Everyone likes to end the Cholesterol meal with a sweet or a dessert. Whether it is a block of chocolate, a piece of mithai, or maybe a scoop of ice cream, no one ever says no to sweets (unless, of course, you are diabetic). However, this is gradually changing as more and more people embrace a healthier lifestyle. Today, people are turning towards jaggery as a substitute for sugar due to its numerous health benefits. Jaggery is rich in antioxidants, making it popular among people looking at ways to improve their skin and hair. Jaggery benefits for skin and hair are many, including reduced wrinkles, silkier hair, and even skin tone.

Jaggery benefits for skin arise from the fact that it is rich in antioxidants and nutrients that fight free radicals [1]. Additionally, it is believed to be good for the gut, making it the favourite choice of sweets after dinner. Jaggery is also a healthier replacement for sugar, and many people like to have it with tea. In this article, we’ll look at some jaggery benefits for skin and hair and why it is considered a one-stop-shop for all things related to glowing skin and silky, shiny hair. Also, it’s important to note here that the organic version of jaggery is just as, if not more, effective in taking care of various ailments.

Before we zoom into jaggery benefits for skin and hair, let’s look at the nutritional value of this superfood and how it is made.

Nutritional Value

Jaggery Making Process

Jaggery is made from sugarcane in three steps: extraction, clarification, and concentration [2].

Extraction: the sugarcane is pressed in a machine to extract the juice.

Clarification: The juice is emptied in containers and allowed to stand. This process helps in settling the residue or sediment at the bottom. The juice is then filtered to get a clear liquid.

Concentration: The clear juice is then boiled and stirred continuously for hours in a flat bottomed pan.

Stirring helps remove any impurities. The juice then turns into a thick, yellow/brown paste. This paste, when cools down, becomes jaggery. The colour of the jaggery varies from golden brown to dark brown based on the quality of sugarcane and the juice in it.

Top Three Jaggery Benefits for Skin

Reduces Wrinkles

Jaggery benefits for skin are mainly due to Glycolic acid, which helps in correcting skin aberrations and flaws. It also increases the skin’s flexibility that reduces signs of ageing like wrinkles and fine lines. Glycolic acid acts as a mild exfoliator to promote spotless, clear skin.

Prevents Premature Ageing

In Ayurveda, gur is considered a superfood due to its medicinal properties. Jaggery benefits for skin can be fully realized when it is consumed with sesame seeds and essential herbs. That’s because jaggery is rich in antioxidants that can fight free radicals and prevent the ageing process.

Reduces Pimples

Jaggery benefits for skin also include reducing acne. Even a lemon-sized every day can remove spots, clear complexion, and keep acne at bay.

Top Three Jaggery Benefits for Hair

Reduces Hair Fall

Jaggery is rich in iron that prevents hair fall. Iron helps in the production of haemoglobin that, in return, leads to better blood circulation to the roots of the scalp, promoting hair growth and reducing hair fall.

Shiny Hair

The iron content in jaggery also gives shiny and smooth hair when used as a hair mask.

Promotes Hair Growth

Typically, hair grows an inch per month. But iron deficiency can retard this growth. Therefore, regularly having jaggery promotes hair growth since gur is a rich source of iron.

How to Incorporate Jaggery

Jaggery benefits for skin and hair can only be realized if you have it regularly. That is why you need to look for innovative ways to incorporate it into your diet or apply it topically. Here are some of the most common ways to make it a part of your lifestyle:

• Eat a small piece in its original form
• Use it as a sugar substitute and add it to your daily cup of green or black tea.
• Make gur roti by adding a small amount of it in the flour. Roll out rotis and cook on a hot tawa.

Topical Use of Jaggery

Overall skin health: For getting the most of jaggery benefits for skin, mix powdered jaggery with honey and add a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this mixture on the face and massage for a few minutes. Rinse the area with cold water and pat dry to notice the glow.

For reducing wrinkles: Prepare black tea and cool it down. In this water, add one spoon jaggery powder, grape juice, turmeric, and rose water. Make a paste and apply on the affected area. Let it stay for 10 minutes and then rinse. Pat dry

For acne: if you want to work on your acne and remove them, take some jaggery powder, and add  lemon juice to it along with little water to make a perfect paste. Apply this paste on the affected area for 5 minutes and rinse. Make sure not to add a lot of lemon juice since lemon is a natural bleach that can cause a burning sensation on open acne or cracked skin. Use it every day for positive results.

For Hair Care: Create a hair mask by taking two tablespoons of multani clay and two tablespoons of jaggery powder. Add some yoghurt to make a smooth, perfect paste. Massage this mixture on the scalp in round motions and leave for some time. Use a mild shampoo and regular water to wash it off. Apply the mask at least once a week to see a noticeable difference.

So there you go folks, that was our take on jaggery and its benefits for skin and hair. Try 24 Mantra Organics’s Jaggery Powder and enjoy the benefits of organic food.