It is summertime, and all we need to do is to fodder ourselves with cooling and hydrating drinks. While Ayurveda condemns the consumption of ice-cold foods and beverages as they disrupt the digestive fire called agni. It does encourage loading up on drinks that lowers the body temperature and not hamper the digestive system. This weak digestive system begins to work harder in order to digest and absorb nutrients and pitta dosha or the metabolism becomes unbalanced. One of the best ways to cool your body temperature is to drink lots of water that also helps keep it hydrated in sweltering summers. There are other drinks that Ayurveda suggests to include in your daily diet.Here are some amazing drinks suggested by Ayurveda expert at Nirog Street, Ram N Kumar that you should definitely load up on.

1. Aam Ka Panna

Aam ka panna is made using green mangoes. It is one of the best cooling drinks that help beat the heat. It has vital micro-nutrients that replenish the mineral levels in the body and keep it going through the hot days. Here's how you can make aam ka panna at home.

2. Poppy Seed Sorbet Or Khus Sherbet

Mixing poppy seed sherbet with lemon makes for an amazing drink during summers. It is an excellent source of iron, manganese and B6 vitamins. It is also diuretic in nature, which is why it is known for its cooling properties. Here's how you can make khus ka sherbet at home.

3. Bael Ka Sherbet

Wood apple, or bael juice makes for a cooling agent. The juice of the fruit is considered to be beneficial for gastrointestinal problems, peptic ulcer, jaundice, obesity and gynaecological disorders. You can add some lemon juice to avoid the bitter after-taste, too.

4. Rose Sherbet (Gulab)

Rose sherbet or rose water contains various vitamins like vitamin A, C, E and B. It also makes for a hydrating and cooling drink that relieves digestive problems too. Here's how you can make rose water at home and drink this healing elixir.

5. Phalsa Sherbet

Phalsa fruits are small berries that grow on the tree Grewia asiatica and resemble blackcurrants. Phalsa sherbet is said to relieve you from excessive heat. A glass of it daily may help prevent strokes. Here's how you can make Phalse ka sherbet at home.

6. Sattu

This desi drink originated from Bihar is known for its cooling properties. Sattu powder is made with roasted black chanas, which is then used to make the drink. It is super filling and healthy; thanks to the presence of essential nutrients, fibre and proteins that make it a summer cooler. Here's how you can make sattu at home.

7. Buttermilk

Ayurveda suggests bringing buttermilk, or chaas, to rescue during summers. One of the most loved summer drinks, buttermilk is an outcome of the separation of butter from milk tempered with curry leaves and mustard seeds. This all-rounder is surely a perfect solution to your summer woes. Here are 10 best buttermilk recipes you must try making at home.

Adding these cooling drinks will surely ensure a delightful and hydrating summer this year!

With the temperatures breaking records now, one should try and become more conscious about their health and wellbeing. This season is known to be very brutal for those who eat and drink with no regard for their wellbeing; staying fit and healthy should be top priority for everyone.

The most common health issues reported during summer are reflux and acidity. Symptoms of acidity like heart burn, bad breath, sour tongue and reflux are experienced when excessive heat in the body leads to the production of high amount of acid. Food being one's medicine, one must be watchful about what they eat, and design their diet on the basis of how helpful and healthy food could be. Let us introduce you to the food items that will make your summers less acidic:

Water And Fluids

Maintaining the water and pH level of the body is extremely crucial. Increase in the intake of plain water, coconut water, lemon juice, kokam sherbet, cold milk, buttermilk, etc. is important. Coconut water is a natural diuretic as well as one of the richest sources of potassium and minerals. It helps in excreting toxins out of our body and should be consumed regularly.

Cold Milk

Inclusion of cold milk in your diet would help in absorbing the excessive acid produced in the stomach. Adding 1 tbsp of chia seeds in cold milk, gives the best results for those suffering from acidity.

Curd And Buttermilk

These are the most recommended items for surviving summers, both curd and buttermilk are the best-known probiotics. It keeps one's gut healthy by protecting the lining of stomach and improves overall digestion.


Fruits

They are not just natural antioxidants but power boosters of vitamins and minerals. Rich water content, potassium, magnesium and fibre in fruits makes it best bet, especially during summer. We always recommend opting for whole juicy fruit, rather than consuming its juice. Fruits like amla, guava, oranges and sweet lime are rich in vitamin C. As they are sour, many tend to think that it will aggravate their acidity symptoms, but vitamin C actually helps in treating the acidity and boosting one's immunity. Summer fruits like mangoes are also very rich in vitamin C. Ice apple, white jamun, muskmelon and watermelon are great sources of potassium and magnesium, which are known to maintain the hydration levels of the body. Banana is one of the most commonly consumed home remedy to tackle acidity, as its fibre content makes bananas a natural antacid. Choosing seasonal as well as colourful varieties of fruits is recommended to get the benefits of their natural antioxidants and power boosting capacity.

Vegetables

Vegetables like bottle gourd (lauki), padwal, pumpkin, cabbage, cauliflower are beneficial due to their high water and mineral content. A special mention here goes to cucumber, as it contributes towards body's hydration. Capsicum is also known to have a neutralising effect on stomach acids. Varieties of salads and cold vegetable soups are recommended for consumption during summers.

