Buttermilk, A great Summer drink.

On of the best summer soothers is buttermilk or chaanch or chaas, its a great drink which helps cool down your body temperatures, and can be used as a natural refresher in summers

Made from the process of churning cream into butter, most of the beneficial properties associated with milk are retained in buttermilk too. This just adds to the numerous reasons to have buttermilk in your daily diet!

There are also some health and beauty benefits of this delicious drink. If your not too fond of the sour taste and smell of buttermilk? Then luckily for you, some of its benefits can be reaped on its external application as well! So, whether you love the taste or don’t, this one is for you.

Buttermilk acts as a natural lotion that helps soothe sunburn. Simply mix buttermilk with tomato juice, and apply this mixture on the affected area. The vitamin A and C in this mixture will help heal skin better. After rinsing this mix off, you will feel much cooler and considerably relieved of the painful burn sting.

Mixing Buttermilk with honey works as a great anti ageing solution. The AHA, lactic acid, is what many anti-ageing lotions use. Honey acts as a natural cleanser while buttermilk moisturizes, lightens and exfoliates the skin. Once the preliminary work is done by honey, buttermilk comes into play and restores the glow and rectifies the imperfections of the skin. If you have oily skin, you can add a tablespoon of lemon juice to this mask.

Having extremely dry or badly damaged hair in the hot summers is very common. A buttermilk mask can act as a deep conditioner to soften your hair. Simply mix a banana and 2 tablespoons of honey in a cup of buttermilk. Apply this mixture as a mask on your scalp and hair, and leave it undisturbed for 45 minutes before washing it off. You will be left with unbelievably soft and shiny hair!

Buttermilk is also lower in fat and calories compared to milk. Apart from that, it can make you feel full for a long period of time, making you feel less hungry, thus aiding in weight loss. Since it helps in healthy digestion and also regulates bowel movements, it further promotes weight loss. Buttermilk is very easy to digest and helps absorb nutrients from other foods too, making it one of the best choices for low-fat diets.

Being high in several essential nutrients like vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus and riboflavin. These nutrients work together to promote healthy bones, skin and immunity. So, a tall glass of buttermilk everyday can take care of many of your nutritional needs. Although it cannot replace a meal, it is one of the healthiest options to have between meals in case you get those hunger pangs, when on a diet.

So there you have it, Buttermilk, a great summer drink.