‘Use honey, it is very healthy’, ‘No, switch to brown sugar’, ‘I think jaggery is the best’. You may have heard these statements from different ‘health-conscious’ people making an effort to eat healthy. If these have left you confused, here’s the real deal. We ask nutritionist Neha Chandna which is the best.
We know white sugar isn’t that great for our health. In fact, too much of it can ruin our health, but those healthy alternatives also contain calories. Says Neha that honey, jaggery, brown and white sugar almost have the same calorie count so don’t think that you are cutting down on that by making the switch. ‘Since all these increase sugar and fat percent in the body one needs to be really careful while consuming these sweet products.’
Why switch?
You may wonder why bother making the switch if the calorie count is the same. The reason is that they have different nutrients. She says jaggery and honey have minerals to offer while white sugar is simply empty calories. Brown sugar has some benefits over white sugar due to the molasses but isn’t really as healthy as you may think. Even if you are on a weight loss diet, you can have small amounts of honey and jaggery. These are also suitable for diabetics. But remember, they still increase blood sugar levels so it is important to not have too much of either.
Which one is healthy?
Most things that people sweeten are desserts like cake, kheer, halwa, etc. or their tea, coffee. Neha recommends sweetening desserts with jaggery and using honey for beverages.
How much is too much?
The least is the best but she suggests sticking to 3-4 teaspoons of jaggery or honey every day and if you have sugar – either brown or white – don’t have more than 2 teaspoons. Also read – which is healthier – curd or milk?
Are you worried that your sugar intake is too high? Control your blood sugar level with these yoga asanas.
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