Elders often end their meals with jaggery. Some might think the sweet, heavenly flavor is the reason for its popularity. However, this naturally sweetened food has tremendous health benefits. Mainly raw concentrated sugarcane juice is boiled down and solidified and is essentially a form of unrefined sugar. Also known as gur, it is also made from the sap of date palms and coconuts. Jaggery is an important part of the staple food in most parts of India. It’s known as Bela in Kannada, Velam in Tamil, and Guru in Marathi.
26 Health Benefits Of Consuming Jaggery In Winter
1. Prevention of respiratory diseases
For those who have frequent respiratory problems, jaggery can be one of the most beneficial solutions. Studies show that jaggery removes dust and unwanted particles from the body, thereby helping the airways. It is believed to relieve congestion in the lungs, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
2. Helps with weight loss
Weight gain is a problem that most people have to deal with. A reliable way to promote weight loss is to consume jaggery in moderation. Jaggery is a complex sugar consisting of long chains of sucrose. The body takes longer to digest sucrose, and the extracted energy is released slowly over a longer period of time. This makes you feel fuller for longer and reduces your appetite. Jaggery is an excellent source of potassium, which helps balance electrolytes, boost metabolism, and build muscle. In addition, potassium is important for weight loss as it also helps reduce water retention in the body.
3. Control blood pressure
The potassium and sodium found in jaggery help maintain acidity in the body. This helps maintain normal blood pressure. Jaggery dilates blood vessels, allowing smooth flow and stabilizing blood pressure. So if someone suffers from high or low blood pressure, including it in their diet would be of great help!
4. Great source of energy
Unlike sugar, which provides short-term energy bursts, jaggery provides a longer-lasting, graded energy. This also helps prevent fatigue.
5. Relieves menstrual cramps
Jaggery is a natural remedy for menstrual pain relief. Consuming jaggery releases endorphins, feel-good hormones that help combat PMS symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, and cravings. Regular consumption of jaggery can also help regulate irregular periods.
6. Prevent anemia
According to recent findings, 63% of women across India are anemic. One in five maternal deaths is related to anemia. To prevent anemia, it is necessary to maintain adequate levels of red blood cells in the body, along with iron and folic acid. Jaggery is rich in iron and folic acid, making it great for preventing anemia. Doctors often recommend young people and pregnant women to take it.
7. Cleanse the body
Jaggery is one of the best natural cleansers for the body, so it is often consumed after meals. Consuming this food will successfully clear all kinds of unwanted particles from the intestines, stomach, esophagus, lungs, and respiratory tract. Jaggery improves the level of hemoglobin in the blood and subsequently increases the amount of sodium and potassium in the body. A balanced sodium-potassium ratio controls acid reactions and keeps the blood clean.
8. Liver detoxification
Jaggery is a natural cleanser, especially for the liver. Natural sweeteners help flush harmful toxins from the body, which further aids liver detoxification. Therefore, people suffering from liver disease should start consuming jaggery.
9. Prevent constipation
Consuming a nutritious sweetener helps stimulate bowel movements and activate digestive enzymes in the body. Just take this nutritious natural sweetener when you eat a heavy meal, and it reduces the risk of constipation. Eating jaggery with ghee after meals can improve bowel movements. The iron in jaggery and ghee fats acts as a natural laxative and relieves constipation.
10. Treatment of colds and coughs
Jaggery also helps treat flu-like symptoms such as colds and coughs. Because jaggery forms a layer on the lining of the throat, it is beneficial for throat conditions such as sore throat and itchy throat. For better results, mix jaggery in warm milk or use it as a sweetener in tea.
11. Reduce joint pain
For those who suffer from arthritis or any kind of joint pain, taking jaggery can significantly reduce pain. Jaggery is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus. When these two nutrients are combined, they work together to eliminate joint and bone problems. Eating it with ginger enhances its efficacy.
12. Healthy skin
Jaggery is effective in purifying blood, increasing hemoglobin count, treating acne and pimples, and making skin healthier.
Glycolic acid in jaggery corrects skin imperfections and promotes clear skin. Eating it with sesame seeds enhances the skin-beautifying effect of jaggery.
13. Jaggery can boost immunity.
Antioxidants and minerals such as selenium and zinc are found in significant amounts in jaggery. It helps prevent free radical damage and increases resistance to various infections. That’s why it’s often eaten in winter.
14. Cure urinary tract problems
Since sugarcane is a natural diuretic, jaggery also has this property. Reducing bladder inflammation, stimulating urination, and improving the smooth flow of urine are problems that can be easily solved with regular consumption of this nutritious food.
15. Maintain gut health
Jaggery is rich in magnesium. It contains 16 mg of minerals per 10 g of feed. Therefore, even 10 grams would meet the 4-year requirement for this mineral for the rest of our life. Therefore, daily consumption contributes to good gut health.
16. Treats acne and blackheads
Jaggery helps treat and prevent many skin problems, such as acne and pimples. It also delays signs of aging, such as wrinkles and age spots.
17. Prevents nervous system problems
This food has many natural properties that help the nervous system function properly and stay healthy. This keeps various nervous system disorders at bay.
18. Regulates liver function
One of the liver’s main functions is to remove harmful toxins and other impurities from the body. Because jaggery can naturally cleanse the body, it reduces the load on the liver and also detoxifies it, thereby regulating its function.
19. Reduce PMS
Eating a small amount of jaggery daily can help relieve PMS. This problem is caused by fluctuating hormone levels, and this food helps lower hormone levels as it stimulates the release of endorphins, known as happiness hormones.
20. Cures hiccups
If you have hiccups, eating jaggery can help. Just mix it with dry ginger powder. Experts recommend eating this mixture with a glass of warm water. To fix this problem, mix 3 grams of jaggery with 500 mg of ginger powder.
21. Cool the stomach
As mentioned earlier, jaggery helps keep the body temperature normal. This will allow your stomach to cool down. Experts recommend eating a medium-sized slice every day, especially during the summer months.
22. Improves sperm quality and production
According to Ayurveda, consuming jaggery mixed with amla powder can help improve sperm quality. It can also help increase sperm production. It also reduces body weakness and helps treat and prevent urinary problems in men.
23. Increases iron absorption
Jaggery is rich in iron, so eating jaggery with vitamin C-rich foods will help your body absorb this mineral. Experts recommend pairing it with foods such as citrus fruits, amla, and guava. When iron is properly absorbed, it promotes hair health, resulting in strong, shiny hair.
24. Natural sweetener
Jaggery has traditionally been used as a sweetener not only for its sweetening properties but also for its unique flavor and aroma. Sugar only adds sweetness, while jaggery adds sweetness along with flavor. Other types of jaggery, such as date jaggery, also have flavors that put them on a higher pedestal than simple sugar.
25. Warming effect
Jaggery provides heat to the body as it contains carbohydrates that take longer to digest. Many countries prepare jaggery sweets and special foods during the cold season. This is a traditional way to add a little warmth in winter. Using date jaggery for this purpose is beneficial as it provides maximum heat to the body.
26. Prevention of asthma
Black jaggery has thermoregulatory properties. It also has anti-allergic properties. This is very important for asthmatics.
Bottom line
This dark brown natural sweetener is readily available throughout India. However, make sure the jaggery you buy is 100% natural. Once you make it a part of your daily diet, its benefits will start to show. Jaggery, essentially unrefined sugar, is a powerhouse of essential nutrients.
