Nimbu pani and Chaach in summers: Nutrition face-off

A summer afternoon is incomplete without a glass of lemon water or nimbu paani or a glass of buttermilk or chhaach. If there is anything that Indians have excelled in, it is their unique ways to beat the heat waves of summer with several home made drinks which are organic, and are completely devoid of chemicals.

A glass of nimbu paani or chhaach in the summers works in the same manner as a tea does in the winter evening; these protect the body from the harsh external environment.

But have you thought how many calories does one glass of nimbu paani contain or what are the various vitamins and minerals you are consuming with one glass of chhaach?

Have you ever thought of swapping these drinks to up your required mineral intake?

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Here we have decoded the nutrients and the nutritional benefits of both nimbu paani and chhaach:

While one glass of buttermilk contains 98 calories, one glass of lemon water has only 11 calories.

Calorie is required by our body to survive and carry out biological functions. Human body absorbs calories from the food and drinks we intake.

Calories are important when it comes to weight management. If our body uses the exact amount of calories that we eat, it would keep our weight in check. But if the body is unable to process all the calories that we eat, it will lead to weight gain. Therefore counting calories is essential if you are planning for weight loss.

Buttermilk has more calories than a glass of lemon water.

One glass of lemon water contains 18.6 milligrams of vitamin C, 9.6 micrograms of folate, 49.4 milligrams of potassium and 0.01-0.06 milligrams of vitamin B1, B2 and B5.

So basically lemon water is the ultimate low calorie drink for those who are looking to boost vitamin C intake.

Buttermilk is nutritionally more dense than the same amount of lemon water. One glass of buttermilk contains 8 grams of protein, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fat. If you drink one glass of buttermilk you will meet 22% of the daily requirement of calcium. Buttermilk also has essential elements like sodium, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and pantothenic acid.

There are several health benefits associated with nimbu paani and chhaach.

Nimbu paani is a rich source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, and are also a source of plant compounds called flavonoids which have anti-inflammatory effects.

Nimbu paani helps in weight loss, improves mood and memory, relieves constipation and can enhance athletic performance.

Chhaach is a wonder drink for all digestion related issues. It helps in bone health, are a good drink for oral health, lower cholesterol level, and lower high blood pressure. It's impact on the gut system is the main reason why people are advised to have buttermilk during or after meal.