Amazing Health Benefits of Modak - Dr. Brahmanand Nayak

The favourite of Lord Ganesha, Modak is not only a sweet delish! Ancient sages told us some amazing health benefits of Modak that makes it super healthy snack!

Blend coconut, jaggery, rice flour, lots of desi ghee with a firm hand and you get magic on a plate. These incredible ingredients make Modak low on the glycemic index and rich in nutrients.

With Ganesh Chaturthi around the corner, I thought of brushing off the dust from our ancient Ayurvedic texts. Many people say no to Modak or take a pinch of it as prasad worrying about the calories it might add.

Well, there is more to Modak than mere calories.

Ayurveda encourages the intake of local and seasonal snacks, made at home, rather than the store brought sweets or snacks, no matter what the pack says!

Also: Diwali 2021 | 5 Amazing Ayurvedic Recipes you must try this Diwali

Modak – The Lord’s favourite

For the uninitiated, Modak is a popular Indian sweet, hailed in the states of Maharastra, Goa, and Konkan. The little dumplings have a soft outer shell made from rice flour or wheat flour mixed with khoa or maida flour. It has a sweet filling inside that comprises of freshly grated coconut and Jaggery. Modaks are either fried or steamed.

Check out: Recepies of Modak

Indian tradition says, if you want to impress Lord Ganesha then offer the Lord a plate full of Modak. Modak is considered one of the favourite sweets of Lord Ganesha. In fact, traditions say, it is one of the must-have prasad in the plate during Ganesh Chaturthi.

Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festive that welcomes the Lord to the land of humans and sends him off with wishes and prayers. Along with flowers and chants, devotees offer different prasad. The Puja usually concludes with an offering of Modaks to the elephant Lord.

Though the sweet-tooth of Lord Ganesha does not need a reason to pick the Modak, the Lord knows better. There are amazing health benefits of Modak which everyone should know!

6 amazing Health Benefits of Modak

1. Cure for Constipation

Rich in ghee and jaggery, Modak helps to stimulate the bowel movement. Ghee helps to rebuild the intestinal mucus lining and facilitates smooth elimination of toxins. So, munching on the Modaks might clear your constipation problems.

Also Read: Ayurvedic Treatment for Constipation

2. Boosts Immunity

Jaggery is a storehouse of iron and folate which are important for normal levels of red blood cells. Rich in vitamins, minerals and saturated fats. Saturated fats help destroy pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi. Hence, Modak may improve your immunity.

Also Read: Ayurvedic Rasayana For Immunity

3. Protects the heart

Coconut and ghee contain medium-chain triglycerides that are known to improve good cholesterol. It increases metabolism and reduces bad cholesterol. Medium-chain triglycerides have a heart-protecting and pressure regulating effect.

Also Read: How Anger Affects your heart?

4. Sweet treat for the Diabetics

It’s the best thing about Modak. Even if you are diabetic, you can have Modak. Rice, coconut, jaggery steamed and eaten with ghee is medium to low on the glycemic index.

Hence, this sweet delicacy is completely safe and actually beneficial for a steady blood sugar response. But in moderation, though it contains natural sugar.

Also Read: Turmeric in Diabetes Management

5. A women’s best food!

There are many reasons to pick that Modak from the plate, especially for the ladies. The rice flour helps in stabilizing blood sugars. Vit B1 in rice helps reduce PMS and sugar craving. It may also help in enhancing skin health and preventing ageing. In pregnancy, it is the perfect food – rich in iron, magnesium and vitamin.

It promotes a healthy gut environment and natural fat burning. The rice flour contains an essential amino acid called lysine. This too accelerates fat burning. It is filling, the rice flour help prevents excessive craving for food.

6. Regulates Thyroid

The coconut, ghee, jaggery and rice are all much needed by the thyroid glands. It’s medium to low on the glycemic index, full of good fat and nutritionally filled. It is also good for both vigour in the body and stability in the mind.

Also Read: Did you know Thyroid diseases have tripled in recent years?

Healthy Tip!

Prepare Modak with Nuts and Fruits. Nuts and Fruits contain unsaturated fat and are rich in vitamin E. It prevents the development of plaques in arteries and contains high fibre. You can also sprinkle other healthy ingredients and make your own healthy recipe for Modak. Try to make it at home rather than going for the store brought one!

Benefits of Modak – Wrapping it up!

This Ganesh Chaturthi, don’t ditch the Modak counting calories. It is worth more for your health. And it’s not every day that you get Modak made in the house. So, eat one, two or even three small-sized home-made healthy Modaks.

The happiness of life lies in celebrating these small thrills. The happiness of devouring on the festival specials come once a year, and you better not miss the chance!