Jaggery or ‘Gudh’ is made out of either sugar cane or palm and is primarily used in the preparation of sweets and savory dishes. It is also offered during worship. Jaggery contains a lot of nutrients compared to refined sugar because of how it is manufactured.It contains sugars, fiber, mineral salts, and
iron. It may be one of your favorite ingredients in desserts, but is it good to eat it during pregnancy? Let us find out the benefits and risks of eating jaggery when you are expecting a baby.
Health Benefits of Jaggery
Jaggery contains very low sodium and has anti-hypersensitivity properties, thus it controls
blood pressure, and prevents several complications, such as strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and kidney failure. Jaggery is also rich in antioxidants, which helps in fighting cataracts, heart diseases, cancer, and other chronic disorders. Eating jaggery enhances skin and hair quality. Its high magnesium content is good for your bones, heart, muscles, kidneys, and teeth. Jaggery has also been found helpful in preventing rheumatism.
Benefits of Eating Jaggery during Pregnancy
Jaggery is rich in iron, so it is very beneficial for pregnant women because they need a lot of blood supply for themselves and the newborns growing inside their womb. It maintains a blood pressure level in pregnant women. It also reduces water retention in the body, thus helping you maintain a healthy weight needed for pregnancy.
Pregnancy causes body fatigue, which can be easily relived by consuming jaggery as the latter helps in relaxing nerves and muscles. It is also helpful in preventing constipation and
indigestion, which is often faced by pregnant women. It boosts energy, and also fights stress levels and depression, which is much needed during your pregnancy days.
Does Jaggery Cause Low Birth Weight?
There are few recent studies which show that 24% of adults who had jaggery during their pregnancy gave birth to babies having low
birth weight while only 14% of adults who had jaggery during their pregnancy gave birth to babies having normal or healthy birth weight. But the experts have reported that the main reason behind such low birth weight is the lifestyle of those pregnant women. Jaggery is a natural sugar with numerous benefits, so the reason behind low birth weight was certainly not the consumption of jaggery.
Can I Eat Jaggery during Pregnancy?
You can certainly incorporate jaggery in your daily diet. Doctors often advise that it is best to start consuming jaggery 7 months before delivery. Jaggery is essential for pregnancy and also while you are breastfeeding. It purifies blood and breastmilk, so it is proved to provide strength and nourishment to your baby both before and after birth. But it is also very important to consult your doctor before including jaggery in your diet and avoid consuming it in excess.
Try Some Delicious Jaggery Recipes during Pregnancy
You get different types of cravings during your
pregnancy - craving for spice, craving for sweet, etc. The best way to consume sweet is to introduce jaggery in your sweet recipes so that you keep an eye on your weight as well. You can prepare rotis made of jaggery and sesame seeds, which is so nutritious for pregnant women. You can also try jaggery and caramel nut muffins, healthy sheera, laddus, etc. – just substitute the refined sugar with jaggery and you will not have to worry for your calorie intake.
Jaggery is proved to be essential during your pregnancy, but still you need to have a limit – you should not overeat it. You should maintain a healthy weight during your pregnancy, so do not forget to maintain a healthy diet and do some pregnancy workouts while you consume those amazing desserts made out of jaggery. For any serious concern, you can always consult your doctor.
