Diabetes being a common health problem is present in almost every household and sugar is one of the major culprits to be blamed. Being the most common health problems people are yet not aware of ways to manage diabetes. 

Jaggery as a sweetener has been used since ages all over India. It is a recommended sweetener for its nutritional content which may not be a good choice for diabetic. 

Benefits of Jaggery (Gur)

Jaggery is a complex natural sweetener made of longer chain of sucrose when compared to sugar. Longer chain indicates slow digestion and slow release of energy, this property of jaggery supports blood sugar level when compared to regular sugar. 

In the process of making jaggery it gains ferrous salt and this helps improve hemoglobin. Jaggery also works as a cleansing agent that is effective in cleaning respiratory system, esophagus and digestive system. 

Our ancient system of medicine i.e Ayurveda mention the use of jaggery as an important content in various herbal formulations. 

Is jaggery good for diabetics?

According to the research jaggery has the same effect as sugar. For diabetic it is not a safe substitute for sugar but in non-diabetics it is a better option but when taken in moderation. 

Is jaggery considered a healthy sweetener?

Let us understand the preference of jaggery over other sweeteners by a comparison.

Jaggery or sugar

Jaggery is rich in iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese, etc. It contains very low amount of fat and is definitely a healthy alternative to sugar. Jaggery is available in various forms and due to its low glycemic-index it is preferred over sugar. It is evident that jaggery is far better than sugar.

Jaggery or artificial sweetener

Artificial sweeteners are a big no for diabetics as well as non-diabetics. Jaggery is a far better choice.

Jaggery or honey

Honey can be considered over jaggery but it also elevates the blood sugar level.

To Conclude

Jaggery is definitely not a choice for people with high blood sugar levels. For those who are non-diabetic, substituting sugar with jaggery is a good decision. Sweeteners in any form raise the blood sugar level and are not recommended for diabetics.