Jaggery

Jaggery is known to be very effective because of its magnesium content. It not only improves our immunity, but also regulates the body temperature. Jaggery water would be of good help in treating acidity and its symptoms.


Other Foods That You Must Consider Eating In Summers

Sipping lemon water with basil leaves and a pinch of salt added to it, and chewing fresh sugarcane is also a good way to deal with the rising temperature, since these are natural coolants.

Excessive consumption of beverages such as tea, coffee, alcohol, soda etc. increases the acidity and reflux problems. Spices like red and green chili, pepper, mint, and chocolates are known to be acid producing agents. Hence, it is better for people who suffer from acidity to avoid the consumption of these items. But, we can definitely consume ginger, garlic, turmeric, cumin seeds (jeera), cinnamon to give flavour to our food. Intake of oily food needs to be limited at all times, not just during summers, since, oily and fatty food leads to delayed stomach emptying, it causes acidity.

Diet plays a vital role in dealing with acidity and reflux problems that all of us face during the summer season. Being extremely careful and food educated while designing the correct diet would definitely prevent many health hazards. A tip for everyone this summer-Stay cool. Stay summer ready!

It is that time of the year again. Warming kadha and soups are all set to give way for cooling sherbets topped with chilled ice cubes. I remember, how long back, one of my only household duties in summer would be to refill the ice trays so that we never run out of ice cubes. Come to think of it, it was indeed quite an important task at hand. It is tough to imagine summers without ice cubes. Be it the plain water ice cubes, or the fun ones made with fruits and herbs, ice cubes are one summer staple you would find across all households. But, did you know these little ice cubes are capable of much more than cooling your drinks. They could prove to be one of your best companions for summer skincare, too. They may help reduce pimples, sunburns, skin inflammation and boost blood circulation. Ice cubes with milk or cucumber can even exfoliate your skin. Surprised? Here's how you can use this versatile and inexpensive skin care remedy for all your beauty needs.


1. Shrink Pimple Or Acne

It may not be as fancy as the cosmetic packs that you use on your acne prone skin, but ice cubes could also prove to be rather effective, if given a chance. Acne is caused due to excess production of oil from the sebaceous glands leading to the blockage of hair follicles. Ice may not cure your skin of pimple completely but it can surely help to shrink or compress it in size. Ice helps cool down your inflamed skin that broke out into that nasty pimple. Make sure you consult your dermatologist before going ahead with the remedy. If your skin is sensitive the ice massage may aggravate the bacterial action.
How to use: Wash your face and dry it with the help of a towel. Take a clean paper towel and put some ice cubes in it. Put the towel exactly on top of the acne for about a minute. Repeat the process after five minutes. If you have been using any essential oil add a drop of it on the towel filled with ice cubes and repeat. Make sure you take ample breaks.

2. Sunburn

Come summers and the sun becomes one of your greatest enemies. Staying out in sun for long could lead to nasty sun burns and tan. Exposure to harmful UV rays could penetrate in your skin and may cause damage to skin cells, too. You can use aloe-vera juice or cucumber ice cubes to soothe the painful effect of sunburns. According to the book 'The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies' by Vasant Lad, aloe vera is often dubbed as the "burn plant," indicating that its natural properties can cure a sun burn. The leaves of the plant consist of anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce swelling and further calm skin irritation caused by the burn. Ice cubes made of plain water are not a bad pick either. Its cooling properties help in absorbing the heat from the skin, subsequently, soothing the sun burnt area. Applying the cool compress regularly is known to be very effective.

How to use: Make a cool compress using ice cubes. Wash your face and pat dry it with a towel. Place the towel with ice cubes on the affected area till the ice melts.

3. Exfoliate Skin

Ice cubes are also a reasonable remedy to exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of the epidermis. You can make milk ice cubes for best results. In an ice tray, instead if water pour milk and freeze it. To each block you can also add blueberries and cucumber. Your milk ice cubes are ready. Apply these cubes on gently on your face. The lactic acid in the milk, scrubs away dead cells and give you an exfoliated skin. The antioxidants present in blueberries and cucumber would help give you a face lift.

How to use: Take a towel, add the milk cubes and give your skin a gentle press. Softly massage your skin with the ice cubes till the cubes melt. Wash your face with water after a good massage.

4. Reduce Oiliness Of Skin
Struggling with the woes of oily skin? Give cooling and refreshing ice cubes a chance. Application of ice cubes checks the oil secretion on the skin, giving you fresh and oil-free skin in a jiffy.

How to use: After washing your face, rub your face with ice cubes wrapped in paper towel, or any towel, made in thin fabric. Once the oiliness is reduced, you may need to apply a little moisturiser. To make it even more refreshing try using mint ice cubes. In an ice tray pour water and, in each block, put a mint leaf. Your mint cubes are ready.

