Summer and your gut health are connected. When your body is exposed to excessive heat, you may face problems like dehydration and digestive problems. That is why it is important to prioritize your diet especially in summer. You should look for foods and drinks that have digestive and cooling properties. What are some of the best summer drinks for digestion? Let’s find out.

How does summer affect your gut health?

Summer marks a change in our daily routines, diet and overall lifestyle, which affects our gut health. Here’s how the two are connected:

1. Dehydration

Increased sweating due to summer heat increases the risk of dehydration due to the body’s natural cooling process. Dehydration significantly affects the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the production of saliva, which is essential for the initial digestion of carbohydrates, says dietitian Manvi Lohia. Also, water absorption in the colon increases to conserve body fluids, resulting in hard stools and potential constipation, highlighting the need to maintain hydration for smooth digestive processes.

2. Dietary change

Summers are often full of soft drinks, ice creams and highly processed foods, which introduce high amounts of sugars and fats into the diet. These changes negatively affect the diversity and balance of the gut microbiota, which is associated with digestive discomfort and impaired nutrient absorption, the expert said.

Recipes for healthy drinks for digestion

Talking about hydration is incomplete without water, but make sure to have warm water even in summer. According to a study published in 2015, drinking warm water early in the morning breaks down foods faster, making digestion easier. European Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research,

Here are some nutrient-dense, hydrating drink recipes to support digestive health this summer.

1. Am Panna

What’s needed

• 2 raw mangoes
• Roasted cumin powder 2 tsp
• Few mint leaves
• A pinch of jaggery
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup of water

method

• Boil the mangoes, peel them and extract the pulp.
• Add water, jaggery, cumin powder, salt and mint to the pulp.

Am panna hydrates and replenishes electrolytes lost through sweat. Raw mango pulp helps digestion, while cumin acts as a cooling agent, says Lohia.

2. Buttermilk

What’s needed

• 1 part yogurt
• 3 parts water
• 2 teaspoons roasted cumin powder Salt to taste
• Few mint leaves

method

Mix all the ingredients and serve.

A staple in Indian households, buttermilk is an excellent source of probiotics. Added spices and mint help digestion.

3. Kokum juice

What’s needed

• 200 grams of dried or semi-dried kokum
• Cumin powder 2 tsp
• Black salt to taste
• A pinch of jaggery
• 3 cups of water

method

• Kokum should be soaked in water for two hours.
• Put it in a blender and wait until it becomes a smooth paste.
• Take a pan, add kokum paste, cumin powder, black salt and jaggery in it.
• Cook this mixture on medium heat for half an hour.
• Allow the mixture to cool after cooking.
• Use a strainer to extract the extract.
• Add 3 tablespoons of kokum concentrate to a glass, mix with water and serve.

Kokum is a fruit known for its digestive and cooling properties, says the expert.

4. Sattu Rasam

What’s needed

• 2 tbsp sattu (barley or gram flour)
• A cup of water
• A lemon
• Cumin powder 2 tsp
• Salt to taste

method

• Add the satu to the water, making sure that no lumps form.
• Add the rest of the ingredients.
• Squeeze a lemon for its juice, put into the mixture, then serve.

Sattu is rich in fiber, aids in digestion and prevents constipation.

5. Minty watermelon cooler

What’s needed

• 2 cups of watermelon cubes
• 10 mint leaves
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup of coconut water

method

Mix all the ingredients until you have a smooth paste and then serve.

Watermelon is high in water, making it an excellent choice for hydration. Mint contains menthol, which has antispasmodic properties on the muscles of the digestive tract, reducing digestive discomfort, the expert said.

6. Green detox drink

What’s needed

• 1 cup of spinach
• 1 sliced ​​apple
• ½ lemon (juice)
• Grated Ginger 1 tsp
• 1 cup of water

method

Mix all ingredients until smooth, then serve.

Leafy greens like spinach are rich in magnesium, a natural laxative, while apples provide soluble fiber, helping bowel regularity. The acidity of lemon juice breaks down food, aiding in digestion.

7. Pineapple Basil Delight

What’s needed

• 2 cups pineapple chunks
• 10 basil leaves
• 1 cup of water.

method

Mix all the ingredients until they are smooth and then serve.

Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which aids in protein digestion, reduces bloating and promotes gut health. Basil has antimicrobial properties that support healthy gut flora.