Jaggery Nutrition- an organic way! Jaggery is prepared from sugarcane molasses; it’s the unrefined brown sugar. Better known as the medicinal sugar. It’s available in many forms like blocks, liquid, powder or small random pieces. Do see in the chart the difference between jaggery and sugar, and why should we replace sugar with jaggery. Following are the benefits of jaggery: Energy Food: Carbohydrate being the main nutrient supplied by jaggery, foods high in carbohydrates fuels our body to produce sustainable energy through oxidation. Jaggery has more complex form of carbohydrate than plain sugar. So, it is digested and absorbed gradually and releases energy gradually. This provides with warmth and energy for a longer period, without harming the internal organs. This could be a good food supplement for fitness lovers. However, it provides roughly around the same amount of energy and carbohydrate as sugar. So excess intake of jaggery is not advocated. Cleansing Agent Jaggery effectively cleans the respiratory tracts, lungs, food pipe, stomach and intestines. It pulls out dust and unwanted particles from the body. It also helps in giving relief from constipation, perhaps due to presence of fibre in it. Jaggery has strong antioxidant properties and protects our body cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Apart from this, the presence of mineral potassium helps to assists kidneys to remove waste by the process of excretion. Digestive Agent: This may sound strange but it is true and it has sufficient scientific explanation behind this. In India, it is recommended to take a few grams of jaggery after a heavy meal of after eating meat. This facilitates digesting. What happens is that jaggery activates the digestive enzymes this speeds up digestion. Jaggery helps in bile disorder: According to ayurveda, jaggery helps in treating bile disorders thus is useful in treating jaundice. It strengthens the liver. Jaggery helps in maintaining acid balance. Jaggery is high in Potassium and low in Sodium helps to maintain blood pressure and reduces water retention.. This also helps in maintaining balance in your body. Infact, jaggery, when taken along with dry ginger is a known cure for acidity and gas. Jaggery is eco-friendly: According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF), sugar industry pollutes air, water and soil. While jaggery is produced by cooking sugarcane juice in an iron vessel, sugar undergoes various treatments, purification, crystallisation which not only wastes several gallons water, but also pollutes natural water source, where the wastewater is dumped! Jaggery is healthier and greener. Jaggery helps to treat Cramps: Due to the presence of magnesium and potassium. Muscle cramps result due to low level of potassium in the blood, a condition called as hypokalemia, also due to magnesium deficiency symptoms of cramps in leg as well as fatigue are normally visible. Keeps bone healthy: Due to the presence of magnesium, which is directly related to the bone density. Inadequacy of this mineral could be a cause of osteoporosis. Magnesium helps in regulation of calcium levels in the body along with Vitamin D, Copper, Zinc etc. May help to prevent Stroke: Due to the presence of Potassium, which plays an important role in keeping the working of brain in normal state. It is of great importance in preventing the occurrence of stroke in human brain. Prevents Asthma: Chronic asthma patients may be able to normalize their breathing with help of jaggery due to magnesium present in it that aids in relaxing bronchial muscles and normalize breathing. Even wheezing and breathlessness can be relieved through. Increases haemoglobin Jaggery is rich in iron and thus is highly recommended for anaemic people, helps in increasing haemoglobin. Most of the iron in it comes through processing in iron vessels.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 15:45:35 +0000
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