For many years, jaggery is known for many thousands of benefits. It is mainly the purest, unrefined, non-centrifugal sugar commonly consumed in India. It usually varies in color from golden brown to dark brown. In India, Maharashtra is the largest producer of jaggery with Kolhapur being the center of production.
Mostly jaggery is made from sugarcane juice, but sometimes they are also processed from the sap of the date palm. This is costlier than the latter one.
Also known as: Scientifically known as Saccharum officinarum and commonly known as Gud, Bella, Vellam, or Bellam.
How’s Jaggery Prepared?
Jaggery is made from sugar cane juice or the juice of certain trees, such as date palms, etc. The extracted juice is heated and reduced to one-third of the original amount, and the liquid is continuously stirred, and then lowered after cooling. After fully thickening it, it is transferred into a shallow pan, then it is allowed to cool and harden with jaggery. Cut this jaggery into pieces to form circles or bricks.
Nutritional Value of Jaggery:
Jaggery is much more complicated than sugar because it is composed of longer sucrose chains, so it is digested slower than sugar and releases energy more slowly than spontaneously, thus providing energy for a longer period without causing harm to the body. When jaggery is cooked in an iron container, a large amount of iron salt will also accumulate during the cooking process. This iron also has health benefits, especially for people with anemia or iron deficiency.
Health Benefits of Jaggery
Due to its rich nutritional profile, jaggery has few important benefits to its credits
Helps Improve Iron Levels:
Traditionally, iron was known to be made in such a way that it helps improve its iron content. A lack of hemoglobin in the blood is called anemia, which is a decrease in the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. Through its Pitta balancing properties, it helps to reduce the symptoms of anemia. It can also help maintain a person’s overall health through its Rasayana (rejuvenation) properties. Consume 1 tbsp or a small piece of jaggery daily to help fight anemia.
May Provide Instant Energy:
If you feel weak or sluggish, then eating a jaggery cube can provide you with energy immediately. Compared with white sugar, it is better to let the body absorb gradually, which means your blood sugar will not rise immediately.
Helps Improve Digestion:
In India, Jaggery is often consumed after a meal to help stimulate digestion after heavy food. It helps activate digestive enzymes, these digestive enzymes are converted into acetic acid in the stomach to improve digestion and make the process go smoothly; it reduces the burden on the digestive tract and intestines. This is not all, it can also help relieve constipation by encouraging bowel movements. It mobilizes digestive enzymes in the body and supports digestion.
A Boon for Immune System:
Jaggery is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Due to its rich nutritional profile, it can fight infections by enhancing immunity power. Selenium and Zinc present in Jaggery can help protect from free radical damage and oxidative stress.
Aids weight loss:
Jaggery contains the mineral, potassium which is known to boost metabolism. Potassium may also help reduce water retention in the body. Therefore, jaggery consumption in moderate quantities may help you achieve your desired body weight.
Helps regulate the menstrual cycle:
Jaggery consumption helps reduce cramps during menstruation. It is also beneficial for people suffering from Premenstrual Syndrome as jaggery consumption released endorphins which has mood lifting properties.
Acts as a natural laxative:
The nutrient rich jaggery helps activate certain digestive enzymes. This ensures smooth bowel movements and reduces problems associated with constipation.
Detoxifies the liver:
Jaggery is known to have detoxification properties. Consuming Jaggery on a daily basis helps the body get rid of toxins which further helps keep the liver – the site where the toxins get processed – toxin free. People with underlying liver disorders may consume jaggery after consulting a doctor to help alleviate the problems.
Relieves joint pain:
For patients suffering from joint problems such as Rheumatism, Arthritis or any other kind of pain in the joints, consuming jaggery along with ginger is extremely beneficial.
Improves gut health:
Jaggery is a rich source of magnesium, consumption of which in limited quantities is known to improve gut health. 10g of jaggery contains 16mg of magnesium approximately. Therefore, even consuming 10g of jaggery daily is enough to satisfy 4% of the body’s need for magnesium.
Better than Sugar:
The distinction between Jaggery and sugar is their composition. Sugar is the simple sugar that gets digested quicker and strength is released without delay while Jaggery is made up of long chains of mineral salts, sucrose, and fiber. Since Jaggery is ready in iron vessels, it’s far rich in iron. Jaggery intake is suggested over sugar in instances of sufferers with iron deficiency. It additionally acts as a cleaning agent because it helps smooth the lungs and breathing tract. So, it’s far beneficial to switch sugar with Jaggery.
Read more about: 10 Excellent Health Benefits Of Sugarcane Juice
Culinary Uses of Jaggery in India
In India, it is commonly used in sweet and savory dishes. It gives that tangy-sweet-like taste to the curries like sambhar, dals, or Gujarati vegetables in savory dishes. Commonly consumed sweet, Chikki is made especially during Makarsankranti using til and jaggery. In Gujarati, a famous sweet is made using wheat flour and jaggery called laddus. A well-known Maharashtrian recipe; Puran Poli is incomplete without the use of jaggery. In Rajasthan, the traditional dish “gur ka chawal” is very famous. In Bengali, it is commonly used to prepare sweet dishes using jaggery, coconut, and milk.
Thus, Jaggery is part of every culture and every tradition. You should combine turmeric, jaggery, and ginger powder in the water and let it come to a boil in today’s time. Drink it daily to help boost your immunity and protect your lungs from infection. Store jaggery in an air-tight container away from moisture and heat.
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Although jaggery is a healthier and more nutritious form of sugar, it is recommended not to overeat or consume too much. Make sure to consume it in moderation every day to get various health benefits.
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a health care professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
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