Benefits of Palm Jaggery (Karupatti): Nutrition & Recipes

No amount of words can express the joy you feel after indulging in a wonderful sweet treat, yet the simple threat of gaining weight and the need to maintain your physical fitness may frequently convince you to give up your sweet tooth. Meet Date Palm Jaggery, a natural sweetener that provides your food with both sweetness and nutrition.

And that’s where sweet substitutes like dates and jaggery come into play, enhancing your sweet experience by satisfying your taste senses on a soul level! As a natural substitute for sugar and a flavour enhancer in many traditional dishes, jaggery has been used for years.

But as people’s awareness of their health has grown, jaggery has become popular among health enthusiasts, and the source from which it is made determines how healthy it is. Now, you might wonder if there are jaggery variants as well.

Yes, there are variants in jaggery. Most people know that sugarcane jaggery is prepared from unfiltered sugarcane juice, making it a less-than-healthy option for persons with diabetes and weight loss goals. So you might ask which is another version of jaggery that is healthier and loaded with nutrients.

Gone are the days of settling for a just sweet flavour! This nutrient-rich, naturally sweet sweetener works as a substitute for sugar. With Date Palm Jaggery, you get the best of both worlds – health and flavour! Made from palm saplings, date palm jaggery is known as karupatti in the southern Indian states. So be ready to explore flavour and health as we learn the mysteries of date palm jaggery!

How is Karupatti Made?

The sap from palm saplings is extracted skillfully. In clay pots, the sap that flows from the sapling is collected. Slaked lime is applied to the pots to prevent the sap from fermenting. The majority of this activity occurs from January through May.

The natives call this unfermented juice padaneer, and it makes an excellent summer beverage. It’s typical to see this beverage served on palm leaves skilfully wrapped into mugs in tiny communities in Southern Tamil Nadu.

In iron vats, the unfermented liquid is filtered and cooked until it bubbles. Once it has cooled, it is poured into moulds; often, coconut shells are used as the moulds. The karupatti is ready to consume once it has “set” in these moulds.

Palm Jaggery Nutrition Profile

Regular use of palm jaggery increases haemoglobin. It has a lot of magnesium and supports neural system functioning. Calcium helps to build and maintain strong bones, which is abundant in palm jaggery. It also contains potassium, which improves heart health, relieves cramps, and has many other advantages. Additionally, it improves the immune system’s performance. Let’s take a closer look at the impressive nutritional values packed within 100 grams of palm jaggery ^[1]:

Palm Jaggery Health Benefits

1. Healthy Digestion with Palm Jaggery

Palm jaggery has got you covered if you’re looking to improve your digestion game. It aids in maintaining a healthy digestive system and can relieve digestive disorders. Regulating bowel motions treats indigestion and constipation and cleanses the body by eliminating toxins ^[2]. A medium-sized piece of jaggery also helps keep the stomach cool throughout the summer.

Say goodbye to those tummy troubles and hello to a happy, well-functioning gut! It’s like having a personal digestive masseuse. Ah, the sweet relief!

To help you with digestive health, Aashirvaad Atta with Multigrains and a team of professional nutritionists have created the Aashirvaad Digestive Quotient that determines your digestion score on a scale of 100. After taking this two-minute test to assess your Digestive Quotient, use your scorecard to properly plan your meals and evaluate your progress toward a Happy Tummy.

2. Detoxification with Palm Jaggery

It helps the body rid itself of toxic substances since it is high in antioxidants and vital minerals. You become healthy as it eliminates toxins from every part of your body, including the digestive system, respiratory system, lungs, and intestines ^[3].

This unrefined, black sweetener works as a mild cleanser to promote liver function and remove waste. Its all-natural makeup is free of artificial ingredients, making it a fantastic option for people seeking a comprehensive detox treatment.

3. Radiant Skin with Palm Jaggery

Jaggery assists in creating healthy, supple skin since it is rich in nutrients. It also aids in preventing wrinkles, acne, and breakouts, leaving the skin looking naturally beautiful.

Additionally, it delays the appearance of wrinkles and dark patches, which are signs of aging. Women should thus attempt this natural cure rather than using cosmetics.

