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India has a wide variety of refreshing beverages that help people stay cool and hydrated during the hot summer months. With options like lassis, fresh juices, spiced lemonades, yoghurt drinks, and creamy milk beverages, India has no shortage of cooling, thirst-quenching drinks to provide relief from soaring temperatures. These traditional drinks are nutritious, flavourful, and an essential part of summer in India. Some of the most popular include lassi, jaljeera, nimbu paani, chaas, and thandai.
So go and sip these 7 cooling refreshers, and keep the thanda-thanda, cool-cool effect the whole day.
Aam Panna
This traditional drink is made from raw mangoes that are boiled, mashed, strained and sweetened to produce a tangy, refreshing nectar. The tartness of raw mangoes helps cool the body from within, while the drink's sweet-and-sour flavour profile is simply delightful. Apart from being delicious and refreshing, it has many health benefits. The mangoes provide vitamins, minerals, and fibre that help digestion, prevent dehydration, boost immunity, improve heart and eye health, help control diabetes, prevent cancer, reduce stress and depression, increase concentration, and keep teeth, gums, and skin healthy.
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Lassi
This smooth, creamy drink is made by blending together yoghurt, water, spices, and sometimes fruit. The key ingredient is yoghurt, which has a cooling effect on the body. The lactic acid in the yoghurt aids digestion and rehydrates the body, which loses fluids through perspiration in the summer months. The probiotics in the yoghurt promote healthy digestion and ease any stomach irritation from acidic foods. With protein for energy, calcium for strong bones, and electrolytes like potassium to rehydrate, lassi gives your body the nutrients it needs. The sweet, tangy flavour makes it much more appealing than plain water.
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Jaljeera
It is made from a blend of health-promoting ingredients that each provide unique digestive benefits. The dry roasted cumin seeds, known as jeera, contain essential oils that stimulate digestion and relieve issues like bloating, gas, and acidity. Amchur powder, made from dried green mangoes, is chock-full of fibre and antioxidants that regulate bowel movements and boost digestive fire. The menthol in fresh mint leaves activates salivary glands, initiating the release of digestive enzymes for better food breakdown. Himalayan pink salt has appetising and digestive properties to prevent gas buildup and remedy digestive troubles. Finally, jaggery, an unrefined cane sugar, gets digestive enzymes working optimally and alleviates acidity, bloating, and gas that can occur after eating.
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Imli Dhania Ka Sharbat
Sharbat is a popular sweet summer drink in India made from fruits, herbs, or flowers. One refreshing sharbat is Imli Dhania Ka Sharbat, made from tamarind and coriander leaves. Tamarind is a tart, sweet fruit that adds tanginess to foods. It contains fibre to keep you full and acts as a natural laxative for good digestion. Coriander leaves have vitamin C and antioxidants to boost immunity.
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Sugarcane Juice
Sugarcane, a tall grass native to warm tropical regions, is a key ingredient in a popular Indian beverage enjoyed during the hot summer months. The sweet juice is poured over crushed ice to make a chilled drink that provides instant relief from high temperatures. It is an energising drink that has many health benefits. The natural sugars provide an instant boost of energy and electrolytes that can help cool you down on hot days. It is also packed with antioxidants that support healthy, glowing skin by improving immunity and blood flow.
Buttermilk (Chaas)
Made from yoghurt, buttermilk is a cooling summer beverage that aids digestion. The lactic acid in buttermilk reduces acidity and prevents acid reflux after meals. Buttermilk relieves constipation by facilitating bowel movements, thanks to its high fibre content. It also prevents dehydration by replenishing electrolytes lost through sweat.
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Buttermilk is rich in nutrients like calcium, riboflavin, and potassium. It helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The proteins in buttermilk have antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer properties that prevent diseases. In short, drinking buttermilk regularly improves digestion, hydration, and overall health.
Sattu Sharbat
Sattu is a healthy, refreshing summer drink with many benefits. It is a nutritious drink made from roasted chickpea flour. It is rich in protein,fibre, and minerals like iron, calcium, and potassium. Sattu provides sustained energy, boosts stamina, regulates blood sugar, improves digestion, and aids weight loss. Its high fibre and protein keep you full. A glass of it helps keep the body cool in the summer.