5. Puffy Eyes

Been working extra hours? Has the exhaustion begun to take a toll on your eyes, too? Puffy eyes are perhaps one of the biggest curses of today's fast-paced urban lifestyle. Ice cubes are perhaps the most inexpensive and convenient quick fix for the same. According to beauty experts, on an inflamed skin, any kind of cool pack is an effective remedy. You can put ice cubes of water, milk or antioxidant rich green tea, and apply them around your puffed eyes. However, beware you don't put it around your eyes for too long. Using chilled ice, right out of the fridge may not be the best idea for delicate skin, it may stick to the skin and cause pain.

How to use: Wash your face and dry it with towel. Now, wrap the ice cubes in a paper towel and gently press the cubes on your eyes for short periods. Continue the process for about 10 minutes, then dry your face with towel. Get ready for a fresh look on your face.

So, what are you waiting for? Pull out your ice trays, freeze some quick cubes and use it for your skin this summer.

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, they say. But if the eyes are too tired to behold, then beauty is lost. The summer heat and the glare of the sun play spoil sport and are a cause of strain for the eyes. Dryness, a burning sensation, itching and dark circles, are quite commonly felt during this season, and can be quite an irritant. Eye allergies can also occur as well. But take heart! Here are some simple tips for healthy, relaxed eyes this summer, straight from your kitchen.

Cold Water

First things first. Splash your eyes, frequently with cold water during the day. This will help freshen up the eyes. Or better still, cotton pads soaked in ice water placed on the eyes for about ten minutes will constrict the blood vessels ,leading to relaxing the eyes.

Aloe Vera

Another effective remedy is using the ever useful aloe vera. Put some aloe vera juice in the eyes, to lessen the summer strain. You could also freeze aloe vera juice as cubes and place them on the eyelids for brightening dull eyes.

Cucumber

Cucumber is another obvious choice, that comes to mind when we think of eye care, because of its high water content. Take a refrigerated cucumber and cut a slice for each eye. Place it on the eyes for 15 minutes and relax. Open your eyes to a completely refreshed feeling. Cucumber pulp can also be placed on the lids if you like. You could also mix lemon juice with cucumber juice and apply around the eyes and leave for ten minutes and then wash. It will have the same effect.

Potato

Worried about those puffy eyes and under eye dark circles? Reach out for the lowly potato. The juice of the potato has astringent properties and reduces the puffiness of the eyelids and also takes care of dark circles. Grate a raw potato and put the pulp in a fine cloth and place it over the eyes. Alternately, you can place a fine slice of a peeled potato on each eye for 15 minutes. This will take care of the puffiness and dark circles. It could help reduce wrinkles too!

Rose Water

Eyes burning? Reach out for rose water. A few drops in each eye can help cool them down. Cotton dipped in rose water can also be placed on the eyes to get rid of dark circles. As an alternative, you could also spray rose water on your eyes to cool them down.

Strawberry

Strawberry slices placed on the eyes help rejuvenate them. Place strawberry slices or crushed mint leaves to refresh your peepers. Mint juice mixed with an equal quantity of cucumber juice applied under the eyes reduces dark circles.

Tea Bags

Next tea bags. Used tea bags are a boon for tired eyes. Once you've brewed your tea, put the tea bags in the freezer and let them stay there for some time. Place the cooled tea bags on your eyes for 15 minutes to get the sparkle back. What's more, it even helps to reduce the dark circles. You could also use green tea bags in the aforesaid way or brew green tea, cool it down and then splash this on your eyes. It shall give the same effect.

Tomato

Tomatoes are known to lighten the skin and can be applied under the eyes. Mix the pulp with some lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric and apply it under the eyes. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then gently wash it off. It works wonders.

Summer Eye Care Tips

Remember, sleep is the best remedy for tired eyes. 6-8 hours is a must. This helps reduce any strain you may have experienced during the day. A siesta in the afternoon, if you can manage, is even better.
1.Avoid the direct blast of the AC on your eyes. The cold blast can result in dry, sensitive eyes.

2.UV rays can be the cause of many eye problems.
Protecting your eyes from exposure is a must. Flaunt your shades. The bigger the better. Be sure they give UV protection.

3.Drink plenty of water to keep your body and your eyes hydrated. 6-8 glasses or 2 litres is the recommended dose.

4.Remember to remove all eye make-up before you sleep. Almond or baby oil act as good make-up removers.

5.Last but not the least, don't forget a diet rich in Vitamin A. Leafy and red vegetables, should be your pick.

Follow these simple steps and bring these kitchen ingredients to your rescue for relaxed eyes this summer!

We all have dealt with summer heat and have hated it most of the time; skin eruptions, sweat and dehydration, summers are mostly about these problems. However, thanks to Ayurveda that practices the science of natural health and has a lot to offer. According to the book 'The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies' by Dr. Vasant Lad, "Summer is hot, bright and sharp, the season of pitta. Thus, it is recommended to keep cool and not allow pitta dosha to become aggravated."According to Yogi Anoop, Founder at MediYoga, "It is important to consume more alkaline foods in order to fight the heat in the body. Eat water-rich foods that will not only re-hydrate your body but also have antioxidants that keep you healthy. Consume onions, green vegetables and drink lots of water. Basically, you should ensure that there is no dryness that instills as it may heat up the body causing various health problems.