Nutrition

7 Drinks You Must Have This Summer

By Team Htv

May 13, 2015

Summer is here and it has brought with it some amazing fruits! With the different colors and flavors from nature, why not give it creative twist and make these fruits taste even better?

This article will tell you how make your summer fun with the drinks, and why these drinks are good for you. It’s time to throw away the boxes juices and fizzy drinks and replace them with something yummy and healthy.

1. Pina Colada

Now you don’t have to spend hundreds of rupees to buy a glass of Pina Colada. You can make it in your own kitchen.

Coconut decreases risk of diabetes and keeps the gut healthy. Pineapple may help you keep standing tall and strong. The fruit contains nearly 75 percent of the daily-recommended value of the mineral manganese, which is essential in developing strong bones and connective tissue

Ingredients:

• Pineapple 2 cups • Cream 1 cup • Coconut milk 1 cup • Sugar 4 spoons • Ice as required

Method: Blend the pineapple, sugar and coconut milk. Let it form a paste. Add the cream and Blend it a few more times. Pour it in a glass. Garnish it with coconut powder, ice and pineapple.

2. Banana- Mango Smoothie

Research has shown antioxidant compounds in mango fruit have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. These compounds include quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, as well as the abundant enzymes.

The generous amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A in mangos, plus 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy and strong.

Bananas help overcome depression due to high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin — the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter. High in potassium and low in salt, bananas are officially recognized by the FDA as being able to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cubed peeled ripe mango • 3/4 cup sliced ripe banana (about 1 medium) • 2/3 cup milk • 1 tablespoon nonfat dry milk (optional) • 1 teaspoon honey • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation: Arrange the mango cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet; freeze until firm (about 1 hour). Place frozen mango and the remaining ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth.

3. Peach and Lemon Smoothie

This sweet and sour drink will take your taste buds on a roller coaster ride! Its vitamin C enriched and vitamin C is amazing for wound healing. It also helps in absorption of Iron in your gut that makes blood.

Ingredients: • 2 cups milk • 2 cups unsweetened sliced peaches • ½ lemon’s juice • 2 tablespoons sugar • 5 ice cubes

Method: In a blender, combine all ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses; serve immediately.

4. Cucumber and pineapple smoothie

Give your body a blast of energy after long hot day with this cucumber and pineapple smoothie.

Cucumber flushes out toxins from the body. It is rich in vitamins and is an anti-cancer fruit. Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your system, keeping the kidneys happy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cucumber (peeled and sliced) • 1 glass of pineapple slices • 2 tea spoons of brown sugar

Method: Blend all the ingredients in a blender. Pour in a glass and add ice. 5. Mango- Coconut Drink

This is probably the most exciting summer drink. If you don’t want to add heavy yogurt and milk.

Ingredients: • ½ cup Mango • 1 glass Coconut water • 1 tea spoon shredded coconut

Method: Add mango and coconut water in a blender and blend. Pour the mixture in a glass and top it with the coconut powder.

6. Freeze Blast Apple Smoothie

When apple pairs with mint and cucumber you get a blast of coolness. This drink will make you forget summer was ever around!

Silica, the wonder mineral in cucumber makes your hair and nails stronger and shinier.A new study performed on mice shows that drinking apple juice could keep Alzheimer’s away and fight the effects of aging on the brain. Apples contain an antioxidant called quercetin. Recent studies have found that quercetin can help boost and fortify your immune system, especially when you’re stressed out.

Ingredients: • 1 apple (peeled and chopped) • ½ cup Mint leaves • ½ Glass of apple juice • 1 cup peeled cucumber

Method: Blend the mint in the juice. Add apple and cucumber, blend more. Pour in a glass and add Ice.

7. Grewia Asiatica (Falsa) Juice

Grewia Asiatica is a specialty of south Asia. They are not common in the rest of the world. Make the most of this blessing and enjoy this seasonal fruit. The ripe fruit is cooling. It is used to allay heat conditions it also benefits in throat disorders. The fruits are a minefield of antioxidants and are useful in reducing cancer risk. They also relieve stomachache.

Add Grewia Asiatica in a blender with water and sugar, and blend. Strain the mixture and add ice.