By SOSE Organic & Natural

Summers are approaching and it becomes important to stay hydrated throughout the season.  According to medical experts, an average adult may need to drink 3-4 liters of water a day to keep the body functioning at its best. However, as most of us would agree, just water is unlikely to help us feel satiated when the heat is at its peak. All of us like to please our taste buds every once in a while if not daily and combine water with other liquid foods to fulfill our body's water requirement.

Which doshas are dominant during the summer?

According to Ayurveda, summer is the season when Pitta dosha is likely to get vitiated. The earth is closest to the Sun during this season, and hence among the 5 primal elements, the influence of 'Agni (fire element) is at its peak. Hence, people with a Pitta prakriti especially need to keep themselves hydrated and consume cooling foods and drinks. Burning sensation in the stomach or chest area, constipation, gastritis, body aches (due to gaseous disturbances caused by Pitta dosha), irritability and anger could all be symptoms of vitiated Pitta dosha.

People with Vata Prakriti may also experience dry skin, allergies, and dry coughs during this season. In general, people with Kapha dosha may be the most comfortable during this season. During the beginning of this season however, Kapha that's often accumulated in the body during winters melts which the body then tries to expunge resulting in apparent symptoms of Kapha dosha. In this article, we present some ideas to help you stay hydrated during this season. You may choose the one that suits you best, depending upon your individual constitution and preferences.

Keep an eye on the basics of good health - don't be swayed by TV commercials

This is also the period when the market gets flooded with heavily promoted commercial drinks which are often a mix of chemicals and white sugar. While they may temporarily help you satisfy your thirst due to their water content, they may actually vitiate the doshas because of their acidic chemical content and the adverse effect of these chemicals on digestive fire. These products also do not help the farmers of Bharat as they use very little natural & fresh plant-based ingredients.

Here's a list of healthy drinks you can try instead. These drinks have been used for centuries by the people of Bharat to stay hydrated and healthy during the hot summer season.

1) Tender Coconut water - Tender coconut water is cooling in nature and helps to pacify Pitta dosha. Tender coconut water also stimulates digestion and is a natural diuretic. Modern research indicates that tender coconut water contains various beneficial minerals that act as anti-oxidants.

2) Buttermilk and Lassi - According to ancient Ayurvedic text Bhavaprakash, just as Amrit is for happiness to Gods, buttermilk is for the happiness of human beings. Buttermilk prepared without cream and with half the quantity of water as curd is cooling in nature, light to digest, digestive stimulant and pacifies Vata, Pitta, and fatigue. One can add spices such as black pepper, hing (asafoetida), jeera and rock salt to buttermilk to enhance its taste and health benefits. You may use SOSE Chhas Masala instead to make a tempting glass of cooling buttermilk. One can also take full cream curd with Mishri (Rock Sugar or khadi sakar) to deal with problems of acidity and gas.

3) Nimbu Pani (lemonade) - One of the healthiest drinks of the season which is also extremely easy to make. Lemons are naturally rich in vitamin C which tends to get depleted during summer due to higher levels of oxidative stress during this season. Add some rock salt, mint, jeera or black pepper and natural Mishri powder or natural honey to maximize taste and benefits. 

4) Natural Sharbats (Syrups) & Drinks - Natural sharbats that are made from herbal ingredients such as fennel seeds, rose, etc can be great for refreshment as well as for maintaining good health. These contain the qualities of the natural plant-based ingredients that they are made with as well as sugar which can help to pacify Pitta dosha. Make sure you buy them in their organic or natural form. If you can't find any, then SOSE website & stores and GIR stores carry syrups made from the highest quality natural ingredients. You may also look for SOSE Thandai Powder, a traditional preparation of spices and dry fruits that are mixed with milk and is deliciously nourishing during summers.

Sharbat (Syrup) & Drinks ideas from SOSE, made from authentic ingredients that boost health.

