Jaggery is an important natural sweetener that is widely used as an alternative for sugar. It has been traditionally used for various medicinal purposes.

Jaggery Vs sugar

• Jiggery and sugar both contain carbohydrates and both are sweet in taste but nutritionist or health experts always recommend to replace jagerry with sugar in order to obtain greater nutritients
• Basically sugar is obtained by undergoing various industrial processes like treatment with charcoal, which is responsible for losing several nutrients whereas jiggery is obtained by boiling the sugarcane syrup and no additional treatment or processing is required for jaggery production, which ultimately ensures the retention of various nutrients like fibre, mineral salt and iron within it. It contains various phytochemicals as well
• Consumption of jaggery is thus beneficial as it contributes iron, mineral salt, fibre, phytochemicals along with carbohydrates whereas consumption of sugar only contributes carbohydrates

Jaggery Vs honey

• Honey is also considered as a healthier alternative of sugar as it is also associated with contributing various nutrients along with carbohydrates like jaggery
• Jaggery is relatively rich in iron, copper and magnesium than honey whereas honey contains comparatively higher amount of B vitamins and vitamin C than jageery
• Both of which are useful for health and the decision of choosing either of these two substances absolutely depends upon one’s taste

Jiggery and diabetes

• We all know that diabetic patients should restrict their sugar consumption in order to maintain a healthy blood sugar level but it is also true that they often experience sweet craving in that case they may consider jaggery as a better alternative for sugar
• Jaggery contains complex carbohydrate, which is responsible for providing energy to the body gradually and do not raise the blood sugar level immediately whereas sugar is a simple carbohydrate that can provide instant energy and also raise the blood sugar level immediately after consumption
• On the other hand jaggery is also associated with providing additional nutrients to the body apart from carbohydrates thus it is better to include jaggery often into the diet instead of simple sugar but it is not wise to consume jaggery regularly due to its high carbohydrate contents

Nutritional profile

• It contains desirable amount of carbohydrates
• It contains too some extent of protein as well
• It contains negligible amount of fats
• It provides sufficient energy on its oxidation
• It is packed with several important vitamins and especially rich in Vitamin B complex such as Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12
• It contains various important trace elements too like calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, selenium, magnesium and iron

Biological activity

Antioxidant activity

• It exerts potent antioxidant activity that helps in protecting the body against oxidative damages
• It plays vital role in reducing the level of free radicals within body as a result protects the body from the detrimental effects of free radicals, which ultimately lowers the prevalence of oxidative stress
• It helps in preventing cellular damages as well hence helps in promoting overall wellbeing

Hypotensive activity

• It exerts potent hypotensive activity and all the credit goes to its potassium content
• Potassium acts as a vasodilator, which helps in dilating the blood vessels as a result improves blood flow, which subsequently reduces blood pressure
• Whereas its sodium and potassium components help to maintain acid level within body, which intern maintain blood pressure

Cleansing activity

• It is considered as one of the most important natural cleansing agents, which is accountable for removing unwanted particles from body
• It is extremely effective for cleaning the lung, respiratory tract, stomach, intestine as well as the food pipe
• It is thus better to consume jaggery especially by those people who are working or living in highly polluted areas

Detoxifying activity

• It helps in promoting the toxin elimination process as a result helps in flushing out toxins from body that ultimately promotes overall health status
• It also helps in excreting waste by promoting urination

Health benefits

Role on immunity

• It is loaded with various imperative immune boosting nutrients that help in improving the overall immunological responses of the body
• Its antioxidant activity is responsible for protecting every immune cell from free radical induced oxidative damages as a result it helps in promoting their activity, which ultimately strengthen the immune system
• Its micronutrient components especially zinc and selenium are also related with enhancing the resistance power of the body that helps to make the body able to fight against different kinds of diseases
• It is also associated with making the body able to fight against infections as a result helps in decreasing the prevalence of infectious diseases too

Role on digestive health

• Consumption of jagerry is very useful for promoting overall digestive functions
• It helps in digestion
• Fibre present in jaggery helps in improving bowel movement as a result decreases the prevalence of constipation
• Fibre of jaggery is also related with promoting the growth of intestinal beneficial microbes, which ultimately improves gut health

• Its magnesium component is also accountable for promoting intestinal health that ensures the absorption of nutrients
• It is also associated with maintaining normal body temperature, which ultimately helps to keep the stomach cool

Role on blood purification

• One of the most important functions of jaggery is considered as blood purification
• It has the ability of cleaning the blood that leaves the body healthy and significantly reduces the risk of developing diseases

Role on respiratory health

• Jaggery has been traditionally used as an imperative remedial action for respiratory disorders
• Regular consumption of jaggery is very useful for improving the symptom of bronchitis and asthma
• Its consumption is also related with reducing the prevalence of common cold and flu

Role on skeletal health

• Jaggery contains calcium and phosphorus both of which minerals are essentially required by the body for healthy bone formation thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for obtaining a healthy skeletal system
• Both of these minerals are responsible for mineralizing the bone that subsequently increases bone mass as well as bone mineral density
• Magnesium present in jaggery also involves in healthy bone metabolism

• It is associated with promoting joint health and plays vital role in relieving the joint pain

Role on hepatic health

• Consumption of jaggery is very useful for promoting overall hepatic health as it acts as an important cleanser, which ultimately helps in reducing the workload of the liver
• It helps to clean the liver by flushing out toxins as a result helps in improving hepatic functionality that ensures healthy metabolism

Role on energy level

• It is very effective for boosting up the overall energy level of the body
• As it contains desirable amount of carbohydrates thus its consumption is thought to be very effective for producing significant amount of energy on its oxidation
• Its consumption is thus thought to be very helpful for preventing general weakness and fatigue  

Therapeutic uses

It has been traditionally used for various therapeutic purposes, which include –

• It can be consumed for improving the symptoms of arthritis as it helps to improve joint health and also helps to reduce the pain
• It helps in facilitating weight reduction as well
• It also helps in preventing menstrual pain
• Being a good source of iron its consumption is thought to be an important remedial action for anemia

• Being a diuretic its consumption is also linked with preventing urinary problems
• It also helps to boost up overall metabolism of the body and all the credit goes to its B vitamins components

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