Jaggery is obtained by evaporating the water from sugar cane juice. The end product obtained is a non-refined sugar retaining all minerals and vitamins of sugarcane juice.
The jaggery may contain • Sucrose – 65 – 85 % • Reducing Sugar – 10 – 20 % • Total Sugar – 90 % • Glucose and Fructose – less than 10 % • Water – 3 – 10 %
Jaggery is made up of long chains of sucrose, traces of mineral salts, iron, and some fiber that digest slowly and in turn, releases energy more slowly than sugar.
Is Jaggery Better than Sugar?
Jaggery is rich in various nutrients that can be beneficial for health, but still, jaggery is sweet.
Is jaggery good for diabetes?
It contains a high amount of sucrose which has a high glycemic index (GI) with a value of 65 on the glycemic index scale which can worsen the condition of patients with diabetes.
As per a report, added sugar, especially in the form of fructose, is more harmful in the case of diabetes. It can lead to inflammation and insulin resistance.