Jaggery
Jaggery
Jaggery is popularly known as “Guda”. It is a pure, wholesome, unrefined form of sugar which contains the natural goodness of minerals and vitamins produced from sugarcane. Jaggery is used as a healthy sweetener. It is available in solid, liquid and powder form.
Jaggery is known to produce heat and provides instant energy to the human body. It prevents constipation due to its laxative property and activates digestive enzymes. As per Ayurveda, eating Jaggery daily after meals improves digestion due to its Ushna (hot) property.
Eating Jaggery might also help in weight loss by preventing retention of water in the body due to the presence of potassium in it.
It is advisable to avoid excessive consumption of Jaggery as it may upset the stomach[2][3].
Jaggery is known to produce heat and provides instant energy to the human body. It prevents constipation due to its laxative property and activates digestive enzymes. As per Ayurveda, eating Jaggery daily after meals improves digestion due to its Ushna (hot) property.
Eating Jaggery might also help in weight loss by preventing retention of water in the body due to the presence of potassium in it.
It is advisable to avoid excessive consumption of Jaggery as it may upset the stomach[2][3].
What are the synonyms of Jaggery?
Saccharum officinarum, Guda, Bella, Sarkara, Vellam, Bellam[1].
What is the source of Jaggery?
Plant Based
Benefits of Jaggery
1. Indigestion
Indigestion occurs due to incomplete process of digestion of the ingested food. The main reason for indigestion is Agnimandya (weak digestive fire). Jaggery helps enhance the Agni (digestive fire) and improve digestion due to its Ushna (hot) property.
Tip to use Jaggery to get relief from Indigestion-
a. Take a piece of Jaggery, around 2-3 inches.
b. Consume it daily after meals to help fasten and improve digestion.
2. Loss of appetite
In Ayurveda, loss of appetite is correlated with Agnimandya (weak digestion). Loss of appetite is caused by an aggravation of Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas, as well as certain psychological factors. This leads to incomplete digestion of food and causes insufficient secretion of gastric juice in the stomach, which results in appetite loss. Jaggery helps enhance the Agni (digestive fire) and improves appetite due to its Ushna (hot) property. It is also considered to be a good digestive stimulant and appetizer according to Ayurveda.
3. Anemia
Deficiency of hemoglobin in the blood is known as Anemia, wherein the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood gets reduced. Anemia, called Pandu in Ayurveda, is a condition that occurs due to an imbalanced Pitta dosha and leads to certain symptoms like weakness. Old Jaggery helps in reducing the symptoms of Anemia due to its Pitta-balancing property. It also helps in maintaining the overall health of a person due to its Rasayana (rejuvenation) property.
Tip to use Jaggery to help manage Anemia-
a. Take a small piece of Jaggery, around 10-15 grams.
b. Consume it daily in any form with food.
c. Consume it daily to recover hemoglobin in the blood and also prevent its loss, thereby managing the symptoms of Anemia.
4. Obesity
Obesity is a condition that occurs due to weak or poor digestion. It leads to the formation and accumulation of toxins in the form of fat and Ama (toxic remains in the body due to improper digestion) in the body. Jaggery helps manage Obesity due to its Ushna (hot) property which helps improve digestion and prevents the formation of toxins. Jaggery also possesses Snigdha (oily) property which helps in normal passage of stool, leading to the release of toxins from the body, thereby maintaining normal body weight.
Tip to use Jaggery to manage Obesity-
Jaggery can be consumed in any form to help promote weight loss.
1. You can prepare tea normally and replace sugar with Jaggery.
2. This helps improve body metabolism and promotes weight loss.
Indigestion occurs due to incomplete process of digestion of the ingested food. The main reason for indigestion is Agnimandya (weak digestive fire). Jaggery helps enhance the Agni (digestive fire) and improve digestion due to its Ushna (hot) property.
Tip to use Jaggery to get relief from Indigestion-
a. Take a piece of Jaggery, around 2-3 inches.
b. Consume it daily after meals to help fasten and improve digestion.
2. Loss of appetite
In Ayurveda, loss of appetite is correlated with Agnimandya (weak digestion). Loss of appetite is caused by an aggravation of Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas, as well as certain psychological factors. This leads to incomplete digestion of food and causes insufficient secretion of gastric juice in the stomach, which results in appetite loss. Jaggery helps enhance the Agni (digestive fire) and improves appetite due to its Ushna (hot) property. It is also considered to be a good digestive stimulant and appetizer according to Ayurveda.
3. Anemia
Deficiency of hemoglobin in the blood is known as Anemia, wherein the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood gets reduced. Anemia, called Pandu in Ayurveda, is a condition that occurs due to an imbalanced Pitta dosha and leads to certain symptoms like weakness. Old Jaggery helps in reducing the symptoms of Anemia due to its Pitta-balancing property. It also helps in maintaining the overall health of a person due to its Rasayana (rejuvenation) property.
Tip to use Jaggery to help manage Anemia-
a. Take a small piece of Jaggery, around 10-15 grams.
b. Consume it daily in any form with food.
c. Consume it daily to recover hemoglobin in the blood and also prevent its loss, thereby managing the symptoms of Anemia.
