Jaggery or gur as we know it has multiple health benefits
Expert: Naini Setalvad, nutritionist
Popularly known as the medicinal sugar, jaggery has various health benefits to help in overall wellness of a person. Jaggery is a pure, wholesome, unrefined whole sugar which contains the natural goodness of minerals and vitamins. Produced from sugarcanes, jaggery is a healthy alternative to white refined sugar.
But beware...
• Jaggery in excess makes you gain weight
• Causes blood sugar to rise.
• In larger quantities can cause diarrhoea .
• If not organic then one cannot even consume it as it is full of chemicals, pesticides leeched out of its mineral and vitamin content. Why jaggery should be in your diet....
• Jaggery has sucrose and glucose but along with that, it also has good amount of minerals and vitamins needed for the healthy functioning of the body.
• While diabetic people are often advised replacing sugar with jaggery, you need to be careful as the latter may cause sudden spike of blood sugar levels.
• It is 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 very good for anaemic 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. Jaggery thus helps to maintain optimum health and it also helps in the purification of blood, along with preventing rheumatic afflictions and disorders of bile.
HOT IDEA!
To break jaggery easily, put the entire block into your microwave for 20 seconds and set on medium. Remove it and gently press it down with your palm and watch the heap crumble. If it is still not soft enough, microwave it for another 10 seconds. But watch it before it melts.
DID YOU KNOW?
There are 300-315 calories in of 100 gms of jaggery powder and it also includes vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, C, D2 and E.
EXPERT SPEAK
Often called a medicinal sugar, jaggery, along with adding sweetness to food, also adds several minerals such as magnesium, potassium, selenium and iron. They work to to improve fatigue levels, help lower blood pressure, reduce water retention, increase haemoglobin levels and work as an antioxidant. However it must be remembered that jaggery has the same carbohydrate and calorie content as refined sugar. Thus diabetics and people on weight loss must not overuse it.
Expert: Pooja Makhija, dietician HOT Tip! The best way to consume jaggery is to consume it in the organic form.
Expert: Naini Setalvad, nutritionist
Popularly known as the medicinal sugar, jaggery has various health benefits to help in overall wellness of a person. Jaggery is a pure, wholesome, unrefined whole sugar which contains the natural goodness of minerals and vitamins. Produced from sugarcanes, jaggery is a healthy alternative to white refined sugar. But beware...
• Jaggery in excess makes you gain weight
• Causes blood sugar to rise.
• In larger quantities can cause diarrhoea .
• If not organic then one cannot even consume it as it is full of chemicals, pesticides leeched out of its mineral and vitamin content. Why jaggery should be in your diet....
• Jaggery has sucrose and glucose but along with that, it also has good amount of minerals and vitamins needed for the healthy functioning of the body.
• While diabetic people are often advised replacing sugar with jaggery, you need to be careful as the latter may cause sudden spike of blood sugar levels.
• It is 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 very good for anaemic 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. Jaggery thus helps to maintain optimum health and it also helps in the purification of blood, along with preventing rheumatic afflictions and disorders of bile.
HOT IDEA!
To break jaggery easily, put the entire block into your microwave for 20 seconds and set on medium. Remove it and gently press it down with your palm and watch the heap crumble. If it is still not soft enough, microwave it for another 10 seconds. But watch it before it melts.
DID YOU KNOW?
There are 300-315 calories in of 100 gms of jaggery powder and it also includes vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, C, D2 and E.
EXPERT SPEAK
Often called a medicinal sugar, jaggery, along with adding sweetness to food, also adds several minerals such as magnesium, potassium, selenium and iron. They work to to improve fatigue levels, help lower blood pressure, reduce water retention, increase haemoglobin levels and work as an antioxidant. However it must be remembered that jaggery has the same carbohydrate and calorie content as refined sugar. Thus diabetics and people on weight loss must not overuse it.
Expert: Pooja Makhija, dietician HOT Tip! The best way to consume jaggery is to consume it in the organic form.
KARANJIA
For the outer covering Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour, roasted ¼ cup ground nuts, roasted and then powdered Mix together to make dough
For the inner filling Ingredients
½ coconut, scraped ½ cup jaggery 50 gms mixed dry fruits 15 gms poppy seeds, roasted and slightly powdered 4 cardamoms, powdered Melt jaggery. Mix the rest of the
ingredients. Stir well. The mixture should be dry.
Method
To make the karanjia Divide the dough into equal parts. Roll into small puris. Place the filling in one half of the puri, press the other half, and make into moon shaped cones. Cut with the karanjia spoon. Bake in medium heat. Turn over when one side is slightly brown.
For the outer covering Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour, roasted ¼ cup ground nuts, roasted and then powdered Mix together to make dough
For the inner filling Ingredients
½ coconut, scraped ½ cup jaggery 50 gms mixed dry fruits 15 gms poppy seeds, roasted and slightly powdered 4 cardamoms, powdered Melt jaggery. Mix the rest of the
ingredients. Stir well. The mixture should be dry.
Method
To make the karanjia Divide the dough into equal parts. Roll into small puris. Place the filling in one half of the puri, press the other half, and make into moon shaped cones. Cut with the karanjia spoon. Bake in medium heat. Turn over when one side is slightly brown.
