Jaggery or Gur is a traditional sweetener in India made by evaporating raw sugarcane juice without separating the molasses from the crystals. Jaggery is essentially unrefined sugar which is obtained from raw, concentrated sugar cane juice. It's prepared by boiling sugar cane juice till it solidifies and then put into blocks. Although it can be made from other sources like the date palm and the sap of coconuts, sugar cane juice is the most commonly used.
It is known as "panela" in South America & Mexico, "gur" in India, and is softer than refined sugar, varying in color from yellow to dark brown. Refined sugar loses much of its nutritional content during production, jaggery contains trace minerals and vitamins, making it a truly healthier alternative sweetener.
According to Naini Setalvad, a renowned nutritionist and obesity consultant, Jaggery is the closest substitute to white sugar and is healthy too. It can be used exactly like sugar as you get in powder, solid and liquid form.’ Not only isgur better than white sugar which only adds empty calories to your body, it also has a few health benefits. Here’s why it is good for your health.
Health Benefits
#1 Prevents constipation
Jaggery helps prevent and relieve constipation by stimulating bowel movements. It activates the digestive enzymes in our body and thus helps in
#2 Is good for anemics
Gur or Jaggery is also an excellent source of iron, a mineral that plays a key role in the production of haemoglobin.
#3 Cleanses the liver
Eat a small piece of jaggery. It helps detoxify your liver by flushing out harmful toxins from your body. Read about
#5 Reduces PMS
Eat a small piece of jaggery daily to combat these symptoms of PMS. Caused due to fluctuating levels of hormones in your body, jaggery causes the release of endorphins aka happy hormones. This in turn relaxes your body and makes you feel good thereby preventing from premenstrual syndrome.
#6 Increases immunity
Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals like zinc and selenium, which help prevent free-radical damage and also boost resistance against infections.
A word of caution!
There are no side effects but it is high in calories. Hence, people who are on a weight loss diet or are diabetic should monitor their consumption as it can lead to weight gain and fluctuations in the blood sugar levels.
Differences between organic jaggery and refined sugar:
Sources:
wikipedia
7 health benefits of jaggery or gur you didn’t know about!
Kriti Saraswit Apr. 20, 2015
Organic Facts.net
It is known as "panela" in South America & Mexico, "gur" in India, and is softer than refined sugar, varying in color from yellow to dark brown. Refined sugar loses much of its nutritional content during production, jaggery contains trace minerals and vitamins, making it a truly healthier alternative sweetener.
According to Naini Setalvad, a renowned nutritionist and obesity consultant, Jaggery is the closest substitute to white sugar and is healthy too. It can be used exactly like sugar as you get in powder, solid and liquid form.’ Not only isgur better than white sugar which only adds empty calories to your body, it also has a few health benefits. Here’s why it is good for your health.
Health Benefits
#1 Prevents constipation
Jaggery helps prevent and relieve constipation by stimulating bowel movements. It activates the digestive enzymes in our body and thus helps in
#2 Is good for anemics
Gur or Jaggery is also an excellent source of iron, a mineral that plays a key role in the production of haemoglobin.
#3 Cleanses the liver
Eat a small piece of jaggery. It helps detoxify your liver by flushing out harmful toxins from your body. Read about
#5 Reduces PMS
Eat a small piece of jaggery daily to combat these symptoms of PMS. Caused due to fluctuating levels of hormones in your body, jaggery causes the release of endorphins aka happy hormones. This in turn relaxes your body and makes you feel good thereby preventing from premenstrual syndrome.
#6 Increases immunity
Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals like zinc and selenium, which help prevent free-radical damage and also boost resistance against infections.
A word of caution!
There are no side effects but it is high in calories. Hence, people who are on a weight loss diet or are diabetic should monitor their consumption as it can lead to weight gain and fluctuations in the blood sugar levels.
Differences between organic jaggery and refined sugar:
- Refined sugar is processed using chemicals to clarify the cane sugar juice syrup, whereas organic jaggery is produced by simply boiling this syrup without the use of harsh chemicals.
- Refined sugar is solid and crystalline, whereas organic jaggery is soft and is pressed into blocks.
Sources:
wikipedia
7 health benefits of jaggery or gur you didn’t know about!
Kriti Saraswit Apr. 20, 2015
Organic Facts.net
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