Call it gur or jaggery, either way this winter staple will give you a bunch of benefits.
What’s winter without til ke laddu, gachak, or gur ki patti? Often relished after meals, be it lunch or dinner, every household reeling from the winter cold in India has had these items stocked. While our parents and grandparents, swear by the health benefits of these staples–we millennials swear by the nostalgia. After all, is it even winter without these staples?
Apart from reminding us of our childhood years, here’s another things these sweet treats have in common: jaggery aka gur. Bursting with minerals, jaggery offers a world of goodness. The best part? If you are on a weight loss spree and have broken up with sugar, jaggery can be your rebound.
Moreover, if you tend to feel cold all the time then jaggery can keep you warm and help build immunity too.
Jaggery can do a whole lot more for you! Here are five health benefits of gur that will make it your bae this winter:
1. Gur helps to tame asthma
Jaggery is known to be a helpful cleansing agent. According to a 2016 review article in the European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research, jaggery cleans lungs, stomach, intestines, throat, and our respiratory tracts too. So, if pollution and dust are pinning you down then a daily dose of gur can help you out.
2. Jaggery will keep you warm in the harsh winter
If you follow Ayurveda, you might know that jaggery is known to have a hot potency (aka taseer). This means, when you eat jaggery, it amps up the metabolism process in your body and produces heat. This heat helps dilate blood vessels and improves blood flow.
3. It is also a mine of important minerals
When it comes to nutritional value, jaggery contains phosphorus, calcium, iron, and B vitamins. It also has magnesium, which–according to the Journal for Renaissance in Intellectual Disciplines–strengthens the nervous system.
4. Gur can be a gofdsend during periods
Sugar-rich diets improves mood and alleviate anxiety, according to a 2016 research published in the Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. In short, jaggery can help with those mood swings and moderate consumption can replenish energy lost during menstruation. Additionally, it can also help in releasing endorphins.
5. Jaggery can be beneficial for your migraine as well
A ResearchGate article also suggests that the consumption of jaggery plays a crucial role in migraine patients. Iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganese, zinc, and selenium are minerals that help you deal with a migraine attack–all of which jaggery is rich in.
So, this was your winter wellness guide featuring the jolly good jaggery. Give it a chance and trust us you won’t regret it!