The world was locked down as people discovered secrets for skin whitening, pigmentation, and hair care that they didn’t know existed. It’s a good thing, as natural and other home remedies are more effective and last longer than harmful cosmetic solutions.

Here’s some good news for those who don’t like to do too much and only want the best of what is available. Jaggery is a sugarcane juice or palm juice-based substitute for white sugar. In Hindi, it is called gur/gud.

Jaggery, also known as Gud in the local language, is the one-stop solution to all skin conditions. It can be used for everything from skin whitening to treating hyperpigmentation to pimples.

Jaggery benefits

• Many hair and skin conditions can be treated with this product.
• Helps prevent premature ageing
• Helps in treating digestive problems
• Helps with skin whitening
• Hyperpigmentation can be treated
• Improves liver health

How to incorporate Jaggery into Your Diet

Regular consumption of jaggery is the only way to reap all its benefits. This is why you need to find innovative ways to add jaggery to your diet or use it topically. Here are the best and most common ways to incorporate jaggery into your daily life.

• A small amount of jaggery can be eaten in its original form.
• It can be used as a sugar substitute and can be added to your daily cup or tea.
• Gur Rotis can be made by adding a little Gur to the flour.

Jaggery Nutrition

These ingredients make up a quarter cup of jaggery:

• Calories: 100
• Protein: Around 1 gram or Less
• Fat: Less than 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: around 26 grams
• Fibre: 1 gram or less
• Sugar: around 24 grams
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Potassium
• Phosphorus
• Iron
• Zinc
• Copper
• Vitamin B (thiamin riboflavin, and niacin).
• Plant protein
• Phytochemicals
• Anti-oxidant

These ingredients make up a quarter cup of jaggery:

How much jaggery should you consume every day? A daily intake of 10 grams should suffice. Although it is a healthier and more nutritious sugar alternative, 10 grams of jaggery should be sufficient. It is important to not consume too many of it.

The Top Benefits of Eating Jaggery

1. Glowing Skin

Glowing skin is something we all desire. However, environmental factors like dust, pollution and UV rays can strip our skin of its natural glow, rendering it duller and less vibrant. Jaggery is a great option to make your skin glow again. It contains glycolic Acid, which is a key ingredient in many skin-whitening products that improve your skin texture.

Did you know that jaggery can be applied topically to reap many skin benefits?

• Apply this mixture to your neck and face with powdered jaggery and lemon juice.
• After 10 minutes, wash it and dry it.

2. Eliminates Pigmentation

Jaggery can also be used to lighten your skin and remove skin pigmentation.

• Mix 1 tablespoon of jaggery powder and 1 teaspoon tomato juice.
• You can also add some lemon juice or turmeric powder.
• Apply the mixture to your face, and let it sit for approximately 15 minutes.
• After it has dried, wash it with normal water.
• Your hyperpigmentation will decrease to an average level.

3. Reduces wrinkles

Glycolic acid is the main ingredient in Jaggery, which has many skin benefits. Glycolic acid also increases skin flexibility which reduces signs of ageing such as wrinkles and fine lines. Glycolic acid is an effective mild exfoliator that promotes clear, spotless skin.

4. Prevents premature ageing

Gur is a superfood in Ayurveda because of its medicinal properties. When consumed with sesame seeds or other essential herbs, the skin benefits of jaggery can be fully realized. Because jaggery is rich in anti-oxidants, it can prevent skin-aging and fight free radicals.

5. Reduces pimples

Jaggery is known to be very effective in treating skin conditions such as acne. A small amount of jaggery daily can clear up skin imperfections, improve skin complexion and prevent future breakouts.

6. Reduces Hair Fall

Jaggery, a rich source iron, prevents hair loss. Iron increases hemoglobin levels in the blood, which in turn promotes hair growth.

7. Better Digestive Health

In India, jaggery is usually consumed after a meal.

It is believed to aid digestion and stimulate bowel movements. This makes it an excellent choice for avoiding constipation.

Jaggery contains sugar, but very little fibre and water. These are two elements believed to help with regular bowel movements .

This assertion is not supported by any research. Jaggery’s nutritional composition does not appear to help with digestion.

8. Promotes Hair Growth

Numerous scientific studies have shown that hair grows at an average of one inch each month. Iron deficiency can slow down this growth. Consuming Gur, which is rich in iron, daily promotes hair growth.

9. Treatment of urinary issues

Jaggery can be used as a natural diuretic to promote urination, and thus treat urinary problems. It can also be used to treat bladder enlargement or other problems.

Is it healthy to eat jaggery every single day?

Jaggery should be taken every day after meals in order to prevent constipation. It also stimulates the body’s digestive enzymes, which aid digestion.

Consuming around 10 grams of jaggery each day after meals is recommended. A 10g serving of jaggery contains 16 mg of minerals. This means that you can get 4% of your daily mineral needs by consuming it just once per day.

Jaggery is good for your health.

Jaggery is an excellent source of iron from plants. Although a single jaggery serving will not meet your daily iron needs, adding jaggery to your diet can increase iron intake and reduce your risk of developing anemia.

Different types of Jaggery

Sugar Jaggery

Because it is made from unfermented coconut syrup, this kind of jaggery contains a lot more magnesium and iron. This jaggery isn’t your usual sucrose. It doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients. This type of jaggery can also be used to reduce the amount of spice in any sauce. This jaggery can be used to flavor and color Indian delicacies such as kheer or halwa.

Coconut Jaggery

This type of jaggery is rich in iron and magnesium. It is made from raw coconut sap. It’s not artificially colored or sweetened with sugar. It can also be used to reduce the spice in any dish.

Palm Jaggery

The potassium rich palm jaggery is a palm tree product that helps to lower bodily water retention. Palm jaggery is also a powerful cleanser that can be used to support intestinal health and weight loss.

Drinking Jaggery Water has many benefits

Jaggery water can help empty the stomach, promote digestion, and protect you from acidity, constipation and other digestive issues. It helps prevent weight gain by promoting the production of digestive juices. Jaggery is known for its high melting point, and it can work miracles when taken before bed in winter.

• It helps to protect against common colds and flu.
• Jaggery stimulates the release hormones, which de-train the body and mind. This allows you to fall asleep faster and more comfortably.
• Increases metabolism and immunity
• Weight loss aids
• Anemia is treated
• Reduces joint pain and lowers blood pressure

Take Away

Jaggery has many skin, hair and gut benefits. It is also believed to improve your liver and immune system. It can also reduce the risk of anaemia, and have a cooling effect. These facts are not supported by enough science. Sugar intake from any source is not safe. It can lead to obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. To reap the benefits of jaggery, you should always be aware of how much sugar you are consuming.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

1. How good is jaggery water for your health?

As an antidote to your health, warm water and jaggery go well together. It aids in digestion and increases natural digestive enzymes.

2. How high is jaggery’s sugar content?

Jaggery has a sugar content of approximately 24 grams

3. Jaggery is good for hair

Jaggery is rich in iron which can help prevent hair loss. Iron helps in the formation haemoglobin. This improves blood circulation to the scalp’s root, encouraging hair growth. Hair that is sprayed with iron contains jaggery will be silky and shiny.

References:

1. Fermin Mearin and Constanza Ciriza, Miguel Minguez. Enrique Rey. Juan Jose Mascot. Enrique Pena. Pedro Canones. Javier Judez. Jun 2016. Clinical Practice Guidelines: Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation.
2. How to make jaggery syrup