NCR’s most dreaded time of the year is here . After a great spell of monsoon when the air quality of Delhi touched an all time best of being in the 50s it’s risen to unimaginable toxic levels again . While I write this it’s a shocking 471.
Since the number of vehicles and the industrial emissions remain practically the same throughout the year , unfortunately for Delhi , a number of factors add up to raise the AQI to dangerously unhealthy levels . These being mainly
1. Stubble (parali) burning in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab.
2. Dry and still air with no rainfall during these months keeps the pollutants suspended in air for long.
3. A phenomenon called temperature inversion which happens in winters , when the air temperature increases with altitude instead of decreasing and so traps the pollutants near ground level .
While nothing can be done about the last two factors, factor 1 which is man made can be totally controlled if the governments involved wish so. But in the game of blames and total lack of wish , the residents of NCR continue to suffer .
Besides avoiding morning and evening walks, my shield of armour this year would be the humble Jaggery or Gud. The age old tradition of a bite of Gud after dinner, especially in winters, is an excellent time tested idea, relevant more so now. Jaggery or Gud is unrefined sugar in its purest form, made directly from raw sugarcane juice. It is a powerhouse of iron, minerals and antioxidants (the molasses in jaggery contain phenolic acid). Many industrial workers whose environment is smoky and dusty are given a piece of jaggery after work and it’s proven to reduce the side effects of these industrial pollutants in various studies.
So how does jaggery work. Being rich in iron, it increases the oxygen carrying capacity of blood which in turn helps in dealing with the breathing problems associated with pollution. It increases the translocation of pollutant particles from the lungs to the lymph nodes , helping in clearing the airways . It clears excessive mucus and the antioxidants in it, like any other antioxidant, help neutralise the free radicals of the pollutants. The recommended daily dose is about 2-4 grams on a day, which would be about not more than a teaspoon if you powder it. Diabetics of course would have to take it with all the dietary restrictions. Also the darker the colour of jaggery, the better it is. The yellow ones are chemically treated. So the gloom that has set it can definitely be sweetened by a little bite of this desi chocolate called Gud.
Dr.Seema Bajaj