Healthy juices to combat heat

Some cool quenchers to beat the heat

FOR MP

Since summer heat has reached its peak – it is hot, sweaty and making us thirsty. We drink water and soft drinks – aerated and artificially sweetened drinks. While plain water is the best way to quench thirst, we should also consider replenishing the salt and minerals lost from the body. Most soft drinks contain unhealthy ingredients such as artificial colours (chemicals), preservatives and diluted phosphoric acid. This damages our digestive system. It may even deplete calcium from our bones leading to disastrous results. Also one should be careful not to consume overly chilled drinks. Find here below some healthy alternatives to artificial soft drinks. Try it yourself and feel the difference.

Lemon and Mint juice

Ingredients

Lemon - 2

Sugar – One-fourth cup

Mint leaves - 10 leaves

Ginger – 1 inch piece

chopped

Water - 250 ml

Method

Make sugar syrup with enough water. Take out juice from two lemons. Blend lemon juice, ginger and mint leaves. Add sugar syrup to this. Mix this with enough water and cool it.

Elaneer Drink

Ingredients

Elaneer (soft part also) -

1

Cardamom powder - a

pinch

Sugar or grated jaggery -

to taste

Method

Add all ingredients in the mixie, grind well. If you want you can use ice cubes also.

Watermelon and ginger juice

Ingredients

Watermelon

- 500 grams

Ginger chopped

– 1 inch piece

Lemon - 2

Water - 3 glasses

Method

Take juice from two lemons. Blend all ingredients in a mixer grinder and use.

Nannari sherbet

Ingredients

Naruneendi roots

- 100 grams

Water - 1 lt

Sugar - 1 kg

Juice of lemons - 6

Method

Clean and remove the central part of the root by using a hammer. Once that is removed, dry the roots in the sun, this makes easier to grind. Grind the dried roots in the mixie.

Boil one litre water and cool it. Add the ground powder and let it stand for about 8 to 10 hours. Filter with a thin cloth taking care not to let the fine powder through. Add one kg of sugar and boil till you get a sticky, pouring consistency.

Do not let the mixture burn. Remove from fire, cool and add juice of 6 lemons. Because of the sugar, it should keep well or keep the bottle in the refrigerator. From this take small quantity, add required quantity of water and use it as sherbet

Gooseberry juice

Ingredients

Gooseberry - 4

Green chilly - 1

Coriander leaves and

curry leaves - few

Salt - to taste

Water (boiled and

cooled - 250 ml

Method

Remove the seeds of gooseberries and chop it. Grind in the mixie with other ingredients.