The summer heat is hard to tolerate

The heat can suck the energy out of you

Try these juices, you will be relieved

Beating the heat is the biggest challenge during summers. Forget the canned juices or artificial drinks, India is a home to some awesome beverages that not only quench your thirst but also refresh you with their nutrients. So what are you waiting for, just indulge yourself in these drinks sans the guilt.

Also Read: Homemade health: Refreshing summer drinks for kids amidst health drink controversy

Lemonade or Nimbu Paani

 

Lemonade is a classic summer drink that not only cools you down but also helps prevent dehydration. Its taste comes from a blend of lemon juice, sugar, water, black salt, and roasted cumin powder, giving a taste of delightful sweet and tangy taste.

Lemonade aids in digestion, helps keep blood sugar in check and boosts weight loss as well. You can even crush some mint leaves and add them to your lemonade for an extra refreshing flavour. Adding fresh mint leaves to your fruit and vegetable salad with some grated ginger and lemon zest can also help you stay cool and hydrated during the summer.

Kokum Sharbat

Popular in coastal Karnataka and Kearala, this juice is made from tangy kokum fruit, kokum sharbat is full of antioxidants, potassium and vitamin C, that plays a crucial role in keeping you hydrated, storing electrolytes and boosting immunity.

The sweet taste and savoury flavour is perfect for you to get refreshed and relieve yourself from heat. It’s also been used as Ayurvedic medicine for inflammation, dehydration, and indigestion due to garcinol that also aids digestion and cools the body. This drink can also be turned into a cocktail, or with mixed fruit to give a hydrating option for hot summers.

Thandai

Thandai, a very common drink during Holi, is a combination of almonds, fennel seeds, cardamom, rose petals and spices with milk and sugar for creamy texture. This drink gives you the delight of floral essence and balances the coolness. Thandai is mostly in high demand in northern India during scorching summers providing both refreshment and sustenance. Milk and nuts in this drink offers nourishment, whereas other properties support cooling properties that makes it an ideal choice for relaxation in hot weather.

Jal Jeera

Jal jeera is a widely popular summer drink prepared after roasting cumin seeds and mixing with mint, black salt,and tamarind to battle heat. The tartness of tamarind harmonises with aromatic cumin and mint whereas black salt brings savoury touch. Jaljeera offers digestive benefits with antioxidants. Cumin promotes digestion and mint helps to flush out toxins.

Sugarcane juice

In India, sugarcane juice is a widely consumed beverage that can instantly re-energize you. It is abundant in antioxidants, iron, magnesium, calcium, and other minerals that support immunity and help your body fight off disease. It is even recommended by Ayurveda as a treatment for jaundice. However, it’s crucial to refrain from consuming fruit juices if you have diabetes.

Coconut Water

A natural and refreshing option to hydrate yourself and help you to keep cool during summer heat. Packed with electrolytes like magnesium and potassium, helping restoration of fluids and preventing dehydration. Moreover, coconut water is very low in calories and sugar, giving you a healthier option for sugar beverages.

Papaya juice

Next on the list is papaya juice. Due to their high fiber content and papain-producing enzyme, papayas are excellent for digestion and weight loss. It also soothes sunburns, lessens tans, and lowers blood pressure, making it a fantastic drink to beat the summer heat. You can even make papaya honey juice for a sweet and healthy treat.

Basil seed drink

Another way to beat the heat is by preparing a drink that contains basil seeds also known as sabja seeds, which are known to reduce body heat. To prepare these drinks, you can soak the basil seeds in lukewarm water at a ratio of half a cup of water to 2 teaspoons of basil seeds. Refrigerate it and drink it!