A Natural Sweetener: The Health Benefits of Date Palm Jaggery Powder
Popularly known as ‘Nolen Gur’, ‘Khajoor’, and ‘Panai Vellam’, date jaggery is an absolute treat to have. With a unique chocolate-like taste and melt-in-mouth texture, palm date jaggery is extracted from the sap of the date palm tree.
Originating from the state of West Bengal and being made for generations, dates jaggery is not just used to make traditional sweets but is now being consumed as a superfood by those who prioritise their health.
Let’s take a look at some of the top benefits of including dates jaggery in your diet.
Nutrition facts of date palm jaggery
Jaggery is commonly made from three main sources- coconut, sugarcane, and date palm. When it comes to nutritional value, date jaggery wins hands down.
Before we begin looking at the benefits of date palm jaggery, let’s understand its nutrient value.
100 grams of date jaggery contains approximately:
- Iron: 10-11 mg
- Manganese: 0.2-0.5 mg
- Phosphorus: 1050 mg
- Magnesium: 70-90 mg
- Glucose: 10-15 mg
- Protein: 0.4 mg
Source: Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry
Top Health Benefits of Date Palm Jaggery
Popularly known as ‘medicinal sugar’, date palm jaggery has several amazing science-backed health benefits.
Let’s take a look at them.
Superior sugar alternative
Sugar, often used as a quick pick-me-up in various forms, is full of empty calories. Made from sugarcane or corn syrup, this ultra-processed ingredient is refined and practically devoid of any nutrients.
Dates palm jaggery, on the other hand, with its excellent nutritional value and lower sucrose content is a great health booster, especially for diabetics and those trying to lose weight.
Improves digestion
Dates palm jaggery is amongst the best things to consume to keep your digestive system healthy. It contains high amounts of carbs, which help in increasing your digestive enzymes.
This helps in breaking down food easily and keeping your gut healthy. Its high fibre content also keeps your bowel movement regular and prevents constipation.
Prevents migraine
Migraines are on a rise due to changes in lifestyle. If you don’t want to depend on medicines, dates palm jaggery is your best bet to prevent this debilitating headache.
Its high magnesium content boosts your neural health and prevents migraine episodes.
Boost energy
With our hectic lifestyle, it is normal to feel out of energy at times. The best way to stay energetic and active is to include palm date jaggery in your routine. Consuming a piece of date jaggery helps in releasing energy.
Its rich carbohydrate content breaks down slower than sugar and releases energy over a longer period, keeping you vital and healthier.
Enhances immunity
Most immunity-related disorders result from a deficiency of iron. This leads to not just fatigue but also increases your chance of catching infections frequently.
Rich in nutraceuticals due to its rich content of amino acids, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, date jaggery is a natural immunity booster. This not just helps in keeping you disease-free but also helps you recover sooner from ailments.
Helps in weight loss
One of the top health benefits of dates palm jaggery is that it has the lowest glycaemic index (GI) compared to sugar and even other types of jaggery. With its low reducing sugar and sucrose content and high potassium content, it helps maintain your body’s electrolyte balance, leading to weight loss.
Healthy hair and skin
Not many people know that date jaggery is one of the best natural remedies to slow down skin ageing and keep your hair healthy.
It contains a high level of glycolic acid that helps in fighting free radicals and delays the effects of ageing on your skin and hair.
Its rich iron content also promotes better blood circulation helping in the regeneration of cells and keeping your skin looking younger and healthier for a long time.
Reduces menstrual cramps
If you suffer from menstrual cramps, include dates jaggery in your diet today. It helps in releasing endorphins that are known to calm the body and prevent stomach pains and cramps.
An additional benefit is that these happy hormones also prevent mood swings and keep you cheery!
How to consume palm date jaggery?
Its natural caramel-like taste enhances the taste of anything that you add it to. Here are some interesting ways to include dates jaggery in your routine:
- Add it to your favourite beverages like coffee, tea, milkshakes, and smoothies.
- Sprinkle it over your desserts for a taste boost.
- Add dates jaggery to water along with black pepper, coriander powder, and ginger powder to make a spicy and flavourful drink.
- Add it to your breakfast cereal to enhance its taste and nutrition.
- Include dates palm jaggery in your rotis to make them healthier and better tasting.
- Add it to your rice to make sweet rice.
- Make your desserts like kheer and ladoos healthier by replacing refined sugar with date palm jaggery.
Buy the Best Organic Jaggery
You will gain the health benefits of date jaggery only when your jaggery is unadulterated. It is often adulterated with sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, and sodium hydrophosphate.
These ingredients often go undetected, and cause health problems when consumed over a long time.
The safest way is to opt for organic dates palm jaggery. Adya Organics offers pure and organic date jaggery without any preservatives or chemicals.
Summing Up
Now you know why you should ditch refined sugar and switch to this super healthy alternative today. Consuming dates jaggery will not just make your meals healthier but also keep your body healthy for a long time. With Adya Organics you can get date jaggery online in easy-to-use powder form. All you need to do is to stock it up and use it when needed easily. All you need to do is to keep the bottle airtight and away from sunlight to help it retain its taste.
