Diabetes - Can Diabetics Have Jaggery Instead of Sugar

Diabetes Sugar vs Jaggery

Sugar

Most of the time diabetics think that changing white sugar with any other sweetener can check the blood sugar level and keep the condition under control, but this is not correct replacing white sugar with jaggery is not advisable for diabetics, because the main source of both white sugar and Jaggery is the same.

It is a misconception that a diabetic can have jaggery instead of sugar, because jaggery has additional nutritional advantage than simple sugar, in fact having jaggery often can raise blood sugar level.

Also Read: Cure Diabetes with Natural Juice

Both white sugar and jaggery are derived from the same source sugar cane, sugar is stripped of all its nutrients during the crystallization process while jaggery retains its essential nutrients like magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, copper and zinc

Jaggery is better than sugar in terms of nutrients but it has its fair share of sugar too, both white sugar and jaggery have a excessive glycemic index which means the absorption of sugar when it breaks down in the body takes place at a rapid pace and thus raises blood sugar levels.

Jaggery has surcose which is the complex sugar and takes the time to break down when consumed, but the sugar levels go up within a few hours.

While consuming  jaggery diabetic have to exercise the same caution as with a simple sugar and other sweets, if the blood sugar levels are out of control, it is better not to eat much of jaggery or dishes made of it

If  condition is managed well, then having a small piece of jaggery occasionally might not harm.

If you find it difficult to counter the urge and have jaggery, then make sure you go for a 20 minute brisk walk or a short sprint to burn the calories and help the body utilize the surplus glucose in the blood.

Jaggery is cane sugar it is a concentrated mixture of dates, sugarcane juice and palm sap, surcose make four to fifty percent of its composition, though jaggery has a lot of health benefits it is mostly not recommended for diabetics this is because the jaggery contains a high number of calories being such a sweetener it increases blood sugar rapidly.

The difference between jaggery and refined sugar is just the color and jaggery contains almost the same amount of sugar as a result there is the same effect on blood sugar.

Index to measure the amount of glucose released into the body by a specific food substance is known as the glycemic index, more the glucose more the index.

Jaggery has a very high glycemic index, in a recent study it was observed that participants that consumed sugar and the participants that consumed jaggery had almost similar blood sugar levels and this proved that consuming jaggery has pretty much the same effect as consuming refined sugar.

There is also a small number of people who claims that consuming jaggery is a little safer than consuming refined sugar that is attributed to the amount of chemicals being used in the processing the sugar. There is no scientific evidence to back this up though.

The jaggery is not a safe alternative for diabetics it works almost like a refined white sugar the constituents of both are similar and they have the same effect on blood sugar therefore please consult the doctor before you make major changes to the diet.

If you are a diabetic make sure that try to follow points mentioned below:

 Include high fiber food products in your diet

Choose brown rice over white rice

Corn can be replaced with peas greens

Eat grains that are less processed

Eat healthy proteins

Consume good fats

Avoid potatoes, reduce sugary drinks and soda. Do not skip breakfast, consume three healthy meals a day maintain the same number of calories for a reasonable period of time.

Also Read: How to use Insulin Pen

Also Read: Cure Gestational Diabetes