My grand-parents ate jaggery after every lunch and dinner during winter

Summary:

1. My grand-parents ate jaggery after every lunch and dinner during winter. (my note: Even my grand father used to eat a small piece of jaggery after every non-vegetarian meal. It was supposed to help with digestion. Perhaps, the below article's grand-parents were taking it after meal in winter as metabolism levels are low during winter.)

2. Primarily, jaggery is good for the following:

Digestion - helps with digestion
Anemia prevention & Blood purification
Liver detoxification
Cleansing - especially of respiratory system
Constipation - relives it

15 Jaggery Benefits: Ever Wondered Why Our Elders End a Meal with Gur?

Aashna Ahuja , NDTV  |  Updated: February 11, 2016 18:46 IST

TweeterfacebookGoogle PlusReddit

My earliest memory of winter in Delhi, and perhaps my favourite, dates back to when I was maybe four years old. My mom had asked me to call my brother to the dinner table where laid a plate of Makki ki Roti, gur and a generous dollop of ghee. I remember thinking I would take just one small bite. Needless to say, I never made it to my brother's room... And a few minutes later, he found me polishing off his dinner, and not at all sorry for doing so. Who could blame me? The flavour of gur is just so heavenly. Another of my favourites is my nani's timeless Gur ki Roti loaded with ghee and saunf. To this day, the rustic earthy scent rewinds the clock and takes me back to my playful childhood days.

Jaggery i.e. "Gur" in Hindi is also known as 'Bellam' in Telugu, 'Vellam' in Tamil, 'Sharkara' in Malayalam, 'Bella' in Kannada, and 'Gul' in Marathi. It is basically unrefined sugar which is obtained from raw, concentrated sugarcane juice. Although gur can be made from other sources, namely from date palm (nolen gur) and the sap of coconut, the one made from sugarcane juice is the most commonly used. It is prepared by boiling sugar cane juice till it solidifies and then put into blocks.

 

As I type (and my mouth drools), I can't help but wonder why my grandparents used to eat jaggery post lunch and dinner every winter. Dr. Manoj K. Ahuja, Sukhda Hospital, says "It is best consumed during the winter months because winter is the season of fresh jaggery. Since it is rich in many vital vitamins and minerals, jaggery boosts immunity, keeps the body warm, helps treat cold and cough and controls the temperature of the body. This natural sweetener has been a great go-to ingredient in India since time immemorial."

Here are 15 jaggery benefits everyone should know -

1. Prevents constipation: Jaggery activates the digestive enzymes in the body, stimulates bowel movements and thus helps prevent and relieve constipation.

2. Detoxes the liver: Jaggery helps cleanse the liver by flushing out harmful toxins from the body. So if you want to effectively detox your body, bite into a piece of jaggery.

3. Treats flu-like symptoms: Fight symptoms of a cold and cough with the help of gur. All you need to do is mix it with warm water and drink up, or even add it in your tea instead of sugar to reap the benefits.

4. Blood purifier: One of the most well-known benefits of jaggery is its ability to purify the blood. When consumed on a regular basis and in limited quantities, it cleanses the blood, leaving your body healthy.

5. 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.
 

6. Cleanses the body: Jaggery is one of the best natural cleansing agents for the body, hence it is advised to eat jaggery to remove unwanted particles from the body. It efficiently cleans the respiratory tract, lungs, intestines, stomach and food pipe. Eating jaggery is highly recommended for people working in heavily polluted areas such as factories or coal mines.

7. Eases menstrual pain: Jaggery, due to its richness in many essential nutrients, 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).

8. Prevents anaemia: Jaggery is rich in iron and folate which help prevent anaemia by ensuring that a normal level of red blood cells is maintained. This is especially beneficial for pregnant women.

9. 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.

10. 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.
 

^{Akhil Ahmed's Gur Sharbat circa 1947. Address: Corner of Pahadi Imli, Chitli Qabar, Jama Masjid, Old Delhi}

11. 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.

12. Prevents respiratory problems: By consuming jaggery regularly, you can prevent many respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, etc. Experts recommend eating this natural sweetener with sesame seeds for wonderful benefits for the respiratory system.

13. Relieves joint pain: "If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, eating jaggery can provide you with much-needed relief", says Dr. Manoj K. Ahuja, Sukhda Hospital. 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, thus preventing joint and bone problems such as arthritis.

14. Weight loss: "Jaggery is surprisingly effective as an aid for weight loss. This is because jaggery is a rich source of potassium, which is a mineral that helps in the balance of electrolytes as well as building muscles and boosting metabolism. Potassium also helps in the reduction of water retention, which helps in managing your weight", says Delhi-based Nutritionist Anshul Jaibharat. These factors play an important role in effective weight loss, so if you're looking to lose some unwanted pounds, include this food in your diet.

