Jaggery Blocks

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.

What are the synonyms of Jaggery?
Saccharum officinarum, Guda, Bella, Sarkara, Vellam, Bellam

What is the source of Jaggery?
Plant Based

BENEFITS OF JAGGERY
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-

• Take a piece of Jaggery, around 2-3 inches.
• Consume it daily after meals to help fasten and improve digestion.

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.

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-

• Take a small piece of Jaggery, around 10-15 grams.
• Consume it daily in any form with food.
• Consume it daily to recover hemoglobin in the blood and also prevent its loss, thereby managing the symptoms of Anemia.

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.
• You can prepare tea normally and replace sugar with Jaggery.
• 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.

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.

RECOMMENDED DOSAGE OF JAGGERY
Jaggery Powder - 5-30 g of Jaggery (or as directed by a physician) a day.

HOW TO USE JAGGERY

• Jaggery Chapati
• Take ½ a cup of milk and then add 3 cups of Jaggery (in a grated form) to it.
• Mix both on low heat.
• Cool and then mix in some salt (as per requirement), ghee and a cup of milk.
• Make a dough by adding milk.
• Roll the dough to make chapatis.