5) Organic or Natural Fresh Fruits or Juices - Oranges, sweet lime, watermelon, pears, mangoes, etc are some of the fruits which you will find at stores during this season. Make sure to buy them organic or natural as fruits & veggies tend to be sprayed with the maximum amount of pesticides to keep them fresh. Fresh fruits are naturally rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

6) Fresh Green Smoothies - Make fresh juices or combine pulpy fruits like banana or ripe mango with fresh greens like mint or spinach to make lip-smacking green smoothies in a blender. You will find a range of exciting recipes for making green smoothies on the net. Green smoothies combine the benefits of fresh greens with fruits. They are rich in vitamins & minerals and also effectively aid the body in smooth digestion and detoxification.

7) Fresh Fruit Milk Shakes, Ice Creams or Kulfi - You can make delicious fresh fruit milkshakes & Ice creams at home to beat the summer heat. Cold milk naturally helps to pacify the pitta dosha, though please keep in mind that refrigerated milk can be heavy to digest and lead to the accumulation of undigested aam or Kapha in the body, so please consume in moderation. Further, please do not combine unripe or sour fruits with milk as the milk may spoil and this is categorized as 'viruddh ahar' as per Ayurveda. Combining milk with sour, salty or chilly hot foods can create toxins in the body. Concepts like orange ice screams are not consistent with Bharatiya Ayurvedic principles.

For best results, use desi gau milk, and make sure you know where the milk is coming from and that the Gaumata has not been exploited to procure the milk. Fresh Kulfi made from Gir Ahinsak Gau Milk in exciting flavors is available at SOSE stores for those living in Ahmedabad.

8) Sugarcane Juice - Sugarcane juice is one of the best cooling drinks which helps to pacify Vata and Pitta doshas. Due to its alkaline nature, this juice is also said to help with prostate and breast cancer. Sugarcane juice instantly refuels the body with useful carbohydrates and benefits various organ systems such as the kidney, heart, and brain. However, there are hygiene concerns regarding the consumption of roadside sugarcane juice. In such cases, you may make sugarcane juice at home using a blender & sieve or a juicer. Even better, chew on sugarcane stem (if you have strong teeth!) or pieces to maximize benefits.

9) Aam ka Panna - 'Aam ka Panna' is a nutritious drink made from boiled raw mangoes, sugar, and spices. This drink is a great way to pep up your energies in a delicious way during summer. The internet abounds in various 'Aam ka Panna' recipes, you can use any of them to make a concentrate at home.

10) Natural Mishri Powder, Jaggery, Rock Salt and Honey - To make your summer drinks, you may use Mishri (Khadi Sakar or Rock Sugar), Jaggery or Honey instead of conventional white sugar. These sweeteners have highly beneficial qualities which are discussed in this article. Make sure that you use these in their natural or organic form.

Also, make sure to use rock salt for making your drinks like Lemonade as well as for daily cooking. Natural rock salt is rich in minerals that are simply absent in conventional iodized salt. These minerals are particularly useful during summer as the body tends to lose them more often through sweating. If you can't find Natural Mishri powder, Jaggery Powder, Natural Honey or Rock Salt anywhere, you can find these at our SOSE or GIR stores or website.

11) Using cooling seeds - Fennel & Basil - During summers it is preferable to use Fennel seeds as an after-mint ('mukhvas') rather than flax seeds. Fennel seeds are naturally cooling in nature, and they also aid digestion. Flax seeds, on the other hand, can be heating in nature. One can also make Fennel Seeds water ('variyali nu pani') by soaking fennel seeds for some time in water and using this water to make lemonade or other drinks. Basil seeds ('takhmariya' or 'sabja') are also a delicious way to cool down during summers. These seeds are popularly used to make faloodas, sundaes, and drinks. You need to soak Basil seeds overnight before use to experience their delicious jelly-like texture.

So enjoy this summer with your family and friends, and let us know if you have more such ideas to stay hydrated. For more comments or feedback, please write to us at support@suryanorganic.com, or call us at 7405095969.