Beat the heat with these natural drinks

Drink ‘natural’ coolers this summer
Just ditch the colas and cold coffees, beat the heat with these natural drinks!

How you can drink healthy this summer!

Yes, it’s heating up again. You are dehydrating fast because of the sweating and feeling tired, just don't reach for that cola yet, wait guys.............. We have some awesome refreshing, natural options for you!

Gulp in Tender coconut water
Fresh coconut water could potentially be the greatest energy drink in the world, to top it off, it’s all-natural. Coconut water contains more potassium than the majority of energy drinks. The chloride it holds is at 118 g, and it’s natural sugars extent to about 5 mg. So, just walk down the road, and help yourself to gulp in some refreshing tender coconut water instead. Coconut water is considered as “fluid for life”. It contains a bounty of nutrients that can help fight the summer heat. It’s a natural coolant that can help reduce your body heat.

 energy drink

Avoid  cola or aerated drinks. 
Well, all those cold colas stacked up in the corner shop looks tempting. Skip it! It’s loaded with sugar and is bad for you in so many ways. Soft drinks fails to provide adequate hydration because the high sugar content and caffeine in soft drinks promote dehydration.

cola

Enjoy fresh fruit smoothies 

Try fresh fruit smoothies instead. Buy some strawberries, bananas, mangoes or pineapple, watermelon any other fruit you like. Wash, cut and blend in a mixer with cold milk or yogurt, add some ice and enjoy.

fruit smoothies 

Skip that  ice-cream treat
While ice-cream or ice-candy can bring you temporary relief from the pains of soaring heat, but think again before you gulp in some as most of the ice creams contain loads of sugar, harmful chemicals and artificial sweeteners and colors they do no good for your body. 

Ice cream

Find some Butter milk 
Buttermilk is high in potassium, vitamin B12, calcium, and riboflavin as well as a good source of phosphorus. Those with digestive problems are often advised to drink buttermilk rather than milk, as it is more quickly digested. Buttermilk has more lactic acid than skim milk. 

butter milk

One cup of buttermilk has 99 calories and 2.2 grams of fat, whereas whole milk has 157 calories and 8.9 grams of fat. Do check the labels as some brands of buttermilk are higher in fat than others. It is lower in fat than regular milk, because the fat has been removed to make butter. Packaged buttermilk is available aplenty today. Avoid that sugar-loaded packaged fruit juice and grab that buttermilk or masala chaas, as you call it in India!


Say NO to packaged juice
Most of the packed juices are stuffed with sugar artificial coloring and additives which might not be that good after all.

Packaged juices

Say YES to Kokum juice
Try kokum juice or kokum sherbat this summer. It is known as Garcinia Indica and is very famous in India specially in Maharashtra it is natural treat to beat the heat.

kokum sherbat

It is easily available in powder and decoction form. And kokum can do you a lot of good. It helps prevent dehydration, improves digestion and appetite. What more? It is known to fight infection, cleanse the blood and is good for your cardiovascular health.



Ditch Kadak Chai (Strong Tea)
I think sipping Kadak chai in summer will do no good to your body. In summer, your favourite chai will leave you feeling tired instead of pepping you up..

kadak chai

Give a try to Chamomile tea 
Pour some Chamomile tea in a cup, add a spoonful of honey and slurp! It will hydrate you instantly, and also soothe your nerves! It is a natural home remedy for most of the daily ailments like headache, stomach crams, insomnia, irritable bowl syndrome etc

chamomile tea

Say NO to Coffee 
Hot or cold, doesn't matter, coffee can be really bad for you during the summer. It increases body heat and will further dehydrate you. 

Coffee

Enjoy Barley water instead
Barley has cooling properties, which is why barley water helps bring down body heat. It’s an excellent substitute for chai or any other drink for that matter. It cleanses your kidney and keeps it free of toxins. Barley water also brings down the heat content in the body. In some countries, people consume barley rice during summer for its cooling properties.

barley water

If you don’t enjoy the tatse, add a dash of lime to the drink like the English do. Or add a spoonful of jeera while you’re boiling barley. This can add a welcome zing to your drink.
A study conducted by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that the fiber that comes from barley water lowers cholesterol. Hence, this is a must-have drink for fitness freaks.We suggest you drink while its warm like you would have your kadak chai….... yes, even in this burning weather.

