In regions where the sun beats down harshly in summers, a glass of cool buttermilk is always a welcome delicacy. The good bacteria in the buttermilk boost the digestion, providing low calorie nutrition to the body. Buttermilk or Chaas is a refreshing drink made from curd, water and few spices like jeera, kadi patta, ginger and salt, it is packed with numerous health benefits. Homemade buttermilk recipe >>
Made with cool, watered down curd, this drink is perfect to soothe stomach. As you drink it the cool buttermilk tends to wash down the spices and calms an irritated stomach lining. Apart from that the addition of spices like pepper, jeera, kadi patta and other condiments to it relieves the stomach of irritation caused due to spicy foods. Here are the top benefits of drinking buttermilk:
Had a heavy meal? If you feel you have eaten too much then drink a small glass of chilled buttermilk with ginger. Buttermilk is very effective in washing down the fat, oil or ghee that normally coats the inner walls of your food pipe and stomach. Apart from this, ginger, pepper and other spices in the buttermilk help to improve digestion and thus prevent belching.
A potent tool to fight acidity, buttermilk has essential condiments like pepper and ginger that help beat the burning sensation you feel during a bout of acidity. Moreover the buttermilk cools the stomach and reduces the irritation in the stomach lining due to acid reflux, giving you relief from the discomfort.
A study published by the US National Institute of health found that components in chaas or buttermilk are very effective in keeping your cholesterol levels under check. According to Ayurveda practitioners drinking a tall glass of buttermilk once a day is good for your health.
Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) found in buttermilk is rich in unique bioactive protein that has cholesterol-lowering, antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. Drinking buttermilk significantly lowers blood pressure, if had on a daily basis.
Butter milk is a great source of vitamins like vitamin B complex, proteins and potassium. Vitamin B, especially riboflavin, is essential for the conversion of food to energy, secretion of hormones and digestion.
Buttermilk is an effective home remedy for treating severe constipation. Intake of a glass of buttermilk in the morning on empty stomach can provide relief from severe constipation.
Buttermilk helps give lactose intolerant people their dose of calcium without causing an adverse reaction. But apart from that, it is also a perfect way to get your fix of calcium sans the fat normally found in milk making it perfect for your diet.
Use buttermilk as a diarrhea remedy. An Ayurvedic remedy for diarrhea is to mix 1/2 teaspoon of dry ginger into a cup of buttermilk and drink that three to four times a day.
It has salt, water, curd, and spices – all mixed to make a delicious drink. Packed with electrolytes and lots of water, buttermilk is the best thing you can give your body to fight dehydration. With the sun beating you down during summers, invest in a glass of buttermilk for some much-needed relief.
Buttermilk is rich in lactic acid and the cosmetic industry has made extensive use of in its beauty products. It is good facial mask that softens, brightens and exfoliates the skin to give it a youthful look. At the same time, the acidic, astringent nature of lactic acid removes blemishes, freckles while tightening the sagging skin.
Now that you are aware how beneficial buttermilk or “chaas” is, make it a point to consume it on regular basis.