Chilled and hydrating drinks is all that we look out for during summer season. But as per Ayurveda, consuming ice-cold beverages will only disrupt the digestive power, known as Agni. Therefore, it is vital to hydrate your body with drinks that lower your body temperature and not hamper the digestive system. Here is a list of healthy drinks recommended by Ayurveda to cool your body and hydrate as well:
1. Buttermilk
Probably the best drink which refreshes and keeps the body cool in the hottest summer days, buttermilk is prepared by blending a few spoons of natural yogurt mixed with water. Often some spices like pepper, green chillies, ginger, coriander leaves, and curry leaves are added to it, to enhance its nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Consumed as almost everyone in every Indian household post meals, it gives a cooling effect on the digestive tract. Buttermilk can be used to treat digestive disorders, swelling, gastrointestinal ailments, anemia and lack of appetite. Consume buttermilk by adding a pinch of salt and spices to prevent dehydration.
2. Mango Juice
The King of Fruits, Mango is well-known to promote the functioning and health of the digestive system. Loaded with vitamin C, A, minerals, iron and carotenoids, it keeps your immune system healthy to keep going strong during the summer season. Its anti-melanoma properties act as pressure buster and aids proper digestion. Since the level of stress and pollution is more during the summer season there are chances for an imbalanced alkaline level in the body, causing diseases like cancer and tumors which can be prevented with malic acid, tartaric acid and a slight trace of citric acid found in mangoes. Prepare a healthy mango juice by dicing the mango and blitz for a minute or two. Add half a cup of water if the mixture is dense and ensure that you avoid adding sugar to it.
3. Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice is rich in iron content and boosts the hemoglobin levels with its ability to multiple red blood cells in the body. Also, the anti-oxidant properties present in them, thrice as more as green tea and oranges, keeps the skin healthy and glowing even in the torturing heat during summer season. This superfood fights free radicals and prevents various diseases and infections. Drinking pomegranate juice regularly is recommended for heart patients, to reduce bad cholesterol, aid digestion and reduce inflammation. Prepare pomegranate juice very easily by adding pomegranate arils into a blender without adding sugar and blitz for about half a minute till the seeds are crushed.
4. Grape Juice
One of the effective benefits of having grape juice is its powerful property to help relieve from digestion related problems and constipation. It also helps people suffering from migraine get over it. Add grape juice to your regular breakfast to easily relieve from migraines, boost your metabolism and instantly boost energy. Add a cup of sweet ripe black grapes to blender with half a cup of water and bitz. Strain the juice and add half a spoon of lemon juice to it.
5. Sarsaparilla Juice
Sarsaparilla aka Nannari or Nauneendi is a very popular summer drink in India. Ayurveda recommends having sarsaparilla drinks during summer because of the numerous medicinal properties it offers. Extracted from its roots, it cools the body in this intense summer heat and is beneficial for people with the urinary infection. The drink gives a soothing effect to the eye and skin as well. Mix three teaspoonful of sarsaparilla root essence and a teaspoon of lemon juice to a glass of water to make sarsaparilla juice instantly.
6. Tender Coconut Water
Tender coconut water replaces the fluid loss in the body and keeps it hydrated in this intense heat. With its highly concentrated fibre content, coconut water helps cure indigestion. On a hot summer day, the electrolytes present in our body reduces while sweating, making you feel drained out. Drinking coconut water helps in replenishing them and makes you feel refreshed.
7. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice with a pinch of salt is considered to be an ideal drink for dehydration and it replaces the salt and glucose level in the body. Nausea, heartburn, and dehydration are some of the common health issues during the summer season can be prevented by consuming lemon juice. Taking lemon juice regularly helps in boosting metabolism and aids digestion, removing toxins and dirt from the body.
8. Sugarcane Juice
Having a glass of sugarcane juice during the summer season is very refreshing as it leaves the body recharged. The alpha hydroxyl acids present in sugarcane juice does wonders on your skin by exfoliating and removing dead skin cells. It is a potent energy booster and cools the body during the harsh summers. It helps in proper kidney functioning to prevent urinary tract infections.
9. Watermelon Juice
Watermelon juice is quintessential during summer time due to the plenty of health benefits it has got to offer. From being a major source of energy and water to eradicating inflammation, helping balance pH level to prevent exhaustion and heat stroke, this fruit is packed with nutritious values only. Having watermelon juice potentially reduces the risk of suffering heat stroke and as it contains electrolytes, it will help negate the effects of summer heat. Also, being high in water and fibre content drinking watermelon juice aids digestion. Blitz watermelon chunks in a blender and add a cup of water and fresh mint to feel super refreshed.
10. Fresh Cucumber Juice
Cucumber is made up of 95% water content, making it an ideal superfood during summer. The magnesium content present in cucumbers helps in relaxing the nerves and muscles and also promotes the smooth circulation of blood. Enriched with vitamins, cucumber juice ensures that it replenishes the body with vitamin B to prevent fatigue and irritability, conditions which are synonymous to the summer season. Cucumber juice cleanses the body by removing toxins to get a refreshed feeling. Pair it with lemon and mint for cooling and refreshing effect.
11. Rose Water
Pure drinkable rose water is prepared by adding distilling rose petals in steaming water. The extract of damask rose contains several properties that is beneficial for health. Because it is tastier, people reluctant to drink water can have this in place to keep their body hydrated. Also, it is a mood enhancer and calms down the nerves. Having rose water will flush out the dust and toxins from the skin and makes it hydrated and fresh.
