Myth busted: Which is healthier honey or jaggery?

Whether you are a mindful eater or a fitness freak, cutting down on sugar is undeniably the first thumb rule to proceed on a fitness track. With an increasing consciousness about health and fitness, people are now switching to healthier alternatives like jaggery, honey or stevia, but have you ever wondered how these sweet alternatives affect your fitness plans, and which is healthier: honey or jaggery? Here’s all you need to know about two of the most widely used alternatives to refined sugar and what makes these different?

Refined sugar also known as processed sugar is packed with empty calories and an excess consumption of it can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of several lifestyle disorders such as diabetes and can impact cardiovascular health in the long term. On the other hand honey is packed with the goodness of antioxidants and a moderate use of both honey and iron-rich jaggery can make for a perfect replacement for refined sugar.

Refined sugar is loaded with empty calories and the presence of fructose affects the liver health by overloading the liver with excess sugar and causing diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Apart from that it also impacts the metabolism and dental health. Lastly, consuming refined sugar instantly spikes up the insulin levels and makes you feel satiated, but in the long run an excessive consumption of sugar may lead to weight gain, diabetes and impact cardiovascular health as well as impact liver functioning.

Both honey and jaggery has the same amount of calories and may give the body the much needed boost of instant energy, but what makes both the alternatives better than refined sugar is their low glycemic index and their rich nutritional level

While jaggery and honey are rich nutrients like folate, iron, phosphorus and calcium to name a few. Jaggery is an unrefined version of refined sugar as both regular sugar and jaggery are extracted from sugarcane. This is the reason why experts suggest to consume the alternatives to sugar mindfully as too much consumption may impact health.

Jaggery is loaded with minerals like magnesium, copper and iron on the other hand honey is rich in antioxidants,vitamin B and C and potassium. Both honey as well as jaggery are rich in micronutrients. In fact, there’s a distinct difference in the taste and texture, which further tweaks the taste of the dish or drink.

Moreover, jaggery has ample amount of good fiber which helps in detoxifying the system and accelerates metabolism, when consumed raw or with warm water. Even honey mixed with warm water and lemon juice helps in flushing out toxins. Honey has immunity boosting properties like amino acids, antioxidants and essential nutrients.

On the other hand jaggery has more or less the same calorie count as refined sugar, which instantly spikes the insulin level in the body and may not be a great option for people with diabetes.