Since ancient times, jaggery, a traditional Indian sweetener has found a place of pride in Indian households. A natural product made from concentrated sugarcane juice or palm sap, jaggery has innumerable health and beauty benefits.
An integral part of Indian cooking, jaggery helps prevent blood disorders and anemia, reduces digestive disorders, and even helps in curing acne and pimples. In Ayurveda, Jaggery is used as a purifier, aid against bile disorders, as well as natural medicine.
The Goodness of Jaggery – Weight loss aid!
Coupled with the goodness of proteins, fiber, minerals, and calories, it has been hailed as a superfood. The sucrose makes it sweet and adds to it savoring the taste.
With 50% sucrose, 20% moisture, 20% sugars and nutrients, it is an excellent replacement for sugar, should you be looking to lose weight. The high level of minerals especially potassium reduces water retention hence improving metabolism, aiding effective weight management.
Health Benefits of Jaggery
The therapeutic benefits associated with jaggery are undeniable. With no added chemicals, it makes up for an excellent substitute for all other processed sweeteners and white sugar.
Not only jaggery enhances the flavor of food but it also provides essential micronutrients and minerals to support a healthy meal. However, moderation is key when it comes to using jaggery in your meals!!
Purifies the Blood
Consumption in limited quantities helps purify blood & enhances the blood hemoglobin count. It helps in maintaining blood pressure and flushes out toxins from the body.
Prevents Digestive Disorders
It activates the secretion of digestive enzymes which makes it an excellent digestive agent. Regular consumption helps in treating constipation & indigestion.
The complex carbohydrate nature of jaggery releases energy at a slower rate and longer period. It also helps in curing fatigue improving the overall functioning of the body.
Beneficial for Bones
Consumption of it with ginger helps cure joint pains and with milk, strengthens the bones.
Relieves Migraines
A well-known home remedy for treating migraine, it can be consumed with ghee to treat the same.
Prevents Anemia
A rich source of iron & folates; helps maintain normal level of red blood cells in the body thus preventing anemia. It is mainly recommended for pregnant women.
It causes the release of endorphins, reduces anxiety & relaxes the muscles providing relief from cramps & abdominal pains.
Improves Skin and Hair Health
The vitamins and minerals present in it, provide nourishment to the skin and cure skin problems.
Limits on Consumption
A great thing about jaggery is that “Eating it in large quantities will not help anybody, however eating just a little can do wonders to your mind & body!!”
Over-indulgence may reverse its benefits for your health. Instead of reducing weight, it may lead to substantial weight gain in some cases. Diabetic patients are advised to avoid eating it. It still is a sweetener and has high sugar content, which may be detrimental to their health.
The benefits of Jaggery are plenty. Add it to your meals and feel the difference for yourself!
Nidhi is the Founder of Medhya Herbals. She is a passionate nature lover and a firm believer in nature's intelligence - which is Ayurveda, a science of life! She started Medhya Herbals with a mission to make Ayurveda's deep knowledge of self-healing practical and accessible. Nidhi has experienced Ayurveda firsthand, through her father Dr. Pawan Bansal, who is an Ayurvedic practitioner with more than 40 yrs. in clinical practice. Nidhi is a Chemical Engineer from IIT Delhi.
