Jaggery: Not just a sweetener for your mouth | Sanjay Pasari

Jaggery is often eaten by adults. One would think that its heavenly taste is what makes it so popular. However, this very tasty food has great health benefits. Made from raw, concentrated sugar cane juice that is boiled until it hardens, it is essentially an unrefined form of sugar. Also known as Gur, it can be made from date palm (Nolen Gur from West Bengal) or coconut sap. Jaggery is an important part of the staple diet in many parts of India. It is known as 'bella' in Kannada, 'Vellam' in Tamil and 'Gul' in Marathi. Before we learn the nutritional value of this food, let's understand how it differs from white sugar, honey, and brown sugar.

Health benefits of Jaggery

I am sharing some of health benefits that you can see in your daily life after using jaggery instead of sugar in your meal.

1. Prevention of respiratory problems  

For those who are prone to gas problems, jaggery can be one of the best solutions. According to research, jaggery is believed to remove dust and unwanted substances from the body, clearing the airways, lungs, food pipe, stomach, and intestines. It is recommended to have jaggery with pepper, tulsi, dry ginger or sesame seeds for best results.  

2. Helps to lose weight  

Being overweight is a problem that many people have to deal with. A reliable remedy to promote weight loss is to drink a little jaggery. Jaggery is a complex, long-chain sugar made up of sucrose. The body takes time to digest sucrose, thus releasing the energy produced slowly and over a long period of time. It also makes us feel full longer, reducing our appetite. Jaggery is a good source of potassium which helps balance electrolytes, boost metabolism and build muscle. In addition, potassium can also help reduce water retention in the body, thus playing a major role in weight loss.

3: Regulates blood pressure

Jaggery's potassium and sodium content aid in preserving the body's acid balance. In turn, this keeps blood pressure levels within acceptable ranges.

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.

4: Excellent energy source

Jaggery gives you steady energy that lasts longer than sugar, which gives you a quick energy boost. This is due to the fact that it is unprocessed, which makes sure that blood sugar levels aren't quickly altered but instead grow gradually. This in turn can assist in avoiding weariness.

5. Reduces period pain

An all-natural treatment for menstrual cramp discomfort is jaggery. Endorphins, a pleasant hormone that is released when jaggery is consumed, are helpful in reducing PMS symptoms including mood swings, impatience, food cravings, and many more. Jaggery use on a regular basis may also help control irregular periods.

About the Author

Hello, my name is Sanjay Pasari. I am a blogger and health nut from Delhi. I write blog to enlighten readers about their surroundings and to amuse them. Share my work with your relatives and friends if you enjoy it to spread the word about health, love, and a happy atmosphere. Thanks for your support.