We all love eating sweet as it boosts our mood up when we feel down. Be it any happy occasion, sweets are the must have in the menu. Specially in festive seasons, as they’re not complete without sweets. So there are few things you should know about our beloved sweetener, Sugar.
Sugar! Why Health Conscious People Say No To It
Sugar is most easily available in market and it can be found in every kitchen used as a sweetener. Sugar was first produced in India around 50BC. Those times, sugarcane were beaten to take out the juice and then the Juice was clarified and boiled till it became crystalline solid. Then the solid was broken into pieces and used as sweetener.
Today, the available sugar is chemically refined and processed. So there are no vitamins and minerals which were naturally available in sugarcane. Eating too much sugar can lead to eating disorders and binge eating as it creates an urge to eat more. Also, high consumption of sugar could worsen arteriosclerosis, and contribute to diabetes and nutritional deficiencies.
BUT NO WORRIES! We’ve got your back. There are other healthy and tasty alternatives of sugar which are easily available in the market too.
Jaggery
Jaggery is unrefined and raw form of sugar which was used by ancient Indians and still used in many Indian households. Only we “modern” generations are not very aware of this precious thing HAHA!. It has all the minerals, nutrients and vitamins which were in sugarcane. So nothing is wasted. You have got everything in it. Jaggery is also used in Ayurveda – the ancient Indian medicine system, to treat cough, digestion and for other health issues. So you start using jaggery from now on instead of sugar.
How Do I Use It
For those who have never used jaggery in their recipes as sweeteners, there is no need to worry. Jaggery can be used in the same way the sugar is used. But make sure to put it almost at the end of the recipe when you are making something with milk as the natural properties of jaggery can split the milk. Make sure the milk is boiled for few minutes before adding jaggery into it.
Tip: Jaggery is available in market from so many brands. Don’t go for the white or fair looking jaggery as it is super-phosphate jaggery. That is not good for your health. Go for dark colored jaggery which is raw and unrefined.
Honey
I was going to talk about only Jaggery today but Honey is a wonderful alternative to sugar as well so I had to mention it here. Daily consumption of honey can give so many health benefits especially to people with excess mucus problems and asthma. Honey is also very good for heart and brain. Consuming honey with a glass of water everyday raises Red Blood Cell (RBC) count in the circulatory system and RBCs are the primary means of oxygen delivery to different parts of body. Honey also helps to increase the beneficial antioxidant agents, stimulates antibodies and combats harmful microbial activity.
But Keep this in mind
Honey if cooked, can be poisonous. You can add honey with warm water but don’t add and boil the water after that. Also, honey should not be consumed by children below age of one.
Conclusion
So those that was the healthiest alternative to sugar Plus few benefits of Honey as well. You can use any of them as sweetener depending on your needs. I hope this gave you some information which you can be useful to you. THANKYOU!
I often use honey as a sweetener but have never heard of Jaggery. I am definitely going to look out for it when I next visit the supermarket. Does it have the same consistency as sugar?
Thank you for reminding us that the use of natural sugars is far better than and use of artificial sweeteners that so many people are doing now. I am sure all these chemicals in your system end up doing more harm than good.
Would you count in fruit sugar as a natural and healthy sugar alternative?
Thankyou for your comment. Since Jaggary is natural, it has healthy contents than the processed sugar but the sweetness is same as processed sugar. And as for fruits, they are natural sweeteners and healthy if consumed raw and not too much. Remember, even the healthiest food in world can make you sick if consumed excessively.
Thank you for posting this article on the benefits of natural sweeteners that can be used to replace ultra-refined white sugar. Unfortunately, most people think their only options are white sugar or artificial sweeteners. I especially appreciate the review of jaggery, which most people are completely unaware of. Do you know if jaggery affects blood sugar in the same way that white sugar does? And I found the thing about drinking honey in warm water interesting. Since I have asthma, I’m going to give it a try!