Indian Lung Helper

Tall Guy · Post by **Tall Guy** » Tue 31st Jul 2007 02:06 pm

I saw a programme about Indian food last night, and they mentioned that Indian factory owners often give their staff a daily piece of "Jaggery" (sp.?) to clear their lungs after working in dusty conditions. It's a kind of unrefined sugar-type stuff, available in Asian shops.

Bonglord, get yourself a shitload

stew1974 · Post by **stew1974** » Tue 31st Jul 2007 02:36 pm

Tall Guy · Post by **Tall Guy** » Tue 31st Jul 2007 02:50 pm

It's a type of unrefined sugar, caramelly/treacley in taste, and yes it's meant to be great for your lungs in general, helping to loosen any mucus/foreign objects.

Must get myself some next time I'm in Bradford.

Tall Guy · Post by **Tall Guy** » Tue 31st Jul 2007 02:56 pm

Seems it's backed up by science, too...

Abstract

Because industrial workers in dusty or smoky environments seemed to experience no discomfort if they consumed the sugar cane product jaggery, experimental studies were undertaken to observe the effects of jaggery on dust-exposed rats. Rats with and without a single intratracheal instillation of coal dust (50 mg/rat) were orally gavaged with jaggery (0.5 g/rat, 5 days/week for 90 days). The enhanced translocation of coal particles from lungs to tracheobronchial lymph nodes was observed in jaggery-treated rats. Moreover, the jaggery reduced the coal-induced histological lesions and hydroxyproline contents of lungs. The lesions induced in omental tissue and regional lymph nodes by a single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg each of coal and silica dust were modified by jaggery (0.5 g/rat, 5 days/week for 30 days). These findings along with the preventive action of jaggery on smoke-induced lung lesions suggest the potential of jaggery as protective agent for workers in dusty and smoky environments.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articl ... id=1567304

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaggery

DHBlues · Post by **DHBlues** » Tue 31st Jul 2007 09:42 pm

Amazingly enough, I understood that. Gonna read the article when I have a chance. Wondering if it's a mucolytic like acetylcistine or more of a theophylline-type xanthine. (Sorry, I'm at work right now and "on thejob", as it were.)

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Mon 6th Aug 2007 05:57 pm

My wife did a little research from her many food encyclopdias and found there exists an unrefined sugar that may be purchased easily in the states. This is what jaggery is after all.

http://www.rapunzel.com/products/rapunz ... adura.html

Tall Guy · Post by **Tall Guy** » Mon 6th Aug 2007 07:26 pm

geoffk wrote:My wife did a little research from her many food encyclopdias and found there exists an unrefined sugar that may be purchased easily in the states. This is what jaggery is after all.

http://www.rapunzel.com/products/rapunz ... adura.html

I'm not sure that is the same geoff. The Indian stuff might be made differently.

I'm sure you can get the real deal by mail if you don't have Indian stores locally.

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Mon 6th Aug 2007 07:37 pm

No I guess they aren't from the same source, just un-refined. Jaggery is made from Date Palm, while Rapadura is un-refined sugar cane. If indeed the Jaggery is good for the lungs, then it might stand to reason the Date Palm/and or the production methods could have some medicinal qualities. Maybe I'll bake a cake with some weed butter and try Rapadura in one sample and Jaggery (if I can get it) in another.

Tall Guy · Post by **Tall Guy** » Mon 6th Aug 2007 07:43 pm

Hmmmm...the ever-reliable

Wikipedia says:

"Jaggery is the traditional unrefined sugar used in India. Though "jaggery" is used for the products of both sugarcane and the date palm tree, technically, the word refers solely to sugarcane sugar."

I'm not trying to have the last word, I just want you to try the right stuff geoff! or both, like you said, a side-by-side trial would be good.

We should set up a business supplying the coffeeshops.

geoffk · Post by **geoffk** » Mon 6th Aug 2007 07:53 pm

Yeah I got the info I posted from Wiki as well. I also used a health foods encylopedia from my wife. I think the key is un-refined. Although I didn't see anything about lung benefits in the encyclopedia. We have some Rapadura in the cupboard. It looks like rough, soft brown sugar.

I like your supply idea, especially since I've heard of some pretty inconsistent and low quality baked goods at the shops.

MarijuanaEnthusiast · Tue 7th Aug 2007 01:19 am

You guys probably already know this but cardiovascular exercise helps to loosen tar, aiding the body in expelling more mucus. After coming back from Amsterdam I have been running on the treadmill for 1 hour a day and I have been coughing up a lot of phlegm (a lot more than I do without the exercise).

USbongLord · Post by **USbongLord** » Tue 7th Aug 2007 03:46 am

WHEN THE LUNGS JUST CANT TAKE ANOTHER BONGHIT... SUPER VAPEZILLA TO THE RESCUE...INTERESTING READING 711... A COUPLE HOURS IN THE GYM STARTS MY HOCKING UP LUNGERS.....GREAT IDEA THOUGH,,,THANKS

bluelaru · Post by **bluelaru** » Sun 9th Sep 2007 05:03 pm

MORE....MORE.....MORE

Tall Guy · Post by **Tall Guy** » Sun 9th Sep 2007 05:05 pm

OK then, I saw an old Moroccan fella on another cooking show (Anthony Bourdain) who said you should eat a lot of olive oil if you smoke. He drank a small glass every day.

bluelaru · Post by **bluelaru** » Sun 9th Sep 2007 05:10 pm

I say someone drinking olive oil on tv...maybe same...but dont remember Bourdaine...so maybe

They say Olive oil is full of anti oxadidents