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5 summer coolers you should drink before heatwave strikes

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Nidhi Tayal
Nidhi TayalMar 21, 2016 | 13:59

5 summer coolers you should drink before heatwave strikes

They will help you combat indigestion and headaches.

Summer of 2016 is here and many have already donned their white linens and new shades. Thanks to western disturbances (sadly, the crops are ruined), the mercury has lowered by a bit.

March already feels like May. It won't be long when soaring temperatures will bring in throbbing headaches before the heat-waves actually hit us.

The key to health is hidden in your daily diet. Correct your electrolyte levels and live a pain-free life.

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It is this electrolyte imbalance that is one of the causes of indigestion and related headaches. Here's how:

Electrolyte imbalance, often brought about by excessive perspiration, frequent urination or dehydration, is an unknown cause for those unnerving throbbing headaches. Electrolytes are salts (acids and bases et al) that contain electrically conductive ions. These ions help transmit messages throughout the body. Imbalance of electrolytes causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, flatulence, indigestion, dizziness, lethargy, muscle weakness and headaches.

Know your electrolyte fix, ie, foods containing sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chlorides and phosphates to enjoy the summer better and live better.

Here are five electrolyte-rich summer drinks to help you combat indigestion and related headaches:

1. Nimbu pani (Lemonade)

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Citrus fruits like lime or mausambi contain calcium and potassium that when combined with common salt (sodium chloride) provide a balanced pH for the body.

Natural sugar present in lemonade is an instant energy booster. Garnished with mint leaves (pudina), it provides a cooling effect to an acidic gut and enhances digestion, often an underlying cause for mild to severe headache. This wholesome drink not only corrects the fluid level in heat-struck body but also provides antioxidants to help curb cancer causing a free flow of radicals.

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Carry a bottle of homemade lemonade or stock your office pantry with lemons. It is more cost effective a drink than any analgesic pill, plus it tastes awesome.

2. Aam panna (Raw mango juice)

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Raw mango combined with spices like cumin, fennel, pepper and black salt is a panacea for all your electrolyte needs. It is a rich source of potassium, which helps control blood pressure and heart rate, a huge cause for recurrent headaches.

The antioxidants present in mango has cancer-fighting properties. Presence of beta-Carotene (form of vitamin A) improves vision: goodbye headaches. Contrary to the myth, owing to low GI (glycemic index) it can safely be consumed by diabetics too. The GI measures how fast and how much a type of food raises blood glucose levels. The presence of bioactive esters, aldehydes, terpenes and fibre improves digestion, treats acidity, curbs constipation and decreases your chances of getting a headache.

3. Lassi (Lacto-fermented drink)

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Made with yogurt, fermented lacto drinks are probiotic in nature. They add good bacteria to the gut and keeps headache at bay. Yogurt combined with salt, sugar, mango, rosewater and kewda is not only tasty but each ingredient adds a different electrolyte to the drink. This electrolyte-packed beverage is irresistible and an effective remedy to increase ionic activity in the body, that gets diminished due to excessive sweating and non-replenishment of fluids.

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4. Bel ka sharbat (Wood apple juice)

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The city is flocked with vendors selling this "amrut" in earthen pots to make it readily available but if you are a hygiene freak, invest in a good cold press juicer. Without the juicer too, it's ready to drink in less than ten minutes to be ready. Wood apple juice is antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial in nature.

It's highly effective in curing acidity, indigestion, chronic diarrohea and post-febrile (after a bout of fever) and myalgia (muscle weakness). It is also a sure-shot cure to fight heat-induced headaches. In fact, ancient Ayurvedic therapies recommended applying fresh bel leaves paste on the forehead to relieve headaches. Bel sharbat also destroys harmful intestinal worms, thereby enhancing proper digestion and improving the quality of gut health. Bel or wood apple improves body's ionic activity to cure general lethargy due to heat.

5. Ganne ka juice (Sugarcane juice)

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A glass a day can keep you away from regular headaches.

Sweet in taste, a natural coolant, instant energy booster and packed with electrolytes, no reason you can pass off this summer beverage. Calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, topped with chloride rich black salt, sprig of cooling mint and dash of lime to enhance potassium, name one electrolyte you won't find in a glass of sugarcane juice. Loaded with flavones, it is an antioxidant that helps fight growth of cancer cells. The goodness doesn't end here; contrary to the myth sugarcane juice can also be consumed by diabetic's because it has a low GI.

The only catch is that it should be consumed the minute it is extracted and only to be bought from a reliable vendor.

So, enjoy this summer by beating the heat. Ditch that soda bottle. Popping pills with a cup of tea to cure headache is so passé; indulge in these yummy wholesome nutrient-packed coolants instead.

Of course, like I said earlier: diet is your therapy.

Last updated: May 24, 2018 | 13:44
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