Gur Chana Benefits: Stay Warm and Healthy This Winter

Winters require you to take more care of your health. Cold temperatures will cause lower temperatures and weaken the immunity of your body, which would also affect the badly, thus making you more tired and prone towards infection. In such a season, what you eat becomes as important as how you dress. Winter snacks have several choices. Among the traditional winter snack items, Gur and Chana or Gram are two favourites as they are healthy and keep the body warm.

Gur and roasted chana have been favourite snacks in Indian homes for many years. This pair is full of energy and good nutrients that keep you warm, strong, and healthy during cold weather. In this blog, you will discover the Gur Chana benefits and their importance in Ayurveda.

Why Health is More Important in Winter?

Winter causes dry skin, slow digestion, and more sicknesses like coughs, colds, and sore throats. The cold weather affects the body’s natural balance, so we have to change our diet to help our immune system and energy levels.

Some Major Problems in Winter:

Lowered immunity: Cold weather reduces the level of fighting your infections.
Slow Digestion: The digestive fire changes in winter, which may cause bloating or constipation.
Lack of Energy: Shorter days and colder weather can decline the energy level, resulting in fatigue.
Joint Pain: Winter worsens arthritis and stiffness because it is cold and dry.

To solve all such issues, an expert team of Ayurvedic doctors at Jeena Sikho recommends adding warm, healthy, and immune-boosting food to your dishes. In this way, Gur Chana is the great superfood in Ayurveda.

did you know - jaggery and roasted chana benefits

What is the Nutritional Value of Gur and Chana?

Nutritional Significance of Jaggery:

Jaggery is an unrefined natural sweetener derived from sugarcane or palm sap. Jaggery has essential minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium.

Iron: It helps stop anaemia and makes it easier for blood to carry oxygen.
Magnesium: It helps keep muscles and bones healthy.
Potassium: Regulates blood pressure and fluid balance.
Antioxidants: They help to reduce oxidative stress while building the immune system.

Jaggery is a natural detoxifier that detoxifies the liver and the digestive system. Additionally, its warming nature makes it an essential winter ingredient.

Nutritional Value of Gram:

Roasted gram, or bhuna chana, is a good source of protein, fibre, and minerals. It has few calories and gives you more energy, making it an excellent choice for long winter days.

Protein: Builds and repairs muscles.
Fiber aids in digestion and prevents constipation.
Calcium and Phosphorus: Strong bones and teeth.
Zinc: helps to enhance immunity and skin health.
Folate (Vitamin B9): Helps the brain work better and helps make red blood cells.
Low in Calories: This makes it an ideal snack for weight management.

When mixed, jaggery and gram are used to make a healthy snack with essential nutrients that help keep your body warm and healthy.

What are the Traditional and Alternative Health Care Practices?

Ayurveda recommends seasonal food to maintain the balance and harmony of the body. As per Ayurveda, winter is dominated by the kapha and vata doshas, which require warm, nourishing, and easily digestible foods to maintain balance. Consuming nutrient-rich snacks like gur and chana provides warmth, boosts energy levels, and enhances overall well-being.

Importance of Gur and Chana During Winters

Balances Vata and Kapha Doshas: Its warm nature reduces the cold-induced imbalance.
Boosts Immunity: They enhance physical and mental strength, promoting the immunity system.
Supports Digestion: Jaggery stimulates digestion, while Gram provides satiety.

These qualities make gur and chana the best superfood in Ayurveda and help people stay physically active.

What are the Top 10 Health Benefits of Gur and Chana?

top 10 health benefits of gur and chana

1. Improves Immunity

One of the key Gur Chana Benefits is that it helps strengthen the immune system. Jaggery contains a lot of antioxidants and minerals like zinc and selenium that fight free radicals and infections. It helps fight colds, flu, and other winter infections, keeping you healthy throughout the season. The zinc and folate in roasted gram also improve your body’s defences, making this combination a potent immune booster. This snack is especially beneficial during winter when the immune system is often compromised.

2. Aids Digestion

Both jaggery and gram are excellent for digestion. Jaggery helps the body produce digestive enzymes, making it easier to break down food. Roasted gram has a lot of dietary fibre, which helps keep bowel movements regular and reduces bloating. Together, they help stop constipation and ensure a healthy gut, which many people have in winter.

3. Provides Natural Warmth

Ayurveda identifies jaggery as a heating food that helps maintain body warmth during the cold months. Combined with gram, it becomes a powerful source of sustained energy to combat winter lethargy. The roasted gram has protein and energy that keeps one warm and full of energy. That’s why jaggery and roasted gram are the ideal snacks during winter.

4. Rich in Iron for Better Hemoglobin Levels

Iron deficiency is a widespread concern, especially among women. One of the significant benefits of jaggery and gram is their high iron content. Jaggery contains a vast amount of plant-based iron, which increases blood haemoglobin levels. Also, when taken with gram, which is also heavy in folate, it increases the body’s ability to make red blood cells while stopping anaemia. Regularly consuming this snack can help combat anaemia by improving haemoglobin levels and enhancing oxygen transportation in the blood.

5. Cleanses the Body

Jaggery is known for its detoxifying properties, as it helps clean the body by removing harmful toxins from the liver and blood. This helps maintain clear skin, better digestion, and overall detoxification. The fibre in grams helps this by improving digestion and keeping the gut healthy. Together, they naturally clean your body.

6. Enhances Energy Levels

The combination of jaggery and gram is a natural energy booster. The complex carbohydrates in jaggery provide instant energy, while the protein in gram ensures sustained energy release. This combination is ideal for fighting fatigue and staying active during cold days.

7. Supports Weight Management

If you want to lose weight, gur and chana are great snacks. The protein and fibre in grams help you feel full longer, which lowers cravings. Jaggery gives you something sweet without making your blood sugar go up too much. They provide satiety and support a balanced diet, helping you maintain a healthy weight during winter.

8. Improves Heart Health

One of the best Benefits of Jaggery and Gram is to maintain heart health. Jaggery contains potassium that maintains blood pressure and a healthy heart. The magnesium and calcium in grams maintain healthy arteries, regulate blood pressure, reduce bad cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart diseases. This makes it a heart-friendly snack for individuals of all ages.

9. Enhances Healthy Skin

Winter often causes the skin to become dry and dull. The zinc in roasted gram and the antioxidants in jaggery fight free radicals, which helps reduce signs of ageing and promotes healthy, glowing skin.

10. Bone and Joint Strengthening

Chana is an excellent source of calcium and magnesium, which are crucial for strong bones and joints. The anti-inflammatory properties of jaggery further help to reduce the inflammable pain in the joints, which is prevalent during winter. Combined with jaggery, this snack helps combat arthritis, joint pain, and stiffness, which are common complaints during winter.

The above-mentioned health benefits of Gur and Chana make it necessary to eat these snacks in the winter season helps to make us physically and mentally healthy.

What are the Healthy Snack Options in Ayurveda?

Ayurveda recommends eating nutrient-rich snacks like gur and chana to promote optimal health. Unlike processed foods, these natural snacks provide warmth and nourishment. Ayurveda also classifies jaggery (gur) and gram (chana) as sattvic foods, which help balance the body and mind. Other Ayurvedic winter superfoods include dry fruits (almonds, walnuts), seeds (sesame, flax), spices (ginger, turmeric), Amla or Indian Gooseberry, and are rich in Vitamin C. However, Gur Chana are ideal due to its affordability, availability, and ease of preparation.

How to Incorporate Gur and Chana into Your Diet?

Here are some simple ways to add this snack to your daily routine: Eating a small quantity of roasted chana with a few pieces of jaggery is recommended.

Pre-workout snack: provides long-lasting energy for exercise.
Morning Energy Boost: Consume it with warm milk for an excellent start to your day.
Post-Workout: Have it after exercise to refuel and aid muscle recovery.
Dessert Alternatives: Use jaggery to make desserts sweeter in a healthier way.

At Jeena Sikho, we emphasize the importance of traditional, natural, and Ayurvedic methods for achieving optimal health. We believe in empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources to lead healthier lives. Incorporating snacks like gur and chana helps to promote overall wellness. Under our expert guidance, you can make informed decisions about your health that lead to a balanced and active life.

Conclusion

The Health Benefits of Gur and Chana make it an indispensable winter snack. Such a combination is a perfect taste for overall wellness, from boosting immunity and digestion levels to providing natural warmth and energy. Rooted in traditional and alternative health care practices, gur and chana offers a simple yet effective way to stay healthy during the cold months.