4. Obesity
Obesity is a condition that occurs due to weak or poor digestion. It leads to the formation and accumulation of toxins in the form of fat and Ama (toxic remains in the body due to improper digestion) in the body. Jaggery helps manage Obesity due to its Ushna (hot) property which helps improve digestion and prevents the formation of toxins. Jaggery also possesses Snigdha (oily) property which helps in normal passage of stool, leading to the release of toxins from the body, thereby maintaining normal body weight.
Tip to use Jaggery to manage Obesity-
Jaggery can be consumed in any form to help promote weight loss.
1. You can prepare tea normally and replace sugar with Jaggery.
2. This helps improve body metabolism and promotes weight loss.
Precautions when using Jaggery
Patients with diabetes
Modern Science View
Jaggery contains high amount of sucrose which might lead to an increase in the blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. So, it is generally advisable for diabetic patients to avoid or consult a physician before taking Jaggery[6].
Pregnancy
Modern Science View
Enough scientific information is not available regarding the use of Jaggery in pregnancy. So, it is advisable to avoid or consult a physician before taking Jaggery during pregnancy[7].
Recommended Dosage of Jaggery
- Jaggery Powder - 5-30 g of Jaggery (or as directed by a physician) a day[6].
How to use Jaggery
Jaggery Chapati
a. Take ½ a cup of milk and then add 3 cups of Jaggery (in a grated form) to it.
b. Mix both on low heat.
c. Cool and then mix in some salt (as per requirement), ghee and a cup of milk.
d. Make a dough by adding milk.
e. Roll the dough to make chapatis.
a. Take ½ a cup of milk and then add 3 cups of Jaggery (in a grated form) to it.
b. Mix both on low heat.
c. Cool and then mix in some salt (as per requirement), ghee and a cup of milk.
d. Make a dough by adding milk.
e. Roll the dough to make chapatis.
Frequently asked questions
Modern Science View
Good quality Jaggery should have the right flavor, color and hardness. The presence of crystals in the Jaggery means that it has been processed with some other techniques to make it sweeter. The color also plays an important role to identify the purity of Jaggery, preferably the color should be dark brown.
Modern Science View
Yes, Jaggery can be added to milk. You can grate Jaggery or use Jaggery powder to add to milk in place of sugar.
Ayurvedic View
Although Jaggery is not classified into different types, but according to Ayurveda it is segregated according to time intervals such as Naveen Guda (new Jaggery), Purana Guda (1-year-old Jaggery) and Prapurana Guda (3-year-old Jaggery). The older the Jaggery is, the more beneficial it is for health. However, if Jaggery is older than 4 years, then it starts losing its potency and might cause some problems like cough and dyspnea.
Modern Science View
Jaggery is prepared from the sugar that is unrefined. This is obtained by boiling the juice of raw sugar cane until it gets solidified.
Modern Science View
Yes, Jaggery is recommended to be eaten after meals daily as it prevents constipation and helps in digestion by activating the digestive enzymes in our body.
Modern Science View
Eating too much Jaggery is not considered to be a good option. Despite having various medicinal benefits, Jaggery is still sugar. So, the excessive consumption of sweeteners should be avoided as it might deplete the immune system[13].
References
- The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia Of India.Part 1 Volume 1.
- Shrivastav P, Verma AK, Walia R, et al.Jaggery: A revolution in the field of natural sweetners.EJPMR. 2016;3(3):198-202.
- Rajesh CK, Shajahan MA, Shahul Hameed A.Ayurvedic review on Guda (Jaggery) .Ayurpharm Int J Ayur Alli Sci.2016;5(5):68-76.
- Ravisankar P,Koushik OS,Reddy AA, et al.A detailed analysis on acidity and ulcers in esophagus, gastric and duodenal ulcers and management.IOSR.2016;15(1):94-114.
- Resmi S, Latheef F, Vijayaraghavan R.Effectiveness of Herbal Extract in Enhancing the Level of HB among Adolescent Girls with Iron Deficiency Anemia at Selected Higher Secondary Schools at Bangalore.IJHSR.2016;6(10):2016.
- Chhajer B.Tips for Diabetes Patients.Fusion Books.2016.
- Deotale S, Bhotmange MG, Halde P, et al. Study of traditional Indian sweetener ‘Jaggery’ and its storage behavior. International Journal of Chemical Studies 2019; 7(3): 410-416.
- Johari H. Ayurvedic healing cuisine.Inner Traditions / Bear & Co, 2000.
- Ullikashi KY, Kammar MR, Lokapure SR. Development of Value added products from Bael fruit (Aegle marmelos). Int. J. Curr. Microbiol. App. 2017;6(7):2652-2659.
- Monks at Kauai’s Hindu Monastery. Monk’s Cookbook. Himalayan Academy Publications, 2005.
- Kumar A, Singh S. The benefit of Indian jaggery over sugar on human health.
- Nath A, Dutta D, Kumar P, Singh JP. Review on recent advances in value addition of jaggery based products. J Food Process Technol. 2015, 6: 440.
- Sahu AP, Paul BN. The role of dietary whole sugar-jaggery in prevention of resugar-jaggery in prevention of respiratory toxicity of air toxics and in lung cancer. Toxicol Lett.1998, 95: 154.
- Umate PR, Deogade M, Pargaonkar A, Umate JP, Kanyal L. Comparison of properties of naveen, puran and suryatapi guda (Jaggery) with respect to guru and laghuguna - an observational study. Int J Curr Res Rev.
Disclaimer
The content is purely informative and educational in nature and should not be construed as medical advice. Please use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified medical or healthcare professional.