15. Good source of energy: While sugar is a simple carbohydrate that gets absorbed in the bloodstream instantly and gives instant energy, jaggery is a complex carbohydrate that gives energy to the body gradually and for a longer time. This means that the levels of blood sugar do not get raised immediately. It also helps prevent fatigue and weakness of the body.

Note: It is, however, suggested to consume jaggery in moderation, as it is slightly higher in calories, containing up to 4 kcal/gram.
 

^{Nolen Gurer Sandesh. Image Credits: www.colorandspices.blogspot.com}

Now that you know how good jaggery is for you, don't feel guilty when you can't stop munching on Gur Pare at home, or while digging into Nolen Gurer (date palm jaggery) Sandesh at Girish Chandra Dey and Nakur Chandra Nandy in Kolkata. And surprisingly, this winter specialty is now available throughout the year since restaurants and sweet shops are using smart preserving techniques to feed the fan frenzy.

Sudip Mullick from Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick shares his secret, "We preserve nolen gur in its solidified form or as patali gur at minus 25 degrees. This process takes place in March and the gur usually lasts till November." So if you haven't tried Bhojohori Manna's scrumptious Nolen Gur Ice Cream in the scorching summer, you're missing out! And how could we forget Gopala's Gur Rasgulla in Delhi? This jaggery jewel is unlike anything you've ever tasted.

We're also in love with Chef Joymalya Banerjee's contemporary Nolen Gurer Madeleines at Bohemian, as well as his Prawn and Crabmeat Dumplings stewed in Spicy Nolen Gurer reduction. Chef Sabyasachi Gorai of Lavaash by Saby serves a scoop of refreshing Nolen Gur Ice Cream topped off with a jaggery glaze with an Orange Pound Cake and it is pure genius. Yes, there is some serious experimentation going on in kitchens across India, with chefs rustling up sheer magic with gur.
 

^{Lavaash by Saby's Orange Pound Cake with Nolen Gur Ice Cream}

http://food.ndtv.com/health/15-jaggery-benefits-ever-wondered-why-our-elders-end-a-meal-with-gur-1270883

***

Does Jaggery Have Any Health Benefits?

One reason jaggery is gaining popularity is the belief that it is more nutritious than refined white sugar. It is also claimed to have various health benefits.

Some common health claims include improved digestive health, anemia prevention, liver detoxification and improved immune function.

Here is a critical look at the most common health claims, separating the facts from the fiction.

Improved Digestive Health

In India, it’s common for jaggery to be eaten after a meal.

Some people claim it helps with digestion and can stimulate bowel movements, making it a good choice for preventing constipation.

Jaggery is a source of sucrose, but it contains almost no fiber or water — two dietary factors known to help with regular bowel movements (6).

No available research confirms this claim. Given the nutrition profile, it seems unlikely that jaggery would help with digestion or prevent constipation.

Anemia Prevention

Some studies suggest the iron in non-centrifugal sugars is more easily used by the body than iron from other plant sources (7).

Jaggery contains around 11 mg of iron per 100 grams, or about 61% of the RDI (2).

This sounds impressive, but it’s unlikely that you would eat 100 grams of jaggery in one sitting. A tablespoon or teaspoon represents a more realistic portion.

A tablespoon (20 grams) contains 2.2 mg of iron, or about 12% of the RDI. A teaspoon (7 grams) contains 0.77 mg of iron, or about 4% of the RDI.

For people with low iron intake, jaggery could contribute a small amount of iron — especially when replacing white sugar.

However, you will get much greater amounts of iron from this list of 11 iron-rich foods.

What’s more, added sugar is bad for your health. Therefore, it’s unreasonable to suggest that you should add jaggery to your diet because it contains iron.

Liver Detoxification

Many foods are claimed to help your liver get rid of toxins. However, your body is capable of removing these toxins on its own.

No current evidence supports the claim that any food or drink can make this “detox” process easier or more efficient (8, 9, 10).

Improved Immune Function

In India, jaggery is often added to tonics used to treat a variety of ailments.

People believe that the minerals and antioxidants in jaggery can support the immune system and help people recover from illnesses like the common cold and the flu.

Some evidence suggests that oral zinc and vitamin C supplements may reduce the length and severity of a cold, but neither is found in high amounts in jaggery (11).

Overall, the evidence supporting this claim is lacking. However, jaggery’s high calorie content may help boost energy levels for those struggling to eat when sick.

Bottom Line: Jaggery is said to help support immune, liver and digestive health, as well as help prevent anemia. However, there is no good evidence available to support these claims.

Does Jaggery Have Negative Health Effects?

Excessive sugar intake is a contributing factor in many of the world’s most common chronic diseases.

In fact, evidence has linked excess sugar consumption with an increased risk of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes (12, 13, 14, 15).

Despite its slightly different nutrition profile, jaggery is still sugar. Therefore, eating too much of it is not a good idea.

Bottom Line: Eating too much sugar from any source can increase your risk of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.