Jaggery or 'gur' as it's called in Hindi, is a popular sweetener, but the incredibly amazing health benefits that come complementary with this sweetener might not be known to you. Jaggery is obtained from raw, concentrated sugar cane juice. The juice is made to boil till it becomes very thick and then the content is poured into blocks wherein it ultimately solidifies. Jaggery can be made from other sources, namely from date palm and the sap of coconut as well, but the one made from sugar cane juice is the most commonly used. We have all seen our grandparents preferring a block of jaggery over any other sweets after meals. Well, here is why we should follow the same practice.

1. Jaggery is good for treating anemia: Jaggery is an abundant source of iron, a mineral responsible for the production of hemoglobin. For those who are anaemic, jaggery should a part of the regular diet and even otherwise, consuming jaggery is a good idea to keep the haemoglobin level appropriate.
2. Jaggery is good for digestion: There is a reason why our elders eat jaggery after their meals. Jaggery activates the digestive enzymes in our body and thus helps in proper digestion of the food. For those suffering from constipation, jaggery can work like a wonder if regularly consumed offer meals or along with warm water in the morning.
3. It helps in relieving PMS mood swings: For girls, this might as well be the most important health benefit of jaggery. Mood swings around periods is a common problem among females and the fact that there is no proper medicine to fight this, makes this problem even more erratic. However, consuming a small piece of jaggery should be of great help. Jaggery causes the release of endorphins commonly known as 'happy hormones'. This in turn relaxes your body and makes you feel good thereby combating premenstrual syndrome.
4. It cleanses the liver: Detoxing is very important for the body, as otherwise, the impurities present within the body can start affecting the liver. Jaggery in general helps in relieving toxins accumulating in the body, thereby maintaining good health.
5. 5. It empowers the immune system: A robust immune system is very important for the body to endure varying conditions and exposure to difficult seasons as well as the environment. Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals like zinc and selenium, which help prevent free-radical damage and also boost resistance against infections.
6. Jaggery is good for Skin: Good skin is not just about beauty, but about overall health as well. A healthy skin, apart from appearing beautiful, also reflects the sound health of a person. Jaggery is one wonder food that apart from tasting good is excellent for skin as well. If you have acne and pimples on your skin, eat jaggery every day and you will see your skin transforming to being healthy, transparent and glowing.
7. It prevents asthma: Jaggery is often recommended to Asthma patients. It helps in regulating g body temperature which proves to be good for asthma patient. Otherwise also, jaggery is known to have anti-allergy properties.
8. It's a great energy booster: Jaggery is known to be a great energy booster and can almost instantly help fight fatigue. Also, because it is easily digestible, jaggery does not drastically increase blood sugar lever, an issue that is common with most instant energy food items.

The only possible concern with jaggery is that it contains 4kcal/gram so someone who is on a weight loss mission would have to regulate the intake accordingly.

Try jaggery after your meal and the very taste would make you want to eat it as a sweet dish after every meal. The best thing is, this sweet dish would be extremely healthy and beneficial for your body.

There is tons more to know about jaggery and its myriad health benefits; to do so, click here.