4. Energizing with Palm Jaggery

Palm jaggery is simpler to digest because it contains so many complex carbohydrates. Daily consumption releases energy, sustaining your activity and vigor for hours. If you want a solid start to your day, incorporate some jaggery into your diet.

5. Weight Management with Palm Jaggery

Unexpectedly, it offers a lot of promise for weight loss. Because it is a potassium provider, it aids in maintaining the electrolytic balance and decreases water retention. Thus, it gives you an urge to drink lots of water. All of these factors combine to have a significant impact on weight loss.

Unlike processed sugars, it has a lower glycemic index, preventing sudden spikes in blood sugar levels and curbing sugar cravings. Because palm jaggery contains fibre and other necessary elements like iron, it speeds up your metabolism and makes you feel fuller longer, helping you consume fewer calories overall.

Additionally, its inherent sweetness fulfils sugar cravings without providing empty calories, making it an effective partner in reaching and preserving a healthy weight.

6. Easing Pain with Palm Jaggery

It contains a lot of calcium, which helps to maintain and strengthen bone health ^[4]. Experts advise combining jaggery with a dash of ginger or a glass of milk for the most incredible benefits.

7. Nurturing Heart with Palm Jaggery

Palm jaggery has been known to regulate blood pressure levels. It contains potassium, which helps maintain healthy blood pressure ^[5]. It’s like a tiny superhero wearing a “BP regulator” cape. Swish!

8. Boosting Immunity with Palm Jaggery

Palm jaggery is a natural immunity booster. It contains antioxidants that help fight those pesky free radicals. It also possesses antimicrobial properties that have your back when it comes to warding off unwanted invaders. Who needs a knight in shining armour when you’ve got palm jaggery?

Adding Jaggery (Gur) to warm water or tea helps combat the symptoms of cold-related disorders. Take a pinch of jaggery the next time you’re sneezing or coughing. It also aids in the treatment of chronic cough. In addition, the throat’s soft tissues get relaxed by palm jaggery, which reduces throat irritation.

Karupatti V/s Jaggery

Palm Jaggery Delights

Knowing the nutritional value of palm jaggery makes it time to learn about the delights of this sweetener. Mentioned here are a few recipes that are easy to make without any fuss and great to taste. Read on to know more.

1. Halwa

Melt palm jaggery in a sauce with water, then strain it and set it aside. Combine coconut milk and rice flour in a bowl. Add melted jaggery syrup to a deep-bottomed pot and bring it to a boil. Pour the rice flour and stir well as the mixture thickens without producing any lumps.

Also read – Benefits of coconut milk

 Add ghee little by little and keep mixing. Cook the halwa over low heat until it thickens and exudes oil from the sides. Add powdered cardamom. After seasoning with the remaining ghee, cashews, and raisins to the halwa, cook until all the oil has left the edges.

Put the halwa in a greased pan and let it sit for two to three hours to set. Slice and serve delicious karupatti halwa.

2. Palm Jaggery Malpuas

Put refined flour, semolina, grated palm jaggery, fennel seeds, and cardamom powder in a large bowl. Add milk and mix slowly in one direction, ensuring no lumps in the batter. Later, add water and mix well. Make sure the batter is of smooth pouring consistency. Whisk the batter for 5 minutes and then allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

In a kadhai, heat ghee for frying. Now add a ladle’s worth of batter to boiling oil or ghee; as the malpua begins to float, sprinkle oil over them and gently press with a perforated spoon. Fry malpuas on both sides until they are golden brown. Drain any excess oil and dip it into hot jaggery syrup.

Rest for ten minutes, ensuring the malpua is moistened on both sides. Finally, add rabri and nuts as a garnish to the malpuas. You may now serve your malpuas.

To Sum Up

In conclusion, Date Palm Jaggery is a healthy substitute for ordinary sugar, so you can quickly switch to this more nutritive sweetener. It has a wealth of antioxidants that protect your body from free radicals. Further, this sweetener aids in shedding pounds, better digestion, immune system support, and joint pain reduction.

You can use it like sugar in everyday recipes for drinks, desserts, and other foods. It lets you satisfy your appetite for something sweet without feeling like you’re ingesting too many calories. Try replacing white sugar with palm jaggery to benefit from its advantages. What else are you waiting for? Change to palm jaggery to embrace a better state of body and mind. As the adage goes, a sound body and mind go hand in hand.

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