Winter Solstice marks the start of winter and one thing that comes to one's mind is food to keep us warm. Of course, by food, one does not always mean something piping hot like a soup or hot cocoa. It could be a healthy food item that keeps us warm from within. And one such thing is Jaggery, which is also known as Gur in Hindi, is a must-eat food item in the cold chilling winter. Jaggery is the best alternative to refined sugar, which we use in various food items and at the same time, it is beneficial for health. Eating jaggery in winter helps in boosting the immunity of the body and improving hair and skin quality. Let's take a look at why it is important to eat jaggery in winter for a healthy body. Weight Loss Tip: How to Use Jaggery (Gur or Gud) to Lose Weight.

Jaggery helps keep the body warm from inside and at the same time it also has the capability to dilate blood vessels allowing more blood circulation. Gur consists of multiple antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and also helps in the cleansing of the liver, improving digestion. Most importantly, jaggery can solve the problem of satisfying your post-meal sugar craving.

Why Jaggery Should be Eaten in Winter

We know that jaggery is an immunity booster food and helps in keeping the body warm in winter. But most of us are unaware of the fact that jaggery can reduce irritation in the throat by creating a soothing layer on the inner lining of the throat. Jaggery, if mixed in warm water, can also be used as a remedy to fight cough, cold and flu. Eating jaggery after a meal can stimulate digestive enzymes and this, in turn, helps in reducing acidity, bloating and gas.

Jaggery is the major ingredient in healthy winter desserts like Til (sesame seeds) ka laddoo, gajak and revadi to name a few.  Jaggery might be a healthy ingredient for winter, however, it is also high on calories as one gram contains four calories. Therefore, it should be eaten in moderation and one thing should be kept in mind that anything consumed on the higher side is not good for health.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 22, 2019 10:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).