Makar Sankranti Foods & Their Health Benefits

Posted on: Jan 17, 2023 | | Written by:

Makar Sankranti Foods & Their Health Benefits

Published on January 17, 2023. EST READ TIME: 4 minutes

Makar Sankranti, a harvest festival, is one of the most prominent ones celebrated in India. The festival marks the end of chilly winters, and we welcome longer days with ample sunshine — a great sign for the growth of crops. And no celebration in India is complete without delicious food. As the gourmand in you gets ready to gorge on til laddu, laai, Pongal, Makara chaula, kheer, etc., remember that they don’t just satiate your taste buds but also provide great nutritional value. Let’s learn more about the health benefits of these food items and how they help keep diseases and infections at bay.

List of food items with health benefits of the ingredients

1. Til laddu:

A traditional Indian sweet, til laddu or sesame seeds laddu is a must-have delicacy during Makar Sankranti. The main ingredients of the laddu are white sesame seeds, jaggery, peanuts and cardamom powder.

Health benefits:

• Sesame seeds:

Black sesame seeds are rich sources of vitamins, proteins, essential minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, healthy fats and antioxidants. They may help control blood sugar, lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion. Sesame seeds are also good sources of energy.

• Jaggery:

The best alternative to sugar, jaggery may help manage diabetes, cholesterol, and weight loss,as well as prevent damage to the lungs.

• Peanuts:

Packed with fibre, minerals like magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamins B & E, and antioxidants, peanutshelp lower the glycaemic index and manage diabetes. Vitamin E helps in preventing the risk of heart diseases.

• Green cardamom:

As per a study, green cardamom helps lower blood pressure, improves heart health, aids digestion and has anti-cancer, antibacterial and anti-food poisoning properties. It primarily benefits patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

2. Pongal:

The famous South Indian dish, Pongal, is made with rice, moong dal, spices such as cumin seeds, black pepper, hing (asafoetida), curry leaves, and ginger.

Health benefits:

• Moong dal:

This ingredient may help manage diabetes and cholesterol, prevent damage to the liver and boost immunity. Moong dal is rich in proteins, fibre, folate, vitamins K and C, and vital compounds like peptides and polyphenols.

• Hing:

Traditionally, hing is used to treat digestion issues, stomach pain, intestinal parasites, flatulence, asthma, bronchitis, and whooping cough.

• Curry leaves:

Rich sources of carbazole alkaloids, curry leaves are known for their antidiabetic and neuroprotective benefits. They also help treat digestive disorders, piles, oedema, and body aches.

• Ginger:

For thousands of years, ginger has been used to prevent and treat high blood pressure, cough and cold, arthritis, and many other inflammatory diseases.

3. Makara Chaula:

The famous traditional dish of Odisha, Makara chaula’s ingredients are newly harvested rice, cottage cheese (paneer), coconut, ginger, sugarcane, sweet potato, jaggery, pepper and fresh fruits.

Health benefits:

• Cottage cheese:

The nutrients and calcium present in cottage cheese may prevent osteoporosis and chronic diseases like stroke, asthma, etc.

• Coconut:

The consumption of coconut may boost immunity, improves memory and helps in weight loss.

4. Patishapta Pitha:

This Bengali sweet dish is prepared with semolina (sooji), refined flour (maida) or garbanzo wheat flour, milk, khoya, cardamom and jaggery or date-palm syrup.

Health benefits:

• Semolina:

With vital nutrients like protein, iron, magnesium, folate, vitamin B, and fibre, semolina is good for the heart. This also helps with digestive issues and weight management.

• Garbanzo wheat flour:

Also known as besan or chickpeas flour, Garbanzo wheat flour is a good source of magnesium, potassium, folate, fibre, and vitamin B complex. It is healthy for the heart.

5. Jaggery Kheer:

This must-have dish during Makar Sankranti is made with newly harvested rice and jaggery or date palm jaggery.

Health benefits:

• Date Palm jaggery:

Made with date palm, the natural sweetener jaggery is highly nutritious. It helps in boosting energy levels, improves digestion, heals migraine, helps with weight loss and joint pains, treats menstrual cramps, etc. Date palm jaggery is also known to help in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

6. Dahi Chura:

This dish, made with curd, rice flakes and jaggery, is a famous delicacy in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. It is a must-have dish during Makar Sankranti.

Health benefits:

• Dahi (curd):

A rich source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B2 and B12, curd is great for healthy bones and digestion.

• Rice flakes:

Also known as poha, rice flakes are easier to digest than rice because it is low in starch and carbs.

Conclusion

During festivals, we pamper taste buds with all kinds of delicacies - sweets and savouries. The food items prepared during Makar Sankranti are not only delicious but also highly nutritious, and you don’t have to feel guilty about gorging these superfoods. However, anything in excess can make you fall sick and having health insurance comes in handy during such situations. Ensure your Mediclaim policy is up-to-date with sufficient coverage and sum insured. Happy Makar Sankranti!

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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