When it comes to sweets, most people consider jaggery a healthier alternative to white sugar. It’s a common belief, especially among diabetics, that sugar is harmful, but consuming jaggery doesn’t have much of an impact on blood sugar. To understand the extent to which this is true, it’s important to understand the difference between the two.
In fact, both sugar and jaggery come from the same source: sugarcane. The only difference is that sugar undergoes refining and crystallization, while jaggery is less processed. This is why jaggery retains many minerals, such as iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, and potassium, which are virtually eliminated in white sugar.
In such a situation, people think that jaggery is safe for diabetics, but experts at Metropolisindia explain that nutrition and its effect on blood sugar are two different things. While jaggery may contain some additional nutrients, its sugar content is almost equal to that of sugar, so diabetics should consume it with caution.
Interestingly, it is commonly believed that sugar raises blood sugar immediately, while jaggery is safe. The reality is that sugar is absorbed quickly in the body and can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar. On the other hand, the sucrose in jaggery has a relatively complex structure, taking a little longer to break down and digest. This does not mean that jaggery does not cause a sugar spike, but rather, its effects may be visible after a while.
According to experts, blood sugar does not rise immediately after consuming jaggery, but its effects can be seen within a few hours. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to assume that jaggery is completely safe for diabetics. Jaggery and sugar have roughly the same number of calories, but their quality differs. Sugar is often called empty calories because it lacks nutrients. Molasses, on the other hand, provides some essential minerals and antioxidants.