It is always very good to keep your liquid intake high than the other food items we consume. I have often come across people drinking beverages without the complete knowledge of what they are made of. Taste buds are the only human parts which are satisfied by such appetizing soft drinks, obviously your thirst too! But are we not responsible for the harm we do to our body?
Yes, we indeed are, even after having the knowledge that soft drinks from the super companies like Coca-Cola and Pepsi-co have high Caffeine, high amount of carbon and sugar which just adds to your calories and spoils your organs on a long go. It is next to impossible for me to change everybody’s taste and thoughts but what I can do here is, assemble some of those healthy and tastier beverages that can do wonders to humans and should also replace carbonated drinks. Here they are:
1. Nimbu Pani/ Shikanji /Indian Lemonade
Nimbu Pani also known as Shikanji is the Indian Lemonade, one of the healthiest beverages. You want to reduce calorie count or quench your long hours thrust? Nimbu Pani is the best medicine. All you need to prepare this potion is Lemon, Black/Rock salt, water, ice cubes, sugar and roasted cumin seeds powder and then you have discovered the gem.
2. Nariyal Pani/Coconut Water
Coconut water is the juice provided to us by Nature. You just have to do nothing; no ingredients are required to make this natural beverage healthier. Coconuts vendors on streets and on beaches would be the correct peoplewho can choose the right coconut with lots of cream for you.
3. Aam Panna
Another super stimulant drink which increases body resistance against tuberculosis, anemia, cholera and dysentery. This drink made of roasted green mangoes with added sugar, water and spices would just make you feel energetic and healthy.
4. Chhas/Buttermilk
Chhas is the Indian name of Butter milk which is a dairy product left behind after churning the butter from the milk cream. It is a popular beverage in warm countries like India and in other South Asian countries due to its digestive and cooling properties. Not to be confused with Milk, it tastes much yummier! You can add cumin seeds powder and pinch of salt to add more taste.
5. Lassi
Lassi is a yogurt based traditional drink of India. It is a blend of yogurt, sugar, water and sometimes salt instead of sugar. One can choose fruits or dry fruits to add more flavors to the drink. An alarm would ring if you drink too much of Lassi. I am serious, it has loads of calories, so do not cross the limit boundary :)
6. Flavored milk
Milk is the best beverage one can choose as it contains mostly all the vitamins a body requires. The best thing about milk is that you can make several other products from it and make it much more tastier, though it may reduce the healthy quotient. But how about flavored milk? Just add Saffron, or Chocolate powder and it tastes delicious.
7. Jaljeera
This Indian beverage would startle your taste buds. Jaljeera basically is a mixture of lemonade, cumin seeds and hot spices powder like salt, pepper and ginger. It is often served as an appetizer and digestive drink. Jaljeera is a popular summer drink but foodie people like me would want it in all the seasons.
8. Tea
As India is the world’s second largest tea consuming country, it is understood that Indians have cultivated the habit of drinking various tea flavors. Tea has some of the great positive health benefits that reduces the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. So why not have this delicious drink with the flavor of ginger/cinnamon/mint/basil? Which one would you choose?
9. Fruits’/Vegetables’ Juice
There is so much to write about fruits and vegetables juices’ benefits here. All I can tell is these juices are full of antioxidants and highly recommended by physicians and dieticians. Almost every fruit or vegetable can be a great juice.
10. Thandai
Thandai is native to India, often served during the Holi festival and Mahashivratri festival. It is a blend of almonds, fennel seeds, magaztari seeds (watermelon kernel), rose petals, pepper, vetiver seeds, cardamom, saffron, sugar and milk. Thandai works as a better cooling.
11. Sherbat
Sharbat is a Hindi word for flavored beverages made of various seeds, flowers and fruits. It is often served cold and has thinner texture than other Indian beverages. Rose petals, poppy seeds, gooseberry, fennel seeds and many more are the great benefactors from which one can prepare Sherbat.
Wow, 11 beverages with multiple flavors and health benefit uniqueness can replace the carbonated soft drinks which have high amount of caffeine and unhealthy ingredients. I am going to start adding few of the above to my routine intakes. How about you?
