Sugar alternatives – Jagerry
Good morning & happy Friday to all! We all know that our bodies need energy boost continuously for us to realize our superpowers! And carbohydrates are best consumed in the mornings!
Who doesn’t like something sweet with a morning coffee or tea? However, I bet we all heard that refined or “white” added sugar is considered to be bad for us (according to many smart doctors & WHO).
But have you ever thought why sugar is bad?
The popular line is that anexcess of sweetened foods and beverages can lead to weight gain, blood sugar problems and an increased risk of heart disease. Also most experts agree that we should eat sweet stuf in moderate quantities and do our best in including natural sweeteners in our daily diets!
So all in all a right way to a balanced diet seems not to say complete NO to Sugar, but rather
– choose a high quality unrefined sugar;
– choose natural sugar alternatives
– still consume any sweet stuf IN MODERATION!
Great news is – there are A LOT of amazing sugar alternatives in nature ane all you need to do is to be open & explore the possibilities! The ones I use most in cooking are natural sweeteners like rice, agave, date syrups, I also love a fresh juicy date instead of a peace of chocholate with my coffee.
But today I would like to share with you my rescent discovery of Jaggery!
Jaggery is a common product in Asia and Africa. It is an unrefined natural sweetener, comes in a solid, liquid, or granular form. It is made from sugarcane or palm tree juices and has a winy brown sugar or mollases taste.
Unlike sugar, jaggery is rich in vitamins and minerals, which are crucial elements of a balanced diet. It takes longer to digest and does not release energy as quickly as refined sugar. This makes it easier on the body.
Researchers believe that the magnesium present in jaggery boosts nervous system function and that jaggery’s high iron content may protect against anemia.
Moreover, according to rescent review (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344921769_Jaggery_A_natural_sweetener) jaggery might
– aid in digestion
– detox the liver and blood
– treat lung and bronchial infections
– increase energy levels
– relieve stress
– treat premenstrual syndrome
– have antioxidant properties
Even though jaggery sounds like underestimated gem and it is truly great substitute for white sugar especially in special caramel taste it brings to a meal, it is still type of sugar and it should be consumed in moderation.
So for Friday I suggest to try jaggery in a form of super easy home-made sweets! 🙂
What you need
– 150-200 g of natural jagery (solid, not granular)
– 2 tbsp of natural ghee (not the buttermilk fat!)
– 1 tsp of crushed green cardamon
– 250-300 g white sesame seeds (lightly roasted)
Process
1. Melt ghee in a pan on a medium temperature.
2. Add jaggery little by little whill stirring constantly until it starts to bubble lightly. It is very important to be attentive & not to burnt the mass.
3. Turn off the fire, pour sesame seeds & cardamon and stir the mass very well.
4. The mass gets sticky and solid fast, so don’t sleep on it 🙂 Get to form the shape of the candies thay you want most immediately when you can adiust your fingers to the temperature. I like to roll a little pieve of mass between my palms & form a bubble 🙂
Enjoy in moderation!!!
Agne
