Overview: Jaggery is made from the sugarcane juice, where the juice is being heated up till it forms in to jaggery then it is allowed to cool the impurities are skimmed off .This form is unrefined jaggery is rich in vitamins and minerals than the refined white sugar which is added with chemicals. Many in India take jaggery after the meal to improve the digestion of food. And it has a major part in the Ayurvedic medicine.Jaggery is packed with calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and phosphorus and even has trace amounts of zinc, copper, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin.

Benefits: 1. The antioxidants and minerals in jaggery give it a cytoprotective quality, meaning that not only can it clear the mucus off the lungs but also cleans the respiratory and digestive tracts from the inside out. 2. It stimulates the bowels and aids the release of digestive enzymes. This helps in digestion. 3. Jaggery is packed with minerals like iron and phosphorus, which aid in the production of hemoglobin in the body. 4. Aids glucose control and weight loss. 5. One of the most well-known benefits of jaggery is its ability to purify the blood. 6. It also helps in providing relief from cramps and stomach ache that are associated with menstruation. 7. Jaggery contains potassium and sodium, which helps to maintain blood pressure. 8. Sugarcane acts as a natural diuretic and Jaggery also posses it .

Nutritional Value: (based on 100g) Energy......................................383kcal Total Carbohydrates...............98.0 g Fat.............................................0.1 g Protein.......................................0.4 g Calcium......................................(80.0 mg) Iron..............................................(5.4 mg) Magnesium..................................(160 mg) Phosphorus.................................(40.0 mg) Potassium....................................(140 mg) Sodium..........................................(30.0 mg) Selenium........................................(1.4 mcg) Niacin ............................................(2.0 mg) Vitamin B6......................................(0.4 mg) Pantothenic Acid.............................(1.0 mg)

Cookery: 1. Jaggery Chappathi 2. Jaggery Rice 3. Replaced in place of white sugar in tea, coffee and drinks. 4. Sweets can be made with Jaggery.