Baku, January 10 (AZERTAC). How can Jam make my body healthier? It’s loaded with sugar, and corn syrup and HFCS, and stuff I can’t even pronounce. Well not all Jams are created the same, they don’t all have the same amount of sugar, some don’t have corn syrup in them, nor do they all have HFCS or GMOs. Of course there is the common sense approach that everything in moderation is the best way to go. Fresh fruit is always a healthy choice for you but trying to spread a whole apple across a piece of toast just isn’t the same as a nice teaspoon of fresh homemade jam.

There are many health benefits provided by homemade fruits jams.

Unlike butter, margarine, Nutella, and cheese, Jams do not contribute to the cholesterol and fat content of your body. Jam helps maintain a healthy weight when following recommended serving sizes.

Pectin is a substance contained in all fruits. During the heating process of making jams, this substance gets modified. The modified pectin helps in reducing your chances of developing cancer, as well as: Improve the health of hair, skin and finger nails, decrease bone loss, Reduce constipation and diverticulitis and Help the body form red blood cells.

Jams are rich in sugar and a great source of Energy and Fiber.They curb hunger, helping us to eat less and be satisfied without cravings. By doing so they also reduce one’s chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Since they are high in calories, the weight loss seekers and those diagnosed with diabetes should use jams sparingly.

Jam made with chunks of healthy fruit can help reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack and all other potential cardiovascular diseases.

Jam has most of the health benefits of fruit, most notably, heart healthy, cancer fighting antioxidant power. It can Help reduce the chance of and developing various cancers and possibly help to cure current cancers, particularly mouth, stomach, and colon-rectum cancer. In pregnant women, reduce risk of neural tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly during fetal development.

Jam is a concentrated source of nutrition when made with fruits that have been captured fully ripe.

The preparation of mixed fruit preserves traditionally involves the use of pectin as a gelling agent, although sugar or honey may be used as well. There are various types of mixed fruit jams made globally, and they can be made from sweet or savory ingredients. Properly, the term mixed fruit jam refers to a product made with blend of whole fruit, cut into pieces or crushed. The different fruits used in mixed fruit jam usually vary. The common fruits included are apples, papaya, oranges, chickoo, pine apple, plums , etc. The fruits are heated with water and sugar to activate the pectin in the fruit. The mixture is then put into containers. It comes in myriad varieties.

The nutritional value of today’s Jams are not 100% lost as they were when our grandmother’s stood over a stove cooking down fruit for hours and inadvertently cooking out all the wonderful nutrients. With the addition of sugar and pectin (depending on the type of pectin) some Jams only have to cook at boiling for as little as ten minutes instead of two and half hours. This helps retain the natural nutritional value of the fruit. Which is why choosing a jam that utilizes a combination of fresh fruits, healthy ingredients and proper production is an important health decision.