Health Benefits of Jaggery

Image Credit Giridhar Appaji Nag Y / CC BY

Jaggery or Gur is made from unrefined sugar. So, it is healthier and better than white sugar. It keeps body warm and is also good for digestion. It is great for issues related to respiratory tract.

Jaggery is made from sugarcane. It is also called as unrefined sugar. It is prepared without separation of molasses and crystals. It is mostly produced in India and Africa. Sugarcane goes through three processes called extraction, clarification and concentration to make jaggery. Its colour ranges from golden brown to dark brown.

Jaggery is also made with date palm. It also known as nolen gur or patali gur. It is popular in eastern part of India especially West Bengal. Winter is season of fresh jaggery.

Benefits of Jaggery

Jaggery Prevents Constipation

Good digestion is key to overall health. A small piece of jaggery after lunch can stimulate digestion. Jaggery stimulates digestive enzymes in body. It stimulates bowel movements. Thus, helping to prevent and relieve constipation.

Jaggery Detoxes Liver

Jaggery is natural body cleanser. It helps to cleanse liver by flushing out harmful toxins from body. Have a piece of jaggery to detoxify your body.

Jaggery Purifies Blood

Jaggery has ability to purify blood. It should be consumed on regular basis and in limited quantity to purify blood. Clean blood means a healthier body free from disease.

Jaggery Boosts Immunity

Jaggery is packed with antioxidants and minerals such as zinc and selenium. It helps prevent free radical damage, boost resistance against infections and increase total count of haemoglobin in blood.

Jaggery can Treat Flu like symptoms

To fight symptoms of cold and cough, mix warm water with jaggery or gur and drink it. It can be added to tea as replacement of sugar.

Jaggery produces heat in body. Its warming effect can help to treat cold and flu.

Jaggery Cleanses body

Eat jaggery to remove unwanted particles from body. It is best natural cleansing agent for body. It cleans efficiently respiratory tract, lungs, intestines, stomach and food pipe. It is highly recommended to eat jaggery for people working in heavily polluted areas such as coal mines or factories.

Jaggery eases menstrual pain

Jaggery has many essential nutrients. It is an effective natural remedy for menstrual problems especially providing relief from cramps. Eating a small piece of jaggery daily can combat symptoms of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome).

Jaggery Prevents Anaemia

Jaggery is rich in iron and folate. They help to prevent anaemia by making sure that a normal level of red blood cells in maintained. It is beneficial for pregnant women. It provides instant energy to body.

Jaggery Boosts Intestinal Health

Jaggery has high magnesium content which boosts intestinal health. In every 10 grams of jaggery, we get 16 mg magnesium which is 4 percent of daily requirement of this mineral.

Jaggery Cools Stomach

Jaggery helps in maintaining normal body temperature. It helps in keeping stomach cool. As per expert’s, drink Jaggery Sharbat during summer months to cool off. It is prepared by soaking jaggery in ice cold water.

Jaggery Controls Blood Pressure

Jaggery contains potassium and sodium which play crucial role in maintenance of acid levels in body. It makes sure that normal level of blood pressure is properly maintained.

Jaggery Prevents Respiratory Problems

Eating jaggery regularly, many respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis etc. can be prevented. Experts recommend eating jaggery with sesame seeds to avail benefits for respiratory system.

Jaggery Relieves Joint Pain

Eating jaggery can provide relief from aches and pains in joints. Eat it with piece of ginger to alleviate joint pain. Drink a glass of milk with jaggery every day to help toughen bones, counter joint and bone problems like arthritis.

Jaggery is Good Source of Energy

Jaggery is complex carbohydrate that gives energy to body gradually and for longer time. Levels of blood sugar do not get raised instantly. It prevents fatigue and weakness in body.

Jaggery and Lemon water for Weight Loss

Jaggery is rich source of potassium which helps in balance of electrolytes as well as building muscles and boosting metabolism. Potassium helps in reduction of water retention, which helps in managing weight.

Lemon water mixed with jaggery quickens process of reducing weight.

How to Prepare Jaggery and Lemon Water Drink

Take a glass of warm water. Squeeze half a lemon extract to it. Add 1 tablespoon of jaggery and mix well. Drink it every morning on empty stomach. It will induce metabolism and reduce body weight. This drink will provide enough energy for keeping us active and healthy.

Nutritional Value of Jaggery

100 grams i.e. half a cup of jaggery may contain

· Calorie: 383

· Sucrose: 65-85 grams

· Fructose and glucose: 10-15 grams

· Protein: 0.4 grams

· Fat: 0.1 grams

· Iron: 11 mg or 61% of RDI

· Magnesium: 70-90 mg, or about 20% of RDI

· Potassium: 1050 mg, or 30% of the RDI

· Manganese: 0.2-0.5mg, 10-20% of RDI

How to Consume Jaggery Every Day

Six spoons of any form of sugar, refined or unrefined both can be consumed daily. 10 grams of jaggery is enough for daily consumption.

Note: It is suggested to consume jaggery in moderation. It is slightly higher in calories. It contains 4 kcal/gram. People with diabetes should avoid Jaggery as it can raise blood sugar levels. Consult your doctor before consuming, if you are diabetic.

How to buy Jaggery

· Colour of jaggery should be dark brown ideally. Yellowish colour jaggery may indicate chemical treatment.

· Buying hard jaggery is preferable. This ensures that there are no additives added while boiling sugarcane juice.

· Taste a piece of jaggery while buying. It should not taste even slightly salty. Salty taste may indicate high concentration of mineral salts. Salty taste also tells that it is not fresh. Older jaggery gets saltier.

· Crystals should not be present on jaggery. It indicates that it may have gone through other processes to make it sweeter.

· If there is bitterness in jaggery, it means that during boiling process it has gone through process of caramelisation.

· Vendors add chalk powder in jaggery. In order to check its presence, take transparent bowl of water and dissolve a piece of jaggery in water. If it is present, it will settle down in water.

Also Read : Turmeric or Haldi - Benefits and Uses

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