Jaggery also called gur in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, panela in Spanish & South America) and queijada in Brazil, is a traditional unrefined sugar which can be consumed directly. It’s the concentrated product of cane juice without separation of the molasses and crystals and its making does not involve chemical agents. Its color also varies from, golden brown to dark brown. It widely used in the preparation of sweets and well as added to savories to enhance the taste. It has many medicinal properties some of which are:
• Jaggery has sucrose and glucose and a good amount of minerals and vitamins needed for the healthy functioning of the body.
• Jaggery is also known to be a good source of magnesium which in turn helps in relieving fatigue along with relaxation of muscles, nerves and blood vessels.
• It thus helps in relieving the symptoms of asthma, migraine, tension and soreness in muscles.
• Jaggery is also a good source of potassium and this along with low amounts of sodium helps to maintain blood pressure and reduces water retention.
• Jaggery is very good for anemic people as it is a good source of iron that helps in increasing hemoglobin level in the body.
• It is also a very good source of manganese and selenium and thus acts as an antioxidant scavenging free radicals from the body.
• In addition, jaggery also possesses moderate amounts of calcium, phosphorus and zinc thus helping to maintain optimum health.
• It also helps in the purification of blood, along with preventing rheumatic afflictions and disorders of bile
• Chewing on a piece of jaggery instantly relieves heart burns caused by acidity.
• Indian Ayurvedic medicine considers jaggery to be beneficial in treating throat and lung infections.