Is Jaggery Good for Weight Loss?
Jaggery or gur has been a staple ingredient in most Indian kitchens for millennia. It was briefly replaced by sugar as the main sweetener in most households, but has had a resurgence recently, mostly due to people becoming more health-conscious.
But is jaggery good for weight loss? What makes it better than sugar or honey as a sweetener? How much jaggery should you eat to lose weight? Read on to find out how jaggery helps you lose weight!
What is Jaggery?
Jaggery is an unrefined, non-centrifugal sweetener made from sugarcane and toddy palm trees. It is called non-centrifugal because unlike sugar, for jaggery making, the sugarcane juice is not “spun” or centrifuged to remove molasses, which contains most of the nutrients.
India is the largest producer of jaggery in the world, with about a 70% share of the global production. Jaggery is known as gur, gul, bellam, sharkara, or gola across India. It is widely used in South and South-East Asian cuisines.
Jaggery: Nutritional Profile
Good quality jaggery contains over 70% sucrose, about 10% of glucose and fructose combined, with less than 3% of moisture. Jaggery is almost entirely composed of simple carbohydrates. The amount of protein, fibre, and fats in jaggery is almost negligible. Jaggery contains a moderate to a good amount of electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and chloride. It is also rich in iron, copper, manganese, and antioxidants. It also has small amounts of vitamins A, B-complex, C, D2, and E.
The following are the nutritional profiles for 100 g of jaggery, granulated sugar, and honey, according to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
| Nutrient | Jaggery | Granulated Sugar | Honey |
| Energy | 383 kcal | 387 kcal | 304 kcal |
| Moisture | < 3 g | 0.02 g | 17.1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 95 to 100 g | 100 g | 82.4 g |
Total Sugar
|
75 to 100 g
65 to 85 g 10 to 15 g 0 g 0 g |
99.8 g
99.8 g 0 g 0 g 0 g |
82.1 g
0.89 g 76.7 g 1.44 g 3.1 g |
| Protein | 0.4 g | 0 g | 0.3 g |
| Fat | 0.1 g | 0 g | 0 g |
| Sodium | 19 to 30 mg | 1 mg | 4 mg |
| Iron | 10 to 13 mg | 0.05 mg | 0.42 mg |
| Calcium | 40 to 100 mg | 1 mg | 6 mg |
| Magnesium | 70 to 90 mg | 0 mg | 2 mg |
| Potassium | 1056 mg | 2 mg | 52 mg |
| Phosphorus | 20 to 90 mg | 0 mg | 4 mg |
| Manganese | 0.2 to 0.5 mg | 0.004 mg | 0.08 mg |
| Copper | 0.1 to 0.9 mg | 0.007 mg | 0.036mg |
As seen in the above table, jaggery has more micronutrients compared to sugar and honey. Thus, when compared to jaggery, the calories in sugar and honey can be considered empty (without nutrients). Though jaggery is slightly higher in calories when compared to honey, it has more electrolytes and trace minerals that boost its nutritional value and make it the healthiest alternative to sugar for weight loss.
What are the Benefits of Jaggery for Weight Loss?
- Jaggery is sweeter than sugar, thus you require lesser quantities of it to sweeten your food or beverages when compared to sugar. Thus, jaggery helps in weight loss by lowering your calorie intake.
- Unlike sugar, jaggery is not considered addictive. Thus, it could help you control your sugar cravings and limit the number of calories you consume.
- Though jaggery is comparable to sugar in its calorie content, it contains a significantly higher amount of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals which improve digestion.
Also Read: Is Pasta Good for Weight Loss
How Much Jaggery Per Day is Good for Weight Loss?
If you are trying to lose weight, limit your consumption of jaggery to 10 to 15 g a day. As jaggery is made up completely of sugars like sucrose, glucose, and fructose, eating more than 15 g of jaggery a day can lead to weight gain.
When Should You Eat Jaggery for Weight Loss?
There is no ideal time to eat jaggery for weight loss. As jaggery is rich in antioxidants, adding it to your morning detox drink can help boost your metabolism. Consuming jaggery after your meals can help improve digestion.
How to Eat Jaggery for Weight Loss?
- You can replace honey with jaggery in your morning detox drink. Add a teaspoon (5 g) of jaggery powder or a jaggery cube to a glass of lukewarm water with lemon juice and ginger. Stir well till the jaggery is dissolved and drink on an empty stomach.
- You can swap out honey or sugar with jaggery in your daily glass of milk or cup of black coffee or green tea.
- Use jaggery in homemade desserts instead of sugar.
- Replacing store-bought sodas or energy drinks with a glass of lemonade made with jaggery is good for weight loss.
- Eat a small piece of jaggery (around 5 g) instead of a candy bar, chocolate, or sweet as an after-meal dessert.
What are the Risks of Overconsumption of Jaggery?
- As jaggery is mostly composed of sugars which are simple carbohydrates, overconsumption can lead to weight gain.
- Jaggery has a high glycaemic index (GI) score of 84, which means it can cause a high spike in your blood sugar levels when consumed. If you have diabetes, avoid or limit your consumption of jaggery as it can result in poor glycaemic control.
What are the Other Health Benefits of Jaggery?
- The iron content in jaggery is easily absorbed by your body. Thus, jaggery can be useful in preventing iron-deficiency anaemia.
- Jaggery is thought to prevent constipation and improve digestion.
- Jaggery is rich in essential minerals and is helpful in maintaining electrolyte balance in your body.
- Additionally, jaggery is also said to boost immunity, ease cramps, and prevent respiratory problems like cold and cough.
Don’t Have Time To Read?
- Jaggery or gur is an unrefined sugar product made from sugarcane or palm trees.
- Jaggery has a similar calorie content to sugar but is more nutrient-dense as it is rich in minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, etc. It also has a small amount of vitamins A, B-complex, C, D, and E.
- Jaggery is sweeter than sugar, and thus can be used in smaller quantities than sugar to sweeten your food or beverages. This lowers your calorie intake.
- Unlike sugar, jaggery is not addictive and can help you control sugar cravings.
- Limit your jaggery intake to one tablespoon (10 to 15 g) a day.
- You can replace sugar or honey with jaggery in your morning detox drink, milk, black coffee, tea, or other beverages.
- You can also use jaggery to make desserts instead of sugar, or eat a small piece (about 3 to 5 g) of jaggery instead of candy, chocolate, or dessert.
- Overconsumption of jaggery can lead to weight gain as it is high in simple carbohydrates. It can also cause high blood sugar levels due to its high glycaemic index (GI) score and should be avoided by diabetics.
- When consumed, jaggery can improve digestion, restore and maintain electrolyte balance in your body, and prevent anaemia due to its high iron content.
