Journey of taste: Galgal is beneficial for the heart, keeps digestion healthy, is related to hilly areas

Taste of Travel: What is galgal? If we say that it is the ‘father’ of lemon, then there will be no exaggeration. It is actually a fruit of lemon species, but it is many times bigger than lemon and juice is also found in it many times more than lemon. It is considered very beneficial for the body. The beneficial juice of galgal is helpful in maintaining the smooth functioning of the heart. It also keeps the digestive system strong. The origin of Galgal is believed to be India and it has been flourishing in the Himalayan and surrounding regions for thousands of years.

Useful from syrup, chutney to pickle

Galgal (Hill lemon) is a wonderful and extremely sour fruit. A galgal bigger than a lemon is full of juice. If you cut it and squeeze it, the juice will start pouring out. Some smooth, some rough Galgal attracts amazingly in its yellow form after cooking. Its delicious sherbet and chutney is made, marmalade and pickle are also very much liked. In fact, its thick peel adds color and flavor to the pickle. In mountainous areas, when guests come to homes during winter, they are fed a special diet made by cutting small pieces of galgal in a plate and adding spices and a little sugar to it. Feeding this diet is considered to give respect to the guest.

Galgal crop mainly flourishes in abundance between October to January. At that time, adding a little mustard oil and salt to its juice, it is cooked and stored. This juice is useful throughout the year.

Its origin is the foothills of the Himalayas.

Many species of lemon are of Indian origin, Galgal is also included in them. It has been flourishing for thousands of years in the mountainous regions of India, especially in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is also produced in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Prof. Ranjit Singh and Prof. SK Saxena, agronomists of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (Pusa), who have written a book titled ‘Fruits’ on the origin and development of most of the fruits around the world, believe that galgal originated in India and its origin is in the Himalayas. It is a lowland area.

There is a description of this fruit in the Ayurvedic text ‘Charaksamhita’ written in 7th-8th BC in India. According to the book, it is a destroyer of Vata and Kapha, increases appetite, keeps the speed of breath smooth. In the Western Himalayas the galgal plant is considered sacred and raw galgal is included in the puja. Its leaves are also used in social and other household works.

The body has the ability to melt fat

Galgal is considered a panacea for the body. Food experts not only consider it special, it has also been called a virtuous fruit in modern Ayurveda medicine. Indian Herbs. Renowned Ayurveda expert Acharya Balkishan, who has done extensive research on fruits and vegetables, says that this fruit (lemon jambiri) has medicinal properties. It is purgative, anthelmintic, antiseptic. It stops indigestion, keeps breathing activities normal, and is also beneficial in arthritis. The special thing is that this mountain fruit keeps the heart away from pain and prevents Kapha-Pitta-Vata.

Galgal is rich in Vitamin C, so it prevents the body from becoming anemic. Image-Canva

According to food expert and dietician Anita Lamba, galgal is rich in vitamin C and pectin (soluble) fibre, which makes it special. These elements keep the heart smooth and also protect it from attack. Some different types of elements are found in the sourness of Galgal, these elements do not allow fat to freeze in the heart and arteries. Keep breaking it continuously. Due to which the heart remains healthy for a long time.

Fruit also protects kidney from stone

This soluble fiber and sourness found in this fruit control obesity and if galgal is consumed along with exercise, it also reduces weight, because its sourness has the ability to melt fat. Potassium is also found in this fruit, which also keeps bones healthy. Since it is rich in Vitamin C, it prevents the body from becoming anemic. It also prevents the stomach from getting infected. It is also believed that due to its use, kidney stones are not formed. A report also states that its extract (juice) also has antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. If galgal is consumed spontaneously, there is no side effect, but if eaten in excess, it will make the teeth extremely sour, and can also cause stomach cramps.

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Tags: food, Lifestyle