Summer drink recipes: 7 ideas for healthy digestion

Summer and gut health are linked. When your body faces too much heat, you may have to deal with issues such as dehydration and digestive issues. Therefore, it is important to focus on your diet, especially during the summer months. You should look for foods and drinks that promote digestion and have a cooling effect on the body. What are the best summer drinks for digestion? Let’s find out.

How does summer affect your gut health?

Summer brings changes to our daily routines, diets, and overall lifestyles that impact our gut health. Here’s how the two are connected:

1. Dehydration symptoms

Summer heat increases the risk of dehydration due to increased sweating, the body’s natural cooling process. According to nutritionist Manvi Lohia, dehydration has a major impact on the gastrointestinal tract, reducing saliva production, which is essential for the initial digestion of carbohydrates. It also increases water absorption in the colon to conserve body fluids, which can result in hard stools and constipation, highlighting the need to stay hydrated for a smooth digestive process.

2. Changes in eating habits

Summer often brings increased intake of cold drinks, ice cream, and sometimes processed foods, which can add more sugar and fat to your diet. These changes can negatively impact the diversity and balance of the gut microbiome, leading to digestive discomfort and impaired nutrient absorption, experts say.

Healthy drink recipes that are good for digestion

Hydration is nothing without water, but be sure to drink lukewarm water even in the summer. According to the results of a 2015 study published in the European Journal Of Pharmaceutical And Medical Research, drinking warm water in the morning helps food break down faster and is easier to digest.

Here are recipes for nutritious and hydrating drinks that can support your summer digestive health.

1. Arm Panna

material

• 2 raw mangoes
• 2 teaspoons roasted cumin powder
• A handful of mint leaves
• A pinch of jaggery
• Salty as you like
• 1 cup of water

Method

• Boil the mango, peel it and remove the pulp.
• Mix the pulp with water, jaggery, cumin powder, salt and mint and enjoy.

Aam panna hydrates and replenishes electrolytes lost through sweat. Lohia says raw mango pulp aids in digestion, and cumin acts as a cooling agent.

2. Buttermilk

material

• 1 part yogurt
• 3 parts water
• Roasted cumin powder 2 tsp Salt (as appropriate)
• A handful of mint leaves

Method

Mix all ingredients and enjoy.

Buttermilk, a staple in Indian households, is an excellent source of probiotics. Added spices and mint aid digestion.

3.Kokum Sharbat

material

• 200 grams dried or semi-dry kokum
• 2 teaspoons cumin powder
• Black salt to taste
• A pinch of jaggery
• 3 cups of water

Method

• Soak kokum in water for 2 hours.
• Place it in a blender and wait until it becomes a smooth paste.
• Add kokum paste to the pan and mix with cumin powder, black salt and jaggery.
• Cook this mixture on medium heat for 30 minutes.
• Once cooked, let the mixture cool.
• Remove the extract using a strainer.
• Add 3 tablespoons of kokum concentrate to a glass, mix with water and enjoy.

According to experts, kokum is a fruit known for its digestive and cooling properties.

4. Satu Sharbat

material

• 2 tbsp sattu (barley or gram flour)
• 1 cup water
• 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons cumin powder
• Salty as you like

Method

• Mix the sattu with water to avoid lumps forming.
• Add remaining ingredients.
• Squeeze the lemon juice, mix and enjoy.

Sats are rich in dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and prevents constipation.

5. Mint watermelon cooler

material

• 2 cups watermelon cubes
• 10 mint leaves
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup coconut water

Method

Mix all ingredients until you have a smooth paste before serving.

Watermelon is made up mostly of water, making it great for hydration. Experts say mint contains menthol, which has an antispasmodic effect on the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and relieves digestive discomfort.

6. Green detox drink

material

• 1 cup spinach
• 1 apple sliced
• 1/2 lemon (squeeze the juice)
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 cup of water

Method

Mix all ingredients until smooth before serving.

Leafy greens like spinach are rich in magnesium, a natural laxative, and apples contain soluble fiber, which helps regulate bowel movements. The acidity of lemon juice helps break down food and aids in digestion.

7. Pineapple Basil Bliss

material

• 2 cups pineapple chunks
• 10 basil leaves
• 1 cup of water.

Method

Mix all ingredients until smooth before serving.

Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that helps digest protein, reduces bloating, and promotes gut health. Basil has antibacterial properties that support healthy gut flora.