In this polluted environment, if you have to go out every day, then eating a small nugget of jaggery can prove beneficial for you. It is a natural detoxifier, which removes carbon dioxide particles, dust and dirt trapped in your lungs.
Lung health experts advise workers working in tobacco, chemical factories and coal mines to eat jaggery every day. Jaggery actually helps in cleaning your lungs and respiratory tract naturally. Now when the air quality index of Delhi-NCR has become worse than 451, jaggery has become an essential superfood for the people living here. Amidst increasing pollution, let us know what are the benefits of eating jaggery (Jaggery benefits in increasing pollution).
Why is jaggery so special (Nutrients of Jaggery)
India accounts for 70 percent of the jaggery produced worldwide. This is the oldest recipe of sweets for Indians. Its popularity can be gauged from the fact that whether it is winter or summer, we have different recipes to eat it in every season. Be it jaggery sherbet or Puranpoli made by filling jaggery, these are ingredients of traditional Indian dishes. Making jaggery paratha and eating jaggery with milk are the specialties of winter kitchen.
Although jaggery is a form of sweet, it contains less sucrose than sugar. While sugar contains 99 percent sucrose, its quantity in jaggery is around 70 percent. Jaggery, made by cooking sugarcane juice, contains all those minerals which are removed from refined sugar during processing. Talking about nutrients, Vitamin A, C and E are found in jaggery. Along with this, it is also considered to be the richest source of iron.
Does jaggery really protect from pollution? (Jaggery benefits in increasing pollution)
In a research conducted for the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, Anand P Sahu and Ashok K Saxena researched the effect of consuming jaggery on the lungs. Often workers working in factories and coal mines are advised to eat jaggery every day. To gather evidence of this fact, scientists made rats present in coal mines consume 5 grams of jaggery every day for 90 days.
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In the findings that emerged after this, it was seen that the effect of coal dust on the lungs of rats eating jaggery was reduced. Jaggery also helped in healing the wounds caused in the stomach due to carbon dioxide. Therefore, people living in polluted areas are advised to consume one nugget of jaggery, at least five grams, every day.
Consumption of jaggery is beneficial for you due to these 5 reasons in increasing pollution (Jaggery benefits in increasing pollution)
1 is a natural detoxifier
In Ayurveda, jaggery has been called a natural detoxifier. Jaggery is made from sugarcane, palm and dates in India. All three types of jaggery help in cleaning your lungs. If a nugget of jaggery is consumed every morning on an empty stomach, it helps in preventing lung infection.
2 Increases oxygen intake
The biggest problem of increasing pollution is the decreasing level of oxygen in the body. Due to polluted outside air, toxic substances start accumulating in the lungs. Due to which the ability to expel carbon dioxide and absorb oxygen is reduced. Whereas jaggery cleans the lungs and increases the level of oxygen in the body.
3 Prevents cell damage
Jaggery is also helpful in protecting cells from damage caused by pollution. In the above research conducted by the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, when rats were made to consume jaggery every day, it helped in healing the wounds caused by smoke and dust in their stomachs. Cells get damaged due to pollution, which proves helpful in repairing them.
4 Jaggery cleans the lungs
Dr. Parthiv Shah is a Consultant Chest Physician in Mumbai. He specializes in allergies, asthma, COPD, MDR-TB, respiratory infections, obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary problems. Dr Shah says, “Excessive pollution increases the levels of hydroxyproline in the body. Due to which the lung tissue starts getting affected. If this situation continues, the situation may become critical. Therefore, in this season you should consume such foods which can control the level of hydroxyproline.”
On the basis of the above study, it can be said that jaggery reduces the level of hydroxyproline, which reduces the effect of pollution on your health. And you become naturally safe.
5 Makes the body stronger naturally
Research conducted not only in India and Asia but across the world considers jaggery as an effective superfood against pollution. A research published in ResearchGate states that, the biggest problem at this time is the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its getting trapped in the lungs. Whereas jaggery captures these dirt particles and takes them to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are a protective system of the body that is rarely talked about.
The lymph nodes flush out these pollutants and help the body become stronger naturally. So if you too have to go out in this polluted environment, then do not forget to eat a small nugget of jaggery.
Also read – Pollution is increasing respiratory problems in children, so manage them with these effective methods.