Does coconut water help in diabetes

This post is dedicated to one of my friend +Ben Erl , he asked me how coconut water can benefit in diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin or to use the insulin produced in the proper way. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death among Americans; over 15 million Americans suffer from one form or another of this disease.

Coconut water

The coconut “water”, inside the nut, is sterile, and safer to drink than the often microbially-infested surface waters. The mineral profile of the coconut water (not coconut “milk”, which is made with pulp) is almost exactly the mineral electrolyte profile your cells need for health — potassium, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, manganese, copper along with vital amino acids. Although “fatty”, coconuts contain no cholesterol.

Coconut water, that delightful clear liquid extracted from green coconuts extremely healthy. Fresh coconuts are an alkaline pH food, and so they can help combat the modern acid-producing life-style which eats away at your circulatory system and organs. Coconuts are also a high-fiber, low-glycemic food and they have a low carb profile along with their protein. Every ounce of shredded coconut contains about 5 grams of fiber. Your quota of fiber should aim to be around 30 - 35 grams, daily.

It has a lot of nutritional properties that can help in the treatment of various ailments. Among these nutritional benefits of coconut water, is the control of diabetes. Yes, coconut water is good for diabetics because it is rich in a lot of nutrients that are required by diabetics to keep their sugar levels in control. Let us discuss it here, how coconut water is good for diabetics.

Improves your blood circulation
Due to improper blood circulation in their body diabetic persons generally experience some discomforting symptoms like numbness in their feet, kidney failure and even loss of vision. Consumption of coconut water, has the ability to improve the blood circulation within the body. It helps to widen the blood vessels (which get constricted due to the formation of plaque within them), and thus helps the blood to flow smoothly through them. This, in turn, gives relief from some of the symptoms and helps to fight against atherosclerosis.

Helps Controlling your weight
Drinking coconut water has the ability to satiate your hunger, and prevent you from eating in excess. Not just that, it has tremendous nutritional values of minerals, salts, good fats and absolutely no cholesterol. One important thing that diabetics are always required to keep a watch on, apart from their sugar intake, is their weight. Plus, it's extremely palatable. So you can relish the goodness of a glass of coconut water as a midday snack when your stomach grumbles in hunger.

Improves Metabolism
Coconut water can be included in diabetics diet plan as it has some properties that enable a faster metabolic rate in your body. When your metabolic rate increases, your body is digesting and burning the sugars fast. As a consequence, the insulin in the blood is also getting burned faster. This means you have more energy in your body. So, coconut water
is a favorable inclusion that diabetics can make in their diet, at least twice a week.

It is Low in Carbs and high in fibre
Coconut water is the perfect example of a food item that qualifies as a low carb and high fiber one, especially for diabetics. You can enjoy a glass full of coconut water and also indulge yourself in the super soft and delicious flesh of a young coconut.

Provides vital nutrients
Coconut water, in addition to the above-mentioned uses, also contains minerals, anti-oxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, etc. all of which are necessary for diabetics to control their sugar level and also their weight. When you drink coconut water, and your metabolism rate increases (as mentioned above), your blood also begins to carry oxygen more efficiently. When your blood has enough oxygen, you have more energy and you can carry out your daily activities with ease.

Naturally anti viral
Coconut is a potent anti-viral food and it is proving to be helpful in combating yeast-infections and the Epstein-Barr like virus which is associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, too. Lauric acid and caprylic acid are the most effective, active anti-virals.

Those were some of the major advantages that the consumption of coconut water by diabetics can lead to. It is a delicious cold beverage that you can enjoy at any time of the day. However, remember that anything taken in excess can cause problems later on. So, even if you know that coconut water is good for diabetics, drink it in moderation, and after the consultation of your doctor to reap its many benefits.