Jaggery or Gur (in Hindi) is unrefined sugar. It is sweet, heating and tendency to increase Kapha(mucus) but pacifies Vaat (wind) and Pitt (Bile). For preparing jaggery sugar canes are crushed in iron rolls to extract juice. This extracted juice is cooked at low flames in open pan to evaporate water. The impurities floats on surface which are removed using ladle.
Some additives are also added to remove dissolved impurities. Gradually all water present in juice is evaporated and the concentrated cane juice remains in the pan. This is gur which is given shape and stored for future use.
Jaggery is useful in treating anaemia, muscle cramps, tension and soreness.
It offers several other benefits. Some of them are as follows.
- Nutritionally superior to sugar, contains iron, protein and carbohydrate
- Source of vitamin A and B
- Contains calcium, potassium, sulphur, iron and phosphorous
- Improves overall blood circulation
- Good source of digestible carbohydrate
- Reduces bloating and water retention
- Good for heart, liver and digestive system
- Jaggery stimulates body metabolisms
Eating a piece of jaggery after meals takes away feeling of fullness
It is safe to eat jaggery in pregnancy and breastfeeding.