Easy to make
Sugarcane is used to make five major types of sweeteners. In the order of refinement, these are sugar, khandsari, shakkar, gur and raskat (a byproduct of the sweetener industry). Gur and khandsari are cottage industry products and do not have to deal with restrictive policies that control the sugar industry.
Gur is more nutritious than sugar: it has around 28 grammes of minerals per kg as compared to just 300 milligrammes per kg in refined sugar.
Compared to gur- making, manufacture of sugar uses more chemicals such as sulphur dioxide, lime, phosphoric acid and bleaching agents.
Gur is rich in iron and is useful for people suffering from anaemia. Those with dry cough, indigestion and constipation also get relief with gur.
According to the ancient ayurvedic text, Sushruta Samhita, gur purifies blood and prevents rheumatism.Some recent studies have also shown that it can protect the lungs from dust and smoke in the environment.
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