Well known by the name Gur, jaggery is prepared from sugarcane juice. It is an unrefined natural sweetener with multiple vitamins and minerals. In fact, many people think it can alleviate a number of ailments. It is becoming more and more well-liked as a substitute for white sugar because it is manufactured from the juice of sugarcane or palm trees. To make jaggery, the raw, concentrated sugarcane juice is boiled till it solidifies.
Jaggery often has a golden yellow color, a sweet, winey aroma, and a flavor resembling brown sugar or molasses. Jaggery of high quality has a sucrose content of about 70%. White sugar, on the other hand, is 99.7% sucrose.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, more than 70% of the jaggery consumed worldwide originates in that country, where it is known as “medicinal sugar.”
Jaggery has been used by practitioners of Indian Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.
It is not just sweet, it has immense health benefits to impart as well. Mentioned below are some health benefits of jaggery which will definitely prompt you to add it to your diet.
1. Great for Cardiovascular Health
Iron, potassium, and magnesium are among the vital elements found naturally in jaggery. These minerals are essential for preserving heart health. For instance, potassium aids in blood pressure regulation and lowers the risk of hypertension, a substantial risk factor for heart disease.
In simple terms, adding a piece of jaggery to your diet would be of immense benefit especially if you face BP issues (i.e., High or Low Blood Pressure).
Also, since heart disease and chronic inflammation are related, eating foods high in antioxidants may be beneficial for heart health.
2. Controls Blood Pressure
Jaggery has a lot of potassium and sodium that help maintain the acid levels in our body and hence maintain normal BP levels. The blood arteries are dilated by jaggery, allowing for smooth flow and stabilizing blood pressure. So having it in your diet would be really beneficial if you have high or low blood pressure.
3. Extremely Nourishing
A complete package of betaine, choline, Vitamin B6, B12, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium as well and manganese turns jaggery to be completely nourishing for our body.
It contains a lot of calories due to the sugar it contains. As a result, it should be included in a well-balanced diet and consumed in moderation. Due to its natural sugar content, those with diabetes should be careful when consuming jaggery, and it’s always a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider or a qualified dietitian for individualized dietary recommendations.
4. Excellent Source of Nutrients
The procedure of preparing jaggery is simply natural and does not involve the usage of chemicals, preservatives, or any synthetic additives. Thus, it is full of very natural and rich minerals and vitamins.
5. Detoxifies the Liver
Many foods have the reputation of aiding liver detoxification. Your body can, however, get rid of these toxins on its own.
There is currently no evidence to support the assumption that any meal or beverage can facilitate or speed up this “detox” process.
But, with the intake of jaggery basically promotes the flushing out of harmful toxins from your body thus leaving the liver clean and detoxified.
6. Natural Cleanser for the Body
The antioxidants and minerals in jaggery help clear the mucus off the lungs. Also, consuming a limited amount of jaggery each day helps clean the blood, leaving your body fit and healthy. Moreover, the cleanser is 100% natural, safe as well as nourishing. Additionally, it plays a vital role in treating and preventing skin problems such as Acne or Pimples.
7. Raises the Haemoglobin levels
Yet another advantage of jaggery is that it boosts the haemoglobin percentage in your body thus strengthening the immune system. Being rich in minerals like iron and phosphorus, jaggery is thus supportive for people with a low-iron diet or at risk of developing anaemia.
8. Boost Immunity
Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals like Zinc and Selenium that add to preventing free radical damage as well as boosting resistance against any sort of infection. Remember, a better immune system means fewer chances of you falling sick.
9. Improves Digestion
Including jaggery after meals as a dessert is for the reason that it helps the digestive enzymes. Also, it stimulates the bowels and is thus beneficial for all those who face the problem of constipation or any other digestive issue.
10. Aids Glucose Control
White sugar which is highly consumed by all is known to increase your blood glucose levels. Switching to a healthier alternative and opting for jaggery as a sweetener helps keep your blood sugar levels in check.
11. Helps in Weight Loss
Weight Gain is one of the common issues among people. However, with trusted home remedies, one can lose all the extra fat in less time. A modest consumption of jaggery is a recommended strategy to promote weight loss. Long chains of sucrose are the main component of jaggery, a complex sugar.
The sucrose takes the body a while to digest, so the energy is released gradually over a longer period of time. Additionally, it prolongs our feelings of fullness and decreases our hunger.
In short, loaded with nutrients, jaggery makes you feel full for quite some extra time and thus helps control your cravings. No doubt, this is so very important when you’re trying to lose weight.
12. Good for Joints and Bones
Being rich in calcium, jaggery is immensely good for bone health and helps prevent joint and bone problems like arthritis.
13. Helps Manage the Nervous System
Jaggery contains Magnesium strengthens the nervous system and also relaxes the muscles. Moreover, it acts as an antioxidant to prevent nerve cell damage and maintain healthy blood vessels.
14. Plays a Crucial Role in Migraine Patients
It has a high nutritional value. Besides iron, it has an abundance of minerals like Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, and more. At times of Migraine attack, there is a magnesium loss in the brain. Consuming jaggery which has a lot of magnesium helps overcome the magnesium loss thus providing relief from the pain.
15. Helps during Mensuration
Being rich in iron, jaggery helps maintain blood levels at the time of mensuration. Moreover, it also helps overcome pain during stomach cramps and mood swings. The happy hormones (endorphins) released on eating jaggery comfort the body during the monthly cycle.
16. Manages Diabetes
Whether jaggery can be ingested by individuals with high blood sugar levels is a topic of debate among diabetic doctors. Doctors claim that palm jaggery or ordinary gur are acceptable in moderation despite the fact that refined sugar is well documented to be a severe no-no. In contrast to sugar, jaggery is high in iron, magnesium, and potassium and does not cause sharp increases in blood sugar levels.
17. Good for Treating Cough
Gur is a special component that can overcome all seasonal challenges, whether they arise in the winter or the summer. In warmer weather, it works wonders as a natural coolant, and in the cold, it helps treat a variety of respiratory conditions. Powerful in its ability to fight allergies, it cleanses the body and soothes muscles. A piece of jaggery with a bit of ginger helps to cleanse the airways and eliminate mucus.
Conclusion
In conclusion, jaggery is a great supplement to a balanced diet because of its many health advantages. Along with antioxidants and vitamins, this natural sweetener provides a rich source of important minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Jaggery purifies the blood and supports bone health, which can help with digestion, increase energy, and possibly promote general health. However, due to its calorie and sugar content, jaggery should be used in moderation, especially by people with diabetes.
A healthcare practitioner should be consulted before making any dietary decisions in order to identify the best and healthiest way to incorporate jaggery into your diet.