Scroll to Recipes with Jaggery / गुड़ as ingredient
Jaggery is a traditional unrefined sweetener that is obtained from sugarcane. It varies from dark brown to golden brown and sometimes even white. Asia and Africa are the primary producers of jaggery. Sugarcane juice is boiled and reduced to make it. India is the largest producer of jaggery, with 70% of world production.
It is said to be a healthier sugar substitute. When soft, it is slightly thicker than honey. While by taste, it is less sweet than maple syrup. Even though it is mostly produced from sugarcane, we can also make it from different palm trees like date palms, coconut palms, or sago palms.
Commonly Known as
| Language | Name | Written as |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic | alharifayuh | الحرفيه |
| Bengali | Guṛa | গুড় |
| Gujarati | Gōḷa | ગોળ |
| Hindi | gud | गुड़ |
| Kannada | Bella | ಬೆಲ್ಲ |
| Malayalam | śarkkara | ശർക്കര |
| Marathi | Gūḷa | गूळ |
| Punjabi | Guṛa | ਗੁੜ |
| Tamil | Vellam | வெல்லம் |
| Telugu | Bellaṁ | బెల్లం |
| Urdu | gud | گڑ |
Nutritional Profile of Jaggery
Nutritional profile per 100 gms
- Calories: 383
- Protein: 100mg
- Carbohydrate: 98mg
- Sodium: 30mg
- Potassium: 140mg
Source: USDA & Google
Benefits of Jaggery
Prevents Anemia
Jaggery has a sufficient amount of iron in it. Therefore, it helps prevent anemia in your body. Also, it provides instant energy and thus helps with fatigue and weakness.
Good for Digestion
Jaggery contributes to the stimulation of digestive enzymes and hence speeding up the process of digestion. It also results in preventing issues like constipation, intestinal worms, and flatulence.
Increasing Metabolism
It has a high amount of minerals and potassium, and so it helps in maintaining weight. Potassium in it maintains electrolyte balance and improves metabolism and building muscles.
Good for Respiration Problems
Having jaggery with sesame seeds is exceptionally beneficial for issues relating to respiration. Jaggery provides warmth and regulates the temperature of our bodies. It proves to be helpful in cases of respiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis. It also has properties as anti-allergies.
Helpful in Joint Pains
As per the experts, jaggery, when taken with ginger, can be an excellent aid for alleviating joint pains. Also, a glass of milk with jaggery every day helps increase bones’ strength and prevent problems like arthritis.
Side Effects
If one consumes regularly and in high quantity, one can gain weight. It may also lead to an increase in blood sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jaggery healthier than sugar?
In comparison, Jaggery is more nutritious than regular sugar. Sugar contains calories without minerals or vitamins but jaggery has many minerals and vitamins that make it suitable for medicinal uses.
Can we eat Jaggery every day?
Jaggery is also made from Sugarcane. Though Overall, it is better than sugar, but it is not something one should consider regularly having daily. Although it is not that much of a risk to eat it every day. But it can increase your blood sugar levels due to the high amount of fructose in it.
How do you use jaggery?
Jaggery is mostly used in sweet dishes as a natural and healthier sweetener option. And sometimes, it is also used as a medicine for joint pains with ginger. Or it is also suitable for curing a cold and cough.
