?

Despite being a diabetic, your love for sweets doesn’t end. Although you should avoid all kinds of sugars, if you must do something for those sugar cravings, jaggery is a safer form of sugar than white sugar. Have really small amounts of organic jaggery if you must, or switch to sucrose-free sweeteners to be safe.

It is always a great idea to consult a diabetologist and find out what you can and what you cannot eat. Jaggery is good for diabetics: true or false? False. Jaggery is not good for diabetics, but it is definitely the lesser evil. So exercise caution. Try 24 Mantra Organics’s Jaggery Powder and taste the goodness of organic food.