Good quality jaggery  contains around 70% sucrose. By contrast, white sugar contains 99.7% sucrose.

Jaggery is high in a variety of minerals and vitamins, and many people believe it treats a range of conditions.

Practitioners of Indian Ayurvedic medicine have been using jaggery for thousands of years.

Is jaggery better for you than sugar?

Jaggery is slightly more nutritious than refined white sugar, according to a 2015 study. Regular refined white sugar contains no protein, fat, minerals, or vitamins.

In addition to 375Trusted Source calories, a 100 g serving of jaggery contains the following:

    sucrose: 65–85 g

    fructose and glucose: 10–15 g

    protein: 280 milligrams (mg), or 5.6% daily value (DV)

    potassium: 1056mg, or 22.5% DV

    magnesium: 70–90 mg, or approximately 19% DV

    calcium: 40–100 mg, or approximately 5% DV

    manganese: 0.2–0.5 mg, or approximately 15% DV

    phosphorus: 20-90 mg, or approximately 5% DV

    iron: 11 mg, or 61% DV

    vitamin A: 3.8 mg, or 422% DV

    vitamin C: 7.0 mg, or 7.8% DV

    vitamin E: 111.30 mg, or 740% DV

It is of note, however, that these figures are for a 100 g serving, which is about 1/2 cup. Most individuals would eat much less sugar at one time, which would be closer to 1 teaspoon, or 7 g.

Jaggery is more chemically complex than sugar, and it consists of longer chains of sucrose.

It takes longer to digest and does not release energy as quickly as refined sugar. This makes it easier on the body.

Using jaggery in place of refined white sugar will add a minimal amount of extra nutrients into a person’s diet. However, a person should not add more jaggery to food just to boost their nutrient intake. It is better to get vitamins and minerals from less calorific sources.

Jaggery is a slightly better option than white sugar, but it still is a type of sugar, with many of the health drawbacks people associate with sugar consumption. Therefore, it is advisable to use jaggery in moderation.

Benefits of jaggery

Unlike sugar, jaggery is rich in vitamins and minerals, which are crucial components of a balanced diet.

According to a 2007 literature review, there is less incidence of diabetes in areas with consistent jaggery use.

Researchers believe that the magnesium present in jaggery boosts nervous system function and that jaggery’s high iron content may protect against anemia.

A 2012 review of 46 academic papers found there may be a link between jaggery consumption and antitoxicity and cytoprotective effects, as well as anticariogenic effects. It also notes that consuming jaggery may strengthen the immune system and lower the risk of diabetes and hypertension. However, more research is necessary.

A recent review also notes that regular use of jaggery can:

• aid in digestion
• detox the liver and blood
• treat lung and bronchial infections
• relieve constipation
• increase energy levels
• relieve stress
• treat premenstrual syndrome
• have antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties