10 Reasons Why You Must Eat Jaggery (Gur) During Winters

Jaggery is a sweetener that is obtained by extracting cane juice, and in some countries by extracting palm juice. Once the juice is extracted, it is poured into large containers, so that any unwanted sediment settles and can be strained to produce a clear liquid. After this, the juice is placed in a flat-bottom pan where it is boiled, and the resulting product is what we know as gur or jaggery. Although jaggery is also made from the sap of coconut and date palm, the one made from sugar cane is the one that’s used most widely.

Not only is gur better than white sugar–which only adds empty calories to your body–it also has a number of health benefits, including its ability to cleanse the body, aid in digestion and provide good amounts of minerals. Here are some health benefits that will make you want to adopt jaggery as your go-to sweetener for everyday purposes.

Jaggery produces heat in the body and helps in maintaining body temperature. It has high calorific value, which keeps our body warm and provides energy. This Quality of jaggery also helps in fighting illnesses like flu and common cold as a higher body temperature is less conducive for microbial growth. Jaggery is also loaded with many minerals like iron, magnesium, zinz, selenium, and potassium, which boost the immune system and help in keeping infections at bay.

Jaggery has enormous health benefits which make it the ideal sweetener. Just 20 grams of it contains 38 calories and has 9.8 gram of carbohydrates, 9.7 gram of sugar, 0.01 gram of protein, choline, betaine, Vitamin B12, B6, folate, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, and manganese. It has no traces of any kind of fat so one can readily add it to their diet without worrying about excessive fat intake.

Prevention of Respiratory Problems

Jaggery could be one of the most beneficial solutions for those who have frequent respiratory tract problems. One can prevent asthma, bronchitis, etc. by including the same in their diet. It is better if one consumes jaggery along with sesame seeds. This combination is ideal for treating respiratory problems.

Controls Blood Pressure

Jaggery contains potassium and sodium, which play an important role in the maintenance of acid levels in the body. It makes sure that a normal level of blood pressure is properly maintained. So if someone suffers from high or low blood pressure include Jaggery in their diet would be of great help!

Helps with Weight Loss

Weight gain is an issue most people have to deal with. Jaggery is surprisingly effective as an aid for weight loss. It is a good source of potassium that helps balance electrolytes, boosting metabolism as well as building muscles. Moreover, potassium can also help reduce water retention in one’s body, hence, playing a major role in weight loss. So if you planning to lose some unwanted kgs than include Jaggery in your diet from today.

Relieves Joint Pain

If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, eating jaggery can provide you with much-needed relie. You can eat it with a piece of ginger to alleviate joint pain, or even drink a glass of milk with jaggery every day to help strengthen the bones.

Purifies Blood

Consumption of jaggery on a regular basis in moderate amounts can aid in blood purification. When consumed on a regular basis and in limited quantities, it cleanses the blood, leaving your body healthy. This is also the reason why it is effective in treating acne or pimples as cleaner blood also means healthier skin. Additionally, the total hemoglobin count in blood also increases with the consumption of the right amount on daily basis.

Boosts Immunity

Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals such as zinc and selenium, which in turn help prevent free-radical damage and also boost resistance against infections. Jaggery also helps increase the total count of haemoglobin in the blood.

Eases Menstrual Pain

Due to its richness in many essential nutrients, Jaggery is an effective natural treatment for menstrual problems, especially providing relief from cramps. In case you experience sudden mood swings just before your period, you should eat a small piece of jaggery daily to combat symptoms of PMS since it leads the release of endorphins. These endorphins relax your body, thereby preventing premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Great Source of Energy

Jaggery provides gradual energy that lasts for a longer time. This is because it is unrefined, which ensures that blood sugar levels aren’t altered immediately and rises slowly instead. This, in turn, can help prevent fatigue as well. Complex carbohydrate available in Jaggery gives energy to the body gradually and for a longer time.

Boosts Intestinal Health

Jaggery also boosts intestinal strength due to its high magnesium content. With every 10 gram of jaggery, you get 16 mg of magnesium, which is 4 percent of the daily requirement of this mineral.

Cools the Stomach

Jaggery helps in maintaining normal body temperature which helps in keeping your stomach cool. Experts recommend drinking Gur Sharbat (jaggery soaked in ice cold water) during the summer months to cool off.