Diabetes: Jaggery January – Can you substitute the natural sweetener for sugar to lower blood sugar levels

-

Diabetes is a lifestyle disease that affects a lot of people all around the world. Can the Indian Staple Jaggery be used as a sugar substitute for diabetic people without messing with their blood sugar levels?

Whenever we think about diabetes, we think about sugar-free food items and how we can include them in our diet to ensure that our blood sugar levels do not rise. Living with diabetes can be quite a struggle especially when you are looking for substitutes for sugar. Have you considered jaggery?
It is winter and one winter staple is jaggery, especially in India. A great combination with Sarso ka Saag in Punjab, or peanuts in Northern part of India, jaggery is an indispensable part of Indian food. Though considered a substitute for sugar, can it be consumed by diabetic people? Jaggery is a traditional form of sugar, made by boiling clarified sugarcane juice. It is definitely less harmful than sugar and contains many important elements like potassium, iron and calcium, but unfortunately cannot be used as a substitute for sugar for diabetic people.
Diabetes: Jaggery January – Can you substitute jaggery for sugar to lower blood sugar levels 

Health benefits of Jaggery

Jaggery has many health benefits like it keeps the blood pressure controlled, cures Anaemia because of the rich iron content in it and also helps in fighting oxidative stress. It can be used as a substitute for sugar in tea, desserts, or even eaten as dessert alone. It makes a great combination with saag and peanuts and almost any other winter delicacy. 

Why can't you use Jaggery for diabetic people?

Though it is definitely healthier than sugar and can be a great substitute for sugar for people who do not have diabetes, jaggery may not be the best choice for diabetic people.
Jaggery has sugar
Jaggery contains 65 to 85 per cent of sucrose. It is a nutrient-rich source of sugar but does not mean it is sugar-free.
Jaggery can cause a sugar rush
Contrary to the popular belief, jaggery can have similar effects on your blood sugar as sugar itself. It can cause the blood sugar levels to rise and cause a sugar rush. The only difference in this respect between sugar and jaggery is that jaggery takes longer to get absorbed in the body.
Jaggery unfit for diabetic people proven by Ayurveda
Even Ayurveda lists jaggery as an “offender” of the diabetes diet. Jaggery is a much better form of sugar than processed sugar but has a similar effect for diabetic people.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can Giving Up Sugar Make You Lose Weight?

-
Image
Quitting sugar could help you lose weight. You're willing to forgo the sodas and cookies for your waistline's sake, but will it make a difference? The answer is a solid maybe. Quitting refined sugars is an excellent move for your overall health, and if your total calorie intake decreases with the switch, you will lose weight. That said, if you replace your sugary snacks with potato chips and other calorie-dense foods, your won't shed a pound. Sugar and Weight Sugar is a type of carbohydrate, and contains 4 calories per gram. For the most part, a calorie is a calorie to your body no matter where it comes from. Although refined sugar does not directly cause weight gain, it can contribute to overeating. When you consume sugar, your blood glucose levels spike and then plummet, causing you to crave more food -- particularly more sugar for instant energy, perpetuating the cycle. Plus, you're more likely to over-indulge in sweet treats than healthier fare, and lar...
Read more

Your Guide to Strength Training for Women

-
Image
(Image: Mireya Acierto/DigitalVision/GettyImages) It used to be that the weight room of most gyms was filled solely with men (and the occasional brave female). But recently, women have begun to  skew that ratio  more in their favor. And with good reason! There are so many great reasons to add strength training to your fitness routine, regardless of your gender, but specifically for women. But if you're a little unsure of where to start, here's a beginners guide to strength training for women, so you can strut into the weight room with confidence. Benefits of Strength Training for Women While there are a host of  benefits of strength training  for both men and women, strength training is especially beneficial for women. 1. Improving Bone Health:  Strength training is one of your best strategies for keeping your bones healthy as you age, according to a 2009 review in  Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism . "Simply the pushing and pulli...
Read more

Importance of Sugar in the Human Body

-
Image
Sugar has a poor reputation as being an enemy when it comes to creating a nutritious and well-balanced diet. The fact is, however, that you wouldn't be able to survive without sugar. Your body relies on small amounts of sugar to function properly. That doesn't mean that you have license to fill up on sugary foods, but it does mean that there is a place for small amounts of the right kinds of sugar in your healthy eating plan. Sugar for Energy Sugar provides energy to your muscles and acts as a source of energy for your brain and nervous system. You also need sugar because it helps metabolize fats and prevents your body from using protein as energy. Blood sugar -- called blood glucose -- gets broken down in a series of chemical reactions that create energy, which fuels your cells. A hormone called insulin is involved in the process, too -- it's released when you eat sugar and tells your cells to absorb the glucose so they can use it as a source of energy. Backu...
Read more