Jaggery or gur – a natural way to control asthma

Skip desserts and have gur instead, it will help you stay healthy and breathe easy.

If you suffer from chronic asthma or any of your loved one is prone to the condition, then jaggery or gur should be a staple ingredient in your kitchen cabinet. In fact, eating a little of this unprocessed sugar, extracted from sugarcane juice, can work wonders for your respiratory system. If you are worried that consumption of jaggery would increase your daily calorie intake, be rest assured that it will do you no harm. Unlike refined sugar, jaggery has loads of minerals and vitamins, which has a therapeutic effect on overall well-being. Here are seven health benefits of jaggery or gur you should know about.

How jaggery helps:

It is rich in iron: It is used as a natural remedy to fight anaemia and boost blood count that in turn will improve blood circulation and also boost the respiratory system. Here is how beetroot can also help to improve blood count.

It has anti-allergic properties: Due to its anti-allergic properties, it keeps allergens away from lungs that would lead to serious wheezing and coughing episodes. Here are 10 things you should avoid to prevent an asthma attack.

It is rich in various minerals that boost overall health: It contains potassium, sodium, calcium phosphorus and zinc that contribute towards good health. Apart from this, it is also a good source of magnesium that helps strengthen nervous system and relaxes muscles. It also relaxes the bronchial muscles that help regularise breathing in people with severe asthma. Here are 10 facts about asthma you didn t know.

How to have it:

• Have a small piece of jaggery after your meals to curb sugar cravings and help your respiratory muscles relax.
• Add jaggery to your food and curries (if you like sweetened curries) to reap its benefit.

How to buy the right jaggery:

• If you are buying jaggery for its therapeutic purposes, pick up organic products that are devoid of harmful chemicals and preservatives.
• While buying jaggery pay attention to its colour and texture, the softer the texture more pure it is. The harder ones might contain preservatives to increase shelf life. Also, make sure that the jaggery you pick is darker in colour. A lighter shade could again indicate preservatives.
• If you are planning to buy jaggery in stock, buy it during winter as it s the time when jaggery is made from freshly harvested sugar.

Image source: Getty Images

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Reference:

Blitz, M., Blitz, S., Beasely, R., Diner, B. M., Hughes, R., Knopp, J. A., & Rowe, B. H. (2004). Inhaled magnesium sulfate in the treatment of acute asthma. The Cochrane Library.