New dimensions in development of health-based spices and herbs fortified value added jaggery products

This paper discusses about the health benefits of jaggery of which the record is available even in the ancient Indian literature. The difference between jaggery and sugar is their chemical composition. While sugar is the simple form of sucrose, jaggery is made up of predominantly sucrose, mineral salts, iron and some fiber. Jaggery has proven to be superior to white sugar in terms of producing heat and providing immediate energy to the human body. Consumption of jaggery is preferred over white sugar in cases of patients with iron deficiency. It also serves as a cleansing agent by aiding in the cleansing of the lungs and respiratory tract. As a result, it is recommended that we should replace sugar with jaggery in our regular diet. Moreover, jaggery can be combined, both in solid and liquid forms, with different herbs, spices, medicinal plant extracts and oils to amplify its health benefits and taste. The manuscript enumerates some of these value additions in jaggery for improving society health in modern